Hi there, Katrina! Thanks for bringing your question to planDisney today--I'm ready to go the distance so we can get you right where you belong--
Walt Disney World Resort!
April is an amazing time to visit Walt Disney World (I mean, let's be honest--ANY time is a great time, but still....). One of our family's favorite events, the
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, will be taking place during your visit. I can't think of a better way to spend a sunshiny spring day than strolling through EPCOT, sampling all of the sips and bites from the Outdoor Kitchens and enjoying the iconic Disney character topiaries and the many Global Gardens spread throughout the park. Don't miss the Butterfly Landing Presented by AdventHealth--it's a walk-through experience where you get to see butterflies up close and it is really special. We make multiple visits every time we go!
Your vacation coincides with the
runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend, which will wrap up with the Hakuna Matata 10-Miler on the morning of April 21. We've been at Walt Disney World many times during race weekends--sometimes as runners and sometimes not--and generally, the traffic and crowds are not too bad. The maps for the April races are yet to be released, but they're usually based around the EPCOT area. The races start bright and early while most Guests are still asleep to have a minimal impact on theme park opening. The parks tend to have lighter crowds in the mornings when runners and their ChEAR Squad members are busy at the races, and the same applies in the evenings as racers will want to get some sleep before their early morning wake-up call.
Upon arrival, you can check at your Resort Hotel for the most up-to-date information about any road closures that may impact your travel. I do recommend taking Walt Disney World transportation on race days, as the drivers can access alternate routes that you might not be able to with a personal vehicle. I also find that
advance dining reservations are a must during a race weekend--all that running works up an appetite! These can be booked starting 60 days before your check-in date.
Meanwhile, the cheerleading competition is based at the
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from April 24-26. While you may encounter some groups of cheerleaders in the wild sporting matching gear and enormous hair bows, the packed competition schedule usually means that the athletes and spectators are not in the parks too much until after the trophies are awarded. We visit every year during the high school dance team championships and the impact on the crowd levels is pretty much unnoticeable.
Katrina, I hope you're getting excited about your trip--it will be here before you know it! If you have any other vacation planning questions between now and April, we're here to help anytime.
Stay magical!
Susan