Trying To Plan a 2006 Easter trip - who was there in 2005?

[Lorelai]

For those who did DisneyWorld this year at Easter, here is my question -

Is Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter, more or less crowded than the week following Easter? I'm guessing Easter weekend is a madhouse, but I'm wondering about the weekdays preceeding and following. Thanks!

 

[206bones]

bump!

 

[KittyKitty]

I went to WDW last year during our spring break which was Easter week also.

It was busy from Thurs(when we arrived) before thru the week after. All the information I got says that the week before and the week after are busy.

So just get up early, take a afternoon break, and go back in the evenings!!

Have a great time.

Susan

 

[Lizzybee]

We were there this Easter, both before and after. We got there the Thursday before and left the Wednesday after. It seemed to get more crowded as the days went by. Despite the fact that there were alot of people around, we didn't have to really wait in line more than 20-30 mins, and even that was only once or twice. We found that early EMH was essential for MK. We got there a bit before 7am and were done with all we wanted to do there by 2pm, then we hopped a monorail to Epcot. The day before Easter, we had a PS for the character breakfast at AK (which I thought was ok but not something we'll do again). It was the early EMH day at AK that day and our bus was a bit late getting us there. Unlike MK, I found the early EMH to be basically useless at AK, about 85-90% of the people run straight back to the Safari ride. I guess it was our original plan too, but I ended up grabbing FPs for us and then going to the breakfast. We didn't use EMH at MGM or Epcot, but they didn't seem too crowded. I will say we didn't go on any "big rides" since I'm the only thrill / coaster rider and when I walked up to RnR the wait there would have been 100 mins. It's ok I get my 'big ride' fix at Six Flags where I have a season's pass. We enjoy doing more family rides at WDW. Before we left I was sooo worried because they said it was Spring Break for a bunch of schools around Orlando and the surrounding counties and they were expecting record crowds. We had no problems doing everything we wanted to do in about 5 1/2 days in the parks. We also managed to relax, take a fabulous Wishes cruise, and see all the nighttime shows and Spectromagic. I hope this helps!

 

[Lorelai]

Thank you - that is definitely a big help. One more question - What did you do on Easter Sunday? What was crowd level like on that day in particular?

 

[Lizzybee]

We had breakfast at the resort on Easter Sunday then walked to POFQ to meet Minnie Mouse in her Easter Sunday dress and swim for an hour or two. Then we caught a boat to DTD, shopped and ate at Earl of Sandwich. Then we caught a bus to WL where we had the most wonderful Wishes Cruise. So we didn't go to any parks that day so I don't know how crowded they were.

 

[joannwalton12]

We had our Easter Dinner at the Beach and Yacht Club. It was just great! They gave each child a plate with various colors of frosting and serveral white and chocolate candy eggs to decorate. They loved doing this as we waited for our dinners. We did make PS and used our dining plan too. The waiter could not do enough for us. It was so special! I loved being there at Easter. I love the crowds. We used fastpast frequently and never waited long for a ride about 30 minutes. Magic Kingdom was the busiest place so I am glad we went Tuesday and Wednesday before Easter. On Wednesday the Magic Kingdom was open till 3 AM for people staying in a disney resort. Some of my family did stay that late and they went on all the major attractions with no waiting. My grandchildren 5 months and 4 years old went swimming and to bed early with me. We also did a boat cruise for EPCOT's illuminations-just great no crowds and a wonderful relaxing boat ride. I would recommend getting reservations for dinners in advance. Some we made at home and others we made with the help of our resorts front desk. They even got us reservations for Fantasmic show in MGM. It was a great trip. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[GoingtoSeeRella]

We were there this past Holy Week. DH is a teacher, so we are limited to going when he's on break...we always have to fight the Easter crowds.

We were there Sat., 3/19 (before Palm Sunday) through 3/24 (Holy Thursday). It was very crowded, but with early mornings we were really able to handle the crowds. MK opened at 7 a.m. each morning. We were there at rope drop and it was incredible!! We did ALL of Fantasyland before 8:30 and our CRT ressie. But the crowdes definitely built all day.

We took a break for lunch and went back to our resort. Returned around 4 p.m. and the lines were out of control. 110 minutes for SM, etc.

If you use EMH and FastPasses, you really can do and see everything you want.

We're hoping to go back the same time (Holy Week) in 2006, so despite the crowds, we're willing to jump back in

 

[hightown]

DD and I were there Thurs before Easter to Wed after. We've always been in off season times because DD was on year round school. Well we moved and Easter had to be it.

It was definately a big crowd but since we had done everything before and will in the future, we just did what we could and didn't stress about missing anything. I feel sorry for the folks that don't go often or have never been having to miss things or stand the long lines.

Like one said, go early, break at lunch and then go back around dinner. I think 1/2 hour was the longest wait we had but we'd plan to do the big rides when folks were waiting for parades or fireworks.

One thing that I really enjoyed is we did some very different things for that trip. Like Saturday before Easter, I took my daughter to see Maroon 5 for her Easter bunny gift. She was so thrilled.

On Easter, she did the candy scramble at YC, then we went to DTD and did a movie. Back to swim and then we had Chef Mickeys at 7pm. After that we went to MGM for evening EMH. Almost all day w/no parks we've never done before but enjoyed it.

We also spent a whole day doing Millionaire. It was what DD wanted and was a fun day.

So go and have fun. Plan your fastpasses.

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

We were there the Tuesday before Easter through the Monday after (3/22-3/28/05). Like others have said, we never waited longer than 15 or 20 minutes, just by getting to the parks early (ie MK opened at 7 AM everyday, we were there 7:30/7:45, AK opened at 8, we got there 8:30), occasionally using FP, and leaving when it got crowded around lunchtime.

Crowds were fine Wed., grew Thur., were heavy Fri., we took day off from parks on Sat.

Easter Sunday, the kids did a 9 AM candy hunt at the hotel (Poly) and we were at Epcot at about 10:30. Grabbed FPs for TT (with return time of 4 PM) and then did all of WS. Had no PSs for lunch, so we just took a chance with Italy and enjoyed a lovely sit-down lunch within only a few min. wait (great timing, they were just opening for lunch, so the wait may have grown later). Rode Mexico and Norway rides, Canada movie, kids did egg hunt in America, enjoyed all the countries, and then headed over to TT a little after 4 and rode TT.

We thought that this was an absolutely fabulous time of the year to go and would do it again!

 

[Miller1412]

We thought that this was an absolutely fabulous time of the year to go and would do it again![/QUOTE]

I have to agree with these other posts. It was definitely crowded, but if you got up early and used EMH hours, or just plain got to the parks at opening, for the first couple hours, many rides were walk on. My advice...grab your Fast passes as you can, but do other rides that don't have FP until it starts to get crowded...then go back and start using those FP's!

I was expecting the worst, and found that we never really had to wait that long. 15-20 min. for characters was the longest. Just plan to be up REALLY early in the morning!

 

[JenniferW]

We did not stay on site Tuesday March 29th, Wed March 30th or Thursday March 31st. I had hoped that after Easter the crowds would lessen. We were told it opened at 9am, but it actually had opened at 8 so if we had arrived earlier it would have been much better. We had 5-10 minute waits from 9:00am-10:00 at MK Fantasyland area, but after 10:00 if you didn't have a FP it wasn't so pleasant. Buzz had a wait of 100 minutes, Space Mountain was 80, Peter Pan 60, etc. We switched over to Epcot that day and it was much better. Wed was AK only and it wasn't too bad with FP. Thursday at MK was better, but still very busy. If you plan well you would be fine and staying on site is extremely helpful since EMH would have really helped.

Jenn