March at Disney World

March at Disney World kicks off the start of the busy Spring Break season. Typically, the first week of March will have the lowest crowds (and the best chance for cooler temps), but the further into the month you go, the busier it will get.

Here’s what you need to know:

Is March a good time to visit Walt Disney World?

Are there Spring Break crowds at Disney World during March? Yes. But will that ruin your trip? Not if you have a plan.

There are so many reasons to absolutely love Disney World during March. Here are some of our favorites:

Why we love March at Disney World

• One of the highlights of the year – the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival kicks off in March. We promise that Epcot never looks more lovely than it does during this festival.
• The weather in March at Disney World starts to really heat up – but it isn’t usually so hot that you’ll feel miserable. And for most people, it is warm enough that swimming will feel good!
• Because the parks are often busier during Spring Break, you’ll often find the operating hours for the parks to be longer than what you’d find during the slower season.
• By March, most of the seasonal refurbishments are done, meaning everything (or nearly everything) is open.

But while there is lots to love about March at Disney World, there are a few things that you need to know:

• Spring Break crowds can be intense, so you definitely can’t just wing it. Make sure you have a plan so that you aren’t spending all your time in line.
• Sometimes Easter falls in March. When that happens, expect the crowds around the holiday to be extra heavy.
• Although the temps in March aren’t nearly what you’ll find in July, there is still the chance that you’ll run into some days that are downright hot. Plus, rain chances really pick up in March, too.

Is Disney World busy in March?

The first week of March typically has the lowest crowds, but after that things really pick up – especially if Easter happens to fall in March.

During busier times of the year, Disney does try to improve guest experiences by doing a few things to help keep the lines down. Although they never officially announce anything, these are the things that we’ve noticed that do help:

• Expanded capacity at attractions. Some attractions (like Space Mountain or Toy Story Mania, for example) have multiple “sides”, and during busier times of the year, Disney will operate both sides, which helps keep those wait times down (a little bit).
• Staffing. When the crowds are heavier, Disney increases their staffing levels across the entire resort. That means more staff at restaurants, at Guest Services, working security and transportation, etc.
• Fewer refurbishments. Whenever anything is closed (either for a refurbishment or even if an attraction simply goes down), all those people who may have been in line are now out in the park or waiting in line for a different attraction. Disney aims to complete as many major, scheduled refurbishment projects as possible by March. Yes, some things may still be refurbished during this time – but if at all possible, they try to get as many things done before the heavy Spring Break crowds arrive.

Although Disney can make adjustments to keep the lines manageable, they can’t control just how busy the parks look and feel. During busier times of the year like March, walkways and paths in the parks may be full, Quick Service locations remain busy for longer, and the crowds for nighttime shows will be heavier.

We don’t tell you that to scare you, but to prepare you. March is not the time of year to just wing it. Spending even just a few minutes on a plan for your Disney World trip will make all the difference.

Here are the dates we are predicting will be the busiest in March:

• March 10-12 – heavy crowds due to the UCA International All Star Championship
• March 13-26 – heavy Spring Break crowds
• March 27-31 – moderate crowds return for a few days before things pick up again in April

Planning for Disney World in March

PARK HOURS | PRICES & DISCOUNTS | SPECIAL EVENTS | WEATHER | WHAT TO WEAR | REFURBISHMENTS & CLOSURES | WHAT’S NEW | TIPS

Park Hours

Disney publishes its park hours about 75 days in advance, but those hours can (and very often do) change.

Note: This used to be about 180 days in advance, but since the reopening, they have transitioned to a roughly 75-day window.

As the dates get closer, it isn’t unusual for Disney to tweak either the opening or closing times. And during especially busy times of the year, they may change both.

That means to avoid having your plans sidetracked, you’ll definitely want to keep checking the park hours – including while on your trip.

When it comes to park hours – in general – the heavier the crowds, the longer the parks will be open during the day. Of course, that also means that the parks will be open fewer hours of the day during less busy times of the years.

In March, that means that you’ll typically find the parks open longer over Spring Break. And, if Easter happens to fall during March when you are traveling, expect longer hours around then, too.

Read More:

• Guide to Magic Kingdom Park Hours
• Guide to Epcot Park Hours
• Guide to Hollywood Studios Park Hours
• Guide to Animal Kingdom Park Hours

Prices and Discounts

If you are looking for a good deal, early March is a pretty good time to find one.

It isn’t unheard of to see discounts later in the month; however, the inventory may be more limited than during less busy times of the year.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Epcot International Flower And Garden Festival

Epcot never looks more lovely than during the Flower and Garden Festival, which means March is the perfect time for a visit to this iconic park. 

Taking place in the spring and early summer, this festival brings dozens of larger-than-life topiaries as well as plenty of food and drink options inspired by all things garden fresh.

Easter

Depending on the year, Easter sometimes falls in March and while there isn’t a lot of stuff that takes place, there are a few worth mentioning (like the Easter Egg displays!).

Even though it’s not as big of a celebration in the parks, there are special ways Disney World celebrates Easter.

50th Anniversary Celebration

Walt Disney World is celebrating 50 years!

Extending all the way from October 1, 2021 until April 1, 2023, this celebration will offer guests the opportunities for new experiences, entertainment, and of course merchandise and treats.

Weather

March brings with it plenty of opportunities for shorts as well as some chances for chilly temps.

You can expect for the temps to range from lows in the upper 50s to highs in the upper 70s, but remember – those are just averages.

It isn’t unusual to see those lows dip into the upper 40s and the highs especially by the end of the month to climb to the near 90s.

While not as necessary as in January and February, we still recommend you plan on layers for March, especially if you come from a warm climate.

And, don’t forget about the rain.

March typically sees more rain, so come prepared with multiple pairs of shoes, ponchos, and umbrellas just in case.

Can you swim in March?

Yes, you can!

The good news is that the pools across the resort are heated. In addition, at least one of Disney’s 2 water parks is also typically open in March.

The beginning of the month might be a bit chilly, but guests from colder climates report that swimming in March isn’t bad at all, especially the further into the month you go. And, in most instances, by the end of the month the thought of a pool will sound delightful after a long day in the parks.

If swimming is a must-do, and you are worried about the temps, your best bet is to give it a go during the middle of the day when the air temperatures are the highest.

Note: during especially cold stretches, Disney will close the pools and water parks.

What to wear

When packing for Disney World in March, we still think layers are your best bet.

The mornings and evenings may be chilly, but you may find that short sleeves will work just fine during the middle of the day.

We recommend you pack and wear things you can easily take off and put back on.

This is especially true if you’re planning to dine indoors, and in fact we keep a light jacket in our park bag for just those occasions.

Even when the temps outside are hot, the restaurants and even some attractions can be chilly, so plan accordingly if you’re the type of person that gets easily chilled.

Refurbishments and Closures

Most of the routine refurbishments are wrapping up in March; however, you’ll likely still find a few things unavailable.

Water Parks

Over the winter, Disney typically closes Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon (one at a time) for refurbishment.

These scheduled closings typically take place between the end of October and mid-March.

Make sure you check the calendar below to see what park will be open during your visit.

What’s new?​

At this time, no major new attraction, restaurant, or show is scheduled to open in March.

Tips for Disney World in March

• Layers, layers, layers. The weather can fluctuate greatly, so make sure you pack things you can take off and put on easily.
• Keep checking for discounts. Even if you’ve already booked, discounts can still be applied.
• If Easter falls during March, expect even heavier-than-average Spring Break crowds. 

What order should you visit the parks?

Depending on the length of your trip, here’s how many days we recommend for each park:

When it comes time to decide which days are best for each park, here are some general things to keep in mind:

• Hollywood Studios is consistently the first park to reach capacity, primarily because of popular attractions like Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash.
• Magic Kingdom is the most popular park overall. It is also the park most first-time visitors think of when they think “Disney World”. Saturdays are the busiest, with mid-week typically the least busy.
• Epcot hosts nearly year-round festivals, and those festivals are popular with both out-of-state visitors as well as with locals. And, since a lot of what the festivals are famous for are alcohol and food, the areas around the Festival Booths can be a lot busier (and a bit rowdier) than what you’d find during the daytime hours on the weekdays. If that isn’t the vibe you are looking for, you may want to skip Epcot during the nighttime on Friday and Saturdays.
• Even with the new Park Pass system, Animal Kingdom remains one of the “easiest” parks to fit into a trip. You should be able to plug it in wherever it makes the most sense for you.

How our Crowd Calendars Work

1. For each day of the month, we tell you on a scale of 1-10 how busy the entire Walt Disney World Resort is when compared to other days of the year.

2. Then, for each park, you’ll see the park hours and any special events that are planned.

3. We also track refurbishments and closings (which you can toggle on and off).

4. We have a handy feature that allows you to automatically add your Advanced Dining Reservation date to your calendar.

5. And, one of the most useful features is the ability to be able to print the calendar so that you can have a paper copy for planning (or to just use as a backup).

March Crowd Calendar