NEED HELP mid-March trip?

[DisneyPrincess5]

Hi everyone :wave:

We need opinions and who better to turn to then you!

We're thinking about switching our trip we have booked currently for January 12-20 to the 2nd or 3rd week in March 2010.

Is it really all that crowded in the parks/resorts/rides? (we've been during Marathon Weekend and we managed just fine.)
Will it be more expensive than going in mid-January?
What is the weather like? I never trust "historic" temps...what have you experienced in regards to mid-March weather?


What are your general opinions? Should we go for it or stick with January?

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[DisneyJoe]

Will it be more expensive than going in mid-January?

Most definitely! January is value season, March is peak.

For example, value resort standard rooms cost $82/night plus tax in value season, $125/weekday night and $135/weekend night in Peak season.....

 

[fosse76]

Most definitely! January is value season, March is peak.

For example, value resort standard rooms cost $82/night plus tax in value season, $125/weekday night and $135/weekend night in Peak season.....

I went in mid-January this year and again the second week of March this year. Crowd-wise it seemed less crowded in March. Price-wise I paid the same...they were offering value season rates for March if you travelled Sunday through Thursday. But I also stayed a day shorter so it definitely is more expensive to go in March (though, I had a discount offering $50 per night at a Value for my January trip).

So in conclusion, stick with January...it'll be cheaper. Crowd-wise it probably won't matter too much.

 

[007mickey]

We're thinking about switching our trip we have booked currently for January 12-20 to the 2nd or 3rd week in March 2010.

Is it really all that crowded in the parks/resorts/rides?

That 3rd week could spell large crowds, just ask people this year. The 3rd week may start to get you into several southern states spring break time. (I am willing to admit some of the crowd issues this year were brought on by the 4/3 deal in conjunction with spring break.) You probably noticed some talk last week on this website about extending park times, adding Spectromagic times, long wait times, etc. Spring breaks do change from year to year but I can tell you that our school system in central Ala. will have it's spring break in 2010 the week of March 15-19. Just some info for ya'.

 

[DznyGrlSD]

March 9-18th 2009 was my 1st, last and ONLY trip to WDW in March - it was just TOO busy!!

I'm used to going in May/September/1st week of December when it's dead.

 

[fosse76]

March 9-18th 2009 was my 1st, last and ONLY trip to WDW in March - it was just TOO busy!!

I'm used to going in May/September/1st week of December when it's dead.

Really? I was there March 8th-11th. It wasn't very crowded then. While some attractions did have lines at peak times during the day, I think the longest non-Toy Story Mania line I waited in was about 20 minutes. Even Toy Story Mania only had a 45 minute wait when I got in line at 11:30am. Perhaps it got more crwded the days after I left. But it was definitely less crowded than when I went January 12th-17th.

 

[Teddi]

I was there March 16th and 17th and the lines were longer than I've ever seen. We waited almost 2 hours for Splash Mountain, didn't get to ride RnR because the line was 100 minutes with no single rider line. Waited 90 minutes for Soarin' and Space Mountain. Bypassed an 80 minute line at Test Track by using the single riders line. It was 90 minutes for EE too, but some kind folks that were leaving gave us their Fastpasses because I had my birthday button on.

I even waited 30 minutes in line at AK to pick up my tickets at Will Call!
If it were my choice, I would definitely go in January. I know I was doing 2 parks per day for 2 days, but when I've done that in the past I've still been able to ride everything I wanted to. That was not the case at all last week.

All that said, it is Disney, so I'd rather go during "spring break" than not go at all for sure! There are just much more enjoyable times to visit.

 

[smk]

Really? I was there March 8th-11th. It wasn't very crowded then. While some attractions did have lines at peak times during the day, I think the longest non-Toy Story Mania line I waited in was about 20 minutes. Even Toy Story Mania only had a 45 minute wait when I got in line at 11:30am. Perhaps it got more crwded the days after I left. But it was definitely less crowded than when I went January 12th-17th.

I think early March is college spring break and those kids go to a warmer climate and usually a different country. Maybe late in March the high school and grade school spring breaks would cause the crowds to go up, who really knows? I have been in March and found it to be crowded and colder than January but whenever we are in Florida it is colder than normal, dumb luck or a curse, I haven't decided which. We were there one June and it was warmer in Indiana than in Orlando, not just one day or so but the whole week! Go figure.

To the OP, I would stick to January if it were me, couple of reasons.....it is closer to now than March of 2010 (I can't wait that long for a vacation) and the crowds might be less in January. Either way, you are going to Disney World, how bad can it be????

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Thanks so much for all the info everyone.

Ok, so my next question (and some one mentioned this) : Do you think the crowds were higher this year due to the 4/3 deal or is it busy that time every year??

 

[WRE4ever]

in my experience of working there for two years now plus going every year of my 22 year life ...id say that March is always pretty much crowded....crowds have fluctuated in the two years...but nothing ridiculously noticeable...because of spring break/ some senior high school trips....January can tend to be a lot less crowded...if u really want guaranteed smaller crowds I would go in Mid January as opposed to Mid March

Hope that Helps!

 

[DizneyPryncess]

I've gone every March for the past 8 years - and this past week was insane. Worst March I've experienced there crowd-wise except for when Easter fell the same week. I think the 4/7 night thing did have an impact. The weather was beautiful though - 80's all week! So that's a plus.

I would stick w/January just because it's such a down-time in crowds to go. Weather can be hit or miss but I think it's worth a shot just to know crowds will be at their lowest. If I could, I would move my week too :animwink: