When to do HS in early March

[francoAlbertan]

Hi all,

This is my first post on the boards and I hugely appreciate all the great advice on here. I'm taking the fam for our first ever trip to Disney World from March 4-9. We're planning one half-day to sleep in, but to try and be pretty park-focused the rest of the time.

I was thinking we'd go to HS for a half day on the 7th (a Saturday) and then rope drop it during early morning hours on the 8th. That way we'll get in some good fastpasses and the evening show the first night, and then just wrap up anything else we wanted on the second early morning.

Trip would look like this:
4- arrival and MK with early finish
5- AK full day
6- MK full day
7- late start at HS
8- HS full day
9- Epcot full day

But, after reading about crowds on touringplans.com, I'm worried that the big Spring Break crowds will start to arrive on the 7th... so I wonder if I should change my full day at HS to earlier in the trip. With ROTR a big hit and the new mickey train ride opening just before we arrive, I dunno if we're better to go closer to the new ride opening or risk the spring break crowds that weekend of the 7th.

Alternative would look like this:
4- arrival and MK with early finish
5- HS full day
6- MK full day
7- late start at HS
8- AK
9- Epcot

Appreciate any advice folks have got!

Merci!

 

[yorkieteacher]

We'll be there March 2-6. I'm thinking the crowds will affect the Galaxy's Edge attractions for sure beginning around the 6th, but there will probably be large crowds of locals and bloggers/vloggers at HS on March 4th, opening day of Runaway Railway. Who knows what that ride will bring at this point? I have wondered if they would even do some sort of "boarding groups" like they are doing for Rise of the Resistance, which sounds like is working out fairly well, and to me is certainly better than waiting in a three hour line. It doesn't look like there will be any change to fast pass tiers for March at this point. If you do Galaxy's Edge rides on the 5th (and you will need to sign up for a boarding group first thing in the morning!) you could see how RR is looking, and maybe try to ride it just before closing on the 7th. I wouldn't change anything trying to anticipate how crowds will be because you never can be sure.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

I agree with the pp that it’s really hard to know when crowds are going to show up. With all the new attractions opening things are always changing. One other variable to try to consider is the ability to get FPs. If you’re staying on site and are interested in SDD then how you have it may be the better approach since it’s hard to get FPs for SDD earlier in your trip.

 

[Wosmama6]

I'm going around the same time and struggling with the same stuff. We may just do HS march 3 and miss mmrr. But touring plans crowd calendars for that week are still pre-mmrr announcement and rotr opening numbers... I suspect when they update beginning of jan the 4 days will be 8s at best for HS.

 

[gharter]

The later you go in March, the larger the Spring Break crowds.
The colleges across the US stagger their Spring Breaks so it covers the end most of March and a little of April.
Just expect it to be crowded and anything less is a bonus.

 

[francoAlbertan]

Thanks for the advice all.

I've been looking into it further, and was about to move my full HS day up to avoid the spring break crowds... but I've since read more about fastpass availability, and geez! It looks like at 61 days out slinky dog will be all booked! Given that, I'll probably stick with the plan and leave HS later. My kids are young, so really excited about SDD, and I don't want to sit in standby.

There's always something! First I was wondering spring break vs mickey's train ride opening crowds... now I'm going with FP FP availability over spring break crowds... lol.

 

[NoraRose]

Thanks for the advice all.

I've been looking into it further, and was about to move my full HS day up to avoid the spring break crowds... but I've since read more about fastpass availability, and geez! It looks like at 61 days out slinky dog will be all booked! Given that, I'll probably stick with the plan and leave HS later. My kids are young, so really excited about SDD, and I don't want to sit in standby.

There's always something! First I was wondering spring break vs mickey's train ride opening crowds... now I'm going with FP FP availability over spring break crowds... lol.

How do you check FastPass Availability? I’m going the same days and I have my fingers crossed that we will be able to get one for SDD!

 

[rpb718]

There's currently a separate thread talking about HS FP+ that mentions SDD needing 60+4 or 60+5 days out to be able to get a FP+.

 

[lucky978]

The crowd calendars that I have seen for my dates, which are March 7-12, are showing a 5 out of 10 level. So...not too bad (I hope it's true). I think the later you get into March, the larger the crowds.

 

[Wosmama6]

The crowd calendars that I have seen for my dates, which are March 7-12, are showing a 5 out of 10 level. So...not too bad (I hope it's true). I think the later you get into March, the larger the crowds.

I have a sinking feeling they are going up up up when TP releases their jan update.

 

[GovieMom]

According to the most reliable crowd prediction site I use, the entire month of March will have heavy (to insane level) crowds. Sadly there is no escaping it, particularly at DHS.

 

[Wosmama6]

According to the most reliable crowd prediction site I use, the entire month of March will have heavy (to insane level) crowds. Sadly there is no escaping it, particularly at DHS.

Which site

 

[disneyseniors]

I use Kenny the Pirates daily crowd calender. He marks the heavy crowded park, median park, low crowd or best park of the day. I have used it for a while and found it to be pretty accurate. At least as accurate as any can be at this time! I like that it shows daily hours, extra magic or special events. I use this to plan my days. And we are going to be there at that time too I know that hs will be crowded no matter what, but we love TOT and toy story land, and are not interested in SWGE.

 

[Wosmama6]

I use Kenny the Pirates daily crowd calender. He marks the heavy crowded park, median park, low crowd or best park of the day. I have used it for a while and found it to be pretty accurate. At least as accurate as any can be at this time! I like that it shows daily hours, extra magic or special events. I use this to plan my days. And we are going to be there at that time too I know that hs will be crowded no matter what, but we love TOT and toy story land, and are not interested in SWGE.

I do a combo of ktp and touring plans, we shall see how it pans out

 

[GovieMom]

Which site

Kenny the Pirate