What are your best tips for making the week before Easter as easy as possible?

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

Aside from not going the week before Easter (we don't have a choice), I'd really appreciate any tips that veterans have for surviving the Spring Break crowds. This will be a special trip with our kids and grandkids, and I really want everyone's memories to be good ones.
Thanks for any help you could give me.

 

[kilee]

I haven't been the week before-- but the week right of Easter. So here's my tips for making through holiday level crowds--

-Be sure to use FP to it's full advantage and wisely. Meaning don't waste an FP on a 15-20 minute standby wait. Rather save it for those rides with 40-90++ minute waits.
-If you're staying on site-- use EMH if at all possible. If you're going to be off site- then go to a non EMH park and try to get there at opening. During busy times, those first 2 hrs right after opening can make your whole day. Use that time to snag FP's and ride the more popular rides standby.
-Make PS's. As the more crowded it is-- the harder sit down meals w/o PS's become.
-Try to have a general game plan before you get to the park. It will be crowded. There's nothing worse than being in a crowded theme park in the blazing sun-- with 7 people all going-- "what's next-- I don't know what do you want to do......". You get the picture. You don't have to plan by the minute, but get a good idea of where you want to go and in what order you want to go. We always plan out the next day's morning the night before. Then we plan out the 2nd 1/2 of the day at lunch. If you have multiple people decide now if you will try to spend all day together or be splitting up. It will help with the planning.
-LAST-- HAVE fun. Be flexible and just go with the flow. You know it's going to be busy. Accepting the inevitable (that you just won't be able to do it all) will make the trip more enjoyable. Too many people go during peak season and come back disappointed that they missed so much due to crowd volume.

 

[laceemouse]

On the up side I had to add the weather should be great, not too hot or muggy yet but not chilly either. We were there end of March this year and it was very pleasant!

 

[Local_Girl]

Kilee...question for you...did you find that the crowds began to thin out a bit as you neared the end of the week (after Easter)? We're hoping to arrive in WDW the Sat. after Easter and I'm wondering if we should plan the first day or so outside the parks and wait for the crowds to start heading home. Thanks for any info!

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

I agree with kilee---get to the parks early and have a plan.

The best advice I have to offer is to get the Unofficial Guide and follow the itineraries there. If you can get to a park before it opens for the EMH, then hit that park!!! We were able to cover all of Fantasyland and most of Tomorrowland BEFORE THE PARK EVEN OPENED!!!!! And that was during the week of July 4---big crowds!!!!

If you can't make it to the EMH park early, then DO NOT go to that park that day. Instead, follow the Unoffical Guide's recommendation of which park to attend.

Enjoy your trip!!!!

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

Thanks for your responses!

Anyone else??

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

We'll be there at about the same time (3/22-3/28/05) and would love to hear more opinions, so

BUMPING

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Great suggestions so far!
Also plan some down time outside of the park to help you relax.

DO NOT try to see it all! Go with a plan (I agree about the Unofficial guide plan as they are great.)

Be prepared to split up your group. We travel with several age ranges and we always split up the EMH time. The little ones to Fantasyland and the big brave ones to the mountains. Then we meet up at something we all enjoy.

Do E-Night

Get up EARLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rest in the afternoon.

 

[dthogue]

We will be there from 3/19 to 3/26 - thanks everyone for the input and advice.

I was thinking that we were nuts to try to go this time of the year, but it is my DD's 13th birthday and she wants to go to WDW (we have been for my other 2 DD's b-days), so we decided to tough it out. Hopefully with a plan, it won't be too bad.

Keep the tips coming!

Tammy

 

[paigevz]

twice! Both times around DS's bday.

Last year, it was COLD! We ended up buying sweatshirts, hats and gloves one evening.........I think it was in the 40s, but there was quite a breeze and add rides to that..........we were freezing!

Another year, it was very rainy. That was the best! It would be cloudy all morning, and we'd do our EE..........then, just as it started getting crowded, it would rain for about 30-60 minutes. We'd duck into an indoor attraction, and when we got out everyone had disappeared! They'd show up 1-2 hours later. It was like an EXTRA extra magic hour!

So, all I want to add to what else has been said is to take advantage of the weather..............if it's cold buy sweatshirts and keep touring, and if it's rainy, buy ponchos and keep touring! It really cuts down on the crowds. When it's hot, and gets crowded, leave your EE park, take a break at the hotel, and then hop over to a different park in late afternoon..........that's when everyone else will be wilting and heading out.

Also, we always plan at least one day off in the middle of the trip. We go to downtown disney or other resorts for a relaxing change of pace.

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

Do they still do "E-nights" ? Thought I'd read somewhere that they discontinued that, but could be wrong.

See you all Easter week!Should be crazy fun!

 

[disneydiz]

We also go every year for Easter. The MK is open quite late. Go to the second showing of Fantasmic and the second Spectro parade. The parks thin out around dinner. It is much nicer at night. There are no E-nights at this time because the parks are already open late. Also, if you go to the waterparks, try to get there by 10:00 am. Last year, they were filled by 11:00 am. Make PS for most of your meals -- especially with a large group. The parks get incredibly crowded around noon. Also, DO NOT go to the MK on Easter Sunday.