March is it ever a good idea?

[PSUGuy]

We are considering early March too, BUT we are afraid of the dreaded BTG's or the 15's. On your many travels, have you had to deal with these groups in March? Thanks so much PSUguy!

Never these groups but more than once there was a cheerleader competition going on during our March week, once a large contingent staying at Swan where we were. These posed no problem, wifey was actually amused to see them. The younger of them she dubbed 'Molecules' for the way the small ones flitted around. They were well behaved if active and we found no reason not to go back in March. We've taken to buying APs for our Oct trips, going later the first year and slipping in under the deadline the next. We were looking to sneak down there this March but we couldn't cover the other expenses. When I retire in 4 years we'll look forward to F&G also. In March 2013 we had a Southern car trip planned, drive to Savannah for 2 days, Myrtle Beach for 4 days of golf than back home. A week prior the long range forecast showed weather as bad as that in Pa so we booked AllStarMu, all that was still available a week out, and we drove to WDW. As I mentioned, a March trip gets us through a bad Winter such as the 2 prior to the most recent one.

Bill From Pa

 

[Eastern]

We have gone twice in March. Both times very crowded with college kids, and I'm pretty sure a ton of Canadians.

 

[mdgineok]

We are booked for 3/1-6/2017 with a cruise after and are hoping it isn't too bad. Our last trip we went the second week in May and parks were not crowded so it will definitely be a different experience this time around. But, by having some perspective from already having been there and taking the advice from this board we will be prepared for whatever we encounter.

Mark in MN

 

[Mikie]

We have gone twice in March. Both times very crowded with college kids, and I'm pretty sure a ton of Canadians.

I want to go that week! No posts about rude guests. . . Except maybe lines getting backed up from everyone trying to let each other go first?

 

[loves to dive]

We were there the week of March 7 this year as it was my son's college spring break and it didn't seem too crowded to us. It might be subjective though since we never think it's too crowded. We were at the Swan and there was a cheerleader group of some sort (I'm guessing high school age but I might be wrong since anyone younger than 30 looks like a high schooler to me) and they did tend to meet in the lobby at night and could get a little rowdy but it didn't bother us.

 

[Matty_Disfan]

Canadian here, our Spring Break next year is March 10-19th, and so is Ontario (largest province) and some US States. It will be busy, but not crazy.

 

[lynch34]

We went this year and it was awful. I would avoid. Buzz Lightyear had 60 minute waits. Thankfully, the last day was the day it seemed to start so we were ok for the rest of the trip.

 

[MermaidMommy]

Canadian here, our Spring Break next year is March 10-19th, and so is Ontario (largest province) and some US States. It will be busy, but not crazy.

That's also the week that almost all Texas public schools have off, in addition to other school districts around the country.

Expect summer-level (but not holiday) crowds. That week is usually around an 8 on the crowd calendar.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Yes.

Crowds aren't the ONY factor to consider when planning a trip to WDW. They are just ONE factor. (Not that March is universally crowded)

Weather, pricing, and convenience are all important.

Personally, I'd rather have extended park hours+crowds, than to visit WDW at a time when MK closes at 7pm every night. I'm not very interesting in paying $150 EXTRA just to visit MK after dark!

IMO, the parties are little more than seasonal price hikes.

 

[BethR9]

Any one have thoughts on the last week of March? March 25-31, 2017.

And ALL of Texas (public schools) have March 10-19 off??

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We went this year and it was awful. I would avoid. Buzz Lightyear had 60 minute waits.

This isn't quite enough information, IMO.

Waits in the Magic Kingdom are BAD right now, - no disagreement there. The newest additions are in MK, while other parks currently have closures (=less rides than in the past).


AK was crowded when EE was the newest ride. Epcot was packed when TT was new. HS had crazy TSM crowds for ages. Now 7D is new.

Norway will soon be the new thing! Kong and Hulk are also opening very soon! (US) AK and HS have new additions coming. When they all open, people will be eager to ride them.

Another side of the story is to say that wait times often PEAK in the middle hours of the day.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

We were there end of Feb. beginning of March (through the 5th) this year and crowds were very tolerable, between FP+, RD, and EMH, we were able to see everything we wanted and then some, never waiting more than 20 min. For anything.

 

[Anal Annie]

There's a reason they call it a rolling spring break....both March and April are spring break months. Many colleges break in March while a lot of secondary school systems do too a lot of them also break either the week preceeding or following Easter. I would say as long as the week you're looking at isn't one of the 2 weeks surrounding Easter the crowds wouldn't be THAT bad. Those 2 weeks WILL be the worst and are reflected in both resort room prices and airfare prices.

 

[MermaidMommy]

And ALL of Texas (public schools) have March 10-19 off??

Not all, but the vast majority of K-12 public schools will have that week off (March 13-17). There are a LOT of Texans at Disney World all at the same time during spring break. The CM's were even joking about it this past spring break.

 

[Minnie222]

The first week of March should be ok. Anything later than March 10, expect high crowd.

We just did March break this year, arriving on March 14. CRAZY high crowd in the parks!!! Yes, really high crowds. For example, Small world's stand-by wait is a solid 40 minutes in the afternoon. We actually lined up for it, as other rides/ attractions are even longer.

 

[isabellea]

In the province of Quebec our spring break is almost always the first week of March so you might hear more french than usual in the parks . In 2016 our week was the week of Feb 28 and we were there Feb 26-March 1st before our DCL cruise. I was surprised by the moderate crowds and how much we could do compared to end of July. The cooler weather also helped! In fact, DH said never agin in summer, for now on we're going in March. For 2017 our spring break is very late for Qc standards and is the week of March 6 so we are planning a short stay at WDW March 8-11, after our couple-only cruise while the kids enjoy their grand-parents in Ft Lauderdale!

 

[mkla2015]

We are annual March WDW visitors.

This year we went March 9-21. The first couple of days were not bad at all- much lower crowds than expected. Spring breakers (mostly from Texas and Canada) started arriving around the 12th and from then on the parks were pretty crowded but very manageable.

We plan our days out, use FP, take midday breaks, and close the parks. We never waited more than 20 mins for a ride. We spent most nights in MK- after Wishes, the wait times dropped dramatically.

We love March- the weather is usually nice and mild with minimal rain.

 

[conandrob240]

Depends on when Eater is. If Easter is in mid- late April, March won't be crazy crowded

 

[disneyseniors]

Never these groups but more than once there was a cheerleader competition going on during our March week, once a large contingent staying at Swan where we were. These posed no problem, wifey was actually amused to see them. The younger of them she dubbed 'Molecules' for the way the small ones flitted around. They were well behaved if active and we found no reason not to go back in March. We've taken to buying APs for our Oct trips, going later the first year and slipping in under the deadline the next. We were looking to sneak down there this March but we couldn't cover the other expenses. When I retire in 4 years we'll look forward to F&G also. In March 2013 we had a Southern car trip planned, drive to Savannah for 2 days, Myrtle Beach for 4 days of golf than back home. A week prior the long range forecast showed weather as bad as that in Pa so we booked AllStarMu, all that was still available a week out, and we drove to WDW. As I mentioned, a March trip gets us through a bad Winter such as the 2 prior to the most recent one.

Bill From Pa

Thanks, that makes me feel much better about March. There is so much stuff on these sites about the BTG's, 15's, and I was under the impression that March, Feb, and even Jan. were when they descended on WDW. However, I guess the Brazil economy is tanking now, so that might reflect on their WDW vacations?
Your Savannah trip sounds great. Been to Charleston, and always wanted to go to Savannah. Maybe can talk husband into it one day! Thanks again.

 

[ruthies12]

Glad to read some of these reports myself. We went to Disney for my oldest dds 7th bday and I'd really like to do the same for her little sister whose birthday is in March. I just looked online and the year she turns 7 in the middle of March, Easter isn't until April 12th so hopefully that will work out okay!