Help w/ when to go? March??/Oct.??

[hmwnick]

My best friend has asked me to help her plan her 1ST trip to WDW. Her choices are mid-March or 2nd week in Oct. What do you suggest?

Also, it seems that the boards have changed since I planned our last trip (several years ago). We need suggestions on hotels. Onsite/offsite?

They have a limited amt. of $$$ & I'd like them to have a great trip. They are a family of 5 (kids are 9, 7, 5).

Thanks for you help!

 

[jsmla]

I was there for the last week in March this year. I'd never been in the Spring and was a little surprised at how crowded everything was! One afternoon at Epcot I saw a 2 hour wait for Soarin' and 3 hours for Test Track! It really didn't seem that much less crowded than in summer. On the other hand the weather was fantastic, much nicer than our usual June trips.

I don't know yet about October, but DH and I will be there for the first week of October this year!

 

[GC&S]

Definitely Oct. We normally go in Oct but went this past March. If that had been my first time to Disney, I probably would never go back. No matter when you go in March, you're hitting someone's spring break. It was so crowded. Flights were also much more expensive. We will stick with the fall.

 

[seven dwarfs]

I would go in Oct, seemed like less people to us in Oct then in March.

 

[KimWDW]

I'd say October because the crowds will be less. The weather's probably a bit hotter in Oct. than March, but not too bad. Plus, they can do MNSSHP.

 

[3princesses4us]

Definately October! March is peak season so the most expensive time of the year. Plus crowded.
October has MNSSHP plus I think in the second week, they would still have the Epcot food & wine festival going on.
I would stay onsite for numerous reasons. If they're worried about money, the value resorts (All-Stars and Pop) are less than $100 a night. Explain to them what is included in staying on-site (Dining plan is an option if they're interested, free Magical Express transportation to and from the airport, etc.).

 

[DSTPDISNEY]

I will chime in on this one, we went in March 2005 I think it was the 7th to the 15th and it was insane busy, people, strollers everywhere never again. We are going in October this year, I have read that it is better. Not as busy.

 

[sticker231]

We went last October and this April. The crowds were better in October. We had nice weather for both trips, but I'm sure October is more unpredictable. We are going again this Octber. There is Food & Wine in Epcot and Mickey's Not So Scary in MK. Although we haven't gone in March, comparing to April, I would definately pick October from my experience.