WDW the week of Easter, how bad is it?

[ZoZo]

Here's how the hirearchy of holidays tends to work at Disney

#1: The week between Christmas and New Years
#2: Thanksgiving weekend (Tuesday-Tuesday before/after)
#3: The week leading up to Christmas
#4: Traditional Spring Break (the one where it leads up to Easter Sunday)
#5: Columbus Day Weekend/Fall break
#6: Jersey Week
#7: All other holidays (especially if they traditionally give time off of school and work)

Actually, I've been at WDW a couple of times during the Columbus Day holiday, and haven't noticed a sizeable difference in the crowds between that timeframe and the rest of October.

Also, in my experience, not all schools take a "fall break" (especially those that start school later in the fall -- we don't start school until the day after Labor Day; hence, no need for "fall break.") So this wouldn't have as big of an impact on crowds, since many schools don't participate.

 

[KBoopaloo]

We were there the week before Easter this year (we actually arrived the Thursday night the week before the weekend before Easter and flew home the Wednesday before Easter). The crowds got crazier and crazier as the trip wore on. However, no matter how hard I tried I could not get our group of 15 out of the resort and at the park for Rope Drop. Had we done this, I think it would have been MUCH more manageable. Even without getting their super early, we were still able to fit in all the major rides except Test Track and Space Mountain using FPs.

I will say that I have been there just after Thanksgiving (Friday after Thanksgiving to the following Wednesday) and found those crowds much more manageable than the week before Easter crowds we saw this year.

 

[Elmo9607]

I was there this year from January-May, and the impression I got was March was just crazy with Spring Breakers, especially after the first and second week. April was a breeze. Easter was nothing compared to March. Yes, it was busy, but it was quick. The week after Easter was back to normal. The week leading up to Easter was busy.

Overall, not a bad time of year to go. Christmas is FAR worse than Easter in terms of business.

 

[Travelingdad]

Family of 5, kids all under 10, went our first time July 4th week this past year. A lot of warnings about being too crowded but we found it was very manageable. Doing the magic hours, rope drops and using fast pass made things run smoothly. The only issue was the night of July 4th after the fireworks at MK and better crowd control from WDW would have eleviated that.

We are going this year from 4/1 - 4/9 so am also curious about crowds. Based on last trip I think it all comes down to luck, your personal tolerance and your groups level of patience. Either way we'll have fun.

The bad part is we are setting the precedent of our trips being during a holiday for the kids. A Christmas visit may be in our future.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

For those that have been there in the past for the week leading up to Easter, How bad is it really? Normally my sons Spring Break falls 2 weeks before/after Easter so we have been lucky with lower crowds. This year we will be there the 6 days leading up to Easter..We are huge rope drop believers and also follow a strict touring plan. Will this still help during Easter week? Thanks for any info.

When Easter is late, it's not nearly as bad as when Easter comes early and all the spring breaks are happening too.

 

[NutDisney]

Was there last year, the days leading up to Easter. At the MK the crowds don't get bad until 10:30am I would suggest upgrading to Deluxe Dining like we did. We would go to the park at rope drop and basically did everything we wanted (as far as rides) by 10:30am... then do a nice sit down lunch around 11 to 12... after that we would be rested up enough to fight the crowds for another three or four rides before taking a rest at the resort. Around 5 or 6 we would go pack to fight the crowds for another couple rides... then have another sit down meal around 8 to 9... after that we would be rested up for the rest of the night at the park (which by this time the crowds were much smaller). Anytime I go when it's busy I get deluxe dining. We tend to skip the breakfast and do meals that take two tickets plus it gives us enough for our last day.

 

[LaurenT]

We'll be there from April 7th to the 14th....in parks from the 8th to the 13th.
On Easter Sunday we'll go to Animal Kingdom. 8 am Tusker breakfast, rides, trails, followed by 12:15 Wild Africa Trek. Take things slow in the afternoon and hit Boma for a 7:30 dinner. I'm pretty sure it will work out great!
I picked Epcot for the 9th
Magic Kingdom for the 10th and 11th (hoping they'll move up the opening so we can beat the EMH guests....we're offsite)
DHS on the 12th
Back to Epcot on the 13th.
It will be the busiest week I've gone so far, but I think I'm ready for it! And I have gone out of my way to scare my friends so they will be expecting the crowds!!

 

[ryley26]

I'll be there the week after Easter chaperoning 270 high school band kids. It always good when your in Disney. If you stay for the parade at MK Thursday night my kids band will be marching.

 

[blessedby3]

We were there the week before Easter this year (we actually arrived the Thursday night the week before the weekend before Easter and flew home the Wednesday before Easter). The crowds got crazier and crazier as the trip wore on. However, no matter how hard I tried I could not get our group of 15 out of the resort and at the park for Rope Drop. Had we done this, I think it would have been MUCH more manageable. Even without getting their super early, we were still able to fit in all the major rides except Test Track and Space Mountain using FPs.

I will say that I have been there just after Thanksgiving (Friday after Thanksgiving to the following Wednesday) and found those crowds much more manageable than the week before Easter crowds we saw this year.

The week before and the week after Easter will be crazy busy. I have seen closings like we just saw during the Christmas weeks during the Easter week. I agree that about the after Thanksgiving time. We went in 2005 and arrived the day after Thanksgiving. Didnt go into the parks until Sun, and the crowds were nonexhistant by Monday. It was the best week we have EVER gone

 

[jpolak]

We went once during the week leading up to Easter adn it was insane. Some of the parks did close because they were full. The weather was nice though.

 

[ccgirl]

Actually, I've been at WDW a couple of times during the Columbus Day holiday, and haven't noticed a sizeable difference in the crowds between that timeframe and the rest of October.

Also, in my experience, not all schools take a "fall break" (especially those that start school later in the fall -- we don't start school until the day after Labor Day; hence, no need for "fall break.") So this wouldn't have as big of an impact on crowds, since many schools don't participate.

We usually go Columbus Day weekend as well. We have found it to be increasingly busy. Especially Epcot for the F&W festival. May is now our favorite time to go.

When Easter is late, it's not nearly as bad as when Easter comes early and all the spring breaks are happening too.

Here in the Northeast, our Spring Break is always the third week of April. When it coincides with Easter, I have found it to be pretty darn crowded. I think March and April, in general, have the potential to be very crowded due to vacations.

 

[MomofKatie]

Should it be assumed there will be no deals the week after Easter? (i.e., percent off, free dining,e tc.)

The week up to Easter and the week after Easter are the 2nd most expensive weeks to visit all year (the first being Christmas week). Expect to pay MORE for resorts, buffets, and even some recreation. Since it is so busy those weeks, they can fill the resort just fine without having to offer discounts.

 

[BLLB]

For those that have been there in the past for the week leading up to Easter, How bad is it really? Normally my sons Spring Break falls 2 weeks before/after Easter so we have been lucky with lower crowds. This year we will be there the 6 days leading up to Easter..We are huge rope drop believers and also follow a strict touring plan. Will this still help during Easter week? Thanks for any info.

We go this week nearly every year. If you get to the park at rope drop and follow a touring plan you will be fine. We always leave for an afternoon break as well. Yes, it gets crowded but that is when we leave for a little bit.

 

[danielephant]

My parents took us that week for a one day trip to MK and it was wall to wall - i think we rode 6 things and watched the fireworks and parade and my dad swore that day we were never going again! and we didn't! LOL - at least they didn't we are trying to get them to make a trip with us sometime now that we have kids and go in the off season cause i think they would enjoy it so much better

 

[mkel34]

Here in the Northeast, our Spring Break is always the third week of April. When it coincides with Easter, I have found it to be pretty darn crowded. I think March and April, in general, have the potential to be very crowded due to vacations.

Another reason I would assume it would be busy at this time is people getting tax return money. I'm suprised Easter isn"t # 2 behind Christmas as this is the time to go as the weather is great at this time of year .

 

[KBoopaloo]

Here in the Northeast, our Spring Break is always the third week of April. When it coincides with Easter, I have found it to be pretty darn crowded. I think March and April, in general, have the potential to be very crowded due to vacations.

This was the case in 2011 and the reason why we went that week (we had 3 school aged kids and two teachers in our group who had to go during a school vacation). We are trying to plan another large family trip for April vacation in the future and I am hoping everyone opts for the year when Easter is NOT near April vacation!

 

[66Tink]

Should it be assumed there will be no deals the week after Easter? (i.e., percent off, free dining,e tc.)

We are going the week after Easter 4/20-4/24 and we received the 25% off GP discount for AKV....I believe you have until the end of February to book with the room only code. If you go to the special offers page on the Disneyworld web site, it will give you all of the info. Still hoping for a 40% pin like last year, but 25% is better than nothing

 

[Bettie]

I had read on several occasions that the week before Easter IS the 2nd most crowded, so that list is surprising if correct.

We went that week last year and went to rope drop, had a touring plan, and used FP religiously. We had a great time! That said, we are going in January this year! (Also, it was nowhere near as bad asthe pics I saw from Christmas week.)

Even beyond the crowds, I felt like the extended hours made it even more exhausting. MK had EMH *every* day at 7am and Wishes was at 10pm every night. It was hard to do the usual things AND get enough sleep due to the stretched days.

 

[mom2aandj]

I had read on several occasions that the week before Easter IS the 2nd most crowded, so that list is surprising if correct.

This is my view too---it's easy to tell when THE most crowded days occur: the parks (typically MK) fill to capacity and don't admit anymore people! This almost always happens the week between Christmas and NY, which makes it the #1 most crowded time. And I know that when Easter lines up with certain spring break weeks, the parks have closed due to reaching capacity as well. That makes it #2 IMO. The only other time I'm aware of capacity closings is around the 4th of July. I don't recall reading about capacity closings around Thanksgiving, although it is certainly very crowded then.

 

[nytimez]

You couldn't get me to go to WDW the week before OR the week after Easter if you paid me.

Well, maybe if you paid me...

But both weeks are generally crowded to the point where I, personally, don't enjoy it -- and if you're used to low/moderate crowds and don't like bigger crowds, pick another week.

It's not just the long attraction lines. It's the crowds just moving around. It's the incredible amount of time and effort it takes to get even a counter service meal -- and finding a place to sit. It's just miserable, IMO.