You wake up on the first morning to big, fluffy snow flakes falling from the sky and 10 fresh centimetres on the ground. The kids are so excited they already have all their gear on and are halfway out the door before you even get out of bed. You get up and get dressed quickly, grab some breakfast for the road and head out of the hotel into the village.
The excitement ends instantly and the dread sets in.
There are people EVERYWHERE! It's only 9am and the line for the gondola is passed the gates and starting to build in the village square, kids are throwing tantrums because they don't want to go to ski school, there are mountain staff everywhere trying to guide people here and there, seemly only making things worse and you have no idea where to even start!
Sounds awful right?
Sometimes these situations seem unavoidable but after years of living, skiing and teaching in Whistler I have come up with some ways to avoid the crowds even during busy times.
1. If possible- avoid coming to Whistler during holidays and weekends
This probably doesn't come as a surprise but Christmas time/New Year's in Whistler is the most chaotic time of the year. Between all the parents off work and kids off school people flock here from all over the world filling all the hotels and booking out all the ski instructors.
Other holidays that fill Whistler to the max include: President's Day (which is a US holiday and normally lasts the entire week not just the weekend), Chinese New Year, Easter (not as busy), Family Day and march/spring break (this normally lasts around two weeks as different parts of Canada and the US have different weeks off).
Weekends are also busy times especially when it snows a lot. All the Vancouverites head up to enjoy the snow bringing a ton of traffic Friday night and Sunday afternoon. All the local programs run (like the kids weekend club classes) which bring up hundreds of kids and their families, adding to the crowds. A weekend + holiday is a NO GO!
Pro-tip: if possible plan your trip outside these holiday times and plan your ski days on weekdays (arrive Sunday night and leave Saturday morning) - these times are also much cheaper!
2. Time your day wisely
Sometimes it's hard to plan a trip outside of these busy times because those are the most convenient way for families to get away together without skipping school or work. If you find yourself in Whistler during one of those busy times you can still somewhat avoid the crowds by doing things with the right timings.
Initial lift loading:
Ski school starts at 9am, so once parents drop their kids off at ski school they jump in line and at the same time all the ski school groups (who get lift priority). I suggest either dropping your kids off early (8:30 earliest) and getting in line straight away or waiting until the lines shorten around 10 (because you'll probably be waiting until 10 anyways so you might as well enjoy a coffee or spend a little bit more time in bed).
Lunch:
Eat lunch early (before 11:15) or late (after 1). During peak times it's almost impossible to find a table at the Roundhouse or Rendezvous and you'll be waiting in line forever. Eating early or late will not only help you avoid the crowds in the cafeteria but also on the hill! You will be eating while everyone is skiing and skiing while everyone is eating.
Pro-tip: bring a pocket full of snacks to eat on the lifts so you don't get hungry eating early or late!
3. Book lunch reservations or bring your own
You can book a reservation at one of the mountain top restaurants or somewhere at the base (book ahead). This will save you carrying cafeteria trays in ski boots, you will save time as normally the restaurants are less busy and don't over fill and you will pay around the same as you would to eat at a cafe on the mountain.
Or even better- pack your own lunch and eat it whenever, where ever. You can leave your backpack inside at the Rendezvous or Roundhouse while you ski for the day. Just don't forget to pick it up at the end of the day! You can save a TON of time and money doing this.
Pro-tip: eating at the base will be less busy than the top and the lower runs always have less people during the morning/early afternoon and stay freshly groomed for longer
4. Book a ski lesson
Of all the ways to stay away from the crowds, booking a ski lesson is definitely the best one. Although this is not a money saving tip, it is well worth it. You can book a private instructor for your whole family if you prefer to ski all together, group lessons with each person skiing with people of their level or some combination of the two.
All ski lessons get to skip the lines- private lessons having the highest priority. The instructors have a ton of experience and can help you plan your day as efficiently as possible.
Pro-tip: people who book ski lessons over all rate their experience in Whistler better than people who don't
