Update on how packed are the parks during our trip leading up to Easter 2025

[VGCgroupie]

I told a few peeps here I’d update how the parks were for our trip.

Arrival day. I thought the hotel pools would be more quiet due to free water park day. Animal Kingdom pools were pretty busy no loungers midday.

Day 1 Thursday April 17 - Animal Kingdom

I’d say it’s fairly busy but not crazy at all. We do have LLMP so that really has helped us be not stressed. As the day goes on the lines for standby have gotten longer, but animal viewing is pretty easy
Dinosaur at 10:13. Posted wait 25 actual 34

Entered the park at 9:35 knocked out Everest LL, then did standby for Dinosaur, 2 character meets, a quick service meal, and used restroom all by 11:20. By 12:10 LL for safari complete

All in all it’s pretty good here so far. It’s pretty hot and zero clouds in the sky.

For the last of my AK day. It for sure got busier as the day went on at 5:45 Mickey and Minnie were 85 min. We met them at 3:15 and it was 35 minutes. I never felt like it was packed though walking through the park. I didn’t feel suffocated by people.

We entered at 9:35 and exited at 8:05.
We did
Expedition Everest 2x LLMP and once standby
Dinosaur 2x once with LLMP once standby
Safari LLMP
Rafiki Island
Gorilla Falls
Avatar LLSP
Na’Vi LLMP
Kali River LLMP
Lion King Show
Birds of a Feather Show

Characters met & photopass
Mickey and Minnie
Donald and Daisy
Timon
Goofy
Tree of Life
2 random photopass

3 quick service meals

Im no pro at LLMP, I feel if I was better with it I could’ve gotten even more done. I don’t think I would skip LLMP this time of year. It could maybe be possible with Early Entry if you are a go getter. I am not.


Day 2 April 18th (Good Friday) Magic Kingdom
The park got busier as the day went on as expected. Although the later it got the easier it became to get lightning lanes. So the standby waits did get significantly longer throughout the day, but I still feel like the park didn’t feel super packed. I was able to walk around and not feel crowded. I think I tolerated the heat at Animal Kingdom better because of all the vegetation it may be cooler there. I felt like LLMP wasn’t worth it when we first arrived but at the end of our day I was happy we got it.

We arrived at 10:45 and exited at 8:20
We were able to accomplish.
Laugh Floor LLMP
Space Mountain LLMP
Buzz Lightyear LLMP
Peoplemover
Tea Party LLMP
Barnstormer LLMP
Small World LLMP
Dumbo LLMP
Pirates LLMP
Tom Sawyer
Tiana’s LLMP
Tron LLSP
Mine Train LLSP

1 Character - Mirabel
4 photopass stops
4 quick service stops
30 min in the DVC lounge

Parade

Part of the fireworks.
Nothing could have prepared me for the madness that is the hub and main st around fireworks time. I am used to DL and it is nothing like that.

Photo when we entered at 10:45am


Photo taken at 2:15



Day 3 Saturday April 19th Epcot

Arrived at 10am Exited at 5pm. We intended to go back but decided not to. I wouldn’t recommend buying LLMP here unless you can rope drop. Frozen was gone when I tried at 10:10am and never came back even though I tried to get it at least 500 times. I saw Remys come back only for a second once in my refreshes so be aware of that one too. It didn’t feel packed in the park but it’s hard for to me say if it was since we didn’t see much of world showcase. I will only do Epcot day one from now on. I was very tired and most of the rides are way too relaxing and made me even more tired being tired paired with annoyance of paying for LLMP and not getting Frozen and the food at Space 220 taking an hour made me need to go take a nap and we didn’t go back. We have a half day on our departure day so we will probably go back to World Showcase.

Accomplished

Remys LLMP
Spaceship Earth LLMP
Mission Space LLMP
Soarin LLMP
Living with the Land LLMP
GOG LLSP

Mickey and Friends Character meet
3 photopass photos

Table service at Space 220 (1.5 hours)


Day 4 Easter Sunday April 20 Hollywood Studios

Such an amazing day. Everything fell into place perfectly. Anytime we have 3 or more park days there is always one day that just doesn’t go our way and that’s okay. Yesterday was that day. But today was redemption day!

The crowds were not bad at all, it wasn’t empty or anything but seeing the wait times across the parks I think Easter Sunday wasn’t nearly as busy as any of the other days leading up to it. I think LLMP works so well at this park.

We conquered HS so well we left at 6pm and took the skyliner to Epcot. I was able to score a LL for Frozen at 9:00am redemption!!! I held that LL all day and still had major success. This is the first time I have ever park hopped! Epcot is great at night

We entered HS at 8:46 am left at 6pm.
We were able to get all of this accomplished

Rockin Roller Coaster 2x once LLMP once standby
Tower of Terror LLMP
Mickey & Minnie’s Railway LLMP
Slinky Dog LLMP
Toy Story Mania LLMP
Star Tours
Millennium Falcon LLMP
Indiana Jones LLMP
Muppets 3D

2 quick service meals
Drinks at Ogas Cantina

Characters - Darth Vader & BB8

My son was even able to spend some time doing bounties in Galaxies Edge


Day 5 Monday April 21 the day after Easter Epcot round 2

The park was noticeably more busy today. We visited Epcot and Nemo was posted 5 minutes but took at least 20.

We entered at 11am and left at 4:45pm
We had no LLMP today, we rode Mission Space, Gran Fiesta, Nemo and Figment. We took our time and visited all the countries in World Showcase completing the Flower and Garden Scavenger Hunt. There is no way would could have done Epcot all in one day so this shorter day on checkout worked well for us.

The heat was different today, I had a hard time with it. There was clouds but not fluffy clouds if you know what I mean. The sun and humidity today was a bit intense for me and had me wondering if I was crazy for booking a trip in August.

Hope this helps anyone considering going around this time of year.

 

[AnnaS]

Coming soon....

 

[MyDogTink]

Thanks. I recall the parks were extremely busy last year the week before Easter. I think that was partly due to Easter and Passover being the same time. Our public and parochial schools in the NE were closed the same week. This year, breaks are a week apart.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Edited my post again after checking AK wait times at 2:20pm.

We do have LLMP so that really has helped us be not stressed. As the day goes on the lines for standby have gotten longer due to lack of rides here. But animal viewing is pretty easy.

 

[kylenne]

Thanks. I recall the parks were extremely busy last year the week before Easter. I think that was partly due to Easter and Passover being the same time. Our public and parochial schools in the NE were closed the same week. This year, breaks are a week apart.

NYC schools are out this week. Not sure about other schools in the NE.

 

[MyDogTink]

NYC schools are out this week. Not sure about other schools in the NE.

NYC and I believe most of NJ public schools are off this week. NYC parochial school are closed today, tomorrow and next week. That split may be helping the Disney wait times. Or people are just heading to Universal early.

Didn’t they close the MK last year for reaching capacity?

 

[MyDogTink]

Edited my post again after checking AK wait times at 2:20pm.

We do have LLMP so that really has helped us be not stressed. As the day goes on the lines for standby have gotten longer due to lack of rides here. But animal viewing is pretty easy.

How’s the weather?

 

[LKing]

Does anyone know about school breaks in the UK?

 

[LKing]

Apparently there is a world cheer competition this week.

 

[VGCgroupie]

How’s the weather?

Was pretty hot. Reached around 88 I think. I actually feel like the humidity wasn’t that bad. The zero clouds made it feel hotter.

 

[VGCgroupie]

For the last of my AK day. I’ll add to my original post. It for sure got busier as the day went on at 5:45 Mickey and Minnie were 85 min. We met them at 3:15 and it was 35 minutes. The last 45 min of park time was noticeably less crowded.

I’m no pro at LLMP, I feel if I was better with it I could’ve gotten even more done.

We entered at 9:35 and exited at 8:05.
We did
Expedition Everest 2x LLMP and once standby
Dinosaur 2x once with LLMP once standby
Safari LLMP
Rafiki Island
Gorilla Falls
Avatar LLSP
Na’Vi LLMP
Kali River LLMP
Lion King Show
Birds of a Feather Show

Characters met & photopass
Mickey and Minnie
Donald and Daisy
Timon
Goofy
Tree of Life
2 random photopass

3 quick service meals

 

[TaraS29]

Does anyone know about school breaks in the UK?

It is Easter break here in the UK at the moment, 5th-22nd April. We’ll be part of the crowds next Easter!

 

[TaraS29]

I told a few peeps here I’d update how the parks were for our trip.

Arrival day. I thought the hotel pools would be more quiet due to free water park day. Animal Kingdom pools were pretty busy no loungers midday.

Day 1 Thursday April 17 - Animal Kingdom

I’d say it’s fairly busy but not crazy at all. We do have LLMP so that really has helped us be not stressed. As the day goes on the lines for standby have gotten longer, but animal viewing is pretty easy
Dinosaur at 10:13. Posted wait 25 actual 34

Entered the park at 9:35 knocked out Everest LL, then did standby for Dinosaur, 2 character meets, a quick service meal, and used restroom all by 11:20. By 12:10 LL for safari complete

All in all it’s pretty good here so far. It’s pretty hot and zero clouds in the sky.

For the last of my AK day. It for sure got busier as the day went on at 5:45 Mickey and Minnie were 85 min. We met them at 3:15 and it was 35 minutes. I never felt like it was packed though walking through the park. I didn’t feel suffocated by people.

We entered at 9:35 and exited at 8:05.
We did
Expedition Everest 2x LLMP and once standby
Dinosaur 2x once with LLMP once standby
Safari LLMP
Rafiki Island
Gorilla Falls
Avatar LLSP
Na’Vi LLMP
Kali River LLMP
Lion King Show
Birds of a Feather Show

Characters met & photopass
Mickey and Minnie
Donald and Daisy
Timon
Goofy
Tree of Life
2 random photopass

3 quick service meals

Im no pro at LLMP, I feel if I was better with it I could’ve gotten even more done. I don’t think I would skip LLMP this time of year. It could maybe be possible with Early Entry if you are a go getter. I am not.


Tomorrow.. Magic Kingdom

Really useful, thank you for the report. Looking forward to hearing how the rest of the trip goes, have a great time.

 

[AnnaS]

My grandchildren off Wed, Thurs, Friday and all of next week (Catholic school). We are leaving tomorrow morning. My oldest will be arriving "solo" today. He does not fly. His family will fly with myself and my other son and family (10 of us).

Hopefully this coming week not as busy as the one we are in now. They did buy LL for each day.

Thank you @VGCgroupie - I see it's hot!

 

[VGCgroupie]

It is Easter break here in the UK at the moment, 5th-22nd April. We’ll be part of the crowds next Easter!

I did hear a lot of British and Australian accents yesterday.

 

[Mle8308]

NYC schools are out this week. Not sure about other schools in the NE.

Next week for a lot of schools in New England!

 

[kylenne]

NYC and I believe most of NJ public schools are off this week. NYC parochial school are closed today, tomorrow and next week. That split may be helping the Disney wait times. Or people are just heading to Universal early.

I think that really may be helping. Easter week when everybody is out at the same time is when it really gets crazy.

Didn’t they close the MK last year for reaching capacity?

IIRC MK didn’t hit a phased closure for capacity per se but at one point park hopping into it was suspended. That seems to be the more common scenario nowadays for really busy times but even then is fairly rare.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I’ll update my main post at the end of the day. Today we entered pretty late. 10:45. The crowds feel okay, meaning I don’t feel like I’m packed in a sardine can. The standby times for non large rides are manageable about 20-30 min. LLMP here I really needed to get here earlier to make the most out of it. All LL are pretty late in the night since I’ve been refreshing over the last 2 hours.

So far today the wind is blowing a bit and there are sporadic clouds to help with sun.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Updated the main with how today went.

 

[TaraS29]

That’s a great selection of LLMP for a busy day at MK.