Mid March - opinions on crowds & availability

[loribell]

We are planning to move our summer trip up to spring break this year but I keep forgetting to call to check on availability. Maybe it is partly because I'm worried about the weather, we really like to spend lots of time at the pools. Maybe it is because it won't be able to be a 2 week trip like I am used to taking.

Anyway what do you all think the crowds will be like for the week of March 12? We will probably actually stay a few extra days, most likely the following week because the kids will have nine week testing on the Thurs. & Fri. before.

How about the weather? Will we be able to spend our time in the pool?

And last but not least, have I waited to long to make reservations? I don't really think so because the kids want to try SSR this time.

Opinions please!!!!!

TIA,
Lori

 

[beccasmom]

We've only been there once at that time - in March, 2000. We were unable to book our home resort of OKW and decided to use points at the CR. It was VERY crowded and we were unable to access our room until well after 6:30pm. The weather was cool, but pleasant; at night a light jacket was definitely necessary. We did not swim, but I think it would have been fine. I do not remember any rain.

We prefer less crowds, so I doubt we'll be returning during this time again.

 

[Westcoast Gus]

I went March 11, 12, 13 this year. Not DVC, unfortunately. Anyway, the crowds were not bad. There was only one point - at MK on a Tuesday afternoon - when we felt kind of crowded. We were at rope drop each day and had very short waits (under 10 minutes) for almost everything for all three days. Of course, I clearly remember walking on the most popular rides first thing in the morning only to see 40-50 minute waits later in the day, so there you go.

ETA: Weather was perfect, aside from a half-hour downpour that caught us between countries in WS on day one. Around 80 and sunny. We went to a baseball game in Clearwater on Saturday before our MTW stay, and it was 78 degrees and literally not a cloud in the sky.

 

[ErinC]

We were able to swim on our Feb. trip this year. Not all days were warm, but a couple were and we just planned around the weather. I can take a lot more crowds when I'm not so hot, so I like those winter and spring trips instead of summer.

 

[loribell]

Thanks for the information everyone. Sounds like the swimming wont be a problem and around 80 sounds wonderful! I think I could probably handle the crowds better if it isn't hot and humid. We do always go to the parks for rope drop so that will help too.

I will try to remember to call Monday morning to check availability and book something. Even if we cacn't book DVC we couold always stay at WL or AKL. We love them both.

Thanks again everyone and if anhyone else has any input I would love to hear it.

Lori

 

[slp87]

We'll be there Mar 10 - 19 and last week was the 7 mo. window for us to switch part of our BVW stay to BCV and we didn't have a problem, so hopefully there is still some availability. We went during spring break of '02 & '04 and thought the crowds were very manageable. We swam everyday both years and went to water parks 3 days. I do think the weather can be unpredictable during that time. We always pack some jackets and a couple of pairs of jeans. We did e-ride night in '02 and wore light windbreakers and our arrival night in '04 was quite chilly. We are typically there about 9 days and have only seen 1 day of rain in the 2 years combined.

 

[loribell]

My plan at this point is to arrive March 11th and fly home on the evening of the 22nd. We may spend the night of the 20th & 21st at a Universal hotel but I'm not totally sure if I want to or not. I'm afraid that won't be enough Disney time especially if the weather is good enough to go to the water parks.

Thanks for the info.

Lori

 

[colleen costello]

Loribell, we always go at this time, because our spring break always includes St Patty's day. I feel it is a perfect time to travel. The weather is usually really nice and the crowds aren't too bad because it is a little early, before many have their spring holiday. This past year the weather was crazy. Some days were only sixty degress and some were eighty, one day poured rain and one day there was a tornado watch! It was an exception, though, to all the other March trips, where the weather was PERFECT every day. It is usually warm enough to swim but not too hot for the parks -- just right!

Best part? You get down there and everything is in gorgeous color, and the azeleas are blooming and it smells like flowers -- while back home it is gray WINTER! We LOVE spring break at WDW!

 

[slp87]

Best part? You get down there and everything is in gorgeous color, and the azeleas are blooming and it smells like flowers -- while back home it is gray WINTER! We LOVE spring break at WDW!

It's so funny you mentioned this Colleen because as soon as we got off the plane last year my DD said how green everything was. West Texas is still seeing brown at that of the year and I agree that the greenery/flowers is one of the best parts!

 

[loribell]

Thanks Colleen. It is sounding better and better. Pretty colors, nice enough to swim, not to hot to be in the parks, and not nearly as crowded as the summer months.

Now I just have to remember to call and make those ressies.

Lori

 

[dizplanner]

We are going to be there the same time. I was able to get a OKW Grand Villa at 7 months (and not day by day). We will be arriving Sat Mar 11 and staying in 3 studios for one night (don't have enough points to do the GV on weekend) and then moving to GV for Sun through Thus nights. We are then moving to Universal (Hard Rock Hotel) for two nights before going home. Our extended family will be spending one more night at Disney and going home a day earlier than my family (and having a couple of days with just my family is a good idea I think).

We went the same week in 2004. Nights can get a bit chilly, but we spent a day at the water park (warm, but overcast - the rain started that night - kept the crowds away). The rained one evening and the next morning, but that was it (also kept crowds down at MK). Only day crowds were an issue was at MGM and since it was our last park day, we just worked with it. Only thing we missed that we wanted to do was Who Wants to be a Millionaire - always got the timing wrong for the shows that day.

Other than the one day of rain, weather was good - nice, but not too hot.

Only con to March is prices - airfare is more expensive, rental cars are more expensive, hotels are more expensive, etc.