Mar/April 2022 Crowd + What's new since 2018?

[Pookie9922]

My family did a "once and done" trip in November of 2018 (week after Thanksgiving) and loved it so much, we are now planning a late Mar/early April 2022 trip for our family of 5 plus my brother-in-law's family (3) plus grandma! Honestly once I rode Flight of Passage, I was ready to book my next trip!

A few quick preliminary questions as I get my feet under me for round 2 -

1) My kids have a 2 week spring break the last week of March and first week of April. It doesn't vary based on when Easter is, so it makes it easy to plan. Easter isn't until April 17th in 2022. Will we do better to go the first week and stay as far away from Easter as possible? I noticed on the calendar that those weeks are red for 2021. Is that just because Easter is earlier (April 4th) or is there something else in March/April that makes the crowds heavier?

2) What's new since late 2018? I know about Galaxy's Edge - We went to DL when the Millenium Falcon ride first opened but haven't been on RotR yet. But I'm seeing notes about MMRR and Remy's and some of the things I'm seeing on park maps look different, but I also have a bad memory, so it could just be me! If anyone wants to point me in the direction of finding what's new, I'd appreciate it!

I "won" our last trip. lol We got to do everything we wanted to do (and eat everything we wanted to eat) and more. And I credit this forum for all that success. You guys are awesome! I'm hoping with your help to be prepared enough to "win" this trip too!

TIA!

 

[gatorlisa]

For what's new, if you were there Nov 2018, then Toy Story Land had opened. So since then:
HS
Galaxy's Edge
Mickey and Minnie Runaway Railroad
Mickey Shorts Theater - shows an original Mickey & Minnie short "Vacation Fun"
Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy
Epcot
Remy's Ratatouille Adventure is supposed to open in Epcot sometime in 2021 (delayed from a planned 2020 opening), so should be open for a 2022 trip

From this point, it will be hard to say.
Tron Lightcycle Power Run in MK was supposed to open in 2021 in time for the 50th Anniversary, but no idea if that will happen. It's expected to be delayed.
Ditto for Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind in Epcot.
Epcot has other work in progress mostly redoing Future World, but I'm sure like everything else, work is delayed. The Spaceship Earth extended refurb has been put on hold.
The Splash Mountain conversion to a Princess and the Frog theme is coming, but no dates announced on that yet, though it was mentioned this week as being expedited.

 

[lynzi2004]

Atlanta schools are off the first week of April. We are from Missouri and went that week once when it Easter fell later. The weather was great, crowds weren’t terrible...but literally everyone was from Georgia! Haha

 

[Pookie9922]

Atlanta schools are off the first week of April. We are from Missouri and went that week once when it Easter fell later. The weather was great, crowds weren’t terrible...but literally everyone was from Georgia! Haha

Sounds like the last week of March might be a little lighter then?

I also forgot to ask - are there usually any Epcot food festivals during that time? My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed eating around the world!

 

[lynzi2004]

Sounds like the last week of March might be a little lighter then?

I also forgot to ask - are there usually any Epcot food festivals during that time? My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed eating around the world!

Flower and Garden festival is going on then. It’s my favorite festival but I’m not a foodie so someone else will have a better idea of the food choices!

 

[Pookie9922]

Flower and Garden festival is going on then. It’s my favorite festival but I’m not a foodie so someone else will have a better idea of the food choices!

I was looking at that. I don't think the husband will be as impressed with the flowers as he was with the food. It's honestly the only thing he liked in Epcot.
And I just looked at the menu for the Festival of the Holidays for this year and I'm wishing we were going!
I loved when we went last time, but oldest two will be in middle school if we wait until November 2022. It's one thing to miss a week of school in 3rd or 4th grade, 7th and 8th grade is not so much. Although if we are still distance learning, I may not care!