Sorry - another Easter week question

[Lorix2]

Why is Easter such a big deal at Disney?

Why will Easter have such a tremendous impact on crowds - is there something special planned at the parks??

We will be offsite at the MGV April 19-26th. We plan on 1 day at a water park and we've never seen Fantasmic or Spectromagic. That was the priority this trip. Last April we only dealt with the school vacation crowd and it was very managable. Tell me I'm not wasting our time? It's the only week we can go. What do you experts suggest for this time frame as a plan for the 2 night attractions?

Thanks - who else is planning on being @ Disney that week?

Lori

 

[B3LM]

Hi Lori,

We were there last year for Easter break. We also stayed off-site. It was absolutely packed, but we had a great time! Be sure to use fastpass as much as possible and hit the non-fastpass, popular rides early in the morning.

Fantasmic - We did both shows on one of the nights we were there. The first show, we arrived 90-120 minutes early and got a seat, but the theatre was completely full at 60 minutes before the show. We walked into the second show about 20 minutes before it started and there were still plenty of seats! (I think the second show was at 10:00 or 10:30pm.)

Let me know if you have any other questions.
Beth

 

[Disney Dude]

Easter Day was packed last year. They did close some of the parks due to capacity, but they reopened them later in the day.
We still had a great time, but it was a little crowed that week. We either did things very early, or later at night when some people started to leave for the day. Just allow yourself plenty of time, and have patience.

 

[Ballybunion3]

Actually, there doesn't seem to be much of anything about Easter that's a big deal at WDW - it's just that it seems that everyone has that week off, and heads for the World!

We were there last Easter, and it was unbelievably crowded. I think everyone who had put off their post Sept 11 plans said the heck with it and went to WDW that week.

Having said that, we got up early (there was no EE), and did everything we wanted from opening til around noon, then went back to the hotel for a swim/lunch/nap. Then we went back to the parks in the late afternoon.

One word of warning: MK is absolute gridlock from about 11AM on for the entire week. I strongly recommend you avoid the EE day (at all the parks for that matter, since you are staying off-site), and when you do go to MK, be there an hour before opening and get to the rope drop first thing (whichever land you want to go to). We had no problems doing several rides with virtually no wait up until about 11AM. Get fastpasses first thing and you'll have no problem getting on all the major rides. I would budget two non-EE mornings for MK so you can do everything you want. The problem is, there's no place to move by noon - literally. It's almost scary. And we went back a couple of evenings - same thing (only scarier). You could try to see Spectromagic in Frontierland, then stay for the fireworks, and hightail it outa there for one evening.

The other parks were very manageable, as long as you have a plan & know where you're going & what you want to do. I would recommend the 2nd showing of Fantasmic (much less crowded, and you can do rides at MGM while all the other lemmings (like us last year) are in line for the first show.

EPCOT was no problem whatsoever. Same for AK.

Bottom line: we had a great time, and were able to do everything we wanted to do at least a couple of times in a week. But for a novice who did no planning, WDW would swallow you whole and spit you out during that week. Oh, by the way, MK and MGM and the water parks were closed each day as early as 11AM due to being full capacity. If you're going the week after Easter, you MUST be prepared to wake up early to get ahead of the crowds.
Otherwise - you will be dealing with the most hellish crowds you have ever seen.

Any other questions, please ask

 

[Lorix2]

Thank you everybody for responding. Yikes - I'm a little nervous now - but last trip nobody would get out of bed before 9 AM! I had to crack the whip! LOL!

I think we will definitely have to plan strategically. I appreciate your advice and hearing your experiences.

Lori

 

[Pinnie]

Lori,

You have received good advice in the previous posts. We were there last Easter week and it WAS gridlock at the MK most of the week.

As to WHY it is so popular...all I can say is last year Easter was early...end of March...and those of us in the north were ready to beat it to someplace WARM and Orlando didn't disappoint. The weather that week was incredible. I also believe that the pent up post 9/11 travelers were ready to go by March.

We'll be back this year again...wouldn't miss it for anything! We already have our BCV booked, our plane tickets on SWA, and our priority seating made for Easter morning at Boma's.

Enjoy your planning!

pin
remember the magic
DVC/BCVs 2002

 

[yecats]

Hi Lori,

When I was a teenager, we hit the parks for the 4th of July (back in the 80's - park did have to close due to size of crowds). After that experience, I will never go to one of the parks on any holiday. Everyone wants to be there then and I realized that although I love WDW, I didn't like standing in lines for 1 1/2 hours. After 12 hours your lucky to have ridden 8 rides. The good news is at least they will have Fastpass for you. Be warned, they will probably run out early. Also, pick out your spot for the parade and show at least one hour before they are to begin. Most of the Dislovers already know this and will be in place holding spots for family members. Make the best of your time, be patient and you'll have a great time.

P.S. (Two things), if you get fastpasses, be sure to use them as if you don't turn use them during the appointed time, you will not be allowed another one that day. Second, you may want to make a later lunch ressie at one of the nicer rest. to give yourselves a nice comfortable break mid day. Should you wish to do, make ressies soon as they are probably going fast.

Wishing you and yours many safer adventures in the New Year.

 

[Jillpie]

We'll be there that week too! We'll also be at the BCV's and POR. Plan ahead. Can't stress that enough. We already have our daily itinerary done and are planning on using an early entry almost every day. They are fantastic! Also, if you are even thinking of going to any of the restaurants, CALL NOW for your ps's and start your schedule. Things are filling fast already. We are a family of five and I called for a table for lunch at San Angel and we got the last table, and we aren't even going till April!!! So I am very excited, but just be prepared and you will have a ball that week! We'll be at the Yacht Club Galley for Easter morning and Cape May Cafe for dinner, can't wait!

 

[B3LM]

P.S. (Two things), if you get fastpasses, be sure to use them as if you don't turn use them during the appointed time, you will not be allowed another one that day.

I've never heard of that. We've had passes that we didn't use and were still able to get another one when our time came.

 

[Ballybunion3]

I agree - the FASTPASS thing that yecats advised is not accurate.

In fact, if you get a FASTPASS, and your time rolls around, you can get ANOTHER FASTPASS fo another ride! (Don't want too many people to know this LOL!

Not using a FASTPASS will not affect you in any way, other than missing your opportunity to ride it during that time slot.

Lorix2, having read your followup post, I would advise you to hold a family meeting and come to some kind of agreement that you will all commit to being early risers for that week! It may sound ridiculous (particularly if you have teenagers), but I can't emphasise enough the need to get ahead of the crowds. That is, of course, assuming you want to ride most of the rides. If you just want to walk around, see characters, shop, and see some shows, then you don't really need to get there that early. But you still need to get to the parks by about 10:30 to ensure that you don't get shut out of a park due to overcrowding.....

And I don't want to be too negative here - I want to reiterate that we had a FANTASTIC time during Easter Week and did absolutely everything we wanted to do, plus we swam a lot at the resort pool, got PSs for Cinderella's Breakfast, etc. We just planned and were committed to rising early and getting ahead of the crowds. We also had our 3 teenagers with us, and if they wanted to sleep in, we let them, but they had to pay the consequenses (and they did).

 

[Synonymous]

What is considered "Easter Week"? The week leading up to, or the week after? Are we really talking about "Easter Two Weeks?"

We're going the weekend before Easter and getting out on the Friday of Easter weekend. I'm assuming that crowds will start to grow as you get closer, peak on Easter Sunday, then start to thin out again. Is that right?

 

[Ballybunion3]

Well, I think we are talking about the week starting Easter Sunday (20-26 April).

All I can tell you about is my experience last year: Friday before Easter (Good Friday) was not bad at all at MK, and we arrived there around 5 PM. We were able to do most of what we wanted that night. Saturday before Easter at MK (morning) was not bad at all. AK that afternoon was no problem. MK the rest of the week, though was gridlock (no let-up through Thursday).

The other parks were manageable.

I would count on big crowds the week before Easter, and if they're lighter than you expect, you'll be pleasantly surprised!


In any case - don't worry too much about it; just make a solid plan and have a wonderful time! If you are like us, we had no choice but to go at a peak time due to school commitments. Just make the best of it, have some patience, and enjoy the magic. Look at it this way - the park hours are much longer, so I would say it evens out.

 

[Synonymous]

Thanks for the encouraging response. You hit it on the head- DD is in school now, so not much choice when we go anymore. It's nice to hear something positive, there's such a disparity in opinions on this time. Some people say you'll have a great time, others say "it's hell, don't go!"

 

[Dismom63]

We always go at Easter and have a great time!! For us, a huge part of the expereince is the weather. It is BEAUTIFUL then. Especially since we have 4 feet of snow on the ground right now!

 

[Lorix2]

Ballybunion - I found your posts anything but negative. It's good to hear what yours and others experiences have been and knowing that can only help me plan a little tighter.

I agree about making a commitment to what we expect to do that day. My kids are only 10 and 5 but they do sleep like teenagers, I have to really pry them out of bed.

Our intentions this trip is to relax a little more but still take in the things we didn't see or do last time - like Fantasmic & Spectromagic. So since they are night time events, we can stroll at our own pace and do what we want, like you said.

I'll have to find out which days are EE and avoid those right? THen I can pick a day for a waterpark.

Dismom63 - I agree the weather is just superb, we couldn't believe just how wonderful the climate was.

Jillpie - You've really got me thinking I need to nail down a day for a Fantasmic dinner package if I don't want to stand forever waiting to get seats. I'll have to look into that - I think it changed again.

Thanks again all - I'm really looking forward to our trip.

 

[Ballybunion3]

Lorix2,

I didn't realize you hadn't done Fantasmic - it's an absolute must!

If I was to do it again, I would probably try for the dinner package PS at MGM so you only have to wait about 30 minutes for the show. Despite what you may read in other posts, I really don't think there's a bad seat in the house (except Standing room Only!). So with the dinner package, you don't have to wait as long, you get a nice meal and ensure yourself a seat.

Prediction - you will be blown away by Fantasmic. Let us know how you liked it when you get back.

Have a wonderful trip! I'm jealous....

 

[Lorix2]

Ballybunion3 - yes, can you believe it? I think I'm the only DIS'er that hasn't seen it.

I've heard it's not to be missed. We only have 2 days left on our passes and want to make the most of them. (we have 3 plus options left for the waterparks also)

I'll have to read up on the Fantasmic booking policy after the 31st of January, there's alot of conflicting info out there right now...I'll wait to see then if the old system comes back or they continue with this new one. I hate to pay so much for a dinner just to see a free show without hassle, but I guess considering the time/crowds they expect - that we are going to be there, it will be money well spent to avoid the stress of trying to get in the seating area after waiting and waiting...

Hope the food is good!

I'd be happy to let you know how we liked it Your posts are very encouraging and I feel alot better about what to expect. When I booked this trip, I never even thought that Easter would coincide with it.

Thanks again !

Lori

 

[Ballybunion3]

Just realized - you're from New Hampsha?

I was born & raised there, and my DD was born there. Long suffering Sox fan, but the Patriots Superbowl win eased a lot of our pain, and that will last a while

Anyway, from one New Hampshire native to another, have a wonderful trip.