Disneyland in March is a favorite time for many guests to visit Disneyland as they visit over Spring Break and locals turn out to see the Food & Wine Festival at Disney's California Adventure.
Every month at Disneyland has its pros and cons and this results in the most often trip planning question we get being: when should I visit Disneyland? First we recommend you read through our Disneyland crowd calendar to get an idea of which events occur seasonally and how this impacts crowd levels.
For now, we've got you covered for everything you need to know about visiting Disneyland in March including current events, what weather to expect, crowd level predictions, and what to pack!
Disneyland in March Events
Here you can find our list of all of the events impacting Disneyland in March and what there is to see!
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
The Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival will return to Disney's California Adventure on March 1 and run through April 22. The Food and Wine Festival features special festival food booths, cooking demonstrations, celebrity chefs, live music, and more. The celebrity chef offerings are some of the most popular events with this festival and sell out quickly! Take a look at some of our favorite Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival food items and tips.
Disneyland After Dark
The all-new Disneyland After Dark event Disney Channel Nite takes place on March 5 & 7 at Disneyland Park! The event will offer music, characters, high-energy parties, unique photo ops, and more. You can look forward to offerings like a “High School Musical” pep rally, a “Phineas and Ferb” dance party, “Camp Rock” karaoke, and more.
Discount Disneyland Tickets
Our favorite Disney-approved re-seller, Get Away Today, offers the best Disneyland discount tickets around. In addition to great discount prices, their customer service and easy support is absolutely fantastic. They have an entire department dedicated to making sure every order has a wonderful experience and they are on-call to help you during your vacation if you need them.
Buying tickets from Get Away Today is easy and convenient since all their tickets are sent electronically. You can take their vouchers and head straight to the gate without needing to wait in any ticket booth lines. They also offer layaway plans so you can pay off your vacation over time.
You can read my review on my personal experiences booking through Get Away Today and how much you can save here!
Disneyland in March Pros
Spring Break Season
One of the good things about visiting during a popular time of the year is that Disney will pull out all the stops when it comes to long operating hours, entertainment, and volumes of cast members to ensure the park is running smoothly. While you may hear the warning to ‘stay away!' during spring break you might find that it's not quite as bad as you'd expect!
Longer Operating Hours
You can expect to see operating hours getting longer with the parks open for an average of 10 hours a day on weekdays and 16 hours a day on weekends. Keep in mind that Daylight Savings Time also occurs in mid-March bringing with it a change in daylight hours.
Potential for Sunny Weather
The average temperature for Anaheim in March is a high of 72 degrees and a low of 50 degrees. On the days when the sun is shining it can easily feel like summer in the parks without the extreme heat that the summer months can bring. You might even feel warm enough to take on a water ride!
Disneyland in March Cons
Spring Break Season
Disneyland in March brings the beginning of spring break season at Disneyland which can bring with it large crowd levels especially on popular days of the week. Locals will also turn out in higher numbers for any new events in the park, such as the Magic Happens parade, which can also impact how packed the park may feel. If you have flexibility you can aim to travel the first week of the month to avoid the larger crush of spring break crowds.
The good news is that it's possible to navigate high crowds with ease at Disneyland if you arrive early and splurge on Genie+. Even on an extremely crowded day, being there 30 minutes before the park officially opens allows you to experience the park with smaller crowds. Those two or three hours before 11AM are the best- don't miss out.
It's always helpful to take a look at the blockout date calendar on Disney's website. But March is the time of year that Disney typically allows all their Magic Key holders in the park with limited block out dates for lower tier passes such as weekends.
Refurbishments
Since March is considered a slower time of year at Disneyland, despite spring break, this is a time that the resort likes to undergo any seasonal refurbishments on rides so it's common to see some rides go down during this time. You can check Disneyland's calendar before your visit to prepare yourself for which rides may not be open. Two common rides that commonly go under refurbishment in this time of year are Grizzly River Run and Splash Mountain.
Potential for Rain
Disneyland in March can bring with it a potential with rain as California can experience some unpredictable spring weather.
The park won't close if it rains but some outdoor rides may close during heavy rainfall. But there are benefits to experiencing rain at Disneyland because it can empty out the parks as many tourists will run back to their hotels. If you're prepared with rain gear you can experience the park with little to no waits for popular attractions!
What Should I Pack When Visiting Disneyland in March?
Ah, the eternal question springs up again! (See what I did there?) Visiting in the spring can bring with it the potential for unpredictable weather so it's best to be prepared!
First things first, always check the weather leading right up to your trip for the most up to date forecast. Because the weather can vary between sunshine and rain you might to make sure you dress in layers. You also know yourself best, if you don't handle hot weather well then bring clothes that will make you feel most comfortable! It's always best to have more of what you need than not enough.
The biggest mistake guests make in packing for Disneyland in March? Not bringing the rain gear! A rainy day at Disneyland has the potential for being the best day because the crowds empty out when it rains! If you're prepared with a good rain coat and rain boots, you can have the time of your life and enjoy many rides with no wait times. While the rainy season may be coming to a close in March it's still better to arrive prepared.
You can read our giant packing list here to make sure you show up prepared for literally anything you need while you're visiting Disneyland.
Disneyland in March Tips
Here are a few tips when choosing March as your month to visit Disneyland:
- Make dining reservations- don't forget to make your dining reservations before you visit! You can make your dining reservations up to 60 days in advance of your trip. This is a must as popular restaurants will fill up!
- Use Genie+ to Beat Lines- if you're not familiar yet with Genie+ I recommend reading through our Genie+ guide so you have the best tips on how to maximize your time on your trip. Genie+ is a program that allows you to save your spot in line virtually and return later when the line is shorter by using the “Lightning Lane” which greater reduces your wait.
- Check the weather- be sure to check the weather leading right up until your trip so you're away of any trends that may influence your packing choices like rain, heat, etc.
Plan Your Disneyland Vacation!
Keep reading our blog to keep you updated on everything you need to know to prepare for a Disney Parks vacation! We have a team of writers working hard on Mickey Visit and Disney Dose to keep you updated weekly on events in the parks and tips for navigating the magic. Subscribe to our free deals newsletter to receive helpful planning information, exclusive Disney deals, and access to the lowest priced Disney tickets anywhere. You can find more information on planning your vacation here:
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