March at WDW

[DisneyStarWisher]

We are planning on our first AP this year, activating it in November. For 2021, we will definitely be doing an October trip, but we are trying to figure out what month to take a shorter in-between trip. We were looking at March since our younger DS21 might join us, and he will have Spring Break that month. But looking at the 2020 crowd calendars, I'm in shock. "Insane Crowds" the whole month! I never knew March was that crazy. After just getting back from a Thanksgiving trip, I desperately want to avoid "insane crowds." Are these crowds due to Spring Breaks? I've been the first week in April before (which wasn't around Easter), and the crowds were perfect. Can anyone explain this phenomenon in 2020, and will it probably happen again in 2021?

 

[beccasmom]

From my perspective March is mostly Spring Breakers. Depending on when Easter falls - April 4 next year - that can add to the mix (people may get some extra school/work days off). We’ve only visited once in March and it was pretty busy. The lobby of the Contemporary was incredibly crowded and chaotic and that set the tone for the week. We enjoyed ourselves - it’s Disney after all - but we’re WDW veterans and return every year. If you set realistic expectations and plan well, it can work out for you. But you probably won’t avoid crowds.

 

[skippytx]

Disney is just always busy the last couple of years. There's crowded, really crowded, and "you might as well stay home". It's not even worth trying to go at a "slower" time anymore since they started reducing staffing, hours, and ride capacity when crowds are low. I've had basically the exact same experience on crowd level 3 days and crowd level 8 days.

Go when your schedule allows and when the weather is good. The crowds will be nuts the next couple of years with all the new attractions and the 50th coming, so just make a solid plan, prepare yourself, and have fun.

 

[heidia]

We've gone the first week/second week of march for the past 5 years and its busy, but not crazy busy. In fact, we find its way less busy than our Oct food and wine/halloween trips.

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

We’ve made 3 trips during Spring Break. Almost always a 10 on crowd calendars. But like the other poster mentioned, Disney is always crowded now. And when they reduce staff and ride capacity the only difference is the ability to walk through the park easier. Just plan on it being Busy and try to get the most out of it that you can.

 

[Capang]

It's always busy. Maybe the week after labor day and the first week of May may be slower. That's really about it anymore.

 

[Pnflkc3]

Our family of three is going 3/2 - 3/9 of this year. Hoping based upon what I’ve read from other posts and calendars, this is a “non-crazy” busy week. Thinking it may be a little too early for majority of Spring Breakers to be visiting. I’d be much more anxious crowd-wise if our trip were scheduled even a week later.

 

[slp87]

March is usually when we go and I've never thought the crowds to be unbearable. We went Thanksgiving week and I didn't think it was that bad either. With good planning and being at the parks early, it's not that crazy.

 

[Micca]

In my mind I write-off March & April as spring break time at WDW. There may be some days here & there where it's not totally slammed, but you'd be lucky to guess which days those days are going to happen.

We've been going at the tail-end of April (like the 28th or 29th) and staying for a few days into early May, and it's not insanely busy. But it's beginning to get hot by hot early May, at least you'll have some nice temps in March.

 

[NashvilleMama]

yep, our spring break is mid-March. We went two years ago then and yes, it was crazy but we still had a blast and barely waited in line due to some excellent FP and rope drop strategies (if I do say so myself.)

 

[YITBOS]

For what its worth, I just booked a "Room Only" split stay March 19th-27th 2021. Per the cast member, there was plenty of rooms available at Pop Century, but I reserved one of the last 2 standard rooms at the Polynesian.

 

[Lovetherodent]

My last two girls trips have been the first and second week of March (upcoming trip is for the first week again). The second week, while more crowded, was really a better week for touring. Park hours extended... there was a second evening parade at MK AFTER the fireworks... everything was oen. Yeah, more crowded to walk around, esp. AKL, which was under construction for Pandora, but really not a problem. I work in education, so I'm bound by my spring break schedule, but I will go during the nicer weather rather than deal with the blazing June/July heat.

 

[avincent]

I personally hate Spring Break because there are group of teenagers everywhere. I have 2 teenagers and while I love mine, I don’t love other people’s unsupervised teenagers. But honestly I think we ran into this more in the value resorts than the parks. Disney is crowded period. We went early January and it was crazy busy and it continues to be more busy every time we go. Imo you just have to expect it and hope for the best, make concessions like dining reservations, mobile ordering, and mid day breaks. We went over NYE and the crowds didn’t bother me because I was expecting them but when we were there on January 6th and it was just as crowded it bothered me because I expected the crowds to be less and more like I was use to but they were not. But like someone else said the advantages of a busy time are longer park hours and more rides open etc. We did have to wait in line this year there was no way around it and maybe we didn’t get to ride as much but we still had a wonderful time. My advice to anyone would be throw all the past crowd indicators out the window and just go when the best time for you is because it will be crowded anytime you chose to go.

 

[R&RsMom]

I did a trip March 21-24 (long weekend last year), and did not think it was insane crowds. Busy, but not horrible. It was a “go at my own pace” solo trip, so I wasn’t trying to cram everything in. However, I did everything I wanted without terrible waits.

 

[gharter]

I have found later March Spring Break to be much worse than our October trips.
This seems to be more true when Easter is in early April and it all flows together.