Last week of March...bring me back to reality

[awdsmama]

I know it will be crowded. But I may be in denial about just how crowded it will be.

We arrive the afternoon of Monday, March 26th and will be leaving around noon Friday, March 30th. It's just myself and 7yoDS.

Realistically - how chaotic will it be? How long of a wait will the most popular rides be?

 

[skiingfast]

Realistically - how chaotic will it be? How long of a wait will the most popular rides be?

60-90 minutes. Use FP as much as you can for most of them.

It is going to be busy. Eat at off hours. Be in the park when it opens and leave when it closes.

Use those early and late hours for the popular but non FP attractions like PP, HM, IASW, and TSMM.

Do attraction that have set wait times, tiny or no waits in mid day like Mark Twain, Tom's Island, Big Thunder Ranch, Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, Aladdin, Animation Building, Tiki Room, Innoventions....

You have a lot of days so don't feel to rushed.

 

[awdsmama]

Thank you, I'm a bit calmer now simply because of your last sentance.


I want to make sure and build some Hojo pool time into our day. What time of day is best to take a break? I know there are multiple personal factors but a generic "this is what we do..." is much appreciated!

 

[skiingfast]

I want to make sure and build some Hojo pool time into our day. What time of day is best to take a break? I know there are multiple personal factors but a generic "this is what we do..." is much appreciated!

1 to 3 pm. Post lunch to the parade is when the lines are longest. It will also be when the Hojo Pool is busiest because it's the warmest part of the day.

 

[calambert]

I do not believe that it will be as crowded as others are saying. In fact, the week of the 26th may be one of the best weeks in March to be there for several reasons.

California K-12 Spring break occurs in the first and 2nd week of April for almost all districts. (Same for Nevada). Arizona K-12 Spring break is over and the kids are back in school on the 26th. The convention center is also dark that week with nothing scheduled. Hotel rates are lower that week than the previous week, and much lower than the following week. (The Hilton and the Marriott at the convention center are both rock bottom priced the week of the 26th). The Cal State, and UC College systems are on break that week, but they don't have near the impact that K-12 does. Also, the first week in April has blackout dates for annual pass holders, where the week of 3/26 does not. Hope you and the kids have a great time!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

We like to take our break mid-afternoon. Be aware of the operating hours of the Hojo water play area if that's going to be something your son wants to do for break time. The staff person on duty in the water play area goes on a half hour break mid-afternoon, 2:30 I think but I'm not sure, and they close off the slides area while the employee is away. The kiddie pool, hot tub, and main pool are all still available; it's just the supervised slide area that is closed at that time.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I do not believe that it will be as crowded as others are saying. In fact, the week of the 26th may be one of the best weeks in March to be there for several reasons.

California K-12 Spring break occurs in the first and 2nd week of April for almost all districts. (Same for Nevada). Arizona K-12 Spring break is over and the kids are back in school on the 26th. The convention center is also dark that week with nothing scheduled. Hotel rates are lower that week than the previous week, and much lower than the following week. (The Hilton and the Marriott at the convention center are both rock bottom priced the week of the 26th). The Cal State, and UC College systems are on break that week, but they don't have near the impact that K-12 does. Also, the first week in April has blackout dates for annual pass holders, where the week of 3/26 does not. Hope you and the kids have a great time!

Hi Calambert,

Welcome to DIS!

I have bumped up two polls that were done here on DIS regarding Spring Break dates. If the DIS members are a micro-representation of those visiting DLR (which no one knows if that's true or not), the last week of March and first week of April will be busiest.

Here's the March poll.

- Dreams

 

[calambert]

Hi- and thanks for the welcome.

I think the way the poll is conducted it omits some key information. You really have to look at the spring breaks that occur in the areas that impact DL crowds the most, such as CA, Az, Las Vegas....all of which have breaks before or after the wk of 3/26. (minus a few exceptions). Hotel rates are also a key to tell how busy the park will be. I believe it will be busy, but not crazy. The convention center has an impact due to convention goers taking the opportunity bring the family along. (The Hilton and the Marriott have a combined 1700+ rooms...Not sure if I can mention pricing here, but the last week in March the newly renovated Hilton is under $100, and nearly twice as much the following week. (Another non-convention week). The Hyatt, Marriott Suites, Red Lion, and other Garden Gove hotels are also less that week than before or after.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Most of Oregon is off the last week of March... and therefore is headed south to some sun. It will be very busy... but just follow the rules of get there early, break in the afternoon & stay late, FP when you can, and eat at off hours like everyone said, and it will be managable.

 

[skiingfast]

I think the way the poll is conducted it omits some key information. You really have to look at the spring breaks that occur in the areas that impact DL crowds the most, such as CA, Az, Las Vegas....all of which have breaks before or after the wk of 3/26. (minus a few exceptions).

As said the before the polls aren't a sample of typical DLR guests, but they are an indication.

AZ, LV and UT school are often brought up, but in sum are less a factor than the area schools truely around DLR.

Hotel rates are also a key to tell how busy the park will be.

Yes they are very good indicators in particular when you focus on the three Disney Hotels that are almost 100% full of people going to the parks.

The convention center has an impact due to convention goers taking the opportunity bring the family along.

This is were you are making poor assumptions.

Conventions have little impacts even when they are big conventions. The people going are there primarily to work not on family trips. This is why they don't effect the hotels across from Harbor which are primarily for the parks. They don't effect the parks either which are filled with primarily locals and secondarily vacationers.

What convention do effect is. Dining particularily to the south of the parks. ART. And they primarily stay in the convention hotels that are south of the parks.

 

[calambert]

OK, I had always assumed the conventions had an impact, perhaps I am wrong, but the hotels at the CC are less espensive that week than either before or after. To your point about schools near DLR, that would confirm my thoughts of the week being less crowded because Orange County, and LA Unified as well as a host of other So. Cal school districts are in session the week of 3/26.

 

[croppincolburn]

My family will be with you for part of your visit. I'll save you a place in line

 

[DisDaze]

We were in DL the last week of March in 2010 and it was PACKED!

 

[farmgirljen]

I will be there too might end up being a solo trip, but will be fun! Especially if it will be uber crowded...single rider lines will be the way to go!

 

[calambert]

"We were in DL the last week of March in 2010 and it was PACKED!"

That was the week before Easter in 2010. Same as the first week of April this year. (W/blackout days for AP holders). Not the same thing as last week of March this year.

 

[DisDaze]

"We were in DL the last week of March in 2010 and it was PACKED!"

That was the week before Easter in 2010. Same as the first week of April this year. (W/blackout days for AP holders). Not the same thing as last week of March this year.

Touringplans has the last week of March this year as 10s for the entire week. Those are huge numbers, and I find anything over an 8 on their crowd scale to feel really crowed, so I would say it's going to be packed at DL this year too.

 

[Disney Dreams]

OK, I had always assumed the conventions had an impact, perhaps I am wrong, but the hotels at the CC are less espensive that week than either before or after. To your point about schools near DLR, that would confirm my thoughts of the week being less crowded because Orange County, and LA Unified as well as a host of other So. Cal school districts are in session the week of 3/26.

I don't disagree with you about schools being near DLR and their affect on DLR crowds. However, the OP was asking about the last week of March, not how that week will compare to other weeks of Spring Break season.

The simple answer to the OP's question: I think the last week of March will be pretty busy.

- Dreams

 

[Sew into Disney]

From my past experiences it has been pretty busy. My oldest daughter and I went the Sun and Mon of the last week of March 2010 and I didn't think it was that bad.

We will be there the same week So stinking excited!!!

 

[awdsmama]

Thank you everyone. Hopefully by doing the "eat off hrs" and all the other tips and tricks will help

 

[tinkatheart111]

We will be there too. We have been at WDW at Christmas, hopefully it won't be that bad. I'm especially nervous because we haven't been to DLR before so we don't know the lay of the land. At least at WDW I know which direction to run at rope drop.