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Should I go ahed with our Disney World trip over Easter

Should I go ahed with our Disney World trip over Easter

Old Feb 13th, 2008, 09:57 AM
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kdd
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Should I go ahed with our Disney World trip over Easter

Hi,

I just finished making all bookings for a trip to Disney World (Mar 22-27).

After reading several threads I am getting increasingly apprehensive about the crowds. I hear that this year particularly will be horrendous due to Esater and spring break coinciding. Parks might close as early as 11 am due to being filled to capacity!

If this is the case, should I postpone the trip by a week or more? It will cost money to change the air tickets, but at least we will not have to deal with this kind of crowds. Or should I say "fortune favors the bold" and just go? Any thoughts on this?

Also, we are not going to be doing any of the thrill rides like Splash mountain etc. More along the lines of Peter Pan, Small world, Pirates etc. Does this make may difference in terms of crowds encountered?

We are staying at the Disney Polynesian. Are even guest at the Disney resorts turned away due to early closure of parks or this does not apply to resorts guests? I am hoping the latter.

Please help me decide.

Thanks

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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 10:01 AM
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All i can say is that "Easter and Spring Break coinciding" is not new...not everyone takes Spring Break at the same time.

I think you should concentrate a lot MORE on the best ways to see all the attractions when there ARE crowds such as starting early, going to the very back of EPCOT first, etc.
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 10:04 AM
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Because you are staying onsight, closing the parks will have no impact on you.

Go early in the morning when the parks open, go left, leave about 11AM and spend some time at your pool or one of the water parks, and head back to the parks around 4ish and stay until closing.
 
Old Feb 13th, 2008, 10:11 AM
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It will be super crowded. As I mentioned on your other thread, Easter in early March this year is why I chose not to go during this time (my daughter's break is during Easter week).

I think it would be less crowded if you postponed the trip, but since Spring Break is not the same for all people - it can go into mid April I've read - how much the crowds will be lessened I'm not sure. Depends how long you're able to postpone.

If you decide to go ahead with your plans, I would advise to take advantage of the early morning entry - this would be a good time to get on the Fantasyland rides, which can have some serious lines.

Leave when it starts to get crowded, nap or do pool time at your hotel. Return in the late afternoon/early evening for a little bit.

Don't exhaust yourself by trying to fight the crowds and see/do every single thing.
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 10:14 AM
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>Easter in early March this year is why I chose not to go during this time<

what I meant to say is that Easter being early this year, in March.

need to preview before I hit post more often.
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 10:34 AM
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Look into the costs of postponing if you're 'increasingly apprehensive'. Do read this thread from tuleppy about a Disney trip at Christmas 07. Towards the end they posted a trip report that may help you with your decision!

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35094678

Easter week is the second busiest time of year (after Christmas week) and the parks are likely to close with capacity crowds. Personally, even with guaranteed entry I really would not want to be in a Disney park that is filled to capacity. We have older kids and they want to ride on everything without lining up for an hour or much much more.

The rides for smaller children also attract long lines/wait times especially ones like Dumbo which has very few seats and is slow to board and empty. Check the guide books for average wait times for the various rides in peak season.

Bottom line you could go and have a great time if you go with the attitude it's going to be busy and you're OK with long waits.

Be prepared to hit the parks early, take a long break in the middle of the day and return for the evenings.

If you really hate crowds postpone.
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 11:09 AM
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Many years ago (i think about 14) we did this with our kids, and did exactly what highflyer suggested. We went early before the crowds. Left midday when there were crowds and returned in the evening. We also stayed at the Polynesian which has a man-made beach (unless it's changed since then!). My kids were perfectly happy to return from the park and spend the afternoon on the beach and at the pool.
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 11:19 AM
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You don't mention your children's ages but I would strongly caution against taking anyone under 10 years old to Disney in March. We did it a few years ago with a 12 and 14 year old and the lines were 90-120 minutes for Small World, Peter Pan etc. With waits this long you are very limited in the number of attractions you can see in a day, breaks or no breaks. My daughter went with friends in January and the lines were just as bad. I think Disney is trying to make things more affordable so more people are going. If it doesn't cause too much trouble I would seriously consider changing your week. Those lines even got to me!
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 11:23 AM
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I would go. Not all schools have their school breaks centered around Easter. We went a few years on our children's April vacation which happened to coincide with Easter. We went early (to Universal) and bought two day passes. I think we went on a Friday and on Tuesday. It was crowded but not anything more than lots of places we've been. The Deerfield Fair in NH in September was much worse.
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 04:54 PM
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We went during Christmas of '07...busiest time of the year. Some advice: stay on-sight, use Disney transportation, have a laid back attitude, buy this book: Disney World with Kids and follow every piece of advice in it. 4 adults, 4 kids(two 7 years olds and two 11 year olds)...very little wait time when we followed the book's advice! I really cannot stress how great that book is! P.S. Be sure to ride Soaring at Epcot, even if you have to take turns sitting out with babies!
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 05:15 PM
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If you are still going that week, I highly recommend the book the Unofficial Guide to WDW. They have done research on how crowds move through the parks and how to best avoid long waits. They have different tear-out intineraries for each of the parks and for Magic Kingdom, a special plan if you are mostly with smaller children. Also reviews on each attraction by age group, thrill factor, and ability to make you sick.
I used the one for Disneyland 3 years ago and we went on the busiest day of the year (New Year's Eve) and hit all the rides with minimal wait times (<30 minutes). I will use the WDW book next week on our first trip there.
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Old Feb 14th, 2008, 03:54 PM
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Based on what I have read, that is going to be an insane week. The parks most likely will close. If you can change, do so. If not, be really strategic about what you do...maybe Easter Sunday itself can be an "off day" where you stay at the resort and hang by the pool.

A couple thoughts. If you want to eat at any Disney restaurants, call NOW and make reservations. Most people started doing that 6 months ago.

Also, buy the Unofficial Guide or join Tour Guide Mike (www.tourguidemike.com) and get their touring plans and advice. Both are worth the money.

Learn about Fastpass and how to use that to your advantage so you don't have to wait in hours long rides.

Good luck.
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Old Feb 14th, 2008, 08:29 PM
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YOu've gotten great adivce and I second the reccomendation for www.tourguidemike.com

Also, someone commented that parks closing won't affect you since you're staying on-site - I'm pretty sure that as an onsite guest you're only guarenteed entry to a Disney park , not neccesarily the one of your choice. SO if MK is at capacity they can let you into EPCOT and met their obligation. You should double check this but I didn't want you to go thinking the clsoings wouldn't affect you.

Also, I'm not sure I'd want to be allowed in a park that was at capacity - we love Disney and visit relatively often but at peak crowd levels it would lose a lot of appeal.

Have fun whatever you do!
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Old Feb 15th, 2008, 03:59 AM
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Disney is always crowded. We were there one time when they closed the parks at 11:00. Talk about miserable. Just trying to watch a parade was a real effort. I don't know how "less crowded" it would at a later date. Since you are riding the "headliner rides" you might not be that badd off. Just go early mornings, and use the fast pass. Afternoons are then better off for waterparks or pool. You had better make any dining reservations now. You don't want to stand in line for that too. The more preparation you do the better off you will be no matter when you go. Have a pretty good idea of what you want to ride and where you want to go. You can still have plenty of time for spontaneous activities.
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Old Feb 15th, 2008, 05:47 AM
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My sons and my husband and I are going to Disney the week before Easter. My sons are 19 and 20 and we have been to Disney before. What is the best way to see Universal or age appropriate sights? We are only there from Sunday the 16th to Tuesday the 18th.
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Old Feb 15th, 2008, 07:49 AM
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We went during Thanksgiving week of last year. It was CRAZY crowded, but we followed Tour Guide Mike's advice to the letter and never waited more than 10-15 minutes for any ride. With that said, it takes a long time to digest Mike's advice, and you may not have enough time. If you're willing to spend $20 subscribing and put some time into it, you can always be one step ahead of the crowds.
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Old Feb 15th, 2008, 07:52 AM
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I've went numerous times when it was not busy at all. Usually it was early or mid October. Once it was over Columbus Day week and they were waiting for us to come in so that there would be enough people to start etc.

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Old Feb 16th, 2008, 06:19 AM
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I was at Magic Kingdom on Easter Sunday, 1985. It was my high school senior trip during spring break. It was crowded, but not unbearable. They had a special Easter parade.
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Old Feb 16th, 2008, 09:13 AM
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If you are interested in the Fantasyland rides (Peter Pan, Dumbo, etc.), go to that area as soon as the park opens. It is the most crowded area of the park, and has some of the longerst lines due to the capacity and loading of those rides. Use fastpass as much as you can.
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Old Feb 16th, 2008, 09:32 AM
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Disney=Crowded.

It used to be you could plan your travel to Disney for "down" times. I've read that even the down times are crowded. Since travel overseas is more costly and people don't have the passports they need, they are staying in the US.

The guidebooks help, and at least one of them will tell you to realize before you go, that you will visit again some time. You will not see everything in one trip.

It's a vacation for goodness sakes. If you despise lines as part of your personality, then don't go.

Otherwise, buy the hat and t-shirt, queue up and earn the right to be a Disney veteran.
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