Survival Guide to Spring Break: The week before Easter!

[Phillygrl23]

Welcome! I really enjoy reading others TR, so I decided to do my own. This is my first one so bear with me

We visited Disney from 4/17-4/23 stayed at Caribbean Beach resort, and managed to barely wait for anything. I know a lot of people are scared to go that time, so I am going to try and help you out (although most of you are pro's )

About me: This is my 14th trip to Disney. I work with special needs children and just got married last fall. I do all of the planning but am not obsessive over any of it. We just plan out what park we are going to and some restaurant reservations.

My DH: This is his 5th or 6th trip (I can't remember!) but our 4th trip together. We have been together for over 5 years and I made him into a Disney lover! I love it because he always mentions about planning another trip.


Overall, we had a great time. This TR will include celebrities, screaming kids and screaming parents, and being in MK at 3 am in the morning. Our only complaints were the other tourists at Disney. People never fail to amaze me (belly shirts, adults in strollers, line cutting, you know the deal) and I am sure you will enjoy my stories.

Thanks for reading and hopefully I can update soon!

 

[Einetius]

Can't wait to hear the stories about the Disney guests! Some of the stuff you see there is hysterical.

 

[Maleficent's Dad]

We've done the same week in years past, so I'm looking forward to reading your experiences!

 

[Phillygrl23]

Day 1:

We drove from Philadelphia to Disney. We have flown and driven before but this time we drove to save money. Even though it takes WAY longer and gas was about $3.80 a gallon, this was sort of a last minute trip and airfare would have been $1000 for both of us round trip (due to Easter). So we stayed over in NC/SC each way. One the way down, we just missed the tornadoes in SC but drove through massive hail and rain. So Sunday 4/17 morning, we got up super early and arrived in Disney by 8:30am! We checked in, got our tickets, room wasn't ready so we left our luggage at Bell Hop and were in Magic Kingdom by 9:30am. It was not busy at all (I would say a 6 or 7 at most). Peter Pan and Space Mountain were the 2 longest waits, but we were able to do Splash, BTM, HM, IASM, SWSA, People Mover, the Train and Carousel of Progress all before 12pm. We also ate at Cosmic Rays and used the 25% off Coupon. The crowds started to pick up, so we headed to the boardwalk since we knew it would be less crowded while we waited for our room to be ready.

Some pictures of MK:

When we first got there, walked through the rose garden and had it all to ourselves:

Took this when we were leving at about 12.

We did the People Mover last and this was the line for Space Mountain:

FP were still available, but we knew we weren't going to stay long.




We walked through Epcot to get to the boardwalk, and let me tell you, we were sweating by the time we got there!!

After checking out the boardwalk, we walked back through EPCOT. Test Track was only a 30 minute wait at about 4pm. So we got in line We only did that one ride, browsed some shops in Epcot and left at about 6pm. Our room was ready. We were in the Jamaica Building, close to a bus stop We wanted to go to bed early to be up in time for AK opening. We ate a quick dinner at Old Port Royale:

and were in bed by 10pm (that is really early for us).

Today was the only day we just kinda winged it. I knew MK would only get worse as the week went on, so that's how we decided to go there first (plus Disney IS MK ). The strategies and planning began tomorrow!

 

[heaven2dc]

Great first day! We love the boardwalk area (have stayed at BWV 4 times - rented points 3x's and saved bundles of $$). We hope to stay at Beach Club next trip - hard to venture to another resort after staying so close to Epcot

Can't wait to hear about day 2!

 

[Jazzabelle508]

I'm in I went for Easter in 2008 and I enjoyed it a lot! Glad you ended up missing the tornadoes! That must have been scary driving through the hail and heavy rain though. I love staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort. My favorite spot in that entire resort is where they have the hammocks. whenever I stay there I make it a priority to go and spend some time there. I also really enjoyed your pictures of the magic kingdom! can't wait to hear more and it sounds like you were super productive that first day.

 

[Maleficent's Dad]

Successful first day! Glad you missed that insane weather in SC. You got quite a bit done in the MK. I can't wait to return to my beloved Boardwalk! Love the pic of the BW.