Easter 2013 park phase closings

[PhotoDave219]

How are the lines the weekend after Thanksgiving - first weekend in December with the filming of the parade.

Morning/mid day is a disaster. Nighttime is usually pretty good.

Any/all holiday - meaning when schools are off - is a disaster and results in high park attendance

 

[Snakebyt]

The parks and lines will be fine. Just do a little research before you go and you'll be fine.

 

[Eeyore]

MK is at phase 3 as of noon.

 

[Killnme]

We were in the parks the last two days. It is packed no doubt. Yesterday we went to Epcot, and since it was just us plus my MIL we took it easy. We toured the World Showcase - eating, drinking, shopping & checking out the Flower & Garden Festival. The only rides we went on were Test Track & Mission Space, which were an hour wait at 8 to 9pm.

Friends called to say they would be joining us at the MK this morning. Since they haven't been to WDW since 2010, I pulled up a Touring Plan (2 day plan since they will still be there tomorrow.). We got there at 8, followed the plan and rode a ton of rides before 1:30 (including a crowded!! stop for lunch.). Have a plan or plan to relax & either way you will have a great time!!!

How do you pull up a touring plan?

 

[PhotoDave219]

How do you pull up a touring plan?

There are many places on the Internet that will offer a touring plan, some of them customizable, for visiting the Orlando attractions including Walt Disney World, and Universal Studios,

The only one that I've seen that actually works? Would be the good folks over touring plans.com. Also the only ones that have full-time researchers here in Orlando.

But my overwhelming suggestion, is to take your kids out of school in the middle of October and just come here. You will have a much more enjoyable family vacation if you weren't here when you were people are then this week or next week or Christmas week. Unless you happen to like being in a themepark with 75,000 people

 

[reboonefamily]

The parks and lines will be fine. Just do a little research before you go and you'll be fine.

I will do as much research as I can we have to go then two kid's birthdays. We were there on oldest kid's birthday so now to get the other two there on their birthdays. What you would not do for kids. They are worth it.

 

[wdwmagic]

MK is back open to all

 

[FabulousFigment]

These crowds are no surprise to me. I am involved with booking houses down there and we have been booked solid for these few weeks since mid-February. It is very busy down there this year!!

 

[FabulousFigment]

How are the lines the weekend after Thanksgiving - first weekend in December with the filming of the parade.

I have found them to be more busy than usual but nothing like spring break.

 

[cba]

After reading all this I have a few words of advice: use Fastpass. It will save you. Trust me. If not, you'll be sucked into the world of waiting 2 hours.

 

[momof1princess]

I have found them to be more busy than usual but nothing like spring break.

When does Spring Break actually end?

 

[PhotoDave219]

When does Spring Break actually end?

10 days or so? It encompasses all of next week as well.

 

[FabulousFigment]

10 days or so? It encompasses all of next week as well.

This! I would not expect to see any letup in the crowds till around the 8th. I know that spring break here in NC does not start until tomorrow so expect next week to be a little crazy as well.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Wait this can't be... Magic Kingdom is... CROWDED!? But but but I thought the parks were stale and old and TDO is too cheap and stupid to hire friendly cast members and Harry Potter flew onto Main Street on a hippogriff and unscrewed all the light bulbs above Casey's and the only things left in the park are Starbucks and DVC kiosks and Magic Band readers that steal your identity and sell it to Google.

No? Hm.

Carry on.

Yep, and every snowstorm is a sign that global warming is a myth...

 

[erstwo]

How do you pull up a touring plan?

Correct - Touring Plans.com. They have an app (I think it was a free app?) with some free plans, but we used the 2 day plan that required a subscription ($10 once a year - well worth it). You can keep referring to the plan via the app or print it before you leave home, etc.
Easy peasy. Just be sure the plan you choose includes your favorite attractions.

 

[Disneyfanman]

Correct - Touring Plans.com. They have an app (I think it was a free app?) with some free plans, but we used the 2 day plan that required a subscription ($10 once a year - well worth it). You can keep referring to the plan via the app or print it before you leave home, etc.
Easy peasy. Just be sure the plan you choose includes your favorite attractions.

I can also strongly recommend the touring plans. I used to do my own plan, and it worked ok from experience, but I have used theirs on some extremely busy days (both MK and DL) and it was pretty incredible. The last time we were at DL (last year over Easter weekend) the crowds were wall to wall and we never waited more than 15-30 minutes on anything except when we went "off plan". Over dinner and breakfast I heard many people complaining about the waits. How few rides they went on, etc. We had none of those issues. That said, I have never been to the parks during a phase closure.

 

[PhotoDave219]

This! I would not expect to see any letup in the crowds till around the 8th. I know that spring break here in NC does not start until tomorrow so expect next week to be a little crazy as well.

Yes, anytime school is out it has a tremendous impact at WDW.

 

[Sped2424]

After reading all this I have a few words of advice: use Fastpass. It will save you. Trust me. If not, you'll be sucked into the world of waiting 2 hours.

See days like today are days where fastpass is a must this is why Im still on the fence for Fastpass+ 3 of them are not going to do you any favors :/ and if you can book em 180 days in advance that sounds like a whole lot of trouble for the standard line.

 

[BLY]

We arrived at MK at 2pm yesterday, drove straight in and got the next monorail over. Waited on Main Street and watched the parade, husband went and got a fastass for Big Thunder whilst we were waiting. Then went on 15 rides/shows and the longest wait was 25 minutes for the Tomorrowland Speedway - think I had mentally prepared for madness but was surprised at how much we did. Credit to Disney is that they put lots extra entertainment on and were fully staffed which moves the crowds nicely. Love it when it's a bit quieter but we still had a great day.

 

[71jason]

Trust me, Universal is no better. I did that on Christmas two years ago and we had to get a ticket just to walk into Harry Potter Land. We arrived at 10am, but were not allowed to even VIEW the land until 3:30pm. Essentially a FastPass to wait in a stand by queue...

Still going on this week. The Marvel E-tickets are running at 2 hour waits as well (tho getting better after around 6:00). Haven't been to Sea World since Sunday, but can't imagine it's any better. For that matter, my local Publix (across from Reunion) has been slammed with long lines, too. Everything in Orlando is busy during Spring Break.