Short notice vacation. Should I do this?

M

Mode7

New Member
I'm returning from a deployment with the military and I currently have too many leave days saved up. While I was gone they changed the amount that we can carry over and I need to burn some time off before I get started in my new office. So I am going on leave as of next Wednesday for 11 days. Originally I had planned to just stay at home, work on stuff around the house, and generally take it easy. Then I got this crazy idea. I started looking at the cost of cheap flights and I realized that I had the extra cash in the bank from my deployment money to take myself and my wife to WDW for a few days.

I can get the military 4 day passes and some very cheap flights so I called the disney reservation line to get a quote on rooms. They managed to find me a room in the wilderness lodge (I've never stayed at a deluxe resort before) and get me a discounted package that included the photo and meal packages.

My issue is that this will be from he 25th to the 1st and the crowd calendars I find online make it look like the crowds are really bad at that time. Are the crowds really that bad during this time of year? As an adult I've only visited in September and November and the last time I was there was 2011. How much more crowded are the parks? Would we be able to get seats at any of the restaurants?

Alternatively, we have not visited Universal Orlando, are the crowds there lighter? Would that be a better idea for this particular trip?

Should I do this? Am I crazy?
 
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Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Any theme park destination the week before Easter is going to be very busy. That said, you can still have a great time! You should check availability of places you might like to eat (you may not get your first choice of restaurants or times, but there will be options) and plan on eating your quick serve meals either earlier or later than the most popular times. Book your fastpasses in advance (again, you may need to be flexible with times), knowing you will have a minimal wait for at least three rides.

If you are mentally prepared for crowds, you'll do fine. WL is a wonderful resort and you could spend a lot of time hanging out there!

I have planned and taken WDW trips on less notice than a week in advance and had no regrets!
 
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CAPTAIN HOOK

CAPTAIN HOOK

Well-Known Member
Mode7 said:
Are the crowds really that bad during this time of year?
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You're going to find the week before Easter much busier than when you've previously visited
Mode7 said:
How much more crowded are the parks?
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Quite a bit - but you're going to get longer park hours
Mode7 said:
Would we be able to get seats at any of the restaurants?
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Have you looked at the Dining Reservations page ?
Mode7 said:
Alternatively, we have not visited Universal Orlando, are the crowds there lighter?
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No, its the week before Easter, All the Orlando parks will be busy. That said, you can still have a blast - its Disney afterall
 
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M

Mode7

New Member
Original Poster
Like I said, I have a LOT of leave days saved up. Will it make a big difference in crowds if I push the trip back a week and do it after easter is over? I was hoping for a fun but somewhat relaxing trip if possible.

I haven't looked at the dining reservations page. Haven't planned one of these in a while and since we always went in the off season we just kinda ate where we wanted and usually didn't have too much trouble getting a table.

Thanks for the advice.
 
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jlsHouston

jlsHouston

Well-Known Member
As everyone pointed out mid March to mid April will be crowds. But the weather should be nice, and Flower & Garden is happening at Epcot and alot of refurbs on rides have been completed or haven't started yet. We just booked a 3 day trip during the week immediately following Easter. It will be really packed but I don't care. Rather than worry about dining reservations and also since we are only going for 4d/3n, I plan on eating where I can just walk in...Yak & Yeti at AK, maybe Boma, Flying FIsh, Chefs De France (really good hamburgers) Crew Cup, and Fresh Med for breakfast or lunch since staying at Dolphin...and then I know one whole day will be devoted to sampling the fare at F&G kiosks... I can't see myself going hungry or not eating well at WDW...

I grabbed FP's for 3 parks and I plan on some pool time and we might even go to the water park and float for a couple of hours.

You will totally love WL, so relaxing, lobby is incredible. One of my favorite things to do is hit the bar there and get a bottle of wine and a cheese fondue and just kind of chill and snack and people watch.

Also you can hit the parks early and should be able to walk on plenty of the rides without too much of a wait and use your FP's for doing the rides after 11 am.

If you want to just go NOW then do it, if you feel lower crowds will make your visit more enjoyable book end of April.

Welcome home, my son just left for a 9 month deployment in Afghanistan again.

Enjoy your much deserved WDW holiday!
 
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JohnD

JohnD

Well-Known Member
It sounds like you have your resort lined up but, for you being military, Shades of Green is an option: http://www.shadesofgreen.org/. It's located approximately between GF and Poly and is on the Magnolia Golf Course. You get EMH and I believe 60 day advance FP+. Rates are based on your status and rank in the armed forces. But if you got WL, then that would definitely be the better option!

As for crowds, March 25 to April 1 is leading into Easter. As a Florida Resident seasonal passholder, I'm blocked out during that period which means it's a busier time at Disney for all other guests.
 
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jlsHouston

jlsHouston

Well-Known Member
JohnD said:
It sounds like you have your resort lined up but, for you being military, Shades of Green is an option: http://www.shadesofgreen.org/. It's located approximately between GF and Poly and is on the Magnolia Golf Course. You get EMH and I believe 60 day advance FP+. Rates are based on your status and rank in the armed forces. But if you got WL, then that would definitely be the better option!

As for crowds, March 25 to April 1 is leading into Easter. As a Florida Resident seasonal passholder, I'm blocked out during that period which means it's a busier time at Disney for all other guests.
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Shades of Green might not have any openings on such a short notice. That might be another factor for waiting til later in April to visit...My son was going to meet me at WDW the week including Valentines and there was only a few rooms available for all the dates and I believe they were only accessible rooms.
I was totally amazed at the rate difference at Shades of Green versus a Deluxe with even passholder discount in play...I didn't know the rates were based on rank either.
 
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Gaston's gal

Gaston's gal

Well-Known Member
If you go the week you have scheduled, then go to the parks early and when it gets too crowded for you both, then go back and enjoy the resort. There is so much to do over in the Magic Kingdom resort area. You can go swim at the WL, explore the new renovations at the Poly, eat some Dole Whip, go explore GF and Contemporary, then have a nice dinner at Artist Point or a lively, but yummy dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe. At night, you can watch the Electrical Water Pageant and the fireworks from WL or the lawn of the Poly. One more idea is have dinner at the California Grill, then enjoy the fireworks from there. No matter what, you will have an amazing time, I'm sure!
 
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JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
thank-you-military.gif


Don't be too concerned about the crowds, the weather, the lines. Just go and fully enjoy the time you have to be with your family. There isnt any better place on earth to reconnect with your loved ones than at Disney. Enjoy it to the fullest.
 
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