Please help with fears over Easter Week at the parks

[Xcited4Disney]

Subscribing for the great advice! Check my ticker, we'll be there too!

 

[JFrey4240]

We'll be there for Easter too and going early is very good advice. We've gone over Easter for the last several years and you do have to have a plan. Go early, swim/nap in the afternoon and head back to the parks for dinner. MK will be the most crowded park and getting there at opening is a must. For the first hour you'll be able to walk onto rides with no waiting. Very cool considering that around 11 the waits will be almost 45 minutes.

 

[magiroux]

Disney's website has MK listed for AM EMH for every morning Easter Week. We are staying off-site so we'll just get there very early and make the best of it.

 

[Synonymous]

Don't worry! You sound like you know everything you need to about beating the crowds. We've been at Easter, and this past year we tried the week after Xmas. I was so scared that we wouldn't be able to do anything, but I can honestly say that the crowds never once kept us from doing what we wanted. Everyone gets there late, so if you're at the gates before opening you won't have any trouble.

After our Xmas trip went so well, I wouldn't hesitate to go back at any busy time of year. A little bit of knowledge lets you avoid the crowds completely.

BTW, I don't want to turn this into a TGM thread, but I agree that his advice for busy seasons is well worth the cost. We followed his advice to the letter and had one of our best trips ever Xmas week.

 

[pennyplanner]

My TA says that WDW crowds have definitely returned to the pre-9/11 level. And for the New England/New York area, our spring break generally coincides with Easter week.

I too, am scared witless about Easter week at WDW but it's next year or never since oldest DS is off to college the following fall. The summer heat and humidity is just too much for me to bear and I've already yanked them twice to go Thanksgiving week. So that is not an option.

Best of luck to all you WDW vacationers going this year. We'll all be with you in spirit! ...and anxiously awaiting all your feedback when you return.

Have a fabulous time!

--penny

 

[ESN]

OK - so EVERYONE says "get there early and there will be no lines" -- If this advice is so well known - why is it not crowded in the early morning?

Is it the kind of thing that everyone says - but people don't really do??

 

[Synonymous]

Because the people who read these forums or do any research at all before going are a very small percentage of those who go to WDW. Arming yourself with even a little knowledge puts you far beyond the majority of people who will be there with you. (Do you have any idea how many people there have no idea what fastpass is?)

Also, there's a good number of those who DO hear that advice that say "Hah! I'm on vacation! No way I'm getting up early!" Foolish mortals.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

OK - so EVERYONE says "get there early and there will be no lines" -- If this advice is so well known - why is it not crowded in the early morning?

Is it the kind of thing that everyone says - but people don't really do??

Believe it or not, not everybody reads these boards. Not everyone knows it, nor is everyone willing or able to get their family out of bed and on the move that early while they're on vacation. I think you'll find that there are many who will get up early to go to an EMH a.m. park, though. That's why I avoid them during busy seasons. If you stay onsite and you're an early riser, chances are good you'll go for the EMH perk. If you stay offsite, chances are good you won't be at any gate before opening. Therefore, those early risers who hit a non-EMH park at opening are going to find an easier go of it. Tried this over and over during Christmas week, and it was amazing how empty the NON-EMH parks are at opening. Now that I've told you this, I'm afraid I'll have to kill you....

 

[Lizzybee]

I really think the only park where we effectively used early EMH was MK. The other beautiful thing about MK and Spring Break is they opened early for EMH every day we were there, plus stayed open til Midnight everynight, except for late EMH when it was open til 3am...then open again at 7am. We walked on every ride except dumbo from 7am til about 10am, then we had moderate waits and about noon it got crazy and we hopped to Epcot. If you can manage to go the morning after late EMH at MK those who stayed up late aren't likely to be up again for 7am and if they are they are true commandos. We didn't find EMH necessary at MGM or Epcot and early EMH at AK was a nightmare. I think they just don't have enough "good" rides open for early EMH, plus we went on the Saturday before Easter. I also need to say we skipped the parks on Sunday chilled by the pool, saw Minnie in her Easter Sunday dress, went to DTD then took a Wishes Cruise from WL. I think hoppers are an important tool for crowd management, that way if you find yourself in a packed park...go to another one. You'll be fine, it was totally manageable thanks to the DIS

 

[Selket]

If you think about it, I think I'd probably have to get up by 5:30-5:45 am and get the whole family up to be on the bus by 6:15 to make the EMH opening at the MK by 7 - at least to be there at rope drop. How many folks REALLY want to get up THAT early on vacation? I don't even get up that early during the work week!

I think that is why everyone is saying the mornings are less crowded. With the MK open until 3am for resort guests, many folks will take the opposite approach of going to bed late and getting up late.

 

[Disneykim]

We went at Easter time last year. We found that using the early and extended hours helped alot. We would arrive to the park that had the early hour and use fast passes for every ride we really wanted. I thought that every park was manageable except for MK. MK was always the most crowded no matter what day, and it usually started about 11:00 until the late evening hours. For MK we used the early hours and got a lot accomplished before 11:00 and when it got unbareable we headed to another park or went back to the hotel and used the pool and napped, then had late PS for dinner and went to MK to enjoy the evening with a little more room and with the idea that theres no rush, just enjoy.

 

[cody'smom]

The first year we went to WDW, we went over Easter break. We didn't have any other time to compare it it to, but we just figured that was the way WDW always was. It was crowded, but we made sure we got there early each day. The next year we also went over break also. The funny thing is I have a friend who always goes in Aug.- her husband was in orlando over spring break for business, and went to downtown disney to buy her something- told his wife all aobut how crowded it was, they would never go then...... etc. We also have been in August, and it was really hot. So either way, there are pros and cons aobut when to go. I do know that in some Northern states, they have a break in March, whether it is it Easter or not. So that might make a differnce, especially in a year like this, when Easter is late. Those people have probaly already had a spring break, which might reduce the crowds some. My theory is go when you have the opportunity!!!

 

[disneydream'n]

We are going April 8th thru April 14th... I hope we will be gone before the "huge" Easter rush hits but if not we are prepared for the crowds and we have our "must see" list... I have advised DM,DD,and DBF to be ready to get up early...... Thanks for all the great tips and please keep them coming..
18 More Days Till I Hit "WDW"

 

[Sonya]

So do you think the big rush is after Easter then? We will also be there the week before Easter. I am prepared for crowds (I have been there for Christmas and New Years). But it is nice to think that most people who have break then have it after and not before.

 

[wagonwheel2]

I too have been worrying up a storm about the Easter week, as I will be there with my DS (4) and DH for their first trip !

I then started worrying about being off site...and not being able to be in the park for the extra hour in the am.

Then I worried about which days to go, and which parks to go on which days...

After a couple of sleepless nights, I have taken the attitude that what happens happens, and I AM ON VACATION !

My strategy is to get to the park for opening times ( off site guests ), do the rides we really want first, and not worry about the little things.

All of us worriers should meet at WDW and have a drink to celebrate making it through the planning stage !

 

[Mamu]

Expect large crowds at all parks. This is one of the busiest times to go. I've been at Easter and it's a wonderful time to go but very, very busy.

As long as you've made your ADR's I wouldn't worry about it. There are wonderful parades and shows this time of year, plus the parks have extended hours.

As far ar fast pass goes it does help but sometimes even that has a long wait. Some of the popular rides will actually run out of fast passes.

Have a magical trip and just keep telling yourself it Disney and I'm lucky to be here.