Trying to Decide between January and Easter

[Familyof05]

Hi everyone - I'm hoping to get some advice from all of you Disney experts. Trying to decide between going January 2-9 or March 30-April 7, which would include Easter weekend and then the week after. I'm seeing conflicting information on crowd calendars. 3 daughters - 10, 9, and 7 who have never been to WDW. Thanks for any and all advice!

 

[Robo]

January.

 

[Lothlórien]

January = cooler weather, lower crowds, shorter park hours

March/April = Insane crowds, nice weather, more park hours


I would choose January, but that is just me.

 

[loves to dive]

See, I'd go April. The weather is almost perfect, the rains haven't started yet, it's not horrible hot and F&G is going on at Epcot. We were there during Spring Break in early March this year and didn't find the crowds horrible. We were there the week before Christmas last year and it was just too cold for us (we are from Georgia).

 

[Familyof05]

Thanks for the opinions! I'm starting to lean towards Easter weekend and the week after as the kids have more time off school then. Just worried about crowds.

 

[HopperFan]

Thanks for the opinions! I'm starting to lean towards Easter weekend and the week after as the kids have more time off school then. Just worried about crowds.

BOTH those weeks will be crowded. Many schools, about a half a million alone where I live, have off that week in January ... and WDW is a top destination. We used to go that week each year until the crowds drove us away. That is also the week leading up to the Marathon weekend ... and when it hits with school vacations many families come as a whole instead of just runners. It will be the beginning of winter holidays in many South American countries.

I actually was in WDW this year the April week you are talking about (spring break in our area) and I didn't think it was anywhere as bad as I expected. I go every January and I will say the April weather was much nicer, the hours were way better and if I had to choose between the two weeks you listed .... I would pick April.

 

[Robo]

I actually was in WDW this year the April week you are talking about (spring break in our area) and I didn't think it was anywhere as bad as I expected.

Easter was April 16 in 2017.
Easter will be April 1, in 2018.

If that coincides with many Spring Break dates... oops!

 

[EverafterKat]

January is the best! Amazing weather low crowds. Some things are closed for refurbishment but the low crowds makes it worth it.

 

[HopperFan]

Easter was April 16 in 2017.
Easter will be April 1, in 2018.

If that coincides with many Spring Break dates... oops!

True, I am talking about a big spring break week - first week of April. Public schools are not supposed to tie spring break to Easter, and guess most are the same week every year, tied more to testing and end dates. Metro ATL with many mega school systems are almost all out that week every year.

Will Easter impact it? Maybe for the schools that will tie the break to Easter. I still think the crowds will be comparable since the January week is also a big school break, and colleges haven't returned yet plus Marathon week.

January is the best! Amazing weather low crowds. Some things are closed for refurbishment but the low crowds makes it worth it.

January is a great month, I go each year ........... except for week OP is talking about. That is a holiday week.

Just saying I don't think crowds will be different enough that I would pick based on that. I would look at other factors.

 

[kmv]

January, everyone I know goes on Easter bc so many schools have their spring breaks that week.