Mid March spring break- crowds and weather?

[Dallas_Lady]

I'm a teacher, so I am limited as to when I can travel. I am thinking of moving our Thanksgiving trip to spring break, March 13-20 (Easter is April 4th next year). Can anyone who has gone during that time give me your experiences? I know it will be crowded, but, again, I am tied to the school schedule. Most importantly, I am trying to avoid the super-hot and humid summer weather because my MIL will be traveling with us.

 

[dvcdisney]

We used to go in May and October which were great times to go. But last year we began going during Spring Break and Summer.

Last year we went first and second week of March and this past March we went second and third week. I find that it gets busier as the weeks progress. However, I believe that because there was a promotion during this March, it was a lot busier than last March. This make perfect sense. We saw so many First timers buttons, it was unbelievable. It was busy, but still manageable.

Personally, I would go as early into the month as possible, but I know you can only go during the break. I will say that it is the busiest time we have ever gone. But this is not saying much since we have only gone in May, early June, August (last year was our first), Sept,and October. And these are generally not busy times.

I am trying to resolve the fact that since we are going during busy times, it will require more planning.

We did find the weather to be nice, not too hot and not too cold.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I've been in June a few times and found it busy but doable. How does it compare to the summer? BTW, I will be using TGM.

 

[beccasmom]

I thought Spring Break time was incredibly busy and not a good time to visit at all. We were there mid-March and the parks and resorts were wall-to-wall. We have been to WDW during every summer month and I thought March was far busier. We were not able to get into our room at the CR until well after 6 p.m. and I have never seen the lobby so mobbed. Just an incredible scene. The weather was great though.

Early June is not bad as far as crowds, in our experience. The crowds seem to build up around mid-month as schools are finished for the year. The crowds then lighten a bit around mid-August, but then you are looking at steamier weather.

 

[dvcdisney]

I've been in June a few times and found it busy but doable. How does it compare to the summer? BTW, I will be using TGM.

It has been about 7 years since we went in early June, but the weather wasn't too hot, I really don't like hot so I'm sure we spent a lot of time having breaks at the resort. But IMO, it is far hotter in late August. I guess I was used to the October and May weather, that I found it quite hot. So, again, we took a lot of breaks at the resort and pool or shopping at the AC shops.

Sorry...to answer you question: If I can remember correctly, the crowds during early June was about the same as late August. It was definitely manageable. But again, last August was the first time we vacationed there in August and it was during Tropical Storm Faye. So sometimes, the Parks cleared out and there were absolutely no wait for most of the rides. Although, there were a few times we were stuck on the monorail because it was raining so hard, the monorail had to stop. I was so nervous about being late for our Ohana dinner, that I didn't pay too much attention to how hard the rain was falling. On that same day, we were going out of MK and there was about a foot of water that we had to go through. Needless to say, it took about 3 days to dry our shoes (good thing we always bring another pair). And on the way to our other dinner, The Wave, there was such a wind storm that we had to keep our children behind a post so they wouldn't fly away. It was really strong.

We are going again this August. I was told that it is normally hotter than it was. So, I'm hoping not too much or we'll never leave the pool!

 

[Day-Day]

Our experience has been pretty much as beccasmom described. One time we had spring break very early in March and crowds were low. Mid-March has been very busy during our other visits and we try to avoid this time now.

Late May and early June have been pretty decent crowd wise. During our June visits, we have noticed more people in the resorts and in the parks as the month progressed; a noticable difference between the 1st week of June and the 2nd week of June.

Gay Days is always scheduled around the 1st Saturday in June. The MK is the selected park for that day and other parks are scheduled for several days before that and on the Sunday after. Crowds can build up a little around that day.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

In 2008 we went the first week of March. Low low crowds. No wait times, etc. Fun times!!

This year we went 3/21-3/28 and the beginning of the week wasn't so bad but by that Thursday and Friday . It was CRAZY and Easter wasn't until 4/15 or so. We did NOT want to go this week but we were going to FL for a wedding so we weren't going to make two trips.

In 2010 we are going to do the first week of March again and hope for the best.

 

[Alesia]

We were there the last full week of March and we waited 40 minutes for Dumbo, 25 minutes for Peter Pan and 15 Minutes for TOT. Everything else was less than 10 minutes.

I was amazed when I came home and saw threads about how busy it had been.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We were there the last full week of March and we waited 40 minutes for Dumbo, 25 minutes for Peter Pan and 15 Minutes for TOT. Everything else was less than 10 minutes.

I was amazed when I came home and saw threads about how busy it had been.

I didn't wait that long for any rides. 20 minutes max the week we were there which was the last week of March but of course, like a good DISSER, I had a touring plan (or at least some type of mental touring plan). But I did feel the heaviness of the crowds. Walking around was a bit stuffy to me. Plus I did see long wait times for rides that I wasn't getting on. SM I saw at 60 minutes on more than one occasion.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

We were there this year 3/22- 3/29. I had braced myself for ridiculous crowds but I was pleasantly suprised. We utiliized FPs and went with a good plan and I think the longest we waited was about 40 minutes for Test Track.

The weather was good but chilly in the morning and at night but warm during the day. I'm cold natured so I had to wear a jacket in the morning and then carry it around all day.

We would definitely go back the end of March.

 

[g-dad66]

We were at WDW this year during this same week of March that you are thinking about for next year. It was busy, but no worse than summer -- except for our DHS day which was admittedly wall-to-wall people. Like next year, Easter was in April, so that helped reduce crowds a bit in March.

But the weather was incredibly gorgeous. So if weather is a big consideration for you, then I would highly recommend mid-March over summer.

In fact, if I had to choose between high-crowd March vs. low-crowd October (which we did last year), I would pick March solely because of the weather.

 

[popsynic]

Here are some links to pictures of Spring Break crowds from earlier this year (by the way not my pics)

MAGIC KINGDOM - at 8:50am!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16906948@N04/3367162252/sizes/o/

and at 8:20am not much better!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16906948@N04/3366337833/sizes/o/in/photostream/

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS at 8:55am!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16906948@N04/3364463454/sizes/o/

ANIMAL KINGDOM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16906948@N04/3356485728/sizes/o/

EPCOT - Line for Test Track at opening!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pearljamfanatic/3382481068/

 

[dvcdisney]

Here are some links to pictures of Spring Break crowds from earlier this year (by the way not my pics)

MAGIC KINGDOM - at 8:50am!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16906948@N04/3367162252/sizes/o/

and at 8:20am not much better!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16906948@N04/3366337833/sizes/o/in/photostream/

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS at 8:55am!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16906948@N04/3364463454/sizes/o/

ANIMAL KINGDOM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16906948@N04/3356485728/sizes/o/

EPCOT - Line for Test Track at opening!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pearljamfanatic/3382481068/

Wow.

We were there the second and third week of March this year and we never saw the crowds this busy. But we do end up getting to the park around 10-10:30am. We thought of of going at opening, but we couldn't manage to get out of bed early enough. Now, I suppose it was a good thing we were too lazy to get up early.

 

[Alesia]

Here are some links to pictures of Spring Break crowds from earlier this year (by the way not my pics)

MAGIC KINGDOM - at 8:50am!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16906948@N04/3367162252/sizes/o/

and at 8:20am not much better!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16906948@N04/3366337833/sizes/o/in/photostream/

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS at 8:55am!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16906948@N04/3364463454/sizes/o/

ANIMAL KINGDOM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16906948@N04/3356485728/sizes/o/

EPCOT - Line for Test Track at opening!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pearljamfanatic/3382481068/

Those were almost certainly from Easter week. We were there the last week of March and never saw anything remotely like that.

 

[g-dad66]

Those were almost certainly from Easter week. We were there the last week of March and never saw anything remotely like that.

No, those photos were all uploaded March 15 through March 18, and Easter wasn't until April 12.

We were at WDW beginning on March 16, and those pictures are pretty representative of what rope drop crowds were like, but once they all dispersed into the parks, it wasn't too bad (with the exception of DHS).

 

[cjl]

Those were almost certainly from Easter week. We were there the last week of March and never saw anything remotely like that.

That last picture of Test Track is actually one I took and posted on Flickr. It was taken on March 18th this year. It was the first place I took our two kids after rope drop while the hubby was getting FP's for Soarin'. It didn't take us long at all to get through the line - it definitely looks much worse than it was. By the time we got out, the hubby had not been waiting long for us.

Having gone around the same time for the last two years, however, it did seem busier this time around. The weather is beautiful at that time of year!

 

[kerri0616]

Another teacher here!

Our Disney trips have occured in July, December (Xmas week--before New Years), and Spring Break in March.

Our most recent trip was this March (2009) during the week of St. Patrick's Day. It was by far the most crowded trip we've ever taken--except for maybe our Xmas trip! We took advantage of the 4/3 deal with the $200 gift card and apparently so did everyone else! We are quite experienced at dealing with crowds, getting up early, snagging FP at every opportunity, but we really felt the crowds on this trip! The weather was lovely and I don't even recall any rain!!!! We swam on several afternoons and the pool was pleasant.

We went in July 2008 and did not feel the same crowdedness. Of course, it was busy, but good planning is all it takes to have a wonderful trip. It was really hot, but we tried to make use of the pool as often as possible. Actually did the waterparks on this trip which my boys love (ages 12 and 8).

Our Xmas week trip was in 2006 and was still quite wonderful. We managed to get to parks for 7am openings and always did our favorite rides/attractions. It was crazy busy especially at AK. The beauty of the parks made it worth the hassle of getting up early. I loved the decorations. We had our ADR's and had wonderful meals. The weather was spotty. Some really rainy days wearing ponchos and blue jeans. Some cool days also. I don't believe we swam on this trip. Parks closed due to capacity, but we were usually ready to leave when it was peaking.

So, if I had to choose...the weather in March was the best. But due to a wonderful promotion, the hotels and parks were quite busy. The least crowds we dealt with were in late July, but it was hot hot hot! The Xmas trip was really special, had cool weather with occasional rain, and crazy crowds.

Whatever you do, I know you will enjoy yourself. Just make the best of it!

K

 

[mnlibzi]

I have heard that it is really busy, and crowded.


mnlibzi

 

[MichelleVW]

I've been in June a few times and found it busy but doable. How does it compare to the summer? BTW, I will be using TGM.

You'll be fine. We were there for our Spring Break this year, 17-23rd and with using TGM we never waited for anything and I didn't think it was that crowded. We even went to MK one day at 11 A.M and stayed until 6 or so and got all kinds of attractions done with no wait.

I was expecting serious crowds and while it was busy, we never waited in any lines since we planned so well.

 

[Alesia]

No, those photos were all uploaded March 15 through March 18, and Easter wasn't until April 12.

We were at WDW beginning on March 16, and those pictures are pretty representative of what rope drop crowds were like, but once they all dispersed into the parks, it wasn't too bad (with the exception of DHS).

I am absolutely stunned!

We were there March 20-28 and never saw anything like that. I take that back, we went to DHS on a Fantasmic! day and it was insane. Other than that, we only encountered waits longer than 10 minutes three times.