We were there from Wednesday 4/1 and were there for 6 days. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were crowded but manageable. We got there for rope drop and were able to do a ton of rides before it got very crowded. We always went back to our room for a break and then would head to a different park that night. It was crowded but for the most part we were able to use fast passes and still get on a number of rides.
We went to the beach Saturday morning and attempted to go to Magic Kingdom Saturday night but it was at capacity so we went to another park without a problem.
We went to Animal Kingdom on Sunday. We got there at rope drop, which was 8:00 and it wasn't crowded at all. This isn't our favorite park so we were able to finish everything that we wanted to (including riding the roller coaster 3 times) and were leaving by 10:30. Sunday night was very crowded everywhere but we just chilled and went on what we could. We even watched some of the shows that we normally wouldn't have stopped for.
We went to Epcot on Monday. It was definitely crowded but we hit rope drop. My husband and son ran over to soarin got fast passes while the girls and I ran over to Test Track. We waited for them for awhile but the ride for Test Track was actually too short so we went ahead on it and my husband and son went on it about 5 minutes behind us. By then our fast pass for Soarin was ready so we got another fass pass for Test Track. We headed back to Soarin and rode that, rode a few few other rides and then used our fast pack for all of us to ride Test Track. It worked out great. It always seemed like we were ahead of the crowds. We were able to leave the park again by lunch. There were only a few people leaving but tons coming in. We got to see so much but didn't have to deal with the crowds.
We headed back to the parks again around 5:00. That must have been an off time because we had a very easy time getting a tram from the parking lot and a monorail. We couldn't get a fast pass for Space Mountain but were able to get one for Thunder Mountain. We went on a few of the smaller rides and shows (People Mover, etc.). We did stay in line for Buzz Lightyear but even though it said 30 minutes it was actually only 20. By then we decided to go see if the standby line at Thunder Mountain was any better and it wasn't. The fireworks started at 10:00 so we stopped and watched them. After that we were able to get on Thunder Mountain right away (no wait!) and actually rode it again and only had to wait 5 minutes. After that the line was starting to get long again so we used our fast pass.
We all really wanted to ride Space Mountain so we headed over there. By then the line was down to 50 minutes so we decided to wait. It turns out that it only took 20 minutes. In fact my husband and son went right back on it and it only took them 13 minutes. Of course by then it was after 11:00 so that was definitely a factor. We stayed in the park until midnight (It closed at 1 am). At that time I think we could have gone on almost anyride without waiting long but we were exhausted. It was also starting to get cold (For Florida standards). We had brought our sweatshirts but many people didn't.
I would say if you are heading up in the next few days: Get to rope drop even if you are tired from the night before. You really can get a lot done in those first few hours and then can head back to your hotel and get a nap. Since we were able to ride so many rides in the morning we were more laid back about getting on rides at night, although for the most part timing seemed to work in our favor.
We went to the beach Saturday morning and attempted to go to Magic Kingdom Saturday night but it was at capacity so we went to another park without a problem.
We went to Animal Kingdom on Sunday. We got there at rope drop, which was 8:00 and it wasn't crowded at all. This isn't our favorite park so we were able to finish everything that we wanted to (including riding the roller coaster 3 times) and were leaving by 10:30. Sunday night was very crowded everywhere but we just chilled and went on what we could. We even watched some of the shows that we normally wouldn't have stopped for.
We went to Epcot on Monday. It was definitely crowded but we hit rope drop. My husband and son ran over to soarin got fast passes while the girls and I ran over to Test Track. We waited for them for awhile but the ride for Test Track was actually too short so we went ahead on it and my husband and son went on it about 5 minutes behind us. By then our fast pass for Soarin was ready so we got another fass pass for Test Track. We headed back to Soarin and rode that, rode a few few other rides and then used our fast pack for all of us to ride Test Track. It worked out great. It always seemed like we were ahead of the crowds. We were able to leave the park again by lunch. There were only a few people leaving but tons coming in. We got to see so much but didn't have to deal with the crowds.
We headed back to the parks again around 5:00. That must have been an off time because we had a very easy time getting a tram from the parking lot and a monorail. We couldn't get a fast pass for Space Mountain but were able to get one for Thunder Mountain. We went on a few of the smaller rides and shows (People Mover, etc.). We did stay in line for Buzz Lightyear but even though it said 30 minutes it was actually only 20. By then we decided to go see if the standby line at Thunder Mountain was any better and it wasn't. The fireworks started at 10:00 so we stopped and watched them. After that we were able to get on Thunder Mountain right away (no wait!) and actually rode it again and only had to wait 5 minutes. After that the line was starting to get long again so we used our fast pass.
We all really wanted to ride Space Mountain so we headed over there. By then the line was down to 50 minutes so we decided to wait. It turns out that it only took 20 minutes. In fact my husband and son went right back on it and it only took them 13 minutes. Of course by then it was after 11:00 so that was definitely a factor. We stayed in the park until midnight (It closed at 1 am). At that time I think we could have gone on almost anyride without waiting long but we were exhausted. It was also starting to get cold (For Florida standards). We had brought our sweatshirts but many people didn't.
I would say if you are heading up in the next few days: Get to rope drop even if you are tired from the night before. You really can get a lot done in those first few hours and then can head back to your hotel and get a nap. Since we were able to ride so many rides in the morning we were more laid back about getting on rides at night, although for the most part timing seemed to work in our favor.
