Looking for March/April WDW experiences

[StevenTheGeek]

We're going HOME March 21st through April 2nd 2004!!!

We decided on this timeframe in the hopes to enjoy better weather and fewer crowds. Our last trip was July/August 1999. That trip was....VERY HOT - VERY CROWD except during late afternoon/evenings or early mornings (Did I mention we were on VACATION, which translated to sleeping in everyday until 8:30-9:00 only to be waken by mousekeepers!)

Last time, we took in only 15-20 percent of WDW and afterwards I vowed to my wife and kids that we would return but in a smarter, longer, and more enjoyable way (Can you say DVC)!

If you have been HOME in late March, early-early April, please share any experiences and advise on the following:

1) Park crowds
2) Weather
3) General WDW activities (Is WDW 'in full swing' or is it a ghost town with construction/closure galore, etc)

Of course, my kids were thrilled to be getting a 2 week spring break instead of 1…the easiest sale I’ve ever made!

Thanks all!

(Did I mention we were going HOME!)

 

[JimC]

We have four trips during that time period. The most significant variable is Easter week. I believe Easter next year is 4/11 so you will be before the worst of it. The week before and after Easter are premier and crowds are best described as "Nightmare on Main Street" -- only July 4th weekend and Christmas week compare.

For your trip, it is Magic season and the crowds are large. The weather can be cool mornings and evenings (windbreaker or sweater) but it is generally quite pleasant (lows upper 50s; highs low 80s). Generally very little rain that time of year -- about two inches per month. Generally WDW is in full swing with lots of parades, fireworks and special events.

However, the last two to three years the theme parks have been in a slump -- economy and other current events have depressed theme park crowds. Next year could return to normal or not depending on those wild cards.

Hope you have a great time. And Welcome Home

 

[BCV23]

We've been there at that week many times as our schools have spring break starting the Friday before the last Monday in March.

The weather is great! Warm enough to swim yet cool enough to be comfortable in the parks.

Every thing is in full gear.

Crowds vary a lot depending on the proximity to Easter. It is not a slow time by any means but if Easter is not within the next week it's not too bad.

Oops, Jim C beat me to it and I forgot...Welcome Home!

 

[kda]

Was just there March 28 - April 2. Crowds were low, but it definitely is influenced by college breaks and Easter. The weather had been in the low-mid 80's for weeks before we got there.
We had lovely weather in the 80's, down to 60's and totally overcast with a little rain, and sinking to a low below 40 at night . The next day was 60 and sunny, but windy, and it was definitely too cool to enjoy being at the pool. Then the temperatures rose again, but we had to leave. So, you never, ever know about Floriday weather in the winter. We hit one of the 'unseasonably' cool spells (to go with the 'unseasonably' high spell we hit the previous May).

 

[geffric]

We were just at WDW for Spring Break , last week of March.

Not as crowded as the summer but still waits for the popular rides. I think it was a little cool, not warm enough for swimming except for 1 day. We had to wait one night for 1 1/2 hours to get into Whispering canyon for dinner. What I didn't like was that the parks closed early, so we felt pressured to keep going to get what we wanted to do done.

On the other hand, we always go for 2 weeks in the summer and "do the parks" at our leisure over the time period so we have a different point of view.

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Sorry, I have no particular advice to offer as we don't go that time of year, but I do wish to say

Welcome Home!!!

 

[Doug Wolfe]

One nice thing about DVC is, NO MOUSEKEEPING! In other words, you will get plenty of beauty rest.

I was at WDW in early March 2002. The weather was all over the map. The first couple of days it was only in the 50's during the day and in the 40's at night. Even though the pools are heated, you will probably not want to swim in that type of weather.

But, by the end of the week, it was in the 80's during the day and upper 50's at night. Despite the temperatures, we had sun every day.

It was not a holiday and the parks were fairly empty. Remember, this was just a few months post 9/11, but we rarely waited on line. There were a few lines at Magic Kingdom, but nothing to speak of at Disney Studio's, Animal Kingdom or Epcot. Have fun on your trip.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Weather--first of all April has the least rain fall of any month down there. You will not be there duing the hot and humid months. This why people love Florida for March and April are beautiful Crowds--if the parks ever return to levels of attendance prior to 9/11 then you will have plenty of people just like July or worse even, but I think those days are over for WDW. WDW is in full swing, certainly not a ghost town. I think you will be over joyed with the weather but not happy with the crowds.

 

[Raysplus1]

We were there March 2001 and the weather was in the 50's and rainy a few days and also sunny and the 80's a couple of days.

The parks were not empty during this time but they were not crowded either.

If it were not for our children being in school this would be a good time to for us to go.

 

[sueg]

Our DSs go to private school & get a two-week "spring break" each March, usually the 2nd & 3rd wks. We have gone to WDW every March for about nine yrs. We love this time of yr. & I agree with most of the previous posts. But I wanted to add that March is spring training time in Fla. We love spring training games & have seen the Braves at Wide World of Sports (WDW), travelled to Tampa to see the Yankees & enjoyed the Dodgers when we stayed at VB. To be sure, you can get tkts thru "Ticketmonster" in Jan. Or you can risk it & buy tkts. after you arrive.

 

[StevenTheGeek]

Wow! Thanks for the replies all...

Sounds like March/April is a mixed bag of weather. We'll see what happens (praying to the Sun God as I type...)

Jacket / sweater weather in the AM and 70-80 in the afternoon is a definite change compared the 95+ degrees temps of 1999....I like it...as long as the weather doesn't turn 'nasty'!

Sounds like the crowds float between the high side of moderate to mid-busy. There shouldn't be any 'PackedInTheParksPhobia' and 'GhostTownPhobia' concerns.

Letting the kids 'play hookie' an extra week isn't a concern. When we get back, they'll have almost 2 months to catchup.

My biggest let down will be the early nightly closures of the Parks. Major bummer

As for the spring trainings...no big. We not big sports fans anyway (I know....boo hiss)


Thanks again everybody.

...And we're a countin...