March or September?

[homer424]

If you had the choice, would you go to WDW in March or September? We had orginally planned to take our trip to WDW in March of next year (from the 2nd through the 7th). Now I am reading a lot of posts about how empty the parks are this time of year and I am wondering if next September would be better than March-especially since this will be my DH's first trip with us and he can be a cynical lad and will be looking for problems with it all and less crowds might make an easier trip. (Truth be told, he will probably find something wrong even if no one is in the park and we have carte blanche to everything-:hammer:LOL) Anyway, I am aiming for March purely because I want to go ASAP-LOL-but which would you chose? thanks

Donna

 

[Fievel]

Spring breaks and early college breaks start in March, so I'd shoot for September...

 

[SpongeScott]

September. Not even a close choice.

 

[gjpjtj]

We were there the last week of Feb, first week of march this year. Although the wait times were generally about a half an hour for all (except TT), I'm hoping for better than that when we go next week. I'll let you know.

 

[hellokitty1]

If you choose septemeber check weather regulary as it is
hurricane season and you may get wet!
WE WENt in march this year and it really was not too bad.
your spring break sounds early compared to most!

 

[Fievel]

Originally posted by hellokitty1
If you choose septemeber check weather regulary as it is
hurricane season and you may get wet!
WE WENt in march this year and it really was not too bad.
your spring break sounds early compared to most!

Well March is pretty early for spring break, but it's not unheard of.....I never had it that early, but I thought I'd throw it out there as a possiblity.

I have been there both times of year. I refuse to go anytime but september now because the crowds are virtually not existant.

 

[mwitkus]

Fall is my favorite time in Disney. My hubby and I usually go annywhere from September to early November and have a great time, we haven't had 1 day of rain, and the lines have always been minimal. I wouldn't even consider going in the spring when there are more lines, it tends to be a bit hotter and as someone else already mentioned, spring break is happening. (My family went in the spring when I was a child and I can still remember the excessive hour+ lines, the intense heat and just not having the same experience...)

Definitely go in the fall if you can.

 

[DDPGambit]

I live in north Texas, and we have spring break early in March. For the public schools, it starts on March 8th. This is like, 2 or 3 of the school districts up here, and they are quite large.
I went to WDW once in March, back in 2001, and the crowds were not that bad. But, yeah, September is a much better time to go crowd wise.

 

[Tiggerish]

I have been there at both times of year and preferred March for the better weather. You shouldn't encounter too many spring-breakers that early in the month--I was there that same week a couple of years ago, and it was one of the most enjoyable trips we ever made to WDW.

For autumn visits, I prefer November--you get the benefit of the nice weather (not very hot, little or no rain) AND the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, which is a terrific experience!

 

[Maria]

Originally posted by Tiggerish
I have been there at both times of year and preferred March for the better weather. You shouldn't encounter too many spring-breakers that early in the month--I was there that same week a couple of years ago, and it was one of the most enjoyable trips we ever made to WDW.

For autumn visits, I prefer November--you get the benefit of the nice weather (not very hot, little or no rain) AND the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, which is a terrific experience!

I agree with Tiggerish. As long as your dates are not on Easter Holidays you will be better with March. You are going at the beginning of the month, earlier than most springbreakers too. The weather is nice, it doesn´t rain as it does in September, and it´s still sunny for a tan and water parks. Plus... you don´t have to wait a whole year!

 

[yensid354]

March or September

Early March avoids most of the spring break crowds, weather is generally pleasant, daytime temps in the 70's to 80's without the oppressive humidity or hurricane threat in September.


I've been in March and September. March is generally more pleasant weather and less crowds.

September has the opportunity for oppressive heat and humidity in the early part of the month, and the daily threat of thunderstorms and/or hurricane and tropical storm rains/winds in Mid to late September.

I'd vote for March!

 

[Worldphile]

I went once in September. While the crowds are pretty much non-existant, there are some serious negatives for me personally.

First, it is hurricane season. The one time we were there was for Hurricane Floyd.

Second, since the crowds are at their lowest, WDW will schedule rehabs of popular attractions for that time period (e.g. Haunted Mansion this month, Splash Mountain the year we were there) so you run the risk of soem good rides being closed.

Finally, the strangest thing for me was that the MK closed before the sun set. I had never experienced that before and it was kind of a drag. No fireworks, no night time parade, etc. Plus, I couldn't shake this feeling that because it was still light out, I should be going on more rides, not leaving the park.

 

[homer424]

Thanks guys! I appreciate all the feedback. You have given us a lot to think about. I was talking to my DH and since my grandmother lives about 2 hours away from Orlando, we could probably make a trip to granny's in both March and September then have a shorter WDW visit both times That is still in the "thinking stages" though.

Wordphile-I can't imagine being stuck there with Hurricane Floyd! I lived 10 minutes from where it flooded severely in NJ and I heard it was 10 times worse down there!

Thanks again

Donna

 

[Maria]

Originally posted by homer424
Wordphile-I can't imagine being stuck there with Hurricane Floyd! I lived 10 minutes from where it flooded severely in NJ and I heard it was 10 times worse down there!

Thanks again

Donna

Was Hurricane Floyd the one in September 99 when the parks closed for the first time?
If so, I was there! I was actually working that day and was sent home at noon because the parks were closing. To be honest with you, it was only rain and somewhat strong winds. I stayed home watching the rain, that was seriously, not that bad. I´ve seen stronger ones in Orlando before that day. International cast members were "trapped" in the apartment complex and were playing soccer under the rain.
Maybe because I have experienced many thunderstorsm and Hurrican Gilbert in my city I´m not that easy to impress, but honestly, it was not bad at all. It was merely for precautions that the parks closed. :animwink:

Lucky you who are going twice now!! :sohappy: :animwink:

 

[Worldphile]

Yes. Hurricane Floyd was in Sept. 99 and was the first time the parks closed due to weather.

Floyd ended up being not much, but at one point, NOAA was predicting 150 mph winds on Disney property. The eye of Floyd was to track directly over Orlando.

That's why there was so much preparation and concern.

In the end though, the main part of the storm stayed out to sea and there was only light damage.

 

[homer424]

Originally posted by Maria


Was Hurricane Floyd the one in September 99 when the parks closed for the first time?

Lucky you who are going twice now!! :sohappy: :animwink:

Yes that was the one! I was 7 months pregnant and I was on bedrest for preterm labor and the only way to our closest hospital was flooded under 10 feet of water and a lot of the major roadways around us were shut down to our area. Oh boy, what a freaked out pregnant lady I was! LOL Actually we were able to joke about it and I went full term anyway!

I am so excited at the prospect of going twice in a few months! I am surprised because DH suggested it! Weird...he must have been body snatched on the way home yesterday from work-LOL

Donna