March 2017 or August 2017? Crowds vs. heat

[ILovePixieDust]

Hi all! Trying to get some opinions about time to go to WDW. It will be our first trip, family of 4, two kids aged 7 & 9. We are looking to go for two weeks and considering two time periods...March 11-25 or Aug 12-26. Dates are slightly flexible within that range. I have been looking at the predicted crowd calendars and March still looks extremely busy despite Easter being later in April. We are wary of the huge crowds but also nervous about the humidity and heat in August. Would we be better off braving the March crowds or the August heat? Thoughts? Opinions? Experiences?

Thanks!

 

[RRZJ]

August is very crowded as well as being incredibly hot and humid. We have done August and will do so again because timing works best for us, but we definitely preferred the March time period. I do not remember March being any more crowded than August.

 

[Steve G]

We've done both with and without kids; we prefer March. Plus we're from the Northeast where March is a worse weather month. I do think the crowds would be a wash though...

 

[vinotinto]

Do you like HOT weather? (It's not a trick question).

 

[Peepster]

Having made many trips in both months I would heartily recommend March. As a matter of fact, we'll be there in 2017 just the week before the one you're considering.
Whatever you decide, have a great time.

 

[g-dad66]

Easy question for us. We did August one year and will never do it again.

We do March every year.

Crowds are much more bearable when the weather is not making you miserable.

 

[MikeTaylor]

Check if any localish schools are out for Spring Break. Buddy of mine went with his family thinking they were good, but that week was Southern Georgia's Spring Break. Needless to say, it was crowded.

 

[DizDaD7]

I'd tend to believe that March crowds will be definitely less than August..And heat...There's no comparison...AT ALL!!! lol.

 

[Parker Clan]

Just throwing it out - it's really not that crowded in August. Done it five years in a row, crowds are very manageable! Now the only question is if you can manage the heat. We manage just fine, it's the only time of year we can go

 

[cocoachip]

Agree with above Parker Clan on crowds and heat. It's a great time of year to take advantage of the water parks!

 

[mkla2015]

Definitely March! August is hot, humid, and wet. March is our usual time to visit Disney and while it's crowded, it's still very manageable and the weather is usually pretty nice with minimal rain.

 

[ILovePixieDust]

Do you like HOT weather? (It's not a trick question).

I love hot weather! I'm worried about my kids though and how they would cope more than anything.

 

[ILovePixieDust]

Just throwing it out - it's really not that crowded in August. Done it five years in a row, crowds are very manageable! Now the only question is if you can manage the heat. We manage just fine, it's the only time of year we can go

What strategies do you use to manage the heat?

 

[ILovePixieDust]

Thank you for all the replies so far! Gives us more food for thought for sure!

 

[Parker Clan]

What strategies do you use to manage the heat?

We take mid day breaks, get to the parks close to RD, go back to the resort for pool time for a few hours usually 1-4, then back out to dinner and the parks. We constantly reapply sunscreen, Wear hats, bring gatorade and waters in the parks and are always refilling them, bring salty snacks. I think the most important thing is the break though.. When the sun is the hottest we are back at the resort in the pool!

 

[ArwenMarie]

It's not just the heat, it's the daily thunder and lightning storms in August. As long as it's not a week adjacent to Easter, I would pick March.

 

[dreiwhit]

I've been to Orlando in March for a conference. It was very hot and humid. I would not want to do Disney during that time.

 

[lovethattink]

August is pretty predictable. Hazy, hot and humid with daily thunderstorm. You can see the steam lifting off the pavement once the rain ceases and the quick evaporation begins. Looks like some FL schools may be starting back earlier this year. Polk County starts back August 15. So if your dates are after that, the crowds might be less than usual.

 

[Missymoe4]

As everyone else has stated: August is hot, hot, HOT!!! I have never been in March, so I do not know the weather situation. I did go two years ago in November and froze (I'm from Chicago and should have brought my down coat).

Although Florida is hot in August, I have grown accustomed to associating my Disney vacation with heat (with lots of ice cream and pool time). If I'm in Disney and it's not hot, I don't feel like I'm truly there.

However, the heat is not for the weak. It is serious stuff. So, if you don't like it at all...I would stay away. Since I live in Chicago and have some brutal winters, I'm happy to experience the other side of the weather spectrum.

 

[Missymoe4]

We take mid day breaks, get to the parks close to RD, go back to the resort for pool time for a few hours usually 1-4, then back out to dinner and the parks. We constantly reapply sunscreen, Wear hats, bring gatorade and waters in the parks and are always refilling them, bring salty snacks. I think the most important thing is the break though.. When the sun is the hottest we are back at the resort in the pool!

That's our plan, too Up and out early, pool break midday, dinner and park time again.