We are coming back :)

[minneylovesmicky]

Booked today to return in March 2017.

Can anyone tell me what Disneland in March is like. I.e busy, quiet, is the Paint the night parade just for the 60th anniversary, what is St Patrick's day like?

Thanks for any Info given

 

[Skiton]

I would imagine super-crowded if your visit falls within typical spring break weeks. Where we live that's typically the last two weeks in March.

 

[minneylovesmicky]

Thanks for the response, will be March 9th till the 18th.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

You will be during spring break season and competition season so I would expect busy. You will probably see cheerleaders, dance teams, etc. in the parks as well as many families on break from school. The weather can be cool and occasionally rainy to more likely warm and sunny. Other than the possibility of offering up some special green colored treats at the candy shops and maybe a few other random food items through the parks, Disneyland doesn't do anything for St. Patrick's Day. I suspect there may be special menus and/or events at one or more of the downtown Disney restaurants.

Paint the Night was advertised as a special nighttime parade for the 60th. There has been no official word about whether the parade will continue after the celebration ends. I hope it does.

 

[figment_jii]

As others have said, you'll probably be there right at the start of the Spring Break season. Easter is late in 2017 (April 16) and while not all school districts base their Spring Breaks on Easter a fair number still do (e.g., LAUSD). There is also the Natural Product Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center (March 10-12, 2017), which means the area hotels might be impacted. Conventions, in general, do not necessarily mean large crowds in the parks, but Natural Product Expo is very large and it's been mentioned in the past as one that really impacts area hotels. So it's something to keep in mind as you make hotel/motel reservations. Lastly, as mentioned, there is also usually a large number of Cheer Competition in March. There impact is variable, but most guests have reported noticing cheer groups in the parks during competition/workshop weekends. There is a chance that the first part of your trip is before DLR goes to their Spring Break season schedule, which may mean shorter park hours and reduced entertainment (on weekdays). It's too early to know at this point what the schedules will be (the operating calendar is posted 45-days/6-weeks in advance).

Paint the Night (and Disneyland Forever and WoC: Celebrate) debuted as part of the 60th Anniversary Celebration. Given Disney's track record with successful/popular parades/shows, I be stunned if PtN ends with the end of the 60th Celebration. Disney usually presents the same parade for years (e.g., Soundsational debuted in 2011 and it's still being presented). So, I'm hopeful that PtN and Disneyland Forever will be presented beyond the end of the 60th Celebration.

In terms of St. Patrick's Day...I was there this year and the parks themselves do not do much. There are a few treats (e.g., candies, caramel apples, marshmallow wands) available inside the parks and some merchandise (e.g., plush Mickey, pin), but that was about it. Some of the restaurants in DTD had special St. Patrick's Day menus (some for only that day, others for the week). The Parks Blog had a post announcing the DTD offerings a few days in advance. There were a lot of guests wearing green in the parks on St. Patrick's Day (and some festive hats), but that was about it.

 

[tarheelalum]

Very busy.

 

[minneylovesmicky]

Thanks, I am taking my daughter back for a birthday surprise trip. Least we know what to expect.
Thanks again

 

[Cal-Pie]

We just spent March 5-11 in the parks. It was moderately busy, but very manageable. As figment mentioned, the Natural Products Expo definitely increases crowds (mostly convention goers using twilight tickets) and even more so increases hotel rates, so book early.

 

[minneylovesmicky]

We booked day before yesterday. We were wondering what was happening, as it was hard to find accommodation, we did get some and it is resonably close, within walking distance.

 

[samserena]

This may be a silly question, but where did you book via? We normally book through the Disneyland website (is there somewhere better?!) and it only had the option to price vacations through to December this year.

 

[minneylovesmicky]

This may be a silly question, but where did you book via? We normally book through the Disneyland website (is there somewhere better?!) and it only had the option to price vacations through to December this year.

Hi, not a silly question at all. We booked through our local Flight Centre, not sure if it is any better, as I have only ever used flight centre. We found there was lots of accommodations booked out, so if you want March 2017, I would book sooner rather than later.

 

[AussieCaribou]

samserena, we generally book our flights through Flight Centre (or one of the like...depends on who's able to do the best offer and who's at the travel show if we go there). Then for our hotel/ticket/transfer and so on, we contact one of the Disney specialist travel agents (happy to tell you who if you pm). I find that the 'offers' over here are always $100's more than the US offers even with the general exchange issues (though our Oct trip is a push). The thing to remember when going through a US site is that they can only offer 5 day passes where we can get 10 day passes here (though why not go for an annual pass that that point and get the discounts?).

The reason I like the US TAs is that they can often change your reservations to get better deals as your date comes closer. My 2005 WDW, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland extravaganza was rebooked two or three times and ended up being nearly $1000 less for the exact same thing...

 

[samserena]

samserena, we generally book our flights through Flight Centre (or one of the like...depends on who's able to do the best offer and who's at the travel show if we go there). Then for our hotel/ticket/transfer and so on, we contact one of the Disney specialist travel agents (happy to tell you who if you pm). I find that the 'offers' over here are always $100's more than the US offers even with the general exchange issues (though our Oct trip is a push). The thing to remember when going through a US site is that they can only offer 5 day passes where we can get 10 day passes here (though why not go for an annual pass that that point and get the discounts?).

The reason I like the US TAs is that they can often change your reservations to get better deals as your date comes closer. My 2005 WDW, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland extravaganza was rebooked two or three times and ended up being nearly $1000 less for the exact same thing...

That's amazing AussieCaribou! Can't believe US TAs can do that!

Will pm you!