Please help me pick a week in April!!

[Nermel9]

Hi everyone,

Planning a trip next year in April before our AP expires (which is April 30th I think?) and I have no idea which week to go. We usually go the first week of May, which is always great, but since that’s not possible this year, we’re thinking April. I’d like to go the last week but with Easter being so late (April 21) won’t that drive the crowds way up? We’re bringing my husbands family, who have never been to Disney, so I was hoping to not kill them with crowds! Are the first 2 weeks of April ok? Should I consider March or is that worse??

I’m out of my element here, haha, since I always go the first week of May and I know what to expect!

Thanks!

 

[BebopBaloo]

I think because Spring Break varies by state and region almost any week in April is going to be busy. We were in MK for Easter last year and it was really busy, but also wasn't awful. We didn't do a lot that day, but we came in with that expectation. We also didn't attempt to see the Easter parade, so we avoided that crowd. The worst mess that I saw that week was trying to get into Epcot. The bus we were on was packed head to toe (literally...it was...indescribable w/out bad words). The line of cars going in was extremely long. It was the longest line of cars I've ever seen anywhere at Disney. Then it took almost 45min just to get into the park once we got off the bus. CMs were saying they just were not expecting that many people coming into Epcot that day. It was bonkers.

 

[StacyStrong]

I'll be there April 5-10. The Star Wars half is that weekend so it'll be crowded.

April seems like it'll be busy every week though.

 

[sharonabe]

Hi everyone,

Planning a trip next year in April before our AP expires (which is April 30th I think?) and I have no idea which week to go. We usually go the first week of May, which is always great, but since that’s not possible this year, we’re thinking April. I’d like to go the last week but with Easter being so late (April 21) won’t that drive the crowds way up? We’re bringing my husbands family, who have never been to Disney, so I was hoping to not kill them with crowds! Are the first 2 weeks of April ok? Should I consider March or is that worse??

I’m out of my element here, haha, since I always go the first week of May and I know what to expect!

Thanks!

Can you go the week of Apr 28 or will your AP expire before the end of that week? That would be your BEST week, since Easter and spring breaks would be over.

If that is not possible, then any week in Mar or Apr other than the two weeks surrounding Easter is going to be pretty much the same. Go the week that makes the most sense to your family.

 

[jeepnjudy]

Usually the week before and the week after Easter tend to be the busiest during that timeframe.

 

[Nermel9]

Can you go the week of Apr 28 or will your AP expire before the end of that week? That would be your BEST week, since Easter and spring breaks would be over.

If that is not possible, then any week in Mar or Apr other than the two weeks surrounding Easter is going to be pretty much the same. Go the week that makes the most sense to your family.

Yeah my AP expires the 29th. That is the week I would like to go but it just doesn’t make sense to pick the week when I can’t use my AP.

Usually the week before and the week after Easter tend to be the busiest during that timeframe.

I know, that’s what I’m worried about and trying to avoid. And this year seems weird because Easter is so late in the month. Are people really going to go specifically for Easter that late in April? I assumed people went because it coincided with spring breaks.

I really have no idea what to do here!

 

[vinotinto]

Did you see this poll:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/spring-break-poll-for-2019.3680025/
Looks like April 7-14 would be pretty good. You would arrive as people are leaving after the rival Run and you would be leaving right as the Easter crowds would be coming in. If it weren't for my kids' spring break and the Rival Run, I would pick that week.

 

[sharonabe]

I know, that’s what I’m worried about and trying to avoid. And this year seems weird because Easter is so late in the month. Are people really going to go specifically for Easter that late in April? I assumed people went because it coincided with spring breaks.

Here in the south, most spring breaks coincide with Easter. That's why Easter is so crowded. It's not the holiday itself; it's the timing of public school's spring break.

 

[Ladyandthepuppies]

Touring Plans' crowd calendar says the last week will be the lowest crowds. I would do the 22-29.

 

[kappyfamily]

Did you see this poll:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/spring-break-poll-for-2019.3680025/
Looks like April 7-14 would be pretty good. You would arrive as people are leaving after the rival Run and you would be leaving right as the Easter crowds would be coming in. If it weren't for my kids' spring break and the Rival Run, I would pick that week.

I was going to say by looking at this survey the second week looks best. Have fun!

 

[10CJ]

Our Spring Break is related to Easter. We have the week after Easter off. I would avoid the two weeks around Easter if possible.

 

[kwdw]

Like others said - avoid the week before and after Easter as those will be busier. Otherwise - just pick what is best for you. Crowd levels won't vary that much those other weeks in March and April.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

We always go over Easter Break and every year it gets more and more crowded. I'd avoid that. We're DVC Members and planned a last minute trip to use points. We booked the Beach Club (which isn't our home resort and it hard to get) for the beginning of March and we got it. So I'm hoping that's an indicator it will be less crowded than Easter. Fingers crossed.

 

[sharonabe]

Touring Plans' crowd calendar says the last week will be the lowest crowds. I would do the 22-29.

TP must have forgotten Easter is the 21st; there's no way that week will have the lowest crowds of April.

 

[Nermel9]

Did you see this poll:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/spring-break-poll-for-2019.3680025/
Looks like April 7-14 would be pretty good. You would arrive as people are leaving after the rival Run and you would be leaving right as the Easter crowds would be coming in. If it weren't for my kids' spring break and the Rival Run, I would pick that week.

Thanks, that’s interesting! I am considering that 2nd week in April, as well as the last week. I was thinking of maybe doing a Tuesday-Thursday trip so I could be in Disney until the 29th for the last day of my AP then drive down to Clearwater for 2 days for my anniversary (which is May 1, which is why we always go to Disney the first week of May!)

We always go over Easter Break and every year it gets more and more crowded. I'd avoid that. We're DVC Members and planned a last minute trip to use points. We booked the Beach Club (which isn't our home resort and it hard to get) for the beginning of March and we got it. So I'm hoping that's an indicator it will be less crowded than Easter. Fingers crossed.

I haven’t really considered March, because I always assumed it was insanely crowded but maybe it won’t be so bad this year because of Easter being so late? Maybe I should look into March too. I’m just not sure, this is definitely the most complicated Disney trip I’ve ever attempted to plan!

 

[cel_disney]

The Star Wars run won’t be a major crowd driver (we usually run it but won’t be doing it this year!)...I would avoid the 13-20 but I think the week before and the end of the week after (maybe the 22-29 is good like you said) will be managable enough. Just remember that Passover goes until April 27th..so some schools (maybe NYC? Definitely NH) are out that week..

Most of New England except NH is the 13-19 week..

Love the April weather ...I don’t think I would love back to March unless you had other things you wanted to fit in (like baseball spring training)

 

[StacyStrong]

The Star Wars run won’t be a major crowd driver (we usually run it but won’t be doing it this year!)...I would avoid the 13-20 but I think the week before and the end of the week after (maybe the 22-29 is good like you said) will be managable enough. Just remember that Passover goes until April 27th..so some schools (maybe NYC? Definitely NH) are out that week..

Most of New England except NH is the 13-19 week..

Love the April weather ...I don’t think I would love back to March unless you had other things you wanted to fit in (like baseball spring training)

You don't think it will be? I'm running it for the first time in 2019

 

[Kazrak]

You don't think it will be? I'm running it for the first time in 2019

The parks weren't bad when I was there for the 2017 race. Not dead quiet, but nowhere near what it'll be over spring break week.

 

[JennyDrake]

All PPers are correct - April is going to be BUSY no matter when you go.... late March - mid April will be an assortment of spring breaks (that don't happen in conjunction with Easter) then you'll get into the breaks that DO happen with Easter... The very end of April is also Cheer Summit <shudder>. The Run will attract over 15K runners and some will bring their families but it still won't seem a HUGE impact compared to everything else going on.

As soon as you have an idea as to when you are going BOOK YOUR ROOM!

Rope Drop will be your new best friend.

Midday breaks will be a close second.

Weather is usually lovely!

 

[cel_disney]

We have found the weather inn april so lovely that we didn’t need mid day escapes from the heat...the Star Wars Race will impact road traffic on those mornings so plan accordingly but we have done several race weekends and crowd levels haven’t gone above a 6...the Star Wars Race tends to increase lines for launch bay photos and Star tours a bit but nothing that has ever been a show stopper.

I expect that this April will have more of a steady crowd level...