mar 28-apr 3 2009 thoughts

[emmababy]

We are approaching our 11 month window and are trying to decide on trips for next year. According to the calendar, Easter is April 12. Would these dates be early enough to avoid easter crowds? We would be out 8 days before easter.

My trusty TGM says avoid the week before and after Easter.

We are having a baby in August, so he would be almost 8 months by then. We want to go early enough in the year because this year we only are going the one time due to the pregnancy.

Also, we will also go back in October, so I don't want the trips too close together.

Your expert dvc advice is greatly appreciated!!!

 

[ZekeKelso]

It depends, what's the alternative?

If the choice is between going in April, and going in May - then avoid April even if it's 8 days away from Easter.

But if the choice is between going in April, and not going at all, then go. Tons of people have great visits during busy weeks.

 

[emmababy]

I was just curious how busy it is 2 weeks before Easter? Because of my work schedule, I need to go at the end/beginning of a month. This year we went at the end of Feb/beginning of March. We enjoyed ourselves but got really lucky with weather, so I would prefer to go when it is warmer.

 

[drusba]

That late March to early April week will be quite crowded because it always is regardless of Easter (there are a lot of schools that have their spring break week always during that week). However, the two Easter weeks are in a class of their own when it comes to crowds. Example: during that March to early April week you will find the standby line for popular rides running between 45 minutes and an hour, and with some, like Soarin, approaching 90 minutes much of the day. During the Easter weeks, almost all those standby lines for popular rides are in the two hour range most of the day and night with Soarin and Test Track going to 3 hours.

 

[Caskbill]

In 2009 Spring Break at Disney is April 5th to apr 18th. You're only checking out a couple of days before Spring Break (Premier season) starts.

Easter Sunday is April 12th.

 

[emmababy]

would the week before be better? Leaving March 21-27?

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I was there the week after EAster this year and while the crowds are big, if you know what you are doing you will be fine. With fastpasses and good planning we rarely waited more than 15 minutes for any ride. For example, when we got to Epcot at opening time I went right to Soarin' and got a FP then went to TT and rode standby with my family. Then we could relax and enjoy the day because we got the two "big ones" out of the way. On the other hand, with a newer baby you might not have the kind of flexibility we do--I was down there when DS was 2 and I remember one bad diaper can throw off a schedule. So you might want to consider March instead.
We will be there April 3-10 (I think), so we will just miss you!
Robin M.

 

[DMKEDM]

We were there this year the week before Easter (one of three premier weeks--the week before Easter, the week after, and the week between Christmas & New Years); we were also there over T-giving...we found more crowds (except for Magic Kingdom) over T-giving than we did the week before Easter...

I suspect we were just lucky...and we pretty much always do the "veterans' routine"--get to the park around opening; get fast passes and ride "the big" ride (top two) right away, and then do other rides and enjoy the park til lunch time-ish...then back to the resort for pool-time and hang-out time...then back to the parks for dinner (or just before) and fireworks...

Magic Kingdom was "stuffed"...even early in the morning...the other three, however, were not bad at all...(altho I would guess that lunch thru evening hours were pretty crowded...they were getting very crowded when we left after lunch each day)...

Ours was a very last-minute trip (talk about major pixie dust)...called for reservations on 3/4 for a trip from 3/16-3/20...took a few days of calling but we got all four nights in an OKW 1-BR near Hospitality House--and then we got all the dinner reservations we wanted (of course we didn't get Le Cellier or Coral Reef--but we didn't expect to!)...so we may have been just unbelievably lucky for this "trip that was meant to be."

But based on this experience we just had, I'd go the week in March you're considering and have a blast!

 

[Princess Roo]

We just got back...had checked in a week after Easter. I think Feb,Mar,Apr are crowded in general, but manageable as long as you avoid the direct Easter weeks. Fastpasses weren't a problem if you got them in the morning (TT and Soarin were gone at Epcot by 1PMish the 2 days we were there). Standby on the non-FP rides were longer than the other trips we had taken, but not unbearable, even with a toddler. I had to change some ADRs around the week before we went and while I didn't get exactly what I wanted, I didn't have serious trouble. Since you'll be back frequently, it's not the end of the world if you get on a few fewer rides per day. Another thing to consider is the heat and your baby when you look at May. I was surprised how hot it was already the trip we just took.

 

[emmababy]

Thanks for all your tips! Last year we went during July 4 week and managed that, so I think we will wing it. We have somewhat mastered tgm and parent swapping, so hopefully we'll get through. I knew I would get some great answers from everyone here on the dis!

Great tip about the weather! I am hoping by the time my new man is 8 months, I will have adapted to having two little ones and can manage WDW!!!