Worst Case Scenario?

[wdwrookie]

I referenced this in another thread, but here goes. I am going to Disney for the first time during one of the busiest weeks of the year (the week leading up to Easter). We had to book this week due to work situations. I am really discouraged because of all the negative things I have read about the crowds during this time.

My question is, what can I expect? What is the worst case scenario as far as how it will affect the time we have? I'm sure a week in Disney is better than a week at work (or a lot of other places for that matter), but I am starting to really worry.... Could someone paint the picture for me?

Thank you!

 

[Robinette]

The first time I went to Disney World I stayed offsite...in July...and it was hot, hot, hot and crowded. AND I think it was before fastpass! (1995)

BUT, I had the best time! I could not wait to get back. Go to Disney and have an awesome experience and don't worry too much about the crowds!!

 

[EmmasGrammy]

You are going to have large crowds and long waits in the lines (sometimes over an hour!). (SORRY!!!) Take advantage of the Early Entry days. Use the fast pass system. Know before hand what are "Must Dos" for your family. If you go knowing it will be crowded and you won't be able to do it all, I think you will have a better time and not stress out about missing stuff. Most importantly go there to make happy memories. Take time to enjoy yourselves and don't worry about a schedule. Take breaks in the afternoon and rest or swim at the resort.

I hope you have a wonderful trip!!

 

[Steffy]

Hi Rookie!

For me, it's all about expectations. If I go expecting it to be crowded (and it will be) I am thrilled when I see a walk-on (and some of the shows if you time them right will be!!)

I get excited when I see a 45 minute line for an attraction I really want to see. I make sure I have at least one character meal a day. That way I see characters and it is all about me!! I get my 60 seconds of picture taking, memory making time with my Mickey.

I return to the resort or go to a high loading show (Energy, Indiana Jones, Country Bears, Tarzan Rocks) where if there is a line it disappears because of the size of the theater.

I've gone the first week of July. Not the best. Before fast pass. BUT LOVED IT!!!!. I'm in Disney World. No clocks. Magic all around me.

Here is something that has also worked for me. Since I go in expecting no towel animals (only happened one trip), I expect iffy weather (one time it was stinking hot, one trip the heavens opened and I needed an Ark), so when we have wonderful weather, I'm THRILLED!!

If I return in the evening, and the crowds have left and I can do some of the attractions I want ( I remember one evening we went and did Haunted Mansion 10 times in a row..) I'm THRILLED.

Expect it will be crowded, as it will. Know that. Own it. Then let the magic happen. And it will. Just be prepared to share your magical moments with 25,000 other fans!!!

 

[stacy6552]

We were there the same week last year. Yes there were crowds, but nothing trip ruining. Use your time wisely and you wont notice a thing.

Heres what was aweful about that week...Everything outside of Disney. We flew and every flight was seriously overbooked, so they didnt care about service, because they already had your seat sold if you walked away. Thats the kind of crowd cr** you will face.

 

[jel0511]

WDW is going to be VERY crowded that week, and there will be wall to wall people. You need to go in with a game plan on what you really want to accomplish. Don't expect to get on every ride, and expect waits up to 2 hours on the more popular rides. Use Fastpass to your advantage and just take everything leisurely. Have everyone in your family pick TWO DIFFERENT rides (from everyone else) that they just HAVE TO get on. That way, you accomplish going on the rids everyone wants once, and then see and do other things. Plan some downtime at your resort. This will remove you from the mass hysteria that sometimes happens in a completely full theme park. It will give everyone in your group some time to relax and get ready for that next park.

 

[Traveliz]

Ok we go most years during that same week...the advantage we have is that we are familiar with the area and what we do.

Before you get down lets highlight the postives...I absolutely love the weather around Easter at Disney. Compared to our summer visits we are so comfortable; never overheated, and in the years we have traveled that week have only had one brief rain shower. Another upside is the park is generally open earlier and later than other times of the years (I haven't checked to see if that is the case this year but speaking generally).

Now its true that during the busiest part of the day there will be waits of an hour and more for the busiest most popular rides. We have been on the bus and heard people say they waited two hours for Splash when we waited less than 20 minutes. We choose not to wait in the lines; there are ways around that by proper planning (and sometimes some luck).

I think the real trick is to study the layout of the lands and use EMH (if you are onsite guests) to your advantage. We go early and do the most popular things, using a combination of EMH, being at the other lands when they open and thinking about the fast pass use. Remember you can always have one person of your party head to another area with all the tickets for fast passes. My husband really enjoys that job. We then eat mid day (often in the park) getting fast passes right before we sit down to lunch that are good for about the time we are done.

We also head back to the hotel for the afternoons and then close down the park finding we can often get alot done that last hour or two as people are heading out.

Good luck.

Liz

 

[100%Disney]

We went in July, very hot, very crowded, but we used fast-pass and had a great time. The heat was worse than the crowds, I hate pouring sweat. Epcot seems to be the most managable during busy times, AK is the worst, the paths are more narrow. MGM is a killer in the heat because there doesn't seem to be many trees for shade, plus the black asphalt radiates the heat. If you just go with the flow and don't try the commando approach you will have a blast.

 

[MickeyisanNDfan]

I was there Easter weekend 2002 and I didn't think it was all that crowded. There were a lot of people but it certainly wasn't wall to wall, and there were no park closings that people like to talk about. I know we went to MK after Mass at the Contemporary and breakfast and nothing horrendous stand out in my mind. We went with only 1 or 2 PS, made the rest when we were there and had no problem except in Canada. Like some one else said the flights were the worst part. I would go again at Easter no problem.

 

[cjsmith]

Originally posted by MickeyisanNDfan
I was there Easter weekend 2002 and I didn't think it was all that crowded. There were a lot of people but it certainly wasn't wall to wall, and there were no park closings that people like to talk about. I know we went to MK after Mass at the Contemporary and breakfast and nothing horrendous stand out in my mind. We went with only 1 or 2 PS, made the rest when we were there and had no problem except in Canada. Like some one else said the flights were the worst part. I would go again at Easter no problem.

You have to remember, Easter 2002 was right after 9/11 and attendance at the parks was at all time low. Even here in Naples, our tourist season is so much busier than the last 2 years, it's crazy. We got to the parks at off times and I can tell you that it is much more crowded now than it has been in the past 2 years. We were there 2 weekends ago and it was packed.
Easter is the weeks surrounding it are very, very, busy and crowded. If you go with a positive attitude and realize that everyone will be there, you'll do just fine. Make a game plan and try to stick to it. Relax, take time to enjoy everything. Know that you may not make it into everything that you want and just be happy that you're in Disney going on anything at all and you'll just love it.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

Just remember YOU ARE ON VACATION!

Yes, things will be very crowded. This is a fact and as long as you are prepared for it, you will be fine. When things are crazy busy, try heading back to the hotel for a swim and relax. The best thing to do is relax when things get stressful. We also try fun games to play when thing are really busy. While in the parks get some ice cream and sit on a bench and play a "people watching game". Like the first one to find 10 people wearing a mickey t-shirt wins. This way the crowds become part of the game.

Have fun!!!

 

[LuvBuzz]

We went the weekend of Easter 2002 and the week after. The week after, we saw MK close every day. And it was pretty wall to wall, especially in Fantasy Land. However, we had a BLAST. We were able to work around the crowds and ride things the kids wanted to. Were able to ride Dumbo, Pooh, Peter Pan and even had breakfast at Cinderella's Castle. We made the most of it, but went into knowing it would be very crowded. The only other time I had been was in the summer, so I was somewhat prepared. Have a great trip! We just got back in October and I am ready to go already!

 

[kirkharrod]

I went that week last year. It was very crowded, but they have eveerything open, lots of characters out and late hours. Remember, the rides in Fantasyland and Mickeys Toon town are much less crowded at night, when all the kiddies have gotten worn out!

 

[MickeyisanNDfan]

Ok I dont' know what I was thinking, I went in January 2002, Thanksgiving 2002 and Easter 2003. I still don't think any of them were that crowded...but once again crowds are all relative.

 

[10drum]

We were there the week prior to Easter last year 03, and it wasn't bad untill the Wed before. We got there on Sat and left on Thurs. Even though it was crowded we had a wonderful time. Our dd's high school band was playing, and some of the other band parents were there(for the first time), and they had a great time also.

If you are staying on property, get to the parks early, use fast pass, and leave by noon. Make Prioty seating for an evening meal, and don't get in a hurry, and think you have to do everything this trip. Go back next year in May, Sept, Nov., or even Aug(our favorite time to go).

WDW is a great place, no matter how crowded it gets.

 

[johnvree]

One of the best trips we ever had was when we went between Christmas and New Year's. The crowds make it feel a little more exciting.

To avoid the long lines, get there early and always have a fastpass in your pocket.

Here's a pattern that will work in all four parks: Get there for the rope drop and go right to an E-Ticket attraction. As soon as you get done, grab a FP for another E-Ticket attraction and then get on line for another E-Ticket attraction. When you are done with the second E-Ticket attraction, go get breakfast. By the time you are done with breakfast, use your FP since you are probably in the FP window. Then, you guessed it, grab another FP. At this point, you will probably have about an hour to kill before that FP window comes up. Use the time to hit some minor attractions, look for characters or shop. When your FP window comes up, hit the attraction. When done, grab a FP and get lunch, etc....

We used this in April, 1998. Fastpass was new and that probably helped us since not many people were using it. I remember being surprised how busy MK was. We used some variation of the above pattern and it worked like a charm. The order went something like: Peter Pan; grabbed FP for Pooh; Snow White; breakfast at Crystal Palace (or maybe it was Tony's); Pooh; grabbed FP for Splash; Big Thunder; POTC, Splash; grabbed FP for the HM; lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern; used FP for HM; grabbed FP for Buzz; TTA; Astro Orbiter; Buzz. By 2:30 we had had 2 meals and hit 8 big attractions and some minor ones. We never waited more than 20 minutes (actually it was Astro Orbiter). Now I want to confess, my family felt rushed a bit and we slowed it down the following days. But the point is, with a little planning you can get a lot done without standing in line all day.

Hope this helps; sorry for rambling.

 

[Planogirl]

If you're not a parade person, you can often find reasonable lines during parades. The parks are also wonderful at night when it's cooler and presumably not as crowded. That is if the parks are open late.

Epcot is open until 9 without fail and is quite nice during the evening. However, you pretty much have to see Mission Space and Test Track early and sometimes attractions are only open part of the day so do your research! Make a list of must-sees, their hours and plan accordingly. Everything else is just extra.

I also agree that you should take it slow most of the day. The heat and aggravation will zap your energy if you're not careful. Make some PS and be sure to take time to relax each day.

 

[hammertime]

I haven't heard anyone mention Priority Seating(same as reservations at restruarants). Be sure that you have at least one Priority Seating a day.

When I was there over the X-mas/New Year holliday it was a mad house. It felt good to be able to sit down and enjoy a meal especially in the middle of the day. When It's really busy some of the restuarant will only allow people in that have Priority Seating.

As for lines - the worse for us were the rides in MK. All the other parks weren't that bad except Mission to Mars and Test track at Epcot.

 

[Pixie glitter]

There's already some terrific advice here, but I have one very important point to add. (You might already be doing this, but in case you aren't. . .):

Read and use the touring plans in the back of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World by Bob Sehlinger. This will save you literally HOURS of waiting in line. Follow them to the tee, even when it means backtracking. My brother used these plans during a very busy time, and they never waited in line more than 20 minutes!!

 

[catnik]

I second using the Unofficial Guide to WDW touring plans....we have used them with high occupancy days and literally saved hours on lines (and with kids that is a GOOD thing!). You do have to backtrack at times in order to hit everything as outlined on the plan, and using FASTPASS is a must, but it is so worth it to have completed all the "major" rides and attractions by mid-day while others are still arriving/trying to figure out where they are going!