The week after Easter??

[cjparker0110]

In 2017 we are doing a huge WDW trip with my entire extended family for my parents 60th anniversary. My mom has always love Disney and decided that's what she wants to do and wants to go in either March or April to enjoy the Epcot Flower and Garden thing. Anyway, she has decided that she wants to go the week after Easter. I believe she means flying down there the day after. Just wondering what some of you veterans think of that week. Is it crazy busy? Is that considered peak/holiday? Or is that a good time to go? Thanks in advance!

 

[Alesia]

The weeks just before and just after Easter are insanely busy. The week after Easter is traditionally the second busiest week of the year - just a hair less busy than Christmas week. The week before Easter follows very closely behind.

I would encourage your mom to choose a different week during the flower and garden festival - preferably as far from Easter as possible.

 

[happymommy]

I totally agree. We go around that time, only due to my DD's spring break (DS is now in college).

If I had flexibility, I'd choose the last week of F&G festival if you can. I don't know how late it runs, but early May would be ideal. Nice warm (even hot) weather, and less crowds.

Also, do your planning well in advance. I've taken large groups a few times, and it presents many challenges. Many folks love doing a trip with a large group, but I won't again. It's a lot of work in planning, but having something like a club level would be a nice spluge (to have somewhere to relax together, grab breakfast early, have a drink and snacks in the afternoon/evening).

Just make sure everyone is clear on their budget and what they want to do and see. Make one person the planner, and have fun planning!

BTW, for my 25th anniversary (also 2017) I'll probably plan a special trip and definitely would do club level again! Probably just me and DH if we do that though, as DD will be starting college that year and DS will be a college junior.

 

[cjparker0110]

Thanks guys. I was thinking that was a bad time to go. Most of them will be staying at SOG. Because of the size of my family (2 adults, 4 kids) we are electing to stay in a suite at AoA (plus I'm sure the kids will like that MUCH better because of their ages!). My understanding is that the majority of the time will be a free for all with just a few planned rendezvous times so everyone can do their own thing without hindering everyone else. However, with that said, I'm not sure that I want to spend the crazy pricing that goes along with holiday periods! Let alone deal with the crowds. My kids aren't used to crowds as it is (small towns are wonderful!). But a near Christmas crowd is not what I want...I've seen that before!

 

[d-train]

I've been the week after Easter on 3 occasions. Loved every trip! With that said, fp+, ADRs, and planning are your friends to work through the crowds... Get to parks early. Take a mid day break at the pool when crowds peak, then go back to the parks to close them. The crowds mid day are rough. Or make your ADRs around 3-4 pm, and never see those rough peaks that way... When you plan some shopping time, factor in time for lines at the check out counters. They will take longer than you think. Every one, including you, will want to ship items to their resort or homes, which takes a fair amount of time to complete the paperwork... Always catches me off gaurd...

 

[cjparker0110]

I've been the week after Easter on 3 occasions. Loved every trip! With that said, fp+, ADRs, and planning are your friends to work through the crowds... Get to parks early. Take a mid day break at the pool when crowds peak, then go back to the parks to close them. The crowds mid day are rough. Or make your ADRs around 3-4 pm, and never see those rough peaks that way... When you plan some shopping time, factor in time for lines at the check out counters. They will take longer than you think. Every one, including you, will want to ship items to their resort or homes, which takes a fair amount of time to complete the paperwork... Always catches me off gaurd...

I guess I didn't mention that we will have a group somewhere around 20 people and my immediate family will consist of 4 kids 6&under at the time...my niece has two kids that will be around 5&6. I think it is more for the sake of the kids that I want to avoid this period. I would prefer for them not to get cranky because they are in large crowds and long lines for everything. Don't get me wrong, I expect lines and crowds. I just don't want to spend the money to go during a time that has insane crowds!

 

[d-train]

It is a busy time, with that large of a group, you have a perfect storm for planning. Each of my Easter break trips were with a large group too, 20+ each time, but we separated into smaller groups for almost all of the planning. Just a few large group meet ups and events, but the TA took care of those few items for us...I didn't need to worry past myself and another...

Good luck if you try! Still, a week at Disney is still a week away from the world!

 

[SaintsManiac]

We are going the week after Easter in 2017! I've been for spring break before and it was a blast. We didn't have long waits and really enjoyed the evening EMH.

 

[hiroMYhero]

If you wait a full week after Easter, the crowds will have lessened. This year, I flew in the Sunday after Easter and enjoyed the parks for a full 10 days. Flower and Garden wasn't busy at all. I recall being one of only 3 people wandering around the butterfly enclosure.

With a group your size, planning for a less crowded week would be best.

 

[cjparker0110]

Good luck if you try! Still, a week at Disney is still a week away from the world!

I couldn't agree with you more here. Even a busy week at WDW is much better than the real world. I keep trying to explain to my life the transformation that takes place when you walk through the gates of the Magic Kingdom. I always feel like a kid again!

If you wait a full week after Easter, the crowds will have lessened. This year, I flew in the Sunday after Easter and enjoyed the parks for a full 10 days. Flower and Garden wasn't busy at all. I recall being one of only 3 people wandering around the butterfly enclosure.

With a group your size, planning for a less crowded week would be best.

I think what my mom is worried about is my niece's kids (who will be about 5-7 I think at the time). She doesn't want her to have to pull her kids out of school. We will be homeschooling so it doesn't matter for us. That said, I think at the age it doesn't matter that much if they are out of school for a few days. I'll have to talk to my niece and see how she feels about it. If that's what is really influencing her decision then I want to make sure my niece knows the crowd levels!

 

[Alesia]

I think what my mom is worried about is my niece's kids (who will be about 5-7 I think at the time). She doesn't want her to have to pull her kids out of school. We will be homeschooling so it doesn't matter for us. That said, I think at the age it doesn't matter that much if they are out of school for a few days. I'll have to talk to my niece and see how she feels about it. If that's what is really influencing her decision then I want to make sure my niece knows the crowd levels!

Well, that's a horse of a different color. I'd leave it up to your niece. I wouldn't mention that you don't think it's a big deal to miss school for vacation.

 

[cjparker0110]

Well, that's a horse of a different color. I'd leave it up to your niece. I wouldn't mention that you don't think it's a big deal to miss school for vacation.

Haha...I won't mention that. I just want her to know the crowd levels. She and her hubby are very money conscious like we are. I know she won't want to spend a ton of money for this trip to find themselves unable to do much. She has only been once before and it was in September (she got out of school for it...haha). I just want her to have all available so she can decide what she would like to do. I think my mom hasn't suggested the idea of pulling them out of school. If that is an option, it is my niece's to make. If it isn't, that's fine.