week after Easter crowds

[pixie71]

How are the crowds the week after Easter (march 28 - April 2, 2005)

Planning a magical gatherings for my family for that week and wanted to prepare them for the crowds in advance. Also, how do you convince "cheap" or maybe I'll say frugal people to stay on-site??

Thanks.

 

[turnlisa]

The crowds the week after Easter at just about at their peak. We went one year and then changed to going in November! The week we were there MK was closed to outside guests on more than one occasion due to the size of the crowds. That in itself is a reason to stay onsite. If you are staying at a Disney resort, you are let into the park if it is at capacity. If you are staying offsite, you are out of luck!

 

[Pinnie]

Think GRIDLOOCK!

That being said, we have been going the week of Easter for years now and it is doable with a plan. Since we go a few times a year, we avoid the MK early in the week and enjoy EPCOT and our resort. The weather at that time is fantastic.

Get an early start in the morning, head back to your resort for pool time and lunch and go back to the parks in the evening.

pinnie

 

[pixie71]

Thank you I figured that was the case...but majority of my family are educators and this is the only time they have off. I will let them know about the crowds. Any other suggestions for that week??

 

[buckeye]

My husband and I are both teachers, so we've been that week before and will be going again for Easter Break this year. It really ISN'T that bad, if you plan ahead and outsmart the crowds. Try to get to the parks about 45 minutes before the gate opens (even on Early Entry days.) We always eat breakfast in our resort room, to save time and money. Eat lunch and dinner early too, unless you have made priority seating arrangements. Try to get lunch right at 11:00 because crowds form right after that! Make sure you use Fast Pass, and have a plan in mind when you get to each park. Know what rides your're going to need to do first, and which rides you'll use Fast Pass for. After lunch, if the crowds seem too bad, you can head back to your resort to enjoy the pool and rest up. I think you need to emphasize to your family that being on-site will save you time and sanity, will allow you to use the Early Entry which is important for very crowded times, and will allow you immerse yourself in Disney, which is harder when you are off-site. One great thing about Easter week is the weather. You don't get the horrible heat or so much rain, like in the summer. We even have needed a sweatshirt for the mornings!

Good luck!!

 

[mom_rules]

Avoid the waterparks-we were there this past Easter and TL was at capacity by 11:00am. There were arguments over people stealing chairs and loungers-it was chaos! Next time we will spend the first part of the week following Easter at AKL or Epcot and totally avoid the waterparks. DQ was also packed.
We had a great time in the evenings at BW and at PI-Not busy at all.

Give yourself lots of time both coming and going from MCO and also at car rental agencies.

 

[popeyeohoh]

This is the week after Easter this past year. Way too crowded. I would never go during that time again. Splash Mt. was broken down several times during our stay. The line for Peter Pan at 11:00 pm was 35 min. Blizzard Beach was very crowded early and stayed crowded. Fast Passes for many of the main rides were over 2-3 hours away by 10:00 a.m. The few things I thought were better were extended park hours. Electric Light Parade was shown twice. But I believe the second one was not as long. Carousel of Progress was open. The weather was even a little cool for me. In the 70's. The only park I found maneagable was AK. We did not get there until 1:30pm. Did most everything we wanted but Kali was broken down. We have gone the second week of June twice. I found that much more maneagable. Good Luck