Dissappointing March Break in Orlando

[mtmbyck]

Weather was nasty - been going for years and even Floridians say they don't ever remember a March like this. We landed in Tornado warnings last Thursday (there was a touch down in Polk County) and then it poured all day Friday. By Saturday the sun came out and it was a high of 72 at around 3pm - so pretty cool until then. Evenings were unbearable outside - windy and cold! Did go to Aquatica on Sunday and it was warm if you found a corner in the sun with no wind but really cool if you were wet. We never swam in a pool the whole week!

Last year March Break was the most amazing weather we have ever had so this year was a huge dissappointment! Love to hear from those who did Disney - was it busy? We did SeaWorld and it was dead......no lines at all. Of course Aquatica had less than 500 people total there!! But we drove by Disney Marketplace Wednesday night and all of the parking lots were full so I was guessing the parks must have been busy??

Time to rebook for next March - this one was a bust in my opinion!

 

[sprmom]

We were at WDW during the Tornado touch down (our off site resort was three miles away). The rain was incredible. We left for home on Saturday the 13th just as the weather was getting better (finally). However, after experiencing such disappointing weather, I have to say that I will take Disney in the Rain over Disney in the Heat. We went two years in a row in April and hit major heat waves each week (High 80 and low 90s), it was too hot for our daughters. We decided to do March, because it rained, we walked on every ride. Everything was a 5 minute wait, we used the Fast Passes, but even rides that were offering a Fast Pass were still a walk on mostly (like Peter Pan which had run out of Fast Passes our first day there - which was lovely). We made the best of it, and we still laugh when we see our Photopass pictures with our big plastic ponchos on! It was definately a trip to remember.

 

[MainStreetMouse]

Weather was not great this year but that did not stop us from having fun. We were there from sunday, March 14th until the 19th.

Cooler than normal and on Thursday it was actually warmer in Ontario. Still by mid afternoon it was still warm enough to go swimming for a couple hours.

Evenings we put on a sweater.

The cooler weather made it easier to walk around the parks. We have been there in the summer and by noon we have had to leave the parks because it would just get too hot. So this was nice.

As for crowds ... it was very busy. No sign of a recession at Disney World. Lines for major rides were often very long and fast passes gone early. We go enough that we do not worry as much any more about the rides but navigating around some of the parks was a bit of a challenges at times trying to avoid being hit by strollers.

Gary

 

[minnie56]

We were there the week before March break (3-10) and though the first 2 days were cool it warmed up nicely thereafter. We did manage to swim quite a lot but we rented a house and had the pool heated so it was perfect. Sat outside and read in the peace and quite, quite lovely. But yes, cooler than typical for March.

 

[House_of_Mouse Fan]

We were there from the 15th to the 19th, and while the evenings were a bit chilly, most days were fine. We're usually there in August and the heat is unbearable by noon. We still managed to get into our resort pool a few days and enjoyed being able to tour around without the risk of heat stroke! I didn't think the crowds were bad at all...far less people than the summer. I guess it all depends on what you're used to.

 

[dvc deernut]

WE WERE THERE FROM 10th to 17th. THE THURS WE WENT TO MK EVEN THOU IT POURED IT KEPT THE CROWDS DOWN TEMP WAS COOL BUT NOT WAY TOOOO HOT LIKE SUMMER, WE WALKED ON MOST RIDES. SPACE MOUNTAIN BROKE DOWN WHILE WE WERE ON IT. THE LIGHTS CAME ON SO WE ROAD THE REST OF IT WITH LIGHTS ON THEY GAVE US FAST PASS FOR ANYTIME SO WE WENT BACK LATER. WE HAVE BEEN GOING THERE FOR YEARS BUT IT WAS MY SONS STEP KIDS FIRST TIME 6 AND 13. WEATHER DIDNT BOTHER THEM, YOU DONT GET WET INSIDE. THAT NIGHT WE LINED UP FOR SPECTROMAGIC, THEY CANCELLED IT 10 MIN BEFORE GO TIME. IT WASNT RAINING AT THAT TIME BUT YOU COULS SEE IN THE DISTANCE TO THE SOUTH WEST THERE WAS LIGHTNING. THATS WHEN WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE TORNADO. WEATHER WAS GREAT SAT UNTIL WE LEFT WED. SUNNY AND LIKE A NICE SPRING DAY IN MAY HERE IN NIAGARA. MADE IT GREAT FOR WALKING AROUND. SPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS SOOOOOOOO CROWDED WITH CHEERLEADERS, BANDS AND SPRINGBREAKERS. EVEN AT NIGHT BeING HARDY CANADIANS WE WENT SWIMMING AT THE MAIN POOL AT OKW RESORT. WATER IS HEATED TO 80.

 

[fitmom3]

dvc deernut - when did you find the crowds picked up? was it busy the few days before spring break?

 

[mtmbyck]

I was told the crowds picked up dramatically as of last Saturday the 13th. My friends were there the week before that and walked on everything. But guests last week said it was very busy. This is normally the trend as I have been doing Disney the first 2 weeks of March for years. It will conitnue to pick up right until after Easter now. You can tell by hours of operation at the parks and promotions ending (March 27th) that they expect crowds as of that timing.......

 

[abdmom]

We were there March 13-20. We felt kind of disappointed too, but it's hard to put a finger on why. The weather was chilly most of the time, except for Friday. The crowds were pretty light at Hollywood Studios until Thursday. Animal Kingdom was rather light on Monday? or was it Tuesday? as well.

 

[dvc deernut]

dvc deernut - when did you find the crowds picked up? was it busy the few days before spring break?

HIIIIIIII, IT PICKED UP FRI EVENING AT DTD AS THE MARCH BREAK CROWD STARTED ARRIVING. THE RAIN SLOWED IT UP BEFORE MARCH BREAK, BUT WE HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE WHEN ITS BEEN NICE BEFORE MARCH BREAK AND CROWDS HAVE BEEN LIGHTER. BUT WHEN MARCH BREAK HITS YOU HAVE THE BIG CHEERLEADING COMPITITION AND BAND COMPITITION SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW BUSY IT WILL BE. TOY STORY FAST PASSES WERE SOLD OUT IN A COUPLE OF HOURS. BUT WE HAD 90 min WAIT. THE OLDER ATTRACTIONS ARE LESS BUSY. HAUNTED MANSION ON MON THE LINE WENT ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE RIVERBOAT RIDE. ITS EASIER FOR MY DW AND I WHEN WE GO BY OURSELVES WE CAN PICK AND CHOOSE WEVE BEEN THERE SOOOO MANY TIMES.

 

[PanamaMike]

We were down Feb 26-Mar 7th and two of our overnight lows set new records, reaching almost freezing.

Our mornings all started in the mid-40s and we were lucky if it reached 60 before cooling off again in the evening.

We wore pants and long sleeves and were pretty comfortable.

Luckily it stayed dry, except our first day which wasn't a park day.

We made the best of it and the only thing it really impacted in a negative way was we never got to Typhoon Lagoon.

 

[Mike2023]

HIIIIIIII, IT PICKED UP FRI EVENING AT DTD AS THE MARCH BREAK CROWD STARTED ARRIVING. THE RAIN SLOWED IT UP BEFORE MARCH BREAK, BUT WE HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE WHEN ITS BEEN NICE BEFORE MARCH BREAK AND CROWDS HAVE BEEN LIGHTER. BUT WHEN MARCH BREAK HITS YOU HAVE THE BIG CHEERLEADING COMPITITION AND BAND COMPITITION SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW BUSY IT WILL BE. TOY STORY FAST PASSES WERE SOLD OUT IN A COUPLE OF HOURS. BUT WE HAD 90 min WAIT. THE OLDER ATTRACTIONS ARE LESS BUSY. HAUNTED MANSION ON MON THE LINE WENT ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE RIVERBOAT RIDE. ITS EASIER FOR MY DW AND I WHEN WE GO BY OURSELVES WE CAN PICK AND CHOOSE WEVE BEEN THERE SOOOO MANY TIMES.

OT,

Your typing makes me LOL... whats with the capitals? The weird part is you throw in a random lower case word now and then.

Just made me .

 

[MikeyNS]

We were down 4-14th.. first few days were cool, but the weather was great from the 6th-11th when it started to rain. It even hit 80 that Wednesday (if I remember correctly). Crowds were fine, but the 13th started to get packed and we were happy to get home.
I know it was a weather "blip" and can't wait to go the same time next year.

 

[sprmom]

We were down 4-14th.. first few days were cool, but the weather was great from the 6th-11th when it started to rain. It even hit 80 that Wednesday (if I remember correctly).

That Wed was our Typhoon Lagoon day, it was incredible! The crowds were great all through that week. It was too bad it rained on the last few days (Thur/Fri), but it kept the crowds down. My advice to anyone heading down? Watch the weather for that day in the morning, they were pretty accurate each morning and dont put off doing what you want. We really wanted to see the Spectromagic Light Parade and Fantasmic - so we did them the first two nights we were there, otherwise we would have missed them due to the weather (especially since I read that they cancelled it 10 minutes before showtime - yikes!). If you have an opportunity, take it. You can't control the weather, but it's best to plan around it.

 

[North7]

We were there from March 12-20 and while the weather wasn't as warm as usual, it was great for being in the parks. T-shirt and shorts every day except Thursday the 18th when a sweatshirt was needed in the morning.

I agree with the statement about the crowds... wow!! We normally go in August and the crowds in the summer are a lot less than what we saw last week. This past summer we were at Disney during the last week of July and all of August and even when the "free dining" started in mid August, the crowds weren't as bad as last week.

I'll take the heat of the summer over the crowds and wait times of last week Having said all that, there is still no place I'd rather have been last week

 

[dvc deernut]

HIIIIIIIII I USE ALL CAPITALS BECAUSE I TYPE WITH ONE FINGER AND LOOK AT KEYBOARD. ITS FASTER FORE ME SOMEONE TOLD ME ONCE I WAS SHOUTING

ANYWAYS, WE WERE THERE FROM 10th to 17th IT WAS LIKE 2 DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS RAINY AND LIGHT CROWDS TO SUNNY AND PACKED. SUNDAY NIGHT AT MK WAS GOOD I STAYED UNTIL AFTER 1am THE PARK WAS OPEN EXTRA HOURS UNTIL 3am. NEXT MORNING I GOT UP AT 7am AND WENT TO MK TO DO OUR 9am KEYS TO THE KINGDOM TOUR ARRIVED AT 8am IT WAS GREAT ONCE I SIGNED IN I WENT WITH MY CAMERA AROUND MK BY MYSELF AND TOOK PHOTOS WITH NO ONE AROUND EXCEPT CAST MEMBERS GETTING READY. SUN WAS RISING AND THE CROWDS WERE GATHERING AT THE MAIN GATE.

IT WAS VERY RELAXING WITH JUST THE DISNEY MUSIC AND NO CROWD NOISES.

 

[abdmom]

HIIIIIIIII I USE ALL CAPITALS BECAUSE I TYPE WITH ONE FINGER AND LOOK AT KEYBOARD. ITS FASTER FORE ME SOMEONE TOLD ME ONCE I WAS SHOUTING

ANYWAYS, WE WERE THERE FROM 10th to 17th IT WAS LIKE 2 DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS RAINY AND LIGHT CROWDS TO SUNNY AND PACKED. SUNDAY NIGHT AT MK WAS GOOD I STAYED UNTIL AFTER 1am THE PARK WAS OPEN EXTRA HOURS UNTIL 3am. NEXT MORNING I GOT UP AT 7am AND WENT TO MK TO DO OUR 9am KEYS TO THE KINGDOM TOUR ARRIVED AT 8am IT WAS GREAT ONCE I SIGNED IN I WENT WITH MY CAMERA AROUND MK BY MYSELF AND TOOK PHOTOS WITH NO ONE AROUND EXCEPT CAST MEMBERS GETTING READY. SUN WAS RISING AND THE CROWDS WERE GATHERING AT THE MAIN GATE.

IT WAS VERY RELAXING WITH JUST THE DISNEY MUSIC AND NO CROWD NOISES.

You are shouting.

 

[xipetotec]

Weather was nasty - been going for years and even Floridians say they don't ever remember a March like this. We landed in Tornado warnings last Thursday (there was a touch down in Polk County) and then it poured all day Friday. By Saturday the sun came out and it was a high of 72 at around 3pm - so pretty cool until then. Evenings were unbearable outside - windy and cold! Did go to Aquatica on Sunday and it was warm if you found a corner in the sun with no wind but really cool if you were wet. We never swam in a pool the whole week!

Last year March Break was the most amazing weather we have ever had so this year was a huge dissappointment! Love to hear from those who did Disney - was it busy? We did SeaWorld and it was dead......no lines at all. Of course Aquatica had less than 500 people total there!! But we drove by Disney Marketplace Wednesday night and all of the parking lots were full so I was guessing the parks must have been busy??

Time to rebook for next March - this one was a bust in my opinion!

Have to agree for the weater. We were there Feb 28-March 10 and got mediocre wether. We did have a couple of days above 20, but cold nights and cool days.

Oh well, we still had an amazing time in our favorite place on earth.

 

[Tiger926]

We were there from March 13-19th. We appreciated the cool weather as we go for 2 weeks each July, so it's hot. That being said, nights were cold, but as responsible parents, we did pack the appropriate clothes and such for our babes to wear. I felt badly for the kids whose parents were oblivious to the weather and had packed only summer clothes. Poor things! The sun shone the entire week - no rain at all!

The crowds were outrageous though! We have never seen it this crowded - being a teacher, I can only travel during peak seasons, and last week was nuts! We did make the best by park hopping, 2 TS meals per day, and taking it easy. As DVC members, we like to tour at a casual pace, and so last week was very frenzied and crowded.

We don't normally go at March Break (have only been 1 other time), and the first 2 days, we were saying, "Why are we here?", but once we adjusted our patterns, and took a step back, we made the best of the crowds. Many guests were first-timers, and we noticed that they were causing log-jams everywhere, and so being seasoned veterans, we cut them some slack.

We wouldn't classify the week as disappionting at all - it was very busy, and we adjusted for that, as much as we were able to. No big deal, as we'll be back in 3.5 months anyway!

Sorry the OP felt it was a bad week. Here's hoping your next trip is better!

Tiger

 

[mtmbyck]

Thanks Tigger.....I guess I just feel a bit ripped off since we bought Sea World/Aquatica tickets for 7 days unlimited and we could barely use Aquatica and our Dine with Shamu was cancelled due to the "incident" 10 days earlier. So I guess there are a number of factors playing in - none the fault of anything or anyone. If I was headed back in July I'd have no worries but alas it will be another 12 months of waiting.

Glad to hear so many had a great time. Also thanks for confirming my suspicions that the parks were pretty busy. Makes me feel only a tiny bit better that we did not do the parks - but SeaWorld is not WDW and we missed WDW.