Less crowded: T'giving or Easter/Spring break?

[MomofKatie]

My SIL called and wants to plan a trip to WDW with us for sometime in the next 18 months or so. She is a teacher, and she and BIL can't/won't take their kids (DD9, DS7, and DD5) out of school for the trip. They are firmly in the 'there are enough days off during the year- the kids need to attend every day of school' camp- we are not at all. We pull DD out of school for a week almost every year for a WDW trip, so DH, DD, and I have always gone during slow times. But it looks like we are now pretty much stuck with T'giving, Spring Break (Easter time), or summer.

Of those, which, in your opinion, is the least crowded? I'd really rather not go during summer- I have trouble handling the heat/humidity. They live in OH, so they don't go back to school until right around Labor Day.

Is T'giving really busy? Maybe we could go the weekend before, when it is slower, and they could meet us later in the week, when they get out for the holiday.

Thanks- I need some help!

 

[Bob P]

Hi Jen

Thanksgiving and Easter week are both VERY crowded (you probably didn't want to hear that...)

If you go the weekend before Thanksgiving you will find crowds already starting to build. They will get larger each day until the day before Thanksgiving, then WDW will be a madhouse all weekend. Crowds will thin out on the Sunday after Thanksgiving and by the Monday it will be a relative ghost town.

Bob

 

[edk35]

If I had to guess...........it would be Easter. I went to WDW Thanksgiving week 3 years ago.....and it was great the first weekend and yes it got more crowded each day.......but you have to know which park to avoid on which day. That is why these boards are soooooo wonderful. I also think park hopping is the way to go...........you can get the heck out of dodge if one gets crowded. My friends went one Easter and said they would never go back. Plus going at Thanksgiving you see all the Christmas decorations. I love it.

Denise

 

[RumpleMom]

You might want to research Easter crowds a little more because many schools are giving a Spring Break at various times and only the weekend for Easter. This is especially true of state universities.

 

[Paisleyjane]

I know this contradicts what others have said, but I have always felt Easter was busier than Thanksgiving. Our kids spring break is always the week after Easter, so we have taken them then, and found the crowds very busy then. I have not been for Thanksgiving for a couple of years, am going this year, and will let you know afterward what I think if you want.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

My SIL called and wants to plan a trip to WDW with us for sometime in the next 18 months or so. She is a teacher, and she and BIL can't/won't take their kids (DD9, DS7, and DD5) out of school for the trip. They are firmly in the 'there are enough days off during the year- the kids need to attend every day of school' camp- we are not at all. We pull DD out of school for a week almost every year for a WDW trip, so DH, DD, and I have always gone during slow times. But it looks like we are now pretty much stuck with T'giving, Spring Break (Easter time), or summer.

Of those, which, in your opinion, is the least crowded? I'd really rather not go during summer- I have trouble handling the heat/humidity. They live in OH, so they don't go back to school until right around Labor Day.

Is T'giving really busy? Maybe we could go the weekend before, when it is slower, and they could meet us later in the week, when they get out for the holiday.

Thanks- I need some help!

You really don't want to hear this, but if it's crowds you want to get around, the time to go is August (as far as the choices you gave). If it's HEAT that you don't want, than it's T-day time, but it's wall to wall (so I've heard). Spring break/Easter I've heard, can be pretty bad too, depending on when you go. Does their break correspond with Easter every year? Some schools have spring break on different weeks than Easter (like here).

I know the options aren't that great. I can't bear the heat either. I don't know if I'd ever go back Aug/Sept again.............maybe if that were my only choice.

We homeschool, so we go whenever. If I had to pick, I don't know what I would do either. But at least you are going to Disney!

 

[MomofKatie]

I have not been for Thanksgiving for a couple of years, am going this year, and will let you know afterward what I think if you want.

That would be great- thanks!

 

[num1tigerfan]

My SIL called and wants to plan a trip to WDW with us for sometime in the next 18 months or so. She is a teacher, and she and BIL can't/won't take their kids (DD9, DS7, and DD5) out of school for the trip. They are firmly in the 'there are enough days off during the year- the kids need to attend every day of school' camp- we are not at all. We pull DD out of school for a week almost every year for a WDW trip, so DH, DD, and I have always gone during slow times. But it looks like we are now pretty much stuck with T'giving, Spring Break (Easter time), or summer.

Of those, which, in your opinion, is the least crowded? I'd really rather not go during summer- I have trouble handling the heat/humidity. They live in OH, so they don't go back to school until right around Labor Day.

Is T'giving really busy? Maybe we could go the weekend before, when it is slower, and they could meet us later in the week, when they get out for the holiday.

Thanks- I need some help!

We went a week before Thanksgiving about 7 years ago. We practically had the parks to ourselves until the day before Thanksgiving. Then the parks became very busy/hectic. We left the day after Thanksgiving but the trafic and people had really picked up. The weather was great. Warm during the day (around 80 degrees) and upper 60's at night. A few nights we needed light windbreakers. We loved it then. I have went in July/August and it seemed that nobody had a good time as it was just TOO HOT. My sister in law went a year ago at Easter and said it was extremely busy. Her husband is a school principal so time off during school is out as well. I went to Universal last year at Easter/Spring break and it was sooooo crazy. If I had my pick it would be November. We don't mind taking our kids out of school so this year we are doing a January trip. Cool weather and no crowds. Yeahhhhhhh!

 

[ellyn2000]

I've gone numerous times at Thanksgiving and will continue to go at that time of year. I love the weather other than the occassional freak cold spell and the crowds have not bothered me except for the year we were @MK on Thanksgiving day. Last year we went to Epcot on Thanksgiving day and it was wonderful. We enjoy the Christmas decorations & Osborne lights. Everyone has a preference but for us we will continue to go the week leading up to Thanksgiving. I hope you have a wonderful time whenever you go.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

We went during T-Day week in 2004. Our last park day was the day before Thanksgiving. MK was uncomfortable crowded that day, and I would not want to have been there when it was more crowded than that. As someone else said, the weekend before T-Day was great. By Monday it was getting a bit crowded (we did MGM that day).

 

[CalvaryMike]

You might want to research Easter crowds a little more because many schools are giving a Spring Break at various times and only the weekend for Easter. This is especially true of state universities.

My sister went the week before Easter last year, based on the assumption that schools are out at different times. She said it was riduculous! She felt she wasted her money because it was so crowded.

 

[Cbarr]

My vote would be to go at Thanksgiving. There are going to be long lines during both times, but in November the heat shouldn't be as bad while you're standing in them. Also you will get to see the gorgeous Christmas decorations!

 

[terribm]

Since we are talking about crowds at Easter, what do you all think about the week before the week before Easter? Specifically April 6-9 of '06. My kids have a week and a half off before Easter and we were planning on going down Thur-Sun before Easter. What do you think?

 

[edk35]

It is hard to tell because there are so many states that have spring breaks that time of year............maybe better than actual Easter week I am sure.........but you never know that time of year.

 

[allisonfc21]

We've been to Disney at least twice each year in the past 10 years. My husbands career took us to Florida quite a bit. We have an 8 year old and 3 year old now. We now go every year, the week after Thanksgiving. We bought at the Bonnet Creek resort on Disney property (not owned by them) and plan to get the same week every year. It's great. Disney is decorated for the holidays and it is NOT crowded. We leave the day before Thanksgiving and don't come home until Dec. 4th this year. The weather is perfect & the lines (if any) are short. My daughter loves to see Mickey dressed as Santa. Our rule is that as long as the kids get very good grades, we'll pull them from school. We'll see what happens when my son gets there in 2 years! Definately go for Thanksgiving!

 

[CDisney]

If I were you, I'd spend the first half of your vacation over the Thanksgiving break with you SIL and then stick around for a few more days after they go home. The Monday-Wednesday after Thanksgiving is less crowded than the Monday-Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Also, it's nice to unwind by yourself after spending time with extended family.

 

[DisTeach1]

We will arrive at WDW the Thursday before Thanksgiving. We plan on going to MK that day. We leave the day after Thanksgiving. When EXACTLY will it get crowded? The Saturday before Thanksgiving? I was hoping we would have until Tuesday before Thanksgiving for crowds to pick up.

 

[MomofKatie]

Thanks for all the replies- I think I will push either Thanksgiving (with us staying a few days afterwards) or the end of August (even though the heat and humidity will be bad). We will see SIL and her family at Thanksgiving, and I will bring all the guidebooks and website addresses with me!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

The week before school starts might be your best bet. We went that week in 04 for a spontaneous visit because I had AP's and a great AP rate came out.

I've been Easter and Thanksgiving and was expecting the same level of crowds and there just wasn't, not even close. We went very early in the morning, came back to either the pool or the room for a nap in the heat of the afternoon, then went out again before dinner and into the evening. During the afternoon it was too hot to even sit on the balcony comfortably but during the other times of the day it felt the same. What is different, is the frequency of thunderstorms. It rained every day at least once a day (but briefly) compared to last Dec. when it only rained 1 out of 10 days.