What is Easter like ?

[Ric]

Ok, the last (and only) time we went to WDW was back in '95. Now we have children we want to go back but are limited to school hols. I'm a little out of touch with the Disney thing so can someone answer my questions please ?

1) Is Easter a good time to go ?
2) Will all the water parks be open ?
3) My children are 9 and 5. Will they be able to do any of the big rides (I guess there are height restrictions) ?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Soprano]

I have never been during Easter as I imagine it would be rock solid full of people! School term holidays are different world over, but Easter is the same for everyone. I can only guess many, many families head off to WDW for that period. I wouldn't even dream of it. Those who have been will give you a more accurate picture, but I presume this would be one of their busiest periods.

All the water parks are open unless undergoing repairs.

Your children should be able to do most of the rides, but a bit of a guess as you didn't state the 5yo's height! 9yo should have no problem.

Could you go half term Feb or Oct? You would be using part of school term, but I doubt schools would kick up that much of a fuss. Those times are cheaper, and much, much quieter.

 

[Ric]

Thanks for the quick reply. I see your point. We really want to go for 2 weeks but we're running short of authorised leave this year (with other holidays already planned). We could leave it 'til October 2006 but I'm a little wary of the hurricane season.

 

[UKPhil]

Easter is very busy but definately "do-able".

If you go to the parks early, leave at lunchtime then return in the evening you will get everything done. The parks are open late. After the 9:00 PM parade at Magic Kingdom it empties out and most rides are a walk on. Animal Kingdom is open late and there is no one there because the animal attractions are closed, but all the rides are still open so save them for late in the day. Epcot is always open until 9:00 PM anyway and things like Spaceship Earth are a walk on in the evening whereas they have hourl ong lines in the day. The other major rides there all have fast pass.

You need to plan but by reading the guide books and taking account of opening/closing times and which are the busy days at each park it is not hard to do. I would not hesitate to go again at Easter, and you have the advantage that the weather is almost perfect at that time of year. Sure I'd prefer October but if you have school age children you are limited.

 

[angel659]

Hiya

I would go in October we have booked ours this time for October due to school holidays. May was a lovely time of year to go if you can take them out for an extra week, schools dont mind as long as thier are not sats or GCSE's at the time.

I wouldnt worry about hurricane season I have been in June, July, August and May the only time we nearly had a hurricane and that was Andrew back in 1992. At the moment it seems to be more in August and September than May or October, but I could be wrong. The hurricane season lasts for most of the year if your that worried then it would really limit your dates. I have never found it a problem in the past. Hopefully I wont jinx myself for my holiday now that I said that LOL. If you can get more feed back on October for hurricanes and if you want to wait till November to see how many hurricanes Florida had in October then you could book it afterwards, but the flights go real quick you will have to be fast.

Easter will be a nightmare as it was for the summer holidays and I will never go at that time of year again, as you spend most of your time waiting for rides and you could spend that extra time enjoying the park and taking at a slower pace.

Good luck with what you decide.

 

[gilld]

Hiya

II wouldnt worry about hurricane season I have been in June, July, August and May the only time we nearly had a hurricane and that was Andrew back in 1992. At the moment it seems to be more in August and September than May or October, but I could be wrong. The hurricane season lasts for most of the year if your that worried then it would really limit your dates. I have never found it a problem in the past. Hopefully I wont jinx myself for my holiday now that I said that LOL. If you can get more feed back on October for hurricanes and if you want to wait till November to see how many hurricanes Florida had in October then you could book it afterwards, but the flights go real quick you will have to be fast.

QUOTE]

Hurricane season is June to begining of November...exactly half the year.

 

[mrs-mac]

We went this year at Easter and as someone earlier said it is busy but do-able. The only time i found that it was unbearable was one night we stayed for the fireworks in Magic Kingdom and l've never been so frightened. We couldnt move left, right, back or forward, people were collapsing from the heat and it wasn't nice for our two children.

My piece of advise is buy Simon V's book and in the back is a planner that informs you of which days are the busiest in which park so plan, plan, plan

 

[Ric]

Thanks for all the advice. We have no quarms about taking the children out of school at the end of term - we do it all the time. They really don't appear to miss much since everyone is winding down, homework dies and the last day degenerates into a DVD watching exercise...but that's another story. For Easter we would be looking at going early (March 29th to April 12th). Does that avoid the crush somewhat ? Where can I find Simon V's book ?

 

[UKPhil]

The period before Easter is the American Spring Break and it can be very busy. Whether your chosen weeks will be particularly busy would depend on exactly when spring break falls next year.

This year we found it was very busy from Good Friday until about the Wednesday after Easter then it quietened down considerably except at weekends. We planned our shopping days for the Easter weeked itself so we avoided the worst crowds.

 

[MrsJobba1]

Easter in one word was hectic. The place was more than busy ! As a school teacher I am limited to when I can go. We tend to go early/ Midd August.

 

[princess jackson]

I agree, We went in easter this year, it was crowded, and it was also spring break, we stayed at ASM resort and this is where they tend to stay, large groups of teenagers, with no one keeping an eye on them.

Queues Peter pan, ride was 1 1/2 hours wait. pirates of the carribean was the same.

Weather was great, really warm, water parks, the water was cold when it first opens, but warms up.

 

[janine]

Hi
we stayed in Disney for 2 weeks and went Easter 2003, one week out of school holidays and one week in, and oh boy was I glad we had the first week out of school holidays. It was fantastic. We got on every ride without problem and it was very relaxed. The next week was hectic with long queues. I vowed never to go in school holidays again, but were booked to get married at WDW next February and have had to take the February week as part of the holiday. Trouble is with Easter time is it is an international holiday and so the parks get full. I am sure you will still have the best time ever though. It's the most magical place on earth.
Janine

 

[myhat]

I would avoid Easter if you can possibly avoid it. Late October is perfect for a one week stay. American kids all nicely tucked away in school, beautiful weather (no hurricanes, clear blue skies, no hummidity, mid-eighties). Most rides are queueless. You get so much more done.

By the way, if you go at a busy time there is a website called something like "Touring Plans. com" which tells you how busy each park for each day of a calendar year, which parks are busiest on any one day, and exactly which order to do the attractions.

Hope this helps and whenever you go - enjoy!!

 

[tim june and sam]

If you are running out of school leave time (you sound like one of the consciencious parents) but have considered October, why not combine the two thoughts and go away 7-10 days before the autumn half term break? You know, make the second week of your holiday the half-term from school.

We've done this for our last three visits and find second-third-fourth week of October to be a good time to visit....

Pro's
Hurricane's have gone (or just about anyway)
Park attendance fairly low
Weather warm without humidity
Brochure pricing is fair

Con's
Lots of Brits arrive in second week!

Enjoy