How is March at WDW?

[JenLT]

We're supposed to go in the beginning of December next year, but may have to postpone our trip. How is March compared to early December (usually). I know in 2023 Easter is around April 9th. I was considering sometime in the first two weeks of March. Is it usually really crowded? Is it warm or still chilly? I've never gone in the Spring. I really want to go in December for the holiday decorations and activities but I may be forced to change the dates.

 

[Nabas]

March is one of the busiest months of the year. Spring break is the main reason, including lots of schools in Florida taking spring break.

We used to go the third week of March (due to a birthday in the family) but, by the last year we went, the third week in March was more crowded than December 25.

Weather in March (and December) can be hit-or-miss. You might have a beautiful 82 degree day or one that's a chilly 67. (We've experienced both.)

Go in early December, if you can. The Christmas decorations are magical!

 

[JenLT]

March is one of the busiest months of the year. Spring break is the main reason, including lots of schools in Florida taking spring break.

We used to go the third week of March (due to a birthday in the family) but, by the last year we went, the third week in March was more crowded than December 25.

Weather in March (and December) can be hit-or-miss. You might have a beautiful 82 degree day or one that's a chilly 67. (We've experienced both.)

Go in early December, if you can. The Christmas decorations are magical!

Oh no! I knew it might be a little busy, but I had no idea it was that crowded.

 

[Upatnoon]

The earlier you can go in March the better, as schools in Florida and the South are on break, snowbirds are in full season and people are eager for a bit of warm weather from other cold regions.

By early, I mean the first week in March.

As in December, the weather is ... unpredictable. Won't be miserably hot, though. Might be wet, windy and chilly, though.

Looking for "slow" time is pretty pointless these days.

Go when it best works for you. Tour smart. Have fun.

 

[SkyGuy]

My kids’ spring break was always the second full week in March, and we went most years. Even though one has graduated college and the other is a junior in college, we still tend to go around that time. Over the years crowds have definitely increased, but the beginning of the week is still relatively pleasant. We tend to go Sunday-Thursday because Friday and Saturday border on insane level crowds. This is a pic of the crowds behind us in line, waiting to get into HS on the Wednesday the the week before shutdown 2020 to give you an idea. (Sorry, don’t know how to make it right side up!)

 

[CarolynFH]

Most Texas schools have Spring Break the 2nd week of March each year as well. Also look to see when Mardi Gras is that year -- Louisiana schools tend to be off that week. In any case, the first week of December is likely to be less crowded than the 2nd week of March or later!

 

[JenLT]

The earlier you can go in March the better, as schools in Florida and the South are on break, snowbirds are in full season and people are eager for a bit of warm weather from other cold regions.

By early, I mean the first week in March.

As in December, the weather is ... unpredictable. Won't be miserably hot, though. Might be wet, windy and chilly, though.

Looking for "slow" time is pretty pointless these days.

Go when it best works for you. Tour smart. Have fun.

We've always wanted to go in April for my son's birthday, but way too often Easter is the same week. I knew Easter was bad, but I didn't realize that so many schools have spring break early in March! Growing up we always had it at Easter time.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Our schools all have March break. This year it's Mar 14 - 18.

 

[Upatnoon]

We've always wanted to go in April for my son's birthday, but way too often Easter is the same week. I knew Easter was bad, but I didn't realize that so many schools have spring break early in March! Growing up we always had it at Easter time.

Many schools in the Southeast also have a few days off for Easter, but not a week like spring break.

Part of the trend of the South moving toward earlier and earlier starts was driven by the high-stakes testing of students. Schools wanted more instruction time before the tests, which were early in the year.

That resulted in earlier spring breaks.

The earlier school starts also created backlash from "save our summers" groups.

 

[Minniesgal]

Busy and depending on when Easter calls can be very expensive

 

[Lilias]

We're going March 7-11 this year and I'm starting to see that it was most likely a mistake xD It's too late now, as the trip is paid for.

My logic was the same as yours, that surely early March would be slower because Easter is so late.

We'll seeeeeee

 

[Upatnoon]

We're going March 7-11 this year and I'm starting to see that it was most likely a mistake xD It's too late now, as the trip is paid for.

My logic was the same as yours, that surely early March would be slower because Easter is so late.

We'll seeeeeee

That is a better week than the week after

 

[mco65]

Early December is preferable to anytime in March. March is Spring Break month and its typically very busy. Early December is probably not much better but at least its cooler and the Christmas decorations are up!

 

[JenLT]

We're going March 7-11 this year and I'm starting to see that it was most likely a mistake xD It's too late now, as the trip is paid for.

My logic was the same as yours, that surely early March would be slower because Easter is so late.

We'll seeeeeee

Good luck! I'm sure you'll have tons of fun and the good thing about going during crowded times is that the parks are open longer.

 

[Caseheidi]

We went end of The first week thru beginning of second week of March in 2017 and 2018 and loved it. The crowds were definitely getting bigger by the end of our trip, but we found the crowds very manageable and the wait times were reasonable (except for FoP and SDMT). The weather was also great for us, but we are from the Pacific Northwest where it was still cold and wet. We found the temps much better then when we have gone May - October as there was very little humidity. We also love the Flower and Garden Festival in Epcot which begins around that time. I would definitely go in early March again, but not late March when there are more schools out on break.

 

[JenLT]

We went end of The first week thru beginning of second week of March in 2017 and 2018 and loved it. The crowds were definitely getting bigger by the end of our trip, but we found the crowds very manageable and the wait times were reasonable (except for FoP and SDMT). The weather was also great for us, but we are from the Pacific Northwest where it was still cold and wet. We found the temps much better then when we have gone May - October as there was very little humidity. We also love the Flower and Garden Festival in Epcot which begins around that time. I would definitely go in early March again, but not late March when there are more schools out on break.

It's nice to know there is not a lot of humidity!

 

[g-dad66]

Grandkids' spring break has always been the third week of March, and we have gone to WDW most years. It has always been crowded, but never Easter-crowded.

I think March and November are the two best weather months in Orlando. Mid-April to mid-October are too hot and humid for us. December through February are OK, but far more unpredictable (we had a January day that barely broke 50, and that never happened in March). And we rarely had rain in all of those years since 2009.

Waiting in lines isn't so bad when you're not melting in the sun.

 

[DaisyNY]

Fingers crossed for a magical visit March 1-9...will take advantage of early morning hours, and Epcot and MK -late nights for deluxe guests. Found making our ADR not too difficult...still hoping to get Narcosee's for the first night of our trip!

 

[TikiRob]

Not an exact science, but follow the ticket prices. Higher the prices, busier the week.

 

[skippytx]

Our favorite time of year to visit WDW is the very last week of Feb that goes into the first week of March. Good weather, and sometimes not *as* busy since it slots in between President's day and most peoples Spring Break vacations. The downside is shorter park hours and some things may still be under refurbishment.

We haven't been at that time since 2019 though so things have probably changed.

These days I care more about park hours than crowds. I realize the extended park hours I used to love back in 2016 and 2017 are gone forever (MK open till 2 am!), but it's kind of a bummer when everything is closed at 8 or 9PM except Disney Springs. We normally like to take a mid afternoon break, but if MK closes at 8PM there's no point so we just power through open to close.

The kids are old enough now that taking them out of school for a week is something we're not willing to do anymore, so our last trip was March 2020 during TX spring break week. It was busy, but we had a good time and the weather was solid. We're going in early June this year and it's going to be hot.

Short answer: Early March is fantastic. Mid to late March is very busy, but good weather and hopefully longer park hours make up for it.