how bad would March be? my dilemma!!

[IheartRapunzel]

Ok, so here's the deal...my parents have always said when i graduate college, they would send me to disney! pretty awesome right? I happen to be graduating this May! They have brought up the trip around christmas but I didn't pay it much mind due to my father being sick in the hospital. Now my mom is constantly asking me when my spring break is so they can book my trip. Spring break for me is March 7-11. I am always one to plan, so the idea of a last minute trip is stressing me out! lol How will I get FP for my favorite rides, or reservations at my favorite restaurants? Also, if it is spring break time...would that mean higher crowds? I would think it would all depend considering each school has different break times. Another thing is i have applied to graduate school. My interview is in Feb (super nervous!). But this also means less time off to go on a trip. i really appreciate what my family is trying to do for me, I am just really nervous that i would be disappointed if i went for it. Disney is my favorite place, and due to my schooling and funding I don't get to go very often. So when I do, I try to make it as best as possible. After talking to my friends they have said things like we would still have fun no matter what, but i guess my question is how do you plan a last minute trip like this without being stressed about missing out on all your favorite things?

 

[larryz]

After talking to my friends they have said things like we would still have fun no matter what, but i guess my question is how do you plan a last minute trip like this without being stressed about missing out on all your favorite things?

Hey, it's a free trip, right?

That's always no-stress to me... Relax, have realistic expectations, book your FP's as early as possible, and go with the flow!

 

[IheartRapunzel]

haha very true

 

[fla4fun]

Well, I am going close to the same timeframe. I booked through a third party, so I just linked my reservation to MDE a couple days ago and did my FP+, and I was in the 40's day wise (as opposed to making them at 60 days out). I got everything I wanted. You are getting very close to the 30 day window for off property guests, so if you are thinking of staying on property, you want to get booked and get your FP+ made as quickly as you can so you won't be affected by those additional bookings. You didn't specify if you were going alone, or if it was the whole family, but even with a group of three or four, you can find many openings, and always, always, always check the day before in case you can pick up some last minute cancellations (rides or dining). You can make ADR's without any other plans, so if there's somewhere you want to eat, check now to see if it's available.

Even with FP+ I have booked last minute (less than a week out) trips and been able to get pretty much anything I wanted as far as dining and FP+ (as a party of one and as a party of three). If you really want to go, go for it. Even if there is something you don't get to do for some reason, you can still have a great trip.

 

[IheartRapunzel]

it would be me and a small group of friends. The plan would be to stay on property, my family has never stayed off site. I did go on the WDW website to see what was available as far as reservations are concerned, and noticed that a lot of things were gone. I am not surprised though! Although that does not mean you can't try something new. decisions! decisions!
If i had my way I would go in october or early december. unfortunately, i don't get to have it my way lol
thanks for your input

 

[JWigs]

We have gone the past few years in March and it is not as bad as it is claimed. I think if you went closer to April then it would be more spring break crowds.

FP can still be available but times may be earlier or later in day than you'd like but you can work around that if you're going with friends and not working around kids and their schedules.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Pro - It is early enough in March not to overlap the Easter weeks, so crowds will not be super crazy.
Con - Epcot will still have Soarin' and Frozen/Maelstrom closed, so MK crowds will be insane.

My advice - if MK is your favorite park and you plan to spend a lot of time there - wait until the summer. If Epcot is your favorite park, even without Soarin' and Frozen/Maelstrom, book it. Epcot will be more empty than normal.

 

[SnackCredit]

If Epcot is your favorite park, even without Soarin' and Frozen/Maelstrom, book it. Epcot will be more empty than normal.

F&G will be underway then. I wouldn't say Epcot would be empty.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

F&G will be underway then. I wouldn't say Epcot would be empty.

I would. We will wait and see, but March crowds are generally people who like to ride rides, and right now Epcot has very few.

 

[IheartRapunzel]

Magic kingdom is my favorite park....
Epcot is a close 2nd. But I'm not a fan of soarin anyway. I prefer test track

 

[alliecat523]

We always go in March and have. Ever felt it was that bad. We also book last minute all the time and don't have issues getting what we want. Being flexible and checking back often will get you what you want.

 

[Skullcrusher]

Ok, so here's the deal...my parents have always said when i graduate college, they would send me to disney! pretty awesome right? I happen to be graduating this May! They have brought up the trip around christmas but I didn't pay it much mind due to my father being sick in the hospital. Now my mom is constantly asking me when my spring break is so they can book my trip. Spring break for me is March 7-11. I am always one to plan, so the idea of a last minute trip is stressing me out! lol How will I get FP for my favorite rides, or reservations at my favorite restaurants? Also, if it is spring break time...would that mean higher crowds? I would think it would all depend considering each school has different break times. Another thing is i have applied to graduate school. My interview is in Feb (super nervous!). But this also means less time off to go on a trip. i really appreciate what my family is trying to do for me, I am just really nervous that i would be disappointed if i went for it. Disney is my favorite place, and due to my schooling and funding I don't get to go very often. So when I do, I try to make it as best as possible. After talking to my friends they have said things like we would still have fun no matter what, but i guess my question is how do you plan a last minute trip like this without being stressed about missing out on all your favorite things?

My wife and I go every March for our anniversary. March is actually a very good time to go. The crowds are a lot less than full on summer, the weather is nicer, and Flower and Garden are just starting so good eats at epcot. Spring break time doesn't get into full swing until late March so your schedule is perfect. We will be there for the week starting on March 13th. You couldn't ask for a better time to go.

 

[Kat913]

We are going on the 15th for a performance of my daughter's show choir (we will be there 5 nights). I just changed some fp times around a couple of days ago and had no problem. The only dining reservation I had a problem with was Ohana ( all the times for the day I wanted were way too late!) We also wanted a BOG Dinner reservation and had to make that later than I wanted, but other than that got everything I wanted with pretty much a pick of any times. I think that if you are flexible with your dining times, you'll be fine.
I think you should go for it - what a wonderful gift! The weather should be beautiful and I think spring break crowds should be manageable ( in my experience) with the exception of Easter week ( which we have done and found to be WAY TOO CROWDED for us!) Its also easier to tour when it's not too hot ( hated the August and early sept heat and rain on previous trips) and have been in January when we had to wear winter coats, hats and gloves. There's really not a super slow time anymore so go and enjoy.
Good luck on your grad school inerview!

 

[FantasiaMagic]

To answer your question about March crowds - yes it is busy. But if you plan accordingly and like PP said, have realistic expectations, then you should be fine! I went at the end of march last year, and I found HS and EPCOT to be the worst crowd wise. This also has to do with the fact that they both don't have too many rides.
Make sure to do everything you need to do (resort reservation, dining, and FP+) as soon as possible, due to your limited time frame.

Relax and I bet you will have a great trip.