Please help!!! Anyone been to Disney the week following Easter?

[meganbear]

I am getting so many conflicting reports on this date! I've read that crowds will be extremely heavy, but I have two friends that have been to Disney twice during spring break (always the week after Easter for us West Virginians) and both of my friends said it wasn't that bad---they both said they'd go back again during spring break! I have reservations at Pop Century for that week, but I could always change them, the other date I have in mind is the week of May 11, I know the crowds will be smaller then, but I just hate for my son to miss school! Please if you or anyone you know have ever been to Disney the week after Easter, please let me know what you think the crowds are like! Thanks!

 

[GrammieMame]

A couple of years ago, we were there the week before with one set of grandkids and the week after with the other. It was indeed very crowded, but our style is to be at the park gate when it opens and to do as much as possible with fast pass, etc. and then to get out when the crowds really get thick around lunch time. We spend the afternoon at the pools or doing other non-park stuff, and maybe go back to the parks about 2 hours before closing time. The only time I felt overwhelmed was for a LTT dinner reservation at MK. We took the train and when we got off, it was almost scary. You had to elbow your way through the crowd, and I wouldn't have wanted to be there to try to do rides or shows. I wouldn't go out of my way to do it again, but it was manageable with a little planning.

 

[Lory]

We were there the week after Easter in 2002. Couldn't compare it to any other time because it was our first trip. I can tell you we got there early (didn't stay onsite) and we managed to do all the rides we wanted to do first within about 1 1/2 hours. By 10:30 it was busy and the wait times were about 45 minutes for all rides. Did use fastpass and it wasn't so bad. Our biggest problem was the heat. Coming from northern wisconsin we weren't used to it. 85-92 everyday and pretty humid. Hard to keep moving fast when it was that hot.
Heading back this December and hoping it is much cooler and much lower crowds. Only advice I would say is write down the rides you want to do and do them all right away and then go back and re-do with fast passes.

Lory

 

[disneydiz]

We go every Easter (the week after) and it is VERY crowded. However, a CM once told me that the week before is much more crowded. If you look at the hours for that week, the MK is open until 11-pm. (We have to go at this time, because of our school break.)

This past year, on the Thursday after Easter, the waterparks were closed by 11:00 AM and MK closed for a couple hours in the afternoon. Use FP and stay away from MK on Easter Sunday and Monday. Go early to the parks and come back to the room about lunch time. We swim, eat, etc. and then go back to the parks around dinner. Go to the second showing of Fantasmic -- the first show will have a two-hour line to get in. IT is very crowded, but I enjoy this it because the parks are open late and there are often two showing of Fantasmic and Spectro. Just make plans and you will be fine. Disney attendance has been on the increase the last few months. I expect heavy crowds.

 

[kilee]

We went in 2002 one full week after Easter. So we missed the buly of the crowds. We had 2 different bus drivers tell us that they had closed down most parks on multiple days in the firs ot 4 days after Easter. Don't know if it was true or not though. However, when we were there it was crowded but not overwhelming. We too are looking at the beginning of May-- my only concern is going to be the heat!!

 

[meganbear]

Thanks so much for your help!!! I believe after reading all of your replies that I'm going to wait for the week of May 9! I just don't think I can take the crowds, My son will just have to miss school---thankfully they get off the 11th, so he will only be missing four days instead of five!