March vs. Aug

[DLovinFam]

There are two weeks we are deciding between. The last week of March or the last week of Aug. (2007) We just visited the last week of Aug. this year and it was wonderful! It was crowded but managable. All the tips from this board really helped! It looks like the hotel rates are lower in March than in Aug, and they do extend there hours for Spring Break. My question is, would late March crowds be compareable to late Aug. crowds? We could deal with that!

Thanks!

 

[stampinshauna]

I would definately go in March. Once you go in the off-season, you won't want to go in the summer again. Even though the park isn't open as long, you'll get more done because the crowds will be a lot smaller. I've gone in June, July, August, September, February, and March, and I'll never go in the summer again if I can help it.

 

[DLovinFam]

I would definately go in March. Once you go in the off-season, you won't want to go in the summer again. Even though the park isn't open as long, you'll get more done because the crowds will be a lot smaller. I've gone in June, July, August, September, February, and March, and I'll never go in the summer again if I can help it.

Thanks, Shauna

So, even with Spring Break crowds, it should be less crowded than late Aug? That would be GREAT!! Our kids Spring Break is the last week of March. Also, since it won't be the 50th celebration any more in 2007, that may help us a bit too, huh?

 

[HydroGuy]

I am not going to say August is better, but I will say the following:

1. If you avoid the weekends in August then the crowds at DLR are tolerable

2. Late March is Spring Break time, and DLR can be as crowded as in August

3. If you are doing a multi-day trip and staying at a hotel very near DLR that makes it easy to take afternoon breaks, it is much easier to work around the crowds

4. Personally, I like DLR in the summer where you throw on a pair of shorts, a tee-shirt and some sandals or sneakers and are comfortable from first thing in the morning until midnight.

5. When you go in the summer, the maximum number of rides are operating and the maximum number of shows and parades are running

6. The park hours are maxed out in the summer

7. I have been to DLR in off-season when the crowds are extremely small. It was fun to get on so many rides, but it felt very odd. It would be sort of like going to a Broncos football game and having the stadium be empty. Somehow the crowds are part of and enhance the experience. But that is probably just me. In general, I am not a big fan of waiting in lines.

 

[stampinshauna]

Thanks, Shauna

So, even with Spring Break crowds, it should be less crowded than late Aug? That would be GREAT!! Our kids Spring Break is the last week of March. Also, since it won't be the 50th celebration any more in 2007, that may help us a bit too, huh?

Easter isn't until April in both 2006 and 2007, so you won't hit too many Spring Break crowds, they usually come right around Easter. We went in 2003 over my husband's Spring Break in mid-March and it was great. We wore t-shirts and capri's or shorts during the day. Sweatshirts were nice for the evening. If you go right around Easter, it will be more crowded, but they will extend the hours as well.

 

[DLovinFam]

I am not going to say August is better, but I will say the following:

1. If you avoid the weekends in August then the crowds at DLR are tolerable

2. Late March is Spring Break time, and DLR can be as crowded as in August

3. If you are doing a multi-day trip and staying at a hotel very near DLR that makes it easy to take afternoon breaks, it is much easier to work around the crowds

4. Personally, I like DLR in the summer where you throw on a pair of shorts, a tee-shirt and some sandals or sneakers and are comfortable from first thing in the morning until midnight.

5. When you go in the summer, the maximum number of rides are operating and the maximum number of shows and parades are running

6. The park hours are maxed out in the summer

7. I have been to DLR in off-season when the crowds are extremely small. It was fun to get on so many rides, but it felt very odd. It would be sort of like going to a Broncos football game and having the stadium be empty. Somehow the crowds are part of and enhance the experience. But that is probably just me. In general, I am not a big fan of waiting in lines.

Thanks, HydroGuy!

1. This is what we did last Aug. We went Mon-Fri and I agree, it was very tolerable.

2. This is what I thought, and would be okay with that. I was reading in past posts, that they extend the hours as in the summer during Spring Break weeks. I am waiting to see what the hours will be like this March on the DL calendar to get a better idea. I looks like we'd be paying a few hundred dollars less for a hotel, so that would be a plus.

3. We will surely stay on site. We did that last time and it was wonderful. We are looking at staying at the DLH again.

4. Good point! Surprisingly last Aug. there were a couple of mornings that were cool and overcast and we needed our sweatshirts! It did heat up by the end of the week though!

5. Another good point! We were able to "do it all" last Aug. including balcony seating for Fantasmic! so this won't be as important to us next time, but something to consider.

6. I was hoping they would be for spring break too. This may be a deciding factor if they aren't open as late in March as in Aug.

7. We have been off season too and I totally agree with you....It was very enjoyable, but it *did feel a little odd. The crowds (to a certain extent) do add to the magic. I love seeing others having fun and conversing with them

Thanks for giving me more to think about!

 

[DLovinFam]

Easter isn't until April in both 2006 and 2007, so you won't hit too many Spring Break crowds, they usually come right around Easter. We went in 2003 over my husband's Spring Break in mid-March and it was great. We wore t-shirts and capri's or shorts during the day. Sweatshirts were nice for the evening. If you go right around Easter, it will be more crowded, but they will extend the hours as well.

Thanks! That's great to know! I'm leaning towards March and it IS closer!
16 months vs. 21! LOL Also, we are surprising the kids this time, so they'd never expect going in the Spring. We've never done that before. (Well, I did as a kid)

 

[Jaina]

If you've never done it before, going in March might be really fun for your kids. My family always went in May or August growing up, so the first time we went in March (this year) was fun because we'd never been there at that time of year. It was just different, so it made it more exciting (especially since it didn't get hot in the middle of the day!). Just my .02

 

[DLovinFam]

If you've never done it before, going in March might be really fun for your kids. My family always went in May or August growing up, so the first time we went in March (this year) was fun because we'd never been there at that time of year. It was just different, so it made it more exciting (especially since it didn't get hot in the middle of the day!). Just my .02

Thank you, Jaina!

We have been in Oct, and Aug with the kids (dh and I went in July for our honeymoon) So that *would be fun to go a different time of year! Thanks for pointing that out!!

 

[Judy from Boise]

Does anyone know when the CA schools let out for Spring break ? My DD's break (private school in Boise) is the last week in March.