March or May???

[AprilJ26]

Hi!
We are planning our first Disneyland trip! We've visited WDW several times and can't wait to try DL. I had originally planned to book March 12-15 this year because (I'm a teacher) and we are off school that week. Now I'm wondering if I should just take a few days off and pull the kids out of school in May instead (after state testing is over, of course lol).
So if you had to choose between March 12-15 or May 15-18...which would you pick???

 

[gottalovepluto]

I’d March because Food & Wine is happening in CA Adventure. Great chance to nibble foods you/they never would otherwise.

 

[AprilJ26]

I’d March because Food & Wine is happening in CA Adventure. Great chance to nibble foods you/they never would otherwise.

Thank you for the info! Have you been during that time? We've visited WDW during spring break, but I know DL is smaller so I wondered if crowds were more unbearable there.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Thank you for the info! Have you been during that time? We've visited WDW during spring break, but I know DL is smaller so I wondered if crowds were more unbearable there.

I went the week after that time last year and the crowds were fine. Spring Break doesn’t seem to kick into full gear until later (end of Mar I guess?) out here. The hours were pretty long so Disney was prepped (11pm closings at DLR) which was nice but the crowds didn’t seem insane to me.

We did have to deal with rain which might be less likely in May- it didn’t impact our trip too much but ymmv. We had a drizzle at the WOC dessert party (WOC kept running & we had rain gear).

 

[sherilaine]

I would say mid March vs mid May would be comparable - we have done early March and early May and found crowds a bit more in May but that was just one year. It's busy all the time now so I'd go when it's the most convenient for your schedule.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I would say mid March vs mid May would be comparable - we have done early March and early May and found crowds a bit more in May but that was just one year. It's busy all the time now so I'd go when it's the most convenient for your schedule.

Preach! If it’s not Gay Days, Dapper Days, or Xmas-NYE, go when you want!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Grad Nites (www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2298400) will have started by your May dates, so keep that in mind and check to see if there are any GNs happening during your dates. I also vote for March because of the Food & Wine Festival -- lots of fun!
Read this thread for good planning information: A DLR Guide for WDW Vets.

 

[Cal-Pie]

May is my very favorite time to visit (although my trip this year will be in March because of scheduling difficulties). The weather is a bit warmer with less chance of rain, in my experience crowds are lighter, and hotels are usually cheaper. I've heard less complaints about grad nights since they changed the format, and I'm guessing since you're a teacher, you aren't bothered much by rowdy kids anyway.

 

[figment_jii]

I would also lean towards going in March because of the Food & Wine festival!

In May, the Grad Nites during your dates are 5/17 and 5/18. It's also worth noting that there might be fairly substantial crowds on Friday evening and Saturday because the SoCal and Early 2019 ticket offer tickets expire on 5/23 (Thu), so that is the last weekend they are valid. That being said, as PPs have said, the weather tends to a bit better in May and without any major events happening, the weekday crowds are probably lighter.

 

[dina444444]

I would lean towards March. While it is your Spring Break, it is not spring break here yet.

 

[Cal-Pie]

It's also worth noting that there might be fairly substantial crowds on Friday evening and Saturday because the SoCal and Early 2019 ticket offer tickets expire on 5/23 (Thu), so that is the last weekend they are valid.

VERY good point! I change my vote to March.