Please Help-March/November???

[pumpkinjl]

Background: We will be a party of 5. When we leave, my two girls will be 3.5 and 6.5. They have been to Disney World twice: Christmas 2011 and 2012. We want something a little different this year. We will be staying at the Port Orleans - Riverside. We are early birds and do not like to stay out late except for the fireworks.

We are trying to decide between two sets of dates:
March 2-7, 2014 OR November 22-27, 2014

Please give me your opinion and/or the pros and cons for each (weather, closures, openings, crowds, atmosphere, etc.) If we go in November, we would go to MVMCP (we have been before). We understand crowds- We have been at Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day!

Thank you for any help!!!

 

[Spacedog1975]

Your November dates are definitely still Christmas season, so I don't know how different it will be.
March will surely be different, but I've only ever been in August/September/November/December. so I can't offer direct advice.

My best guess is that Mine Train **might** Be open by March of next year, but should definitely be open (barring unforseen circumstances) by November.

 

[AJDisney1967]

I would agree that November dates will be same as your December dates in past.The March dates could be very nice as crowds will be smaller and weather is usually cooler with not much rain.The March dates are kinda in between settings in parks for atmosphere as it is right before spring break and right after holidays.

 

[skier_pete]

just so you know, this is sort of posted in the wrong forum. It might be moved by a moderator.

However, I don't much care and I'll still answer your question.

your November dates (22-27th) fall during Thanksgiving week, with the 27th being thanksgiving itself. Because of that, there will be NO MVMCP during that timeframe. (They don't do it during the holiday week.) Crowds will be pretty bad, but not Christmas bad.

Of the two dates, I would pick early March. If you've already been to Christmas twice, I would want to check out the parks without the crowds and the decorations. The first week of March should still be fairly uncrowded, with Spring Break crowds usually not coming in until mid-month. Wheather could be a little bit iffy, but I would think late-November early-March would be roughly the same (both better than end of December).

You would also be more likely to catch the new Mine train ride being open in March. You will also have more hours of daylight in March than in November.

 

[pumpkinjl]

just so you know, this is sort of posted in the wrong forum. It might be moved

I realized that as soon as I hit post,
but I do not know how to remove it. I'm so sorry. Thank you for your reply!!

 

[skier_pete]

but I do not know how to remove it. I'm so sorry.

Not a big deal at all to me, I am not trying to be a thread Nazi or anything. Just thought I would mention it for any future posts you might make.

There really isn't any way for you to move/remove it. you could ask a moderate to move it. You would probably get more responses in the "theme parks and strategies" section anyways, as most people don't read the rumors section regularly.

 

[jadelane1]

I would go with March but would check when the cheerleaders are there. That was a little much for us last year. If they are then I would reconsider November. Hope this helps

 

[uponastar8]

The past two years I have gone those same dates. The crowds have been non-existent in Disney terms- walked on to many rides at different parks. ADR are also easier to get.

Can be a little cold in the mornings, but this helps keep the crowds out until later in the day.

Agree that the cheerleading championships fall around this time.. they can crowd up the transportation system.

 

[speedyf]

Also...Mardi Gras is March 4th next year...so, you will be surrounded by people wearing Saints and LSU apparel.

I would definitely go in March. The crowds are usually not too bad from Mardi Gras people. It's when you combine that with something else (cheerleading, President's week, etc) that it gets crowded.

The beginning of Thanksgiving week is usually not bad, but it will get crowded on the Wednesday through Sunday.

Since you mentioned these dates, I'm thinking you may be from Louisiana or somewhere close with Mardi Gras holidays for the kids. If you are flying, check rates on flights from New Orleans to Tampa. During Mardi Gras week, the flights are always expensive into Orlando, but I've done pretty well flying into Tampa. The drive is about an hour from Tampa. I sometimes rent a car from Alamo or National one way from Tampa and return it at the Dolphin the next morning on our way to the parks. I then rent it one way back from the Dolphin to Tampa.

Speed

 

[momof2n2]

as most people don't read the rumors section regularly.

Really?
It's the first one I check!