Just back from week after Easter - summary and willing to answer Q's

[erosenst]

We knew the crowds would likely be crazy, but it was the only time that worked for us. ("Us = DH, DD6 and me) It's the first time we had been at a "9", so I was very concerned and read all I could. In case others are equally concerned, thought a quick summary might help.

We got there Monday night, and left late afternoon yesterday (Thurs).

Quick overview:

* Went to DTD Monday afternoon. MUCH less crowded than I would have thought. 10 minute wait (ok, at 2p, but still) at Earl of Sandwich, no wait for 'dip your own' at Goofy's, no wait at other registers/face painting, etc.

* Had done online check-in for BLT. Check in at Contemporary was quick and painless.

* Rented stroller for DD6, and were VERY glad we did. Her seasonal allergies were really bad (despite being on prescription meds) so she was periodically very crabby, and that gave her a place to rest/retreat a little. Rented from Magic Strollers, and loved the stroller (City Mini). It was clean, worked well, held what we needed to, worked for a 47lb child with no issues, etc.

* Dinner at WCC with ADR. Two minute wait.

Tuesday had 7:05 breakfast at Chef Mickey's. Took to monorail to MK (Yes, you can walk...but DH wouldn't). Were there in about 12 minutes, and got there at 8:15. (EMH at 7a, Rope Drop at 8a) One or two people in front of us for bag check and entry. Followed the RideMax plan and did Magic Carpet of Aladdin (2x), Pirates of the Caribbean, Goofy's Barnstormer, Winnie the Pooh, Small World, PhilHarmagic and the Carousel by 11a. Only glitch was that Pooh broke while we were on it, and it took a little while to get helped off. We did get a Fast Pass for any attraction as we left, which was nice.

Had lunch at Cosmic Ray's at 11:25, and lines weren't bad (3 or 4 people deep). Found table with no issue. When we left at noon, it was def more crowded, but still doable. Saw the 'Celebrate' parade curbside. Went for ice cream after - 2 people in line ahead of us.

Went back to BLT for nap/quiet time til 3:45 or so. When we got back did Splash (2x), Peter Pan, Winnie (again) and Pirates (again). 5:45 ADR at CP, and waited five minutes or so. Walked around a little more and left.

Net - not bad to move around at all. When we left at both 1p and 7p, it was getting noticeably more crowded, but still could move without too much effort. Lines for most things built during the day, but with Fast Passes wasn't an issue.

Wednesday
Drove to Epcot - parked very close and went to 8:10a ADR at Akershus. Both Belle and Ariel were "on vacation", which surprised me a little during a peak week. Got done at 8:50, and walked (briskly!) to try to get to Soarin just at opening. Appears they let people in early for FP's - at 8:55 there was a huge stream exiting the Land. No wait to get FPs, and return was 10:20 - not terrible. Went to Nemo (2x) and Crush. Again, a little surprised that during a peak week first Crush wasn't til 9:40. Walked on Living with the Land, then went to get FP for TT. 1:50 return (at about 10:40). Saw Soarin, and would have done 2x but FP's were after we would leave.

Walked around Future World a little, then went to the countries. Again, while busy, wasn't hard to walk and all lines were very manageable, including KidCot, France bakery, etc etc. Fun seeing all the topiaries from the flower show. Came back and did TT, then left about 4:30. DH and I had ADR's at Flying Fish at 7:30. Restaurant had a nice crowd, but a few open tables at all times.

Thursday had planned to go back to Epcot, but since we had done most of what we wanted to do for this trip, DD elected to go back to MK for Splash, Pirates, and Pooh. Had breakfast at Contemporary (no wait) and took Monorail to MK. Got there at 8:35. Walked to Splash, and got 9:25 FP. Went to ride standby (15 min wait) only to find it was down. Ugh. Walked to Pirates. Also down (double ugh). Did Aladdin 2x, checked Splash (down) and Pirates (back up, so rode it 2x). Went to Pooh, and had 15 min wait. Then IASW (5 min) and back to Pooh. Decided to try Splash one last time, and went FP with no wait.

Left to stop at DTD ("needed" a big animal). More crowded at lunch, but likely because it was 12:30 instead of 2p.

Net - with good planning, a "9" is definitely doable, at least for us. Biggest issue was that, as one CM told us, there were too many cars on most of the rides, which caused frequent stops and more-often-than-usual total downtime.

Happy to answer any Q's you may have -

 

[MaggieMoo'sMom]

So, who were your princesses at Akershus since 2 were missing?

I am glad you had a great trip!!!

 

[erosenst]

So, who were your princesses at Akershus since 2 were missing?

Aurora was the 'greeter', and a pic with her came with the pkg. We also saw Snow White, Cinderella, and Jasmine.

 

[kcajetan]

Just wondering about the stroller rental. Was the stroller just to be used in DTD? We are going to WDW on the 15th and thinking that we may need one for my VERY LAZY 6 year old.

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

Any Rehabs still going on in MK???

 

[daisyx3]

We were there April 1-8, and as the OP said, you can work with it if you do certain things, like going to the parks at opening.
We also every park plus typhoon lagoon and had plenty of relax time as well. The only thing I didn't get to do was the darn balloon at DD--every time we go there since it opened, the darn thing isn't flying--"winds too high aloft"--DH and I joked that every time I mentioned flying in the balloon, the wind picked up.
Daisyx3

 

[ntikos]

Doesn't sound quite like the madhouse people were reporting last year during Spring Break.

Sounds like a great time - thanks for the report!

 

[squirrel]

Just wondering about the stroller rental. Was the stroller just to be used in DTD? We are going to WDW on the 15th and thinking that we may need one for my VERY LAZY 6 year old.

They probably rented it for the whole trip. The company will deliver it to your resort and pick it up there when you are finished.

 

[ShannonMB]

I love your specifics!!! This type of report helps paint a picture much more than saying "It was crazy busy!".

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Trip Reports board. This is where we keep all "just back" and other trip report threads.

 

[bellebookworm9]

I see you used RideMax. Did you find it to be accurate (aside from Pooh breaking down)?

 

[erosenst]

Just wondering about the stroller rental. Was the stroller just to be used in DTD? We are going to WDW on the 15th and thinking that we may need one for my VERY LAZY 6 year old.

As a later poster said, we had it for the whole trip. Magic Strollers delivered it to our hotel, and we dropped it off there at the end of our trip. I later realized that you could likely arrange (ahead of time) to drop it off at another hotel if you have a car and your last day is nearer another hotel.

And while there is a LOT of controversy on this board about six year old's needing strollers, my personal belief and experience (mine and friends) is that most six year olds will want them at some point because of the length of the days and the mileage covered. For our trip, it was only $41. I was ok spending that if it mean two hours of our trip were significantly better. As it turned out, since DD wasn't feeling great, she used it more than I had thought she would. (We actually didn't have it/miss it either time at DTD, but those were 2-3 hour excursions and relatively ltd ground to cover)

Doesn't sound quite like the madhouse people were reporting last year during Spring Break.

I think several things made it not-so-crazy. The surrounding areas spring breaks were largely the week before Easter this year. Also, attendance in general has picked up, so they really expanded park hours. They added 3 or 4 more morning EMH's at MK a week or two before we went. The weather was uniformly good, so some of the craziness migrated to the water parks, both of which were closed (ie at capacity) at least once while we were there.

The only thing I didn't get to do was the darn balloon at DD--every time we go there since it opened, the darn thing isn't flying--"winds too high aloft"--DH and I joked that every time I mentioned flying in the balloon, the wind picked up.

Too funny. DD really wanted to go up in that - and it was grounded both times we were there as well.

Any Rehabs still going on in MK???

We saw a number of construction walls, but nothing that was totally closed. (At least nothing we were interested in.) I think the number of closures/amount of construction starts to increase again next week.

I love your specifics!!! This type of report helps paint a picture much more than saying "It was crazy busy!".

Thanks. Just trying to "pay it forward" from the threads that were the most helpful to me while we were planning.

 

[erosenst]

I've moved this thread to the Trip Reports board. This is where we keep all "just back" and other trip report threads.

Oops - sorry.

I see you used RideMax. Did you find it to be accurate (aside from Pooh breaking down)?

It was VERY accurate for Tues at MK. Only thing I didn't completely focus on is that it starts from the time you arrive at the first attraction, not the gates. But I was able to easily adjust for that. It was off a little at EPCOT, but that was because they randomly start letting people in early on some days, and not others...and everyone heads to Soarin or TT for FP's. Again, very easy to adjust, and well worth the money.

 

[We_love_WDW]

Another ?? about ridemax... Have you been to WDW before or was this your first time? DId you find you needed it during this busier time? We have been many times but I'm thinking about getting ridemax for the summer. What are your thoughts

 

[erosenst]

Another ?? about ridemax... Have you been to WDW before or was this your first time? DId you find you needed it during this busier time? We have been many times but I'm thinking about getting ridemax for the summer. What are your thoughts

Not counting trips in the Dark Ages (ie more than 10 years ago...some MANY more than that) last year was our first trip. We went in early January, and I read the Unofficial Guide and subscribed to TGM.

I actually think that RideMax is more helpful if you've been before, know which rides you do and don't want to do, what you want to do more than once, etc. It's also VERY helpful to know about when you'll want breaks and for how long. It's definitely worth the money, and having done it I will probably do it again for any future trip (busy or not) just to give me a good idea of what can be realistically done in what time period.

A little of it depends on personality. I'm definitely a planner, and DD does much better when she has an idea of what to expect. DH complains at first about the 'schedule', but then lets up when he a) realizes it works and b) realizes that there will still be time to wander around - it just won't be when we first get there. If you're a true go-with-the-flow person (unlikely, if you're posting/reading here...) it may be less valuable.