Tips for dealing with Easter Week?

[bopper]

We are going to WDW the week before Easter...I know, I know...but we had been there last August and had left over tickets, so I said "How about Spring Break in Disney?" So I know it will be crowded, but then again we were in Epcot on New Year's Eve going into 2000 and NOTHING can beat how crowded that was (they were turning away non-resort guests from the Epcot Parking Lot at 7:30am)...Anyway, it's been a while since we have dealt with crowds...any tips with dealing with Spring Break Crowds? We have already made our ADRs (after last August and the free dining plan we learned that lesson!).

 

[disneydream'n]

I would also like some tips... We are leaving in 2 days... See ya down there...

 

[MyTwoGirls9803]

(they were turning away non-resort guests from the Epcot Parking Lot at 7:30am)...Anyway, it's been a while since we have dealt with crowds...any tips with dealing with Spring Break Crowds?
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OMG... That makes me so nervous. We are arriving on Saturday, and starting at the parks on Monday. We are staying in a time share, and it would break mine and my kids hearts if we couldn't get in. It's their first time going...
We plan on getting there first thing in the morning.

 

[brentalex]

We will be going Easter week, 9 days actually . We try to use the morning EMH whenever we can. Try to get to the park as close to the EMH opening as possible. You can get a lot done since some people don't want to get up early. We also use fastpass as much as we can, it saves time. We always get park hopper tickets and move from park to park if the crowds get bad. And finally we are always willing to change our plans if need be. Line too long for what we want to go on, then try something else. the night time EMH did not exist the last time we were there, so I am not sure if we want to take advantage of that or not. Seems like it could be crowded. Although since we are staying at the contemporary, I figure if it is 2AM and I am awake, and the MK has night time EMH, I can always walk over and see what is happening

 

[bopper]

(they were turning away non-resort guests from the Epcot Parking Lot at 7:30am)...

Just to note, that was New Year's Eve of "The Millenium" (1999 into 2000) so that is not a normal occurrence!!!

 

[lovinpoohbear]

Hi we will be there the 12th through 18th I know to expect many crowds but as far as getting up early for emh- example mk opens at 7 am. Anyone else have experience with this? During Easter? I would hate to wake up at 5 30am, hop on a bus at 6 30 and have crowds!!!

 

[ssdeverell]

We arrived the day after Easter last year. Yes, it is very crowded, but as long as you have a plan, you will be fine. You really do need to be there at opening, and that does mean 6:45 for MK. We had around 250-300 others there with us last year, but FL was empty for the first hour. I also tried to make sure that we used Fast Pass as much as possible, and we tried to do everything in one area before moving to another one in all parks. It took longer to walk somewhere than it did to wait in line. Also, if there are 2 or even 3 SpectroMagics/Fantasmics, etc, stay for the late one. Take a break in the afternoon. Have fun!!

 

[investgirlmd]

We are going April 12-18th and its our First Time. I know its going to be crazy but, I figured its still better than being at work or home.

We plan on using EMH and I have made all my ADR's.

Have a great time everyone!

 

[mdoc]

We were there for Easter week last year. It was crowded, but not unbearable. There were a few days when MK filled to capacity, if that gives you some idea of the crowds. The best thing we did was to get to the parks early (as in when they opened, not a minute later). We took advantage of the EMH at Magic Kingdom, since they had it every single morning (7AM!). We went to MGM for the morning EMH and it was packed. In retrospect I would have picked a non-EMH day to go there. We also went to an EMH evening at Epcot and IMO it was a waste of time because the lines were so long. Better to have gone to bed and been fresh to hit the parks bright and early the next morning. We also took advantage of FastPass. We grabbed Fastpasses as often as we could and did not wait in the standby line for any attraction that had a Fastpass option. But the most important tip is to start early. It is amazing what you can get accomplished in the first hour a park is open. During Easter week there will be a lot of people in the park then, but not nearly as many as will be there later in the day.

You might also consider signing up for TourGuideMike or something like that to get tips for touring the parks during that crowded time.

 

[bashful4u]

I would suggest the following:

1. Have a plan - don't try to wing it - you'll waste too much time!

2. Definitely plan to attend the park which has early morning EMH. You can get so much done!

3. Utilize Fastpass whenever possible.

4. Make sure you have ADRs for the restaurants you would like to eat at.

5. Have a wonderful vacation & remember to have some downtime.

Enjoy your trip!!!!!!

 

[minnymi]

mdoc,

since you were there last week at MK where it has 7 A.M. EMH opening, can you tell me what time does Toontown, Frontierland, and Adventureland open? I assume Fantasyland and Tomorrowland open at 7, Frontierland and Adventureland open at 8, and Toontown open at 9. Am I right?

thanks....

 

[frankenpooh]

I also recommend getting Tour Guide Mike. I was nervous about the peak season crowds (we went last week), and I felt his service really helped me plan. He has a section on touring during high crowd weeks. There's a lot of reading, so get it ASAP if you want it. It was well worth the $18.95 to me (and I'm notoriously cheap!).

Have a great trip!

 

[Avalanche]

We will be there 4/15-22. We plan on being at the parks for morning EMH. We will get as much done as we can before it gets too bad. We have been several times before so we just plan on going on our favorites. We are not planning much night time in the parks. We are going to take it easy at night, swim, minigolf, go to the boardwalk, campfire at FW. Things like that. I figure since we will be up at 5 or 6 each morning, we'll be ready to crash by 9 or 10.

We only have one ADR inside a park for one dinner (Japan) at 7:00. So we will probibly hang around after for Illuminations. I made a point not to make dinner ADR's inside the parks just in case they close to capicity and if we left for a break we couldn't get back in.

 

[mdoc]

Minnymi, from what I recall from last year, you are correct. Toontown opens at 9, Frontierland and Adventureland open at 8 when the park opens to the general public, certain attractions in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland open at 7 (not all!) and the rest of the attractions in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland open at 8. Of course there are always some attractions that have different hours than the rest of the park, no matter where located, but they'll be listed on your times guide.