Anxiety About Easter Week 2018

Jessirip · Oct 15, 2017

I've gone from really excited to really nervous about our first family trip in 2018. We are going Mar 31 - Apr 7, which I knew would be busy due to Spring Breaks, but am finding posts that say Easter time is insane, run away, visit literally any other time (except Christmas), etc. I am also finding a few that say as long as we have a plan we will be fine and am trying to focus on those.

We are booked, this is happening, but I'm having a hard time not stressing out about it and am looking for either advice or reassurance I guess. I got all the ADRs we wanted including BOG dinner and CRT for my princess crazy daughter. We have a Plaza Garden Party for fireworks on Easter Sunday, which I booked specifically for the spot. Our FP window is a few months away but I plan to be strategic and use Touring Plans. We also are fully prepared for breaks during mid-day as we have young kids (3 & 6). I just really want us to have a good time. I'm not as worried about long lines as I am about not being able to move.

Oh and we will be those parents pushing a double stroller in those crowds too. Apologies in advance for your ankles.

Oswin · Oct 16, 2017

If you have all the ADRs you want and are realistic about your daily touring plan, you should be fine. Yes, the parks will be VERY busy and there will be places in the parks where you will have trouble moving with a double stroller. It's one of the busiest times of the year. But you will find that the parks, resorts, and transportation are all running at peak efficiency. You may not be able to see/do all the things at every park, but you should be able to hit all of your must dos.

kylieC · Oct 16, 2017

We are going to be staying for the same time, we also have all our ADR's.

The one thing that was concerning me for such a busy week is the park hours are quiet restricted still. I would have assumed the parks would have been opened longer.

ArwenMarie · Oct 16, 2017

It depends on your tolerance for crowds. My SIL goes that week every year because they both work in the schools. They have a great time every year. They get up really really early and they don't spend super long days at the parks. I would never go back that week again. It's just too many people for me. On the plus size, the weather is usually nice!

Tattylou · Oct 16, 2017

We went in 2014 over Easter. I was anxious about it too. My kids were 3 and 5 at the time. Getting there for rope drop helped a lot. It didn't start to get crazy crowded until around 11. You can get a lot done in the morning. Then we would do our fast passes for 11 and after. We leave after fp were done and would head back to the hotel to rest and swim. We saw a lot more shows that year too bc ride lines were long and shows take big groups so it was less waiting. Some nights we didn't go back to the parks after swimming and eating bc the kids were little and tired. Going over a major holiday with little kids just means you will see and do less, but it was still fun. It worked out fine, but I'm not sure we would go over Easter again...although never say never, lol.

abja09 · Oct 16, 2017

I went over Easter in 2015 and said never again but now we are also going to be there the same time March 29 -April 6, 2018. So much for never again! When I was there 2 years ago I found MK to be the most crowded. One day we left MK by 12pm and headed to Epcot which felt empty. I also felt AK was not as crowded. I do think the Fantasyland area gets the most crowded by mid day as there is not much space to walk especially by It's a Small World and Peter Pan. We typically leave the parks by 1pm and go back to the hotel to relax a bit before going back out a dinner time.
I do remember the MK opening at 7am for EMH and having an 8am regular opening. I'm not sure about the other parks but I know it was not as early. Don't expect to see updated park hours until February. As long as you are prepared you will have a great trip and I will watch out for that double stroller!!

Jessirip · Oct 16, 2017

Thanks all for chiming in. I appreciate the experience with past Easter's too. I am thinking the way to feel better about this is upgrade our resort as we'll be there more often, so emailed our travel agent seeing what we could do. Fingers crossed! I just need to be ready to go with the flow.

Gentry2004 · Oct 16, 2017

Be prepared for Magic Kingdom opening daily at 8am with daily EMH at 7am. I think you have to take advantages of the early hours if you want to get a lot done without going crazy. Then relax at your resort in the afternoon.

It CAN be done, but for first timers with kids that young, I think you need to keep your expectations in check. Like REALLY in check.

scrappingbuckeye · Oct 17, 2017

I've been over Easter week many times and it isn't really that big of deal, it's busy yes but nothing even remotely close to how it is over Christmas. I've never seen it where you can't move - EXCEPT if you try to leave right after the fireworks, then yes it's crazy! Just plan on staying in the park after fireworks and you'll be fine.

It is completely doable, will some lines be long yes but we have a great time every year. We don't even get to the parks until around noon and stay late, but my kids are older so that works best for us. I will be there the same time as you and I'm not stressed about it at all.

mc-hokie · Oct 17, 2017

kylieC said:
We are going to be staying for the same time, we also have all our ADR's.

The one thing that was concerning me for such a busy week is the park hours are quiet restricted still. I would have assumed the parks would have been opened longer.

Don't worry, we go Easter week each year...hours will continue to be changed and expanded even up to 2 weeks before you arrive.

mc-hokie · Oct 17, 2017

Gentry2004 said:
Be prepared for Magic Kingdom opening daily at 8am with daily EMH at 7am. I think you have to take advantages of the early hours if you want to get a lot done without going crazy. Then relax at your resort in the afternoon.

It CAN be done, but for first timers with kids that young, I think you need to keep your expectations in check. Like REALLY in check.

7am EMH is the best way to tour MK...you will feel like you have the park to yourself & you'll be amazed how much you can get done by 9am.

Ellester · Oct 17, 2017

Don’t stress! Yes, it will be busy, but if you go in knowing that it makes such a difference! As others have said, rope drop is your friend. It really is amazing how much you can get done in those first few hours and then you have all the rest of the day to enjoy the parks! When my kids were around those ages the biggest thing that helped was letting them have plenty of time to just run around and play. I vividly remember my now 16yo daughter on the trip when she was 5. We were in line for Pooh, and had been on just about every FantasyLand ride already that morning with little to no wait. She looked at me with big, doleful eyes and asked “But MOMMY! When do we get to PLAY?!?”. I was dumbfounded! After that we took more time to just let them run around the various play areas. They LOVED that so much and it did my heart good to watch them giggle and play. We still did all the attractions we wanted to, but it was a new perspective for me to realize that sitting and watching them have so much joy just running around was a valid and great part of the vacation experience!

kniquy · Oct 17, 2017

Sounds like you are doing all the right things to be prepared. I went this past Easter week only because it was a conference. It was the perfect storm this year because it overlapped many states school vacations, it was Easter and it was also the dark side marathon. I found that the parks were busy- I hit Epcot on Tuesday and it was very manageable - try to avoid Epcot during the weekend as many locals will go because of flower and garden. I hit MK on Wednesday afternoon and we did our 3 FP and were able to use the MDE app to check wait times and focused hitting ones that were less than 30 minute waits - we were able to accomplish a lot even for showing up late to the park. We went to AK on saturday (our departure day) with early morning magic hours it was good to get started early. But by 1:00 it was getting rather crowded and this was before pandora opened. I would say take advantage of doing rope drop as much as possible with afternoon breaks to go relax and get out of the thick of the crowds. Just relax and enjoy!!

alliecat523 · Oct 17, 2017

scrappingbuckeye said:
I've been over Easter week many times and it isn't really that big of deal, it's busy yes but nothing even remotely close to how it is over Christmas. I've never seen it where you can't move - EXCEPT if you try to leave right after the fireworks, then yes it's crazy! Just plan on staying in the park after fireworks and you'll be fine.

It is completely doable, will some lines be long yes but we have a great time every year. We don't even get to the parks until around noon and stay late, but my kids are older so that works best for us. I will be there the same time as you and I'm not stressed about it at all.

I second this.

Gentry2004 · Oct 17, 2017

mc-hokie said:
7am EMH is the best way to tour MK...you will feel like you have the park to yourself & you'll be amazed how much you can get done by 9am.

I completely agree. But some people don't want to vacation like that and/or can't get their family members on board. I think its important to know that if you show up at 8:45am, everyone will already be there.

Tbird13 · Oct 21, 2017

We’ll be there at the same time and I was having anxiety about it too. I just want the kids to be able to enjoy themselves. These responses help!

Anxiety About Easter Week 2018

Jessirip

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Oswin

Lost in Time and Space

kylieC

Earning My Ears

ArwenMarie

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Tattylou

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abja09

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Jessirip

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Gentry2004

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scrappingbuckeye

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mc-hokie

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mc-hokie

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Ellester

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kniquy

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alliecat523

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Gentry2004

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Tbird13

Earning My Ears

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