If you’re planning on visiting Disneyland in March, be prepared for big crowds and long lines — unless you go on the right days.
The month of March at the Disneyland Resort is a relatively busy time. After a mostly quiet January and February, the increasingly-shorter “off-season” at the parks comes to an end in March as the Spring Break season takes over. If you know when to go though, you can avoid the big crowds and take advantage of a more manageable experience. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in March.
Here are the Best and Worst Days to Go to Disneyland in March:
| Best & Worst Days | Crowd Forecast |
|---|---|
| BEST DAYS | |
| TUESDAYS (first or second week) | Mid-week at the beginning of the month is the best time to go to avoid the Spring Break season crowds |
| WEDNESDAYS (first or second week) | Check Calendar for best dates |
| THURSDAYS (first or second week) | Check Calendar for best dates |
| WORST DAYS | |
| Starting Mid-March | Mid-March is when the Spring Break season crowds start arriving. Check Calendar for best dates |
| Last week of March | This is usually peak Spring Break season. Many schools are out of session at the end of the month, so avoid this week if you can |
Disneyland Crowd Calendar
Mondays and Fridays on the first or second weeks of the month are also usually manageable. Keep in mind that crowds on Fridays tend to pick up in the afternoon/evening, though.
If you must go during the Spring Break season, check the Crowd Calendar for the best dates to go.
Crowds/Attendance in March
“Ghost Town” days at Disneyland in March are unfortunately hard to come by. Before you book that trip, be sure to check out the Disneyland Crowd Forecast Calendar for the best days to go. In general, it’s best to go early in the month to avoid the bulk of the Spring Break season crowds, which tend to get worse toward the end of March.
Here are some things to keep in mind when visiting Disneyland in March:
1. The earlier you go in March, the better
There’s still time to catch the tail-end of the “off-season” at Disneyland if you go early in March. The first two weeks of the month are most manageable, so try to go then if you can. Mid-week (Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday) is historically least crowded.
2. Spring Break starts in mid-March
The Spring Break season crowds at Disneyland usually start arriving in mid-March as some schools (mostly from out of state) start going out of session for their Spring Break. In you must go then, we recommend going on the third week of the month rather than the fourth since more schools will be out toward the end of March.
3. Avoid the last week of March!
By the last week of March, peak Spring Break season crowds are out in force. Many of the big school districts in the area have their Spring Break toward the end of the month, so attendance is usually higher then. We recommend avoiding this week if you can — or waiting until the Spring Break season crowds start to die down in April.
Lines/Wait Times in March
Unless you’re visiting Disneyland at the beginning of March, plan on moderate-to-high waits for the rides (depending on when you go).
Weekdays on the first two weeks of the month are historically most manageable, with 20-30min waits on average. By mid-March, the Spring Break season crowds usually tick up the lines to around 30-60min. If you’re going on the last week of March (peak Spring Break), be prepared for 60+min waits on average.
Keep in mind that the wait times are just about always shorter in the morning, so try to arrive at the parks early (at opening if possible) to take advantage of them.
Weather in March
The crowds and lines at Disneyland in March may not be ideal sometimes, but the weather is usually quite pleasant throughout the month. Expect mostly sunny weather and temperatures in the 70°s to low 80°s on average.
Have you been to Disneyland in March? What was your experience like? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!
Image: alc_chris