Am I crazy..Disney related

So DH and I were talking last night and were thinking of going to Disney Thurs. 4/17- Wed 4/23.

Our DD's have off from school for spring break that Thurs, Fri and Mon. Doing it this way they would only miss 2 days of school.

I'm thinking I may be crazy since it is partly Spring Break and Easter.

If you've been there for Easter Sunday, did you find it unbearably crowded?? Worth it or no?

My mom said she remembers taking me and my siblings many years ago for Easter and she would never do it again.

Re: Am I crazy..Disney related

I think it depends on your expectations. But the crowds can be crazy. The parks can go on one of their levels of closure (starting with off site guests).

Re: Am I crazy..Disney related

We'll be staying at the Contemporary. Which makes it easy to go to the parks and leave when we want to.

I never have high expectations when going to Disney. DH and I are not ones that feel like we have to spend every minute in the parks to get our money's worth. We just want to follow our DD's leads and enjoy ourselves.

With that said, we don't want everyday to be a waste or too crowded to do anything.

I've had 2 people tell me they would never, ever go that time of year again.

Re: Am I crazy..Disney related

I went last year at Easter. We did not go to any parks on Easter sunday though.

Honestly, it was not nearly as bad as I though. Yes, crowded, but we got there early, knew what we wanted to see and left usually around 2-3pm.

It wouldn't be my first choice for when to go, but I'd do it again if necessary.

Re: Am I crazy..Disney related

Go to easywdw and go back to April/ March he had photos of the parks so you can see what it is like and determine for hourself. You can do it...just there will quickly be 1-2+ hour waits. You will need to be there at rope drop to ensure you get in. You will also need to be reistic about how much you will get done. A good touring plan would be key. The new magic bands and FP+ might help bc you can reserve 3 fps in advance. But you only get three in one park. People do it and have fun..but planning will make a difference. I try to avoid these times bc my girls do not do well in long lines but when they are older you are stuck with school breaks but by then I figure they will do better with the lines.

Re: Am I crazy..Disney related

I would avoid spring break if at all possible. Spring break and Christmas break is peak crowds and also peak prices.

I haven't gone to disney during spring break as an adult but some of my earliest memories of Disney are of very long lines! It isn't a happy memory but a memory of a long car ride and long long waits everywhere. This may just be part of my personality but even as an adult, I'd rather not go to a place if I have to wait long in a line.

Re: Am I crazy..Disney related

We weren't there for Easter Sunday but we were there over spring break one year and I'll never do it again. It was hot and crowded and that was late March. DD was only 2 though so an older kid should be more tolerant.

We went in January when DD was 3 and again last October when she was 5 and it was such a better experience when you can walk on some rides and enjoy the warm weather.

Re: Am I crazy..Disney related

Just wanted to add that we did not encounter any 1-2 hour waits at all. And we had no trouble getting fast passes for anything, including Toy Story Mania. And all of our fp return times were reasonably spaced from when we got the fast pass (no more than a few hours later).

Maybe we just planned really well. I'm not sure. We had a huge group too, 15 people. So we were a slow moving machine and it still wasn't that bad.

Re: Am I crazy..Disney related

I would personally never enjoy myself at a peak crowd time of year - DH would rather stick needles in his eyse - so I think you're crazy

But if you guys don't mind (which obviously millions of people don't think like me) then go for it !

Am I crazy..Disney related

I have two words for you - Rope Drop. At these peak times of year rope drop is a necessity. Otherwise you will just be waiting in line for hours and hours on end. It's also important to have a touring plan. I know it doesn't sound easy breezy, but when it's this packed you have to have a plan.

We were there the beginning of June, it was a crowd level 8 (spring break is 10+) and the parks were nuts by noon. Getting there for rope drop was a lifesaver. It made the trip so much more enjoyable....except for the whole getting up early thing. LOL.

As a pp said, check out easywdw. It's a very informative website. Touring Plans is also great.

Re: Am I crazy..Disney related

Something people haven't mentioned. They are implementing a new fp system. In the past if you planned well you could get fp after fp. Now you will be limited to three preplanned ones in one park (even if you hop you can only get them in one). Unfortunately since it is only in testing now there is no way to tell how it will affect touring and lines for a while. Someone mentioned an 8 on the scale but a 10 is actually much worse. It will be very important to really have a solid plan.

Re: Am I crazy..Disney related

Honestly, I avoid Disney at all costs during holidays and school breaks. I've been at all times of the year and I find the holidays are the absolute worst. The parks are packed, food lines insane, and lines for rides can top 3 hrs. For what a Disney vacation costs I prefer to go when the crowds are at a minimum. I plan on pulling my kids from school every time we go.

Re: Am I crazy..Disney related

Thanks everyone for the feedback!

Based on some of your comments, projected crowd levels for that week and price, we decided that week is not for us.

We booked last night for the end of March and the crowd calendar shows the parks at a medium. I know that's just a guesstimate and it could be more crowded but we're comfortable that even though it falls during spring break season, it's not our spring break week.

Message edited 7/24/2013 10:54:19 AM.

Re: Am I crazy..Disney related

We have gone for Easter. Crowds are not too bad. Go to Hollywood Studios on Easter Sunday. We got there around 10 am and it was empty. We did the Toy Stories ride twice.

During the week is better than on the weekends.