easter in orlando

[Belindaclaret]

hi guys we are going to orlando on 22nd march 2007 for 21 days(82 days to go)does anyone have an info on what goes on during the easter break over there,like special events, parades etc.

:new_year:

[princessjilly]

i just found this on a website

Easter
Disney does not offer an Easter parade or decorations in the parks. There are usually special meals available at certain restaurants on Easter Sunday: call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463) for reservations and information. Some of the Disney hotels offer egg hunts, etc to their guests. If you are staying at a Disney hotel, inquire at the front desk when you arrive.

[sarahc]

We've been 4 times at Easter and it's weird as they just don't seem to celebrate it as we do. You'll even have a hard job to find Easter eggs in the shops.:confused2

[Cyclospora]

We went in 1988 and there was a huge Easter Parade in MK - and you're right there weren't eggs like we have - but loads of cuddly toy bunnies with baskets of eggs.

In fact - we were in Downtown Orlando near Church Street Station and found a Woolworths and so decided to go in and look for eggs. At the time there was something a bit odd about the shop windows but it didn't dawn on us until we saw people walking outside carrying Christmas presents! They were filming Ernest Saves Christmas and were on a break!

Still have the bunny we bought!

Annie

ps - HUGE crowds at Easter... and combined with Spring Breakers!

[josie112]

Our trips to WDW have alsways included the Easter Weekend. We found during our first trip that the crowds in the parks can be manic and well worth avoiding and now plan our itininerary accordingly.

We usually have a rest day, a shopping day and other 'non park' activies. over the Easter Weekend. This coming Easter we are swimming with manatees at Homosassa on Easter Friday and staying overnight.

[Belindaclaret]

Thanks guys.
So not a lot Eastery going on thats a shame!
And avoid the parks over the easter period Sunday and Monday?

[josie112]

I'd say definitely try and arrange to do other things over the whole holiday weekend. This is easier if you're there for three weeks.

Alternatively, if you do fit in a park over the weekend then why not go mid to late afternoon and stay through until closing. You'll notice quite a lot of people start to leave later in the afternoon so queues should start to get a bit shorter.

[ashley.smith]

Having done Easter in 85, 95, 04, and 06 and now christmas I can strongly recomend the above... DO NOT GO NEAR THE PARKS over easter weekend. They will be manic beyond believe. To give an idea...

We went to Epcot and arrived shortly after gates opening, the Soarin Fast Pass had a 20 minutes que, and the times were rocketing... we got a fast pass to return about two hours later. When we came back fast passes were being distributed for six hours later and by 2pm every Fast Pass was clossed with ride que times up to two hours.

Most important point. GET TO PARKS EARLY, idealy half hour before they officially open. Sometimes they will let you in early.

Next tip. If you are staying on H27 visit my website as there is are some directions to get into Disney avoiding most of 192 that will ensure you make it into the park in under 15 minutes. (I have repeatedly tested this for times and routes throughout Easter and Christmas busy periods. The route is totally unmarked and I have as yet to see a map that actually shows the route. Even with Christmas we were lucky to see more than one car on the majority of the route. Its the same distance as taking H27 south (from Calaby Park) and then I4 and last night was even 2 minutes quicker).
From the photos you will see where the que starts at the Avalon Road (about 6 miles to Disney Main gate... from here the time in the traffic jam averages around 10mph! Be prepared though to drive on compact sand for around half to three quarters of a mile... still it will be easy to spot your car at the end of the holiday in the parking lot if you use this route (its the one that the kids have drawn funny faces on and written CLEAN ME!).

We made the mistake a couple of times this time of going into parks around 10am... BIG MISTAKE wasted day... long ques no rides... trip reports to come in next couple of weeks.

Next tip... get to know your roads. and especially alternatives. There has been accidents on I4 nearly every day this week resulting in massive traffic jams, resulting in increased jouney time from around 192 towards Universal of at least an additional 30 minutes (per local radio). If you know the alternatives you can easliy come off I4 and head up International Drive or John Young Parkway. A lot of these problems are I believe due to Christmas Drink Driving and the continued road works which have now moved further East up I4 from when we were over at Easter. (Sat Nav is a good point here if its your first time).

Have a great vacation. I am most envious!

[Belindaclaret]

thanks for all your help and advice,my hubby has now made plans to go golf and im now going shopping!!!unless of course both of those get packed!!happy new year to you all.:tiggerbou

[Belindaclaret]

i would just like to say what a wonderful site this is,its so good to talk to others that enjoy orlando just like myself and my family. Until we found this site we thought we we weird we still maybe but there are lots of other people who are too!:grin:

[josie112]

Belinda,

If loving the wonderful experience of holidaying in and around WDW and Florida equates to being weird then thank goodness there are so many of us 'weirdo's' about!!

I've been using this site for a while now and still find myself checking it out at least once a day to see if I can pick up any tips or, just as importantly, to see if I use the little knowledge I have gained during my trips to try and help any other Disneyholics have an even better time 'across the pond'.

Long live the Dibb!!

[truesdpr]

Hi Belinda,

We're going almost exaclty at the same time! we go on 23rd for 3 weeks and will be taking in Easter. As others have said we tend to avoid the parks. One year we had Easter weekend in St. Augustine which I can highly recommend. They had a few Easter events and a big Easter parade which was great. We stayed in the Santa Monica nad had a great time there. This year we'll be at the Portofino Bay as we're going to the Meatloaf concert at Hard Rock Live so may venture to Universal but will go early and come out when the crowds get too much and spend time round the hotel.

Pam.
:wavey:

[nattyk]

Belindaclaret - snap we are going on the same date as you... :wavey:
are you flying Virgin - we may be on the same flight...

see you there!!!
nat