March crowds?

[stephm0188]

Hi! Bit of a Disneyland newbie here! We've been once before, but typically spend our vacations at WDW. I feel a little lost when it comes to DLR.

We're considering visiting DLR March 13-15 but I'm a smidge concerned about crowds. How busy is it going to be? What are wait times going to look like? I know it's on the cusp on spring break season.

 

[momsmail]

Hi! I'm sure others will chime in with better info/advice as to Spring break and crowds. For now, I can give you the estimates from a crowd predictor site (TouringPlans):

March 13:
DL: 8/10
DCA: 8/10

March 14:
DL: 7/10
DCA: 7/10

March 15:
DL: 8/10
DCA: 9/10

These are just estimates, but it is usually on target for me. March 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 seem to have lowish numbers.

Have fun!

 

[figment_jii]

The AP blockout dates are from roughly March 27 to April 12 (so the week before and after Easter). So that is roughly when DLR expects the peak "Spring Break" crowds to appear. It has been reported that some Arizona school districts are on Spring Break during that period and may contribute crowds to the parks.

March 13-15 is a Friday to Sunday, which are traditionally crowded days in the parks. Friday, during the day, will probably be fairly light. Saturdays (only Premier and Premium APs are valid) will have fewer AP guests, but there are generally plenty of day guests. Sundays (only SoCal Select APs are blocked) are typically pretty busy, but the first couple of hours are probably okay. I would plan to be at the parks at opening and try to do as much as you can first thing in the morning. In general, I think you'll be there ahead of the highest Spring Break crowds, but I wouldn't expect the park to be empty either.

I don't have any statistics to back up the wait times, but I would figure on 15 to 30 minutes for most rides, with 45 to 60 minute waits for the more popular/thrill rides during the peak times (e.g., Sat and Sun afternoons).

 

[emily94]

I am in college and that is the week of my spring break and the spring break of friends and family that attend other universities. So it will be busy!!