Which would be worse as far as crowds go?

[WouldRatherBeInWDW]

The week following Easter or the first week of August?

I am trying to decide when we should go in 2015. I've been in August and I know the crowds are horrible, but so is the heat.

I've never been right after Easter. How do the crowds compare to early August? I know the weather would be MUCH better.

If the crowds are comparable, I think we will choose the week after Easter just for the nicer weather.

 

[nkereina]

At least here in the Northeast, the week after Easter is the main Spring Break week for all the schools. I can think of at least 3-4 families I know that ALWAYS go on vacation this week. This will definitely be a busy week, and I'd reckon probably busier than August. That being said, weather would be much more tolerable IMO. If you've done Disney before and you can be diligent about making touring plans, I'd probably go the week after Easter.

 

[nicki.momof3]

The week before Easter, the week after Easter, and the week between Christmas and New Years are the busiest weeks of the year. (Peak)

We go every year during both Easter and Christmas week dozens of times. We have also been in August a few times.

We would 100% prefer to deal with the crowds of peak weeks then deal with the gross sticky heat of August. August is not a peak week.

Honestly, if you had a hard time with August crowds don't go during a peak week. If you can go with the flow and deal with the crowds you will have a great time. The weather is lovely. You just have to go in with the mind set that you are not going to get to do everything and that you have to be patient with the crowds.

On a positive note. I think people in general are much happier and not so grouchy with they are not dying of heat. I would rather wait in a long line with happy people then a shorter line with grumpy people who are dying in the heat.

FYI - your also going to pay peak prices for a room and dining Easter week. It is much more expensive.

 

[WouldRatherBeInWDW]

What does WDW consider to be "Easter Week"? The week before, the week after, or both? I know that, this year, the week leading up to Easter was excluded from the spring room discounts.

Next year Easter is early, so many schools may be off the week after and that would affect the crowds too.

I'm starting to lean towards August and a longer stay (since I won't have to worry about school) to help cope with the heat.

 

[photo_chick]

I've done the first week of August. I didn't think the crowds were bad at all. Yes, it's hot. You do have to be sensible and drink lots of water, head in to some seated attractions during the hottest part of the day and that type of thing. I've never been during Easter but the pictures of the crowds I've seen are much larger than what I've encountered in August.

 

[nkereina]

PP - I would add the week of Thanksgiving and the week of President's Week to peak times too. They'd rival Spring Break week at Easter, IMO.

What does WDW consider to be "Easter Week"? The week before, the week after, or both? I know that, this year, the week leading up to Easter was excluded from the spring room discounts.

Next year Easter is early, so many schools may be off the week after and that would affect the crowds too.

I'm starting to lean towards August and a longer stay (since I won't have to worry about school) to help cope with the heat.

Good question. Technically, Sunday starts a new week so "Easter" week would be the week after. That's how the schools here view it, with kids off that week. BUT Good Friday falls in the week leading up to Easter, and many schools are off the end of this week as well. So, I'd say it could go either way.

If you do opt for August, your best defense will be rope drop, breaking around lunch time which is the hottest/most crowded time of day, and then returning at night. I'd also caution that in our experience, we did the dining plan during the summer and found it to be a waste. We never felt like eating big meals since the heat took so much out of us, and we would have been better off paying OOP.

 

[nicki.momof3]

PP - I would add the week of Thanksgiving and the week of President's Week to peak times too. They'd rival Spring Break week at Easter, IMO.




Good question. Technically, Sunday starts a new week so "Easter" week would be the week after. That's how the schools here view it, with kids off that week. BUT Good Friday falls in the week leading up to Easter, and many schools are off the end of this week as well. So, I'd say it could go either way.

If you do opt for August, your best defense will be rope drop, breaking around lunch time which is the hottest/most crowded time of day, and then returning at night. I'd also caution that in our experience, we did the dining plan during the summer and found it to be a waste. We never felt like eating big meals since the heat took so much out of us, and we would have been better off paying OOP.

Slight correction - According to WDW pricing. The entire week before and after Easter and the week between Christmas and New Years are the only weeks considered " HIGHEST PEAK" weeks. They are the highest priced weeks of the year - hands down. Other weeks are busy I agree but they are not considered "PEAK". When you go during one of these weeks you can expect park closures and very long wait times. Even typically short wait time rides have hour plus waits. Some wait times will reach over 2 hours.

Now that being said I would always pick Easter over summer. The weather is great, Epcot flower and garden festival is lovely.

We found FP+ to be very helpful during Christmas week this year. If you plan your major rides with FP+ you can avoid those lines. Planning is the key to a peak week.

Hope you have a great week - which every you choose.

Take peoples advice about when schools are off with a grain of salt. Every county in the US has different breaks. I live in Michigan and the 26 districts here are off this coming week. We are not on Easter week at all this year. Our break always falls the first full week of April. No connection to Easter. Every place is different.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

It depends on when Easter falls. This year Easter is very late, so the week after Easter will not be terrible. When Easter falls earlier, the week after Easter also has a lot of Spring Break folks.

 

[WouldRatherBeInWDW]

Thanks everyone! I guess it all boils down to this choice and what matters most to us:

RIDICULOUS crowds/Slightly more expensive/Limited days (due to school)/GREAT weather

OR

Awful crowds/Better prices/Unlimited days (within reason)/HORRIBLE weather

I'm not worried about summer storms. They seem to come and go quickly. We went for the first time last year at the end of April/beginning of May and we had rain storms that lasted for hours and hours.

 

[keypooh90]

The week after Easter is definitely more crowded. I'm a CM and our manager told us last year that the top four busiest weeks are Christmas/New Year's Week, Thanksgiving, President's Week,and Easter.

 

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