Strategies To Avoid Crowds

Beth writes:

Frank and Sandy Sullivan, for instance, have mastered the Disney strategy in the 20-plus years they've been visiting the park. The Hauppauge couple only goes in the off-peak seasons - fall, winter and early spring, excluding holidays and school breaks - to minimize the hassles of crowds. They stay only at hotels and other accommodations owned by Disney so they spend less time getting to the parks. And they always rent a car so they can see what they want when they want without having to wait for a tram.

Even after more than 75 visits to Walt Disney World, the experience is still magical for the couple. ("When I saw Cinderella's Castle for the first time, I started crying," Sandy recalls.) The Sullivans continue to go at least twice a year, even though their boys, who first visited Disney World when they were 3 and 5, are now grown.

"We hardly go on the rides anymore," says Sandy, 57. "We just go to enjoy the scenery and relax."

They also try to catch one of parks' many shows, such as Mickey's PhilharMagic and the Hoop-De-Doo Musical Revue, and to treat themselves to dinners at the resort's finest restaurants. Besides visiting all four Disney theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom), the Sullivans have golfed at all six Disney World courses and taken three Disney cruises.

The holidays are particularly special at the resort, Sandy says. "Anytime after Thanksgiving, the parks and hotels are all decorated for Christmas, and it's awesome," Sandy says.

Christmas comes up frequently among Disneyphiles.

Roy and Joan Erni of St. James have visited Disney World 40 to 50 times and note the Candlelight Processional at Epcot, during which the Christmas story is told with the help of a celebrity narrator, a full choir and a 50-piece orchestra.

"It's just beautiful," says Joan, 47, whose favorite narrator is actor Gary Sinise.

Beyond Christmas, the Ernis have visited Disney World for all kinds of events and holidays - the annual Food & Wine Festival at Epcot, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mother's Day. But the one they never miss is spring training, when the couple can catch a game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.

Roy, 49, is the planner in the Erni household. Long before any scheduled trip, Roy sits down with Joan and their son Brian, 23, who occasionally joins them for Disney trips. They decide what they want to see and where to eat. Then Roy makes reservations at least four to five months before they go. They enjoy sampling the ethnic cuisine from restaurants in Epcot's World Showcase pavilions.

"As you get closer, the reservations are hard to come by," Roy says. "If you wait too long, you may not be able to eat in Japan. You may have to settle for China."