We are going to be staying with my parents from March 16-24 and we will be going to Disney for a couple days. I know it is going to be incredibly busy, and am wondering if you have any tips for making those days the best they can be. The plus side is that this is our 4th trip to WDW since 04, and I know we'll be going back next year, so I don't have that "we must see/do everything because we might not be back for xx years" feeling like I did our first trip before parents moved. However, my 3 y.o. is prime for this trip, I want her to see the characters and the Playhouse Disney show because she LOVES the characters, I'm worried we won't be able to see many due to crowds. Also have a 12 y.o. and 9 y.o., so we may have to split up to do our favorites.
We will be spending 1 day at MK, Day 2 at DS, maybe Epcot, Day 3, if there is one, will depend on how enjoyable or not the parks were.

Any tips? Thanks!

We are going to be staying with my parents from March 16-24 and we will be going to Disney for a couple days. I know it is going to be incredibly busy, and am wondering if you have any tips for making those days the best they can be. The plus side is that this is our 4th trip to WDW since 04, and I know we'll be going back next year, so I don't have that "we must see/do everything because we might not be back for xx years" feeling like I did our first trip before parents moved. However, my 3 y.o. is prime for this trip, I want her to see the characters and the Playhouse Disney show because she LOVES the characters, I'm worried we won't be able to see many due to crowds. Also have a 12 y.o. and 9 y.o., so we may have to split up to do our favorites.
We will be spending 1 day at MK, Day 2 at DS, maybe Epcot, Day 3, if there is one, will depend on how enjoyable or not the parks were.

Any tips? Thanks!

Since you've been before, you are at an advantage. You can downshift to the lesser known attractions and still enjoy yourself. I think FastPass will be your friend. If the fam is willing to split up, then that will be an added opportunity to see some things.

Just go to be in the spirit of Disney. Any extra rides is just icing on the cake. I hope that since Easter is so early this year that you may luck out and have more spring breaks spread throughout March and April!!

I'd strongly advise not visiting the park that has Extra Magic Hours that day, since it sounds like you're not eligible for it. And getting to the park BEFORE it opens. If you aren't going to be easily taking a break in the day (especially with the 3 year old) I also recommend making a list of 'nappable attractions' - things that have AC, comfy seats, and not too loud, and preferrably longer in length.

We will also be at WDW that week, with my parents, who have never been. Our family group will range from my 84 year old dad, to my 6 year old daughter, and, this trip will be paced more for the older folks. I told my parents (who are in great shape for their ages) this was an optimal time for us to do a 3 generational family trip, as we are all ambulatory, continent, and nobody throws temper tantrums. We won't see everything, and we won't try, but I did plan a couple of nice things to do, that will get us away from the crowds. On our fist full day, we are doing the MK in the morning, starting with breakfast at Cindy's, and I thought we would all "hit the wall" by early afternoon, so I made an AR for afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian. I thought they would enjoy the monorail ride, seeing the hotel(where my brother and his wife stayed last year, so they heard about it), and having tea. Another day, to be spent at Epcot, I booked us for the Behind the Seeds tour, which is only an hour, and was not expensive, but it's appropriate for all ages, and it gets us out of the crowds for awhile before dinner, and the kids get to do something new. Definitely, splitting up with the kids is the way to go. You may even end up in different parks for awhile, but plan on using cell phones and Disney transport to coordinate yourselves, and meet for meals.

Use a Touring Plan from www.touringplans.com We survived Easter week with those. How about Chef Mickey's for a character meal - you won't have to queue for the characters there. And definately in Easter week it makes a difference to get to the parks half an hour before they open from our experience anyway.