The week after Easter crowd levels?

[Son of Gadsden]

We booked yesterday for April 25-29th just as a quick trip. We passed on Easter week because of crowds. I've seen the projected crowd calenders and all, but has anyone been the week after and seen what kind of crowds we're talking about? We normally go at low crowd times like the first week of December.

 

[tattooed princess]

We're going to be there at the same time! The last time we were there at the end of April (around the 23rd on), the crowds were not all that bad. MK was busy but for the Sunday we arrived but beyond that, rides were pretty easy to get on, and we're late risers.

Hoping for good weather in April!

 

[FLchick415]

I'll be there that weekend as well! 26th-28th. I've heard that because Easter falls so late in the month, that the crowds *shouldn't* be that bad, but...only time will tell.

 

[mcd2745]

We'll be there Apr 21-27. We also went the week after Easter last year. I'm cautiously optimistic that it will be a lot better this year.

It seems a majority of school districts whose spring breaks are not tied to Easter have their breaks either the last week of March or first week of April. So when Easter falls during that time period - like last year, March 31 - you also get the schools whose breaks are tied to Easter all having breaks at the same time. Last year, the week before Easter was supposedly insane with capacity closures at MK every day. When we were there the following week, it was pretty bad, but managable and improved as the week went on, and not nearly as bad as the previous week.

So while it will certainly be above-average crowds, it shouldn't be brutal as it would seem the breaks are a lot more spread out this year (and the threads/polls asking when your spring break is - both for 2013 & 2014 - appears to confirm this).

 

[Son of Gadsden]

Hoping it won't be too bad.

Hate hate hate crowds.

And I'm allergic to fastpasses.

 

[nadiat]

im gonna be there too! Wanna share some of our plans? Can do it in PM (if you don't want it on the thread)

 

[4forMe]

Your week should not be crowded based on the 2014 Spring Break poll:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3097610

 

[GovieMom]

The two weeks surrounding Easter Sunday have always had high crowd levels, no matter when Easter falls. Based on park hours, extra MSEPs and Fantasmic shows that week, this year will be no exception. Too many school breaks are tied to Easter, not to mention the enormous amount of foreign visitors, and others who visit in April before the summer heat arrives.

 

[ptcbass]

We have always had to go in the summer when it is crowded. This year we get to go in the spring so we also picked a not so crowded week based on the crowd calendar (May 5th) and are super excited to go during a "off" time.
Well then Disney released the Spring Promotion and now all of a sudden the rooms are booked and the dining reservations are hard to get. So I hope I am wrong but I think it is going to be busy anyway.
I don't want to put a damper on things but I just wanted to give you a heads up just in case. To be sure it still won't be as crowded as the summer

 

[Son of Gadsden]

We have always had to go in the summer when it is crowded. This year we get to go in the spring so we also picked a not so crowded week based on the crowd calendar (May 5th) and are super excited to go during a "off" time.
Well then Disney released the Spring Promotion and now all of a sudden the rooms are booked and the dining reservations are hard to get. So I hope I am wrong but I think it is going to be busy anyway.
I don't want to put a damper on things but I just wanted to give you a heads up just in case. To be sure it still won't be as crowded as the summer

Yeah, I thought the same thing. I had second thoughts this morning and tried to book the first weekend of May, pretty much your dates. Checked Expedia, Orbitz, CheapTickets, Travelocity, and Disney. No values available, and moderates are super booked. Crowd calendars say it's supposed to be way low crowds...not looking like it. It's looking much more busy than my week if you're basing it on Disney resort crowds. Hoping both of our trips will work out the way we want though!

 

[ptcbass]

Yeah, I thought the same thing. I had second thoughts this morning and tried to book the first weekend of May, pretty much your dates. Checked Expedia, Orbitz, CheapTickets, Travelocity, and Disney. No values available, and moderates are super booked. Crowd calendars say it's supposed to be way low crowds...not looking like it. It's looking much more busy than my week if you're basing it on Disney resort crowds. Hoping both of our trips will work out the way we want though!

I hope so too! We have been planning going during the "off" times for some time and we finally picked a date and planned it and were so excited.
Oh well, if it is busy I am sure we will still manange to have fun. At least it won't be 100 degrees at 7:30 in the morning catching the bus.
Nothing like starting the day out with sweat running down your back.

For the first time we are doing WDW in 3 days.
Then we are taking a Disney cruise for 3 days. So far so good with the cruise. There are still LOTS of staterooms left. Maybe that will make up for our crowded days at WDW.

Have a good trip!

 

[Son of Gadsden]

I hope so too! We have been planning going during the "off" times for some time and we finally picked a date and planned it and were so excited.
Oh well, if it is busy I am sure we will still manange to have fun. At least it won't be 100 degrees at 7:30 in the morning catching the bus.
Nothing like starting the day out with sweat running down your back.

For the first time we are doing WDW in 3 days.

Same as us. Last time we went during high crowds was our honeymoon on June 16th, 2012. Ever since, since we have no kids, we just target low crowd times to go (plus it's so much cheaper!). This is our first time doing Disney in 3 days as well. No cruise for us, but it was kind of a last minute trip where it's DWs birthday and we had some miles on our credit card to fly. We live in VA, so driving 10 hours there and back for a couple days isn't worth it, and we don't want to spend a week of our vacation time at work.

 

[mcd2745]

Your week should not be crowded based on the 2014 Spring Break poll:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3097610

It's interesting to compare it to last year to see the difference a late Easter makes:


http://www.www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2886346&highlight=spring+break+2013

 

[GovieMom]

Easywdw is showing the week after Easter as having crowd levels of 8s and 7s. As he tends to underestimate crowd levels, you'll need to have a good touring plan and all FP+s in place. Forewarned is forearmed; best of luck.

 

[2Tiggies]

We've been there over Easter week and the week after, twice. Last time was in 2009 so much may have changed now. The Monday and Tuesday after Easter were still really busy but the insanity feel to the crowds started to dip significantly during the rest of the week. Now the week after was really quiet.

Trouble is, crowd patterns at Disney seem more unpredictable then ever right now - at best.

 

[vikster1]

In my area, schools are split between the week before and the week after Easter. The past five years we've been there on Easter and the week after. Its crowded, but isnt Disney always crowed. lol Some wait times were between 90-120 minutes. Take advantage of the EMH and fast passes. The lines are always moving so it doesn't feel that long.

 

[Manders77]

Also, Cheer and Dance Worlds are the weekend after Easter. Girls will start to arrive mid week with competitions going on through the weekend. Cheer is at Wide World of Sports and Dance is at Epcot. My God-daughter's dance and cheer teams will be there.

 

[ptcbass]

Same as us. Last time we went during high crowds was our honeymoon on June 16th, 2012. Ever since, since we have no kids, we just target low crowd times to go (plus it's so much cheaper!). This is our first time doing Disney in 3 days as well. No cruise for us, but it was kind of a last minute trip where it's DWs birthday and we had some miles on our credit card to fly. We live in VA, so driving 10 hours there and back for a couple days isn't worth it, and we don't want to spend a week of our vacation time at work.

Yeah to say the least we have 3 very busy days ahead of us. It sure would help if the lines weren't so long.