Weather and crowds in March?

[disfanforlife]

We have been the last two years in November and the two years before in February (brrrr). Thinking of our next trip being March 2011. We don't want to go during a school vacation, so are the first two weeks less crowded than the second two weeks of March? Is the weather warmer than February? We liked the weather in November this year (just back) but would like to try a different time of year due to work plans. Thanks in advance for any input!

[bobbiwoz]

My spring break is always around the 19th of March, and we've never had gorgeous, fantastic weather. This year we had some rain, cool weather. I go because it's Spring break, but it wasn't a favorite time until they did move the F&G up into March and that was great. I don't "have" to go again in May to see the F&G show, but May's weather is usually a lot nicer, but we get to save airfare for F&G trip, so that's good.

Crowds weren't too bad...got to do everything we wanted to do. I was at BWV with some friends, then with DH in AKV concerige. We had nice weather for the Waynama safari, but it poured on Sunday morning for the Sunrise safari at AKV.

I usually enjoy an hour or two in the pools each day, and probably didn't go in the water more than 2 days over the 8 days I was there.

Bobbi

[disfanforlife]

Originally Posted by bobbiwoz

My spring break is always around the 19th of March, and we've never had gorgeous, fantastic weather. This year we had some rain, cool weather. I go because it's Spring break, but it wasn't a favorite time until they did move the F&G up into March and that was great. I don't "have" to go again in May to see the F&G show, but May's weather is usually a lot nicer, but we get to save airfare for F&G trip, so that's good.

Crowds weren't too bad...got to do everything we wanted to do. I was at BWV with some friends, then with DH in AKV concerige. We had nice weather for the Waynama safari, but it poured on Sunday morning for the Sunrise safari at AKV.

I usually enjoy an hour or two in the pools each day, and probably didn't go in the water more than 2 days over the 8 days I was there.

Bobbi

Hmmmm, sounds familiar. I am thinking anytime between November and March can be that same weather.....This is why I am thinking about it now. I can easily change my mind and stick to November instead just not the same week. This year we were there November 7 -14th. If we went in November again it would either be the next week Nov. 14- 21 or right after Thanksgiving - don't want to go during any holidays!

[drusba]

First two weeks will be crowded but less so than rest of March but quite a bit more so than what you saw in November. You mention school vacations but those can actually occur any time in March to April although the majority are around Easter; also first week of March sees a lot of Canadians because that is the school break week for many there and second week is break week for a lot of colleges. You can get a lot of warm (high 70s to low 80s) days but some very cool ones can come along. Rain pattern is usually better than Fall -- you still get thunderstorms but often in March they occur overnight while you are sleeping rather than during the day; nevertheless you can get sometimes get all day rains/drizzles.

[disfanforlife]

Originally Posted by drusba

First two weeks will be crowded but less so than rest of March but quite a bit more so than what you saw in November. You mention school vacations but those can actually occur any time in March to April although the majority are around Easter; also first week of March sees a lot of Canadians because that is the school break week for many there and second week is break week for a lot of colleges. You can get a lot of warm (high 70s to low 80s) days but some very cool ones can come along. Rain pattern is usually better than Fall -- you still get thunderstorms but often in March they occur overnight while you are sleeping rather than during the day; nevertheless you can get sometimes get all day rains/drizzles.

Ok, when we went in February it was the week before President's week and I thought it was about the same as when we went in November, so overall March will be busier. Maybe we should try right after Thanksgiving instead...I want to decide of course 11 months before to make my reservation!!!!

[HsvTeacher]

Many, many Southern schools have Spring Break during the 2nd or 3rd week of March. We went March 14-21 of this year, and it was very crowded. (So much so, that we cancelled our March 2010 trip in favor of a May trip.)

We were able to manage our trip by following the recommended parks, being at the parks for rope drop, taking midday breaks, collecting FastPasses, etc.

[disfanforlife]

Originally Posted by HsvTeacher

Many, many Southern schools have Spring Break during the 2nd or 3rd week of March. We went March 14-21 of this year, and it was very crowded. (So much so, that we cancelled our March 2010 trip in favor of a May trip.)

We were able to manage our trip by following the recommended parks, being at the parks for rope drop, taking midday breaks, collecting FastPasses, etc.

Thank you sooo much for that info. Since, I live in NY I would not have known that. We have one week off in February and one week in April, no break in March.....

[Crystal_27]

We went this past March (March 7-14) and we could not have asked for better weather. Truly, it was awesome - we swam every day and were completely comfortable in shorts. As to the crowds, however, it got busier and busier as the week progressed and was quite busy by our weekend check-out. I was actually surprised that it was that busy since I had assumed that the Spring Break crowd didn't get geared up until later in the month. Still, we found that the high school crowd to be well behaved and as happy as we were to be at Disney, which was another plus. Also, although the Flower & Garden Festival hadn't yet started when we were there, we did get to see a lot of gorgeous flowers as they were gearing up for the event at Epcot. March wasn't our favorite time to go, but it definitely had its charms.

[crys5]

Originally Posted by HsvTeacher

Many, many Southern schools have Spring Break during the 2nd or 3rd week of March. We went March 14-21 of this year, and it was very crowded. (So much so, that we cancelled our March 2010 trip in favor of a May trip.)

We were able to manage our trip by following the recommended parks, being at the parks for rope drop, taking midday breaks, collecting FastPasses, etc.

when do the kids have off for easter break in march or april where you are?

[HsvTeacher]

Originally Posted by crys5

when do the kids have off for easter break in march or april where you are?

We actually don't get an Easter break. We don't even get off for Good Friday. In fact, we are usually testing during that time. We get off a week for Spring Break, and then we are in school until mid-May without any more breaks.

[bobbiwoz]

At last years F&G there was a video presentation of the set up and preparations that went into the setting up of the Flower show. Quite a few times they mentioned that they actually had to replant things because there was frost or cold weather and plants suffered. I think it's interesting that this year they are starting the F&G either at the same time or even just a bit earlier with that as history.

Bobbi

[littlestar]

We've been the 1st or 2nd week of March for the last three years - the weather has been fantastic for us - low 80's,

[hakepb]

..but a few years ago, I got to WDW on April 1st with a high of 55, I believe. An inch of snow was on the grass when we left our stop near Asheville, NC

For March, I'd be prepared to have fun with any weather, because expecting 80's may leave you very disapointed. Overall, I'd think my November and that beginning of April were similiar experiences. Can have low of 60 and high in the 80's or you can have lows in 40's, with highs in the 50's...

[bluenosemickey]

We've been twice for the 2nd and 3rd week of march. It corresponds with the CDN school breaks. We had mostly weather in the 70's, a few days of 80's and always one cool day in the 60's. Kids had no trouble using the pools, I only went on the warmer days. But used the hot tubs on the cooler ones. It still rained, but not nearly as much as summer. But the rain makes you really cold and so you need to keep dry more than the summer time. I don't know why they need so much air conditioning!

Crowds are around 60-70% of the busiest days around xmas. The later in march, the more crowded it becomes.