Early March or Late May 2017

[mousehouse23]

We're a family of 4 WDW vets who are making our first trip out west to Disneyland next year. The kids (DD-13 and DS-11) have an early spring break, so we were planning on spending March 4-9 at the parks, staying at Park Vue Inn across the street. I was happy with the trip's timing, since we'll be there before the big wave of spring breakers hits.

However, I'm concerned about ride refurbishments at that time of year, specifically PoTC, which is my son's and husband's favorite ride at WDW. They're really eager to see the Disneyland version of this classic attraction, and I've heard rumblings that it might be closed at the beginning of March, before the crowds return in full force. Therefore, I'm mulling the idea of waiting until the kids are out of school instead, which would be May 20th. The hotel rates would be comparable, so I'm not too worried about that. I suppose there's a chance Critter Country could be open then, too?

It seems silly to put off our trip because one ride *might* be closed, but it's a one-time trip, and it's an awfully important ride. Does anyone here have any idea whether Pirates would, in fact, be closed for refurbishment then? I know Disney can be late in announcing these closures, but I don't want to wait until 6 weeks before our trip to finalize things.

Just to give some further info about our family: we are all about attractions, and are definitely RD, avoid-the-insanity people (which is why early March is so enticing). We're pretty split over parades and nighttime entertainment (DS and I are fans, DD and DH not so much).

If anyone has any other words of advice about preferring one time of year to another, feel free to chime in! And thank you in advance!

 

[Kindermouse]

Early March might not be the low-crowd-level vacation you are expecting. Many districts do there spring break then around here. we have had the first 2 weeks of March many times, while last year it was the middle 2 weeks and this year is the last 2 weeks. So don't lock yourself into those weeks solely because you think that its a time when few schools have break and will make for low crowds. Your end of March dates would be when everyone around these parts is still in school since most f the CA crowd doesn't get out until early to mid June but then there would be all those grad nights.

This is a great resource for figuring out school breaks:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/2016-calendar-of-events-school-breaks-and-dlr.3434866/

Refurbs we never hear about in advance of 60 days, and sometimes much less warning (hello Splash Mountain refurb that was only announced like 35 days in advance that of course begins on the first day of our trip). I wish we did! The world really is better than the land about putting schedules and reburb info out there earlier.

There are many people that have a must-will-reschedule-over-its-closer ride and there have been thread about it around here so dont think its weird that you have a non-negotiable must do on you list. One way to prep for the possibility of moving you vacation would be to just get 2 sets of room reservations since you can cancel them without being charged. Airfare is a whole other matter. Maybe book flights that can be canceled.

 

[GlitteryOtters]

One additional note: in early March there is a big convention (Expo West, AKA Natural Productd Expo West), and sometimes hotels fill up quickly and/or pricing is higher. I hear it doesn't impact the park attendance much, but the hotels really get slammed. In 2017 it is running March 8th thru 12th, so it might impact hotel room availability and/or individual room cost at the end of your trip. If you do decide to book an early March trip, you might want to book your rooms sooner rather than later.

~Meg

 

[Canuck16]

We have been the first week of March back in 2010 and PoTC was open during our trip then for what is worth.

Last year we went durning Spring Break and Soarin was closed so they could re do the ride and the Condor Flats areas and get it ready for the 60th Anniversary. That was the one ride my DS wanted to take his grandfather on knowing that it would probably be the one and only time we would be there with him but it was closed for refurb. While it was disappointing that Soarin was closed we still went anyways and had a blast!

Hopefully PoTC is open when you decide to go but DLR/DCA are such great parks to experience that I wouldn't let one ride being potentially closed hold you back from going at a particular time.

Have a great trip!

 

[Kindermouse]

One additional note: in early March there is a big convention (Expo West, AKA Natural Productd Expo West), and sometimes hotels fill up quickly and/or pricing is higher. I hear it doesn't impact the park attendance much, but the hotels really get slammed. In 2017 it is running March 8th thru 12th, so it might impact hotel room availability and/or individual room cost at the end of your trip. If you do decide to book an early March trip, you might want to book your rooms sooner rather than later.

~Meg

We were there for that convention last year (my Moms business had a product booth and we helped her with the setup and pack up and I went around and saw a few things but I was there for Disney and US for the most part) and I felt that it did impact crowds-particularly in the evenings when the Expo events were over for the day. They also had discounted tickets for attendees which were a pretty good savings as I recall.

Natural Products Expo is Huge-it was too big to even fit all its components in the Anaheim Convention Center and some things were held in Hotel conference rooms nearby because it was such a massive event.

 

[Angrose]

Pirates is my favorite too! The ride will be celebrating it's 50 year anniversary on March 18th. I've read that it will be getting a 6 week refurbishment in the winter leading up to the anniversary party. So, unfortunately, I would expect it to be down during your early March trip

That said, your May dates sound good!

 

[GlitteryOtters]

We were there for that convention last year (my Moms business had a product booth and we helped her with the setup and pack up and I went around and saw a few things but I was there for Disney and US for the most part) and I felt that it did impact crowds-particularly in the evenings when the Expo events were over for the day. They also had discounted tickets for attendees which were a pretty good savings as I recall.

Natural Products Expo is Huge-it was too big to even fit all its components in the Anaheim Convention Center and some things were held in Hotel conference rooms nearby because it was such a massive event.

Interesting to hear this about park attendance....My husband is attending Expo West next year, so we are going. Before we booked our trip, I went back and read through every post I could find about it for the past several years, and the general gist I got was a slight bump, but not much impact on the overall attendance. The posts I saw said that, basically, people were too tired out from the massive amount of walking in an Expo West day to do much park time.


With the discounted tickets, though, plus Disneyland's insane price increases on hoppers and single day tickets and lessening of discounted ticket opportunities lately, I thought more people might be taking advantage of that & was surprised to have read otherwise.


Either way, I doubt the crowds will be as bad as they were on our last trip during Dapper Day and I still found that manageable by doing rope drop & making a priority plan of rides I wanted to hit & eating at slightly off peak times. If the OPs decide to go in early March, I don't think it should be too difficult since they are already oriented towards a rope drop mindset, and are used to the planning/structure the busier days might require since they are WDW vets and would be used to planning.

~Meg

 

[mousehouse23]

There are many people that have a must-will-reschedule-over-its-closer ride and there have been thread about it around here so dont think its weird that you have a non-negotiable must do on you list. One way to prep for the possibility of moving you vacation would be to just get 2 sets of room reservations since you can cancel them without being charged. Airfare is a whole other matter. Maybe book flights that can be canceled.

This is a great idea. Thank you for sharing your experience and offering your advice! I really appreciate it.

One additional note: in early March there is a big convention (Expo West, AKA Natural Productd Expo West), and sometimes hotels fill up quickly and/or pricing is higher. I hear it doesn't impact the park attendance much, but the hotels really get slammed. In 2017 it is running March 8th thru 12th, so it might impact hotel room availability and/or individual room cost at the end of your trip. If you do decide to book an early March trip, you might want to book your rooms sooner rather than later.

~Meg

I did notice the room prices creeping higher that week and couldn't figure out why. Great to know! Thank you.

We have been the first week of March back in 2010 and PoTC was open during our trip then for what is worth.

Last year we went durning Spring Break and Soarin was closed so they could re do the ride and the Condor Flats areas and get it ready for the 60th Anniversary. That was the one ride my DS wanted to take his grandfather on knowing that it would probably be the one and only time we would be there with him but it was closed for refurb. While it was disappointing that Soarin was closed we still went anyways and had a blast!

Hopefully PoTC is open when you decide to go but DLR/DCA are such great parks to experience that I wouldn't let one ride being potentially closed hold you back from going at a particular time.

Have a great trip!

Normally, it wouldn't bother me too much, but since we're only going this one time, and it's such a distinctive experience unto Disneyland, I'm really reluctant to miss out. That said, I appreciate your input and I'm sure you're right--we'll have a fabulous experience, either way.

Pirates is my favorite too! The ride will be celebrating it's 50 year anniversary on March 18th. I've read that it will be getting a 6 week refurbishment in the winter leading up to the anniversary party. So, unfortunately, I would expect it to be down during your early March trip

That said, your May dates sound good!

Oh wow, I didn't realize. That sure seems ominous for early March then. Better make some reservations for May, like Kindermouse suggested, to be sure! Thank you.

 

[Kindermouse]

Interesting to hear this about park attendance....My husband is attending Expo West next year, so we are going. Before we booked our trip, I went back and read through every post I could find about it for the past several years, and the general gist I got was a slight bump, but not much impact on the overall attendance. The posts I saw said that, basically, people were too tired out from the massive amount of walking in an Expo West day to do much park time.


With the discounted tickets, though, plus Disneyland's insane price increases on hoppers and single day tickets and lessening of discounted ticket opportunities lately, I thought more people might be taking advantage of that & was surprised to have read otherwise.


Either way, I doubt the crowds will be as bad as they were on our last trip during Dapper Day and I still found that manageable by doing rope drop & making a priority plan of rides I wanted to hit & eating at slightly off peak times. If the OPs decide to go in early March, I don't think it should be too difficult since they are already oriented towards a rope drop mindset, and are used to the planning/structure the busier days might require since they are WDW vets and would be used to planning.

~Meg

The only time I was there during the Expo west was last year since it lined up with our spring break so I was off work and available to help out and last year was 60th so maybe on other years it has less of an impact. I did for sure see people from the Expo there since I felt like I kept running into the same people over and over and seeing familiar faces at the bottle necks and in the parade/fireworks crowds. The 60th was a big pull for crowds though. My finger are majorly crossed that with the 60th over crowds throughout the year will be less.