First Trip Jan or March

[Ontmomof4]

Hi Everyone!

I have enjoyed reading all the info. on this board and thought I should get planning.

We are a family of 6 (ds 16,ds12,dd9,ds6) I need any help you can offer to plan a budget trip.


My first question would be time of year? January( right after christmas)my concern would be no swimming.March (school break for us Canadians) is the park so jammed that we would have to wait for hours.If anyone has went at these times of year and have some advice that would be great.

I am hoping to get a full time sec. job at a local school this fall so travel would have to be during our time off.

Thanks again.Linda

 

[go to dw asap]

From what I understand, the parks thin out right after Jan. 1. My first trip in March was much more crowded than my trip in January. I would think it would be too cold to swim in either month. Pools are heated, though.

 

[Al and Kate's Mom]

DH and I went last year 1/1-1/6 - New Year's Day was very crowded, but after that, it was pretty much a ghost town (at least by WDW standards) - I don't think we ever waited more than 30 minutes for anything (didn't even bother with Fastpasses). We did have to buy sweatshirts while we were there because it got very chilly at night, and we had only packed light jackets - but it made cuddling up during the parades and fireworks that much nicer! We did go swimming during the day, and it was fine in the water, but freezing once we got out - of course, all of the little kids had to be drug out of the pools by their parents even at night and when their skin had turned blue

I went over Spring Break in March once with my family MANY years ago, and I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN!!! I am just not a crowd person, and with the heat, long lines and foul tempers of just about everyone by 2 0r 3 in the afternoon, I would consider it a waste of hard-earned time off and money, but that's just my opinion.

 

[Jillpie]

We have been at both times, Jan. and March. LOVED MARCH. January was nice too, because of the lack of crowds but the parks close early at night. Thats okay though, because you really don't have to take that break in the afternoon with no crowds. However, March was awesome. The weather was absolutely perfect, high 70's and very swimmable. Did the water parks and loved them at this time. I didn't think it was too crazy crowd wise and they are mostly college kids who are just there to have a good time, they are not unruly. I would give anything to go back in March again, but can't pull the kids out of school anymore.

 

[dixiedizfan]

We've gone both the first week in March and first week in January. This past January was THE most crowded I've ever been. The crowds do NOT thin out right after New Years Day ... they don't thin down until the end of the week. Most schools in the southeast are off til the second week of January, which accounts for a lot of it. January was too cool for swimming, as well as the water rides. But March was wonderful; warm weather and mid-level crowds. I would definitely choose any week in March over the first week of January.

 

[susykt4]

My family went from January 5th-13th this year. It was awesome!!! The crowds were really low. On Wed Jan 11th the crowds at MK were so low we had a 5 minute wait for Space Mountain at 3pm! We walked right onto many rides such as Jungle Cruise that normally have long waits. The whole week we kept trying to get fastpasses and found the fp machines closed because the lines weren't long enough to bother!

As for the temps... They ranged from daytime highs around 40F to 80F. We had days we wore sweatshirts AND jackets and days we got to swim. We got a free upgrade to hopper plus (or whatever the tickets are that include the water parks) but we never made it to a water park (our kids were 5 and 3 so not a top priority) but had at least 2 days it would have been warm enough.

Because of the cool temps and low crowds, my kids easily lasted from park opening to around 5pm without having to leave for a break. We LOVED going in January! The previous year we went during a busy spring break week in April. That was a great trip, but it was no comparison to January! Oh, and we were there during marathon weekend. Pop Century was supposedly sold out but we NEVER would have known it! We even went to Epcot on marathon day and had no real issues. We stayed on The Land side all morning and by the time we crossed to the other side the marathon was over.

 

[ducknturtle]

My Husband & I went January 2006 from the 11th to the 19th right after the marathon. As has been said in the past, there was sweater weather, as well as swimming weather.
One thing to remember, if you have a budget in mind as we do. January is Value Season; where as March is not. I'm not sure what season it is though.
Hope this helps.
You can never have enough

 

[Ontmomof4]

Thanks Everyone for your replies.It is such a tough decision and this will probably be our only trip to DW with our kids.It is a budget issue with 6 of us things are expensive.DH and I have done several trips to Mexico last minute seat sale.
I am feeling the pressure to pick the best time so we will have a great holiday and the kids can have the best holiday of their childhood.
Any Canadians been during our MArch break?
Suggestions on Accommodations would be great.I have seen time share deals and have read about bidding ,how was your experience with these?Any good websites would be great help.

Linda

 

[Bill From PA]

We've done both with most of our trips being during the first 10 days of March. Early Jan., the weather is dicey. From 1/1 - 1/10 2005 we had our best weather for ANY trip, 15 min of rain one morning, clear skies the rest of the time with daily highs in the upper 70s to upper 80s. We lucked out, but 2 weeks before there were daily highs in the 50s. As mentioned, after 1/2, crowds are not a factor, they're not even a reality.
March has more reliably good weather and IMHO the crowd factor is overblown. There is no 'Spring Break', rather different schools have different breaks starting in late Feb. and going through Easter. My college breaks the first week in March, so that's when we go. I'd call the crowds 'Moderate', get to the parks early, use FP and you'll do fine. Here's the only real question I see, what would be worse for your crew, slightly elevated crowds but great weather or low crowds dressed in parkas and earmuffs? I'd do either week in a heartbeat, but given a choice, it's March.

Bill From PA

 

[Lorelai]

Whenever you go - have fun!! Any time is a great time for Disney!

 

[laceemouse]

Spring breaks are spread out through March and April. See when Easter is and avoid the week before and after and you should be fine. March is too cold for us to swim, but Canadians would probably disagree! Early Janurary crowds will depend in when most folks are going back to school. Some years everyone seems to go back by the 2nd or 3rd, other years it is not until a week or so later. It depends on which day of the week the 1st falls on. Lots if districts try to have the winter break M-F, M-F KWIM??? Check the UG on-line crowd calendar! Will you stay on-site? You will have to get 2 rooms or a cabin/suite/DVC unit.