WDW the week of Easter, how bad is it?

[Zippa D Doodah]

Sorry to hijack....is the week after Easter any better?

Now that our kids are middle and high schoolers it is not so easy to pluck them out of school for a week, so our hands are a bit tied as to when to to go. I dislike the summer heat, rain, and crowds so that is out for me. I know I am not going Christmas week. Spring break for us is the week after Easter. We are waiting until Wednesday 4/11 to arrive, hoping crowds will ease up just a tad. We leave Monday 4/16. I am anticipating steadily dwindling crowds throughout our stay, but that is really just a guess.

FWIW, it was easy to get ADRs at good times for popular places as of last week. I don't make a lot of ADRs but did a couple last week on a whim and had a pretty good selection of places and times.
OTOH I know that MK has morning EMH every day so that means crowds are expected. I would imagine hours would be extended in the evening on some days too.

This being our 15th trip I think we can navigate whatever comes our way.

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

I booked in December through Southwest vacations, using a Mousesavers discount code. In addition to the $ discount the code provided, SW Vacations was running a deal on park hoppers. I was surprised at how cheap I was able to bundle flight, room, and tix.

 

[momtwoboys]

we will be there April 11-20th!!! We were there last year the week leading up to Easter and we had a blast! Hit each park at opening and got on everything! Left after lunch and it was crowded, but not horrible. Weather was beautiful, and park hours were extended. Actually we have been in April 09, April 10, April 11, and we are ready for April 12!!!!! Once our older son hit middle school we switched our annual trip from the first week of May to April vacation and it has been awesome!!!

 

[angierae]

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.

We're going the week before Easter because it was the only opportunity we have. However, we have a plan:

I have a touring plans and a ridemax subscription.

We got in during the small window free dining was extended to arrivals 3/31, and then upgraded to DXDP so we do not have to count on counter service at all.

DD, her friend and I will get up and hit rope drop for the "thrill rides" and fast past collecting, and DH will meet up with us a few hours later (he's not a morning person and doesn't like thrill rides, he's more a show person) but early enough to not worry about gate closings.

We will take breaks in the afternoon for relaxing and hanging out if it gets too crowded for us, and take advantage of night EMH as our energy levels allow.

And we'll just know that we'd rather be in Disney than anywhere else.

 

[vicb]

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.

Sounds like our band will miss yours by a week! We will be there to watch (not chaperone) DS's HS band the week before Easter. They are doing the program at Epcot and marching at MK. Is your 270 band kids all from one school?? We have a band of around 90 but only 60 are going on the trip. They/we will be there March 31-April 5 so hopefully getting out before the actual Easter weekend crowds arrive.

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.

Agreed. For this reason DH and I booked our first ever non WDW resort stay at the Dolphin. We booked very early and have a decent rate for that week ($250 per night resort view all fees). We still get the emh perk which we wanted that week.


I am a bit worried about how much the band kids will get to do in terms of rides and shows with the crowds and they are staying off site However my son has been 5 times and done it all so he is just thrilled to be going with all his band buddies and thinks it will be such a blast... which I hope it will too. We have been talking to him about tips for navigating the crowds in the parks so he can help out the first timers.

 

[annej]

No discounts on anything and a surcharge added to TS meals make it very expensive. We have been the week before twice and the week after once. We have decided never again will we go at Easter. Yes it can be done and yes you can have fun but the high prices and the high crowds just don't make it worth it to us. The week after was marginally better than the week before. The weather is beautiful, the parks are open long hours and everything is up and running but we will stick to off peak times from now on. They were great trips simply because we were at Disney. We have gone during march when Spring Breaks are occurring and we would do that again but never ever around Easter Sunday again.

 

[loganpaulsmom]

We are going the 17th thru the 24th. In 2008 we went in aapril and it was packed. But, we had extended family with us and it took the waiting in lines a little more bearable ( my son was only 2 at the time and he was great, one breakdown in 7 nights). We were there last year during the week of Mothers Day. I was a beautiful time to go, we found that MK was extremely busy the who,e time we were there( we never made it to 1 rope drop) but we walked from the boardwalk to Epcot the morning of Mothers day and not only waited only 15 minutes to see all the characters but hubby ran off and got soarIN FP's and then we rode test track, by the time we finished that we were able to get FP's for soarIN again.. It was great!! This year, I am not sure if we s going to b touring maniacs, but I want it to be manageable!!

 

[vicb]

So what's the deal with TS surcharges? I thought the dining price increases were only at buffets??

 

[cmurray234]

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)

You forgot President's week. I accidentally booked a stay through the first Saturday into president's week and it was an absolute madhouse. I will never (and I do mean NEVER) do that again. I'd guess that crowd-wise, only Christmas and spring break are more crowded.

 

[bigsis1970]

We will be arriving the Saturday before Easter, April 7 and leaving the Saturday after Easter, April 14. I hope we will be okay. I am thinking about not going to the parks on Easter Sunday. OP, what are your plans for Easter Sunday?

We'll be there Fri 4/6-Thurs 4/12, also thinking of skipping the parks on Easter Sunday-maybe golf for my husband & the pool for me then dinner @ Yachtsman (staying at BWI) since Easter will probably be the craziest day of the week. Hopefully it'll be less crowded at the week goes on but hey, It's Disney so it's all good!!!

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!!

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.

Hi everyone we are also going 4/7-4/14 my DD is playing softball in the WWoS for the week.. I am solo so have no set plans but was thinking I need some place to dine - I am staying in DTD (which is expensive but not as expensive as it was to stay on site) Wondering where I should eat on Easter evening - maybe Kona or Wolfgang Puck Express

We once went from 4/16 - 4/22 which is our School Break up here in Maine - we stayed off site for that trip and found the parks not too bad - we have also been 4th of July week .. I guess my OCD planning helps .. Haaaa but wouldn't you know there is not really a plan this trip as I am only planning for myself - DD will be too busy with the team - I mean I have a rough draft but I haven't gotten the softball schedule yet so I am stuck..

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

So what's the deal with TS surcharges? I thought the dining price increases were only at buffets??

I think that is correct. I booked only one character meal buffet (CP breakfast) and noted there was a money grab (errrr... upcharge). Everything else seems to be the same. The ONLY reason I booked the CP breakfast was that it is DD's 15th birthday surprise.
Fortunately I have accumulated a small fortune in Visa Reward Dollars so that will cover all our meals and then some. I know it's only a matter of accounting but it gives me the illusion of not having paid the high prices with real money.

 

[vicb]

I think that is correct. I booked only one character meal buffet (CP breakfast) and noted there was a money grab (errrr... upcharge). Everything else seems to be the same. The ONLY reason I booked the CP breakfast was that it is DD's 15th birthday surprise.
Fortunately I have accumulated a small fortune in Visa Reward Dollars so that will cover all our meals and then some. I know it's only a matter of accounting but it gives me the illusion of not having paid the high prices with real money.

Thanks. That's what I thought too. Have fun at CP it is so pretty in there.

 

[daisyx3]

We've been down for Easter 3 times over spring break, not since 2010 but are going back this year from the 3rd to the 10th (Tuesday-Tuesday). We like to do every park at rope drop. On Easter we go to typhoon lagoon and make sure we are early enough to get the spot we like to hang out for hours...then later dinner at a 2TS place (Narcoosee's this year) and maybe an hour or two at MK since they are open late--maybe watch the 11PM light parade.
Just get up out of bed and go at rope drop on at least one day per park. MK opens at 7AM every day that week, which means bus stop at 6:15 if needed, but watching the sun come UP at MK is really cool.
Daisyx3

 

[pxydst]

Ok... we have been to Disney about 10 times but never the week before Easter. You all are starting to scare me!!! What and where do we get a touring plan?? We always go for rope drop so that is no problem.. I usually plan where and when we do things but I may be over my head this year!!! We will be there March 30 - April 7. Any help will be appreciated!!! Thanks

 

[starbox]

It's all a weird alchemy that nobody can accurately predict.

We are from GA and go every year for our spring break (which is often the week before or after Easter). Since Easter is a moveable feast, it just depends. If Easter falls mid-late March and LOTS of states are out - it will be a madhouse. A very early or late Easter and it will be quieter than the peak spring break weeks. If Georgia and Florida are out the same week - it will be VERY busy.

It just depends on when Easter falls and how that aligns with the majority of schools and their spring breaks. There IS a perfect storm that can create horrific crowds, but more often than that the spring-break crowds are spread out from March-April and no single week gets ridiculously slammed.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

I know many families with teachers who can only go during school breaks. If they don't stay in a Disney resort and, therefore, can't get into the parks for early emh, is it worth it to arrive at the regular opening time or should they sleep in and focus on the evening? This applies only to MK, which seems to have morning emh every day during busy weeks. Can they still get into rides like Peter Pan and Pooh without long waits during that first hour after the park opens to non-resort guests?

 

[LaurenT]

I know many families with teachers who can only go during school breaks. If they don't stay in a Disney resort and, therefore, can't get into the parks for early emh, is it worth it to arrive at the regular opening time or should they sleep in and focus on the evening? This applies only to MK, which seems to have morning emh every day during busy weeks. Can they still get into rides like Peter Pan and Pooh without long waits during that first hour after the park opens to non-resort guests?

They should still get there for park opening.
I will be off site the week after Easter. Right now, MK is having EMH from 8 to 9.... I will be at the turnstile at 8:30. Many on site guests will attend whatever the EMH park is that day, but a vast majority of them will still not get there till 10 am! Crazy, I know.
So, even when the park has been open for an hour to those early rising resort guests, there will still be a pleasant hour or two for me.
My hope is actually that they move the EMH to 7 am and the regular open to 8 am...because there will be even fewer onsite guests who are able to rally their troops and make it to the park that early!

 

[pxydst]

Lauren... all week MK has EMH I also hope they move it to 7 am because we will be there!! Can't wait 75 more days!!!

 

[MichaelForbin]

Now that our kids are middle and high schoolers it is not so easy to pluck them out of school for a week, so our hands are a bit tied as to when to to go. I dislike the summer heat, rain, and crowds so that is out for me. I know I am not going Christmas week. Spring break for us is the week after Easter. We are waiting until Wednesday 4/11 to arrive, hoping crowds will ease up just a tad. We leave Monday 4/16. I am anticipating steadily dwindling crowds throughout our stay, but that is really just a guess.

We'll be there the same time!

 

[MichaelForbin]

We're going the week before Easter because it was the only opportunity we have. However, we have a plan:

I have a touring plans and a ridemax subscription.

We got in during the small window free dining was extended to arrivals 3/31, and then upgraded to DXDP so we do not have to count on counter service at all.

DD, her friend and I will get up and hit rope drop for the "thrill rides" and fast past collecting, and DH will meet up with us a few hours later (he's not a morning person and doesn't like thrill rides, he's more a show person) but early enough to not worry about gate closings.

If you're staying on property you shouldn't have to worry about gate closings anyway right?

 

[ses1230]

If you're staying on property you shouldn't have to worry about gate closings anyway right?

Not necessarily true, it depends on the closure stage. There is a closure stage where noone is admitted, resort guest or not.

CF has an explanation HERE.