March 2013 Discounts

[DisneyFreak06]

Originally Posted by moopdog

Silly me....I am so out of the Disney loop! I was semi-planning a trip for March thinking there would be NO crowds. Apparently I was wrong and need to re-think the plan.

What makes it crowded in March...is that Spring Break (I was thinking that would be in April). I definitely want to avoid crowds and want to go sometime between Feb and May, so what should I be shooting for?

We've always gone in late Sept/Early October but now that my son is playing football, it's not an option anymore

Spring Break time is really anytime between March and April for most schools. Around here, the universities are off for a week in February for their "Spring Break", but I don't think that week affects Disney much. I think earlier in March is better than later, from what I understand, but I'm limited to the one week I have off (March Break). February is usually a slower time from what I've heard.

[JM1226]

Hi everyone, Newbie here....reading this thread about discounts. How do I go about getting one? Thinking of going March 16-23 staying at AOA. Any suggestions?

[KELLMILL]

We were thinking about going in March next year but I looked at all the events and changed my mind. UCA/UDA Int. All Star Event, American Cheer/Dance Event, Track and Field Event and Walt Disney World Invitational. We looked at Jan-March and there was something every weekend (which of course most of the crowds for the weekend events run into the week). I guess we will have to go in April.

[JM1226]

Originally Posted by KELLMILL

We were thinking about going in March next year but I looked at all the events and changed my mind. UCA/UDA Int. All Star Event, American Cheer/Dance Event, Track and Field Event and Walt Disney World Invitational. We looked at Jan-March and there was something every weekend (which of course most of the crowds for the weekend events run into the week). I guess we will have to go in April.

Yikes....thats alot of events. Good to know....perhaps we'll be going in April too!

[shopn24seven]

I am the minority---I want % off code. Its just the 2 of us, so FD for 2 is not as much as %off. Looks like 40% is just a memory and 30% is the norm, but I would take it....
We picked 3/9 - 3/15. Its Texas School Spring break.
I've been at Xmas, peak time will be a piece of cake.

[DisneyFreak06]

Originally Posted by shopn24seven

I am the minority---I want % off code. Its just the 2 of us, so FD for 2 is not as much as %off. Looks like 40% is just a memory and 30% is the norm, but I would take it....
We picked 3/9 - 3/15. Its Texas School Spring break.
I've been at Xmas, peak time will be a piece of cake.

I'd take the % off too! I'd take anything. I'm limited in the times I can travel, so I would love anything... if I get to go at all!

[neenersmom]

Hoping to go march 2-9 if we can get free dining that week. I wish they would hurry up cause its close to the 180 day mark for ADRs. We have been before last week of march and it was so crowded with over two hr waits on some rides so we really didn't want to do march but I heard that the very beginning of march is way better crowd wise. Normally we go in September but can't this time because of school sports. Anyone been that first week in march? How were the crowds?

[disneytraceyl]

Hope for a free dining code for March. I think I will need some pixy dust.

[ecms]

We just decided to go in March (9-15) boys have Canadian March Break. Would love FD. So I am going to throw pixie dust as well.

[McKelly]

Ugh, I wish they would release discounts soon. Airfare should be coming out soon for our time frame - end of March - and our spring break is next to Easter this year, so I am afraid we might miss discounts. But we could fly in a little early, maybe Thursday or so, if it would mean snagging a discount. But I don't want to if I don't have to, but once I buy airfare I am locked in! I have almost resolved myself to not having a discount, but I am not there yet, still hoping...

[DonaldDuckFamily]

Originally Posted by McKelly

Ugh, I wish they would release discounts soon. Airfare should be coming out soon for our time frame - end of March - and our spring break is next to Easter this year, so I am afraid we might miss discounts. But we could fly in a little early, maybe Thursday or so, if it would mean snagging a discount. But I don't want to if I don't have to, but once I buy airfare I am locked in! I have almost resolved myself to not having a discount, but I am not there yet, still hoping...

I just booked our tickets out of Milwaukee last week through Delta. I am so glad I did because prices have gone up over $120 per ticket since. I am having us fly out on a Thursday because last year free dining the week before Easter ended on a Thursday. Crossing my fingers for the same thing this year because we'd get free dining for entire stay.

I really hope Disney releases discounts soon so I can book our trip. Our 180 day reservation window opens Sept 21st and I want to plan when and where we want to eat this year.

[McKelly]

Originally Posted by DonaldDuckFamily

I just booked our tickets out of Milwaukee last week through Delta. I am so glad I did because prices have gone up over $120 per ticket since. I am having us fly out on a Thursday because last year free dining the week before Easter ended on a Thursday. Crossing my fingers for the same thing this year because we'd get free dining for entire stay.

I really hope Disney releases discounts soon so I can book our trip. Our 180 day reservation window opens Sept 21st and I want to plan when and where we want to eat this year.

Darn it! I just checked Delta and they were over $400.00, I must have missed the good prices. I am willing to pay around $300.00-$320.00. Thanks for sharing when Free Dining started last year, that is what I am hoping for. Maybe I will just book in on Thursday, March 21st, and hope for the best. Is that when you are arriving? Southwest and I am assuming AirTran open at the end of the month, and I would assume Frontier would open around then too, although I am nervous to book with them.

[DonaldDuckFamily]

Originally Posted by McKelly

Darn it! I just checked Delta and they were over $400.00, I must have missed the good prices. I am willing to pay around $300.00-$320.00. Thanks for sharing when Free Dining started last year, that is what I am hoping for. Maybe I will just book in on Thursday, March 21st, and hope for the best. Is that when you are arriving? Southwest and I am assuming AirTran open at the end of the month, and I would assume Frontier would open around then too, although I am nervous to book with them.

I got our tickets for $336 (total w/taxes) and the other day I saw the same flight for $456. Yep we fly out on Thursday March 21st. Since we come from the Madison area, we'll do the Park and Fly from La Quinta hotel because it cost us $70 there for one night plus parking up to 14 days last year. Much cheaper than just parking at General Mitchell in the ramp and we get our vacation started earlier.

We usually fly Frontier but they only released rates through March 17th and with the way gas prices are going, I didn't want to take the risk waiting for a better fare. The price this year on Delta is the exact same as what I paid for Frontier last year, except with Frontier is was a direct flight and with Delta we'll change planes in Atlanta.

If a discount doesn't come out by Sept. 15th, I'll just book so I can make online dining reservations for a few places we want to eat. If a discount comes out I'll modify and if not, we'll order food again from Garden Grocer for breakfasts and lunches.

Well I'm off to start to begin setting up for our Disney theme night. Tonight is Cars

[lblume91]

Our spring break is the week leading up to Easter. We usually go Memorial Day week but can't do it any more with two daughters playing travel softball. I'm just not sure if I'm up to the crowds at Easter. I can't seem to talk myself into it but I can't bring myself to plan a vacation somewhere else either. All the talk here on the Dis about crowds scares me off. I'm just so on the fence & my DH says it's up to me. We've been twice in July, once over July 4th week. Is the week before Easter really that much worse than July 4th week??

[DonaldDuckFamily]

Originally Posted by lblume91

Our spring break is the week leading up to Easter. We usually go Memorial Day week but can't do it any more with two daughters playing travel softball. I'm just not sure if I'm up to the crowds at Easter. I can't seem to talk myself into it but I can't bring myself to plan a vacation somewhere else either. All the talk here on the Dis about crowds scares me off. I'm just so on the fence & my DH says it's up to me. We've been twice in July, once over July 4th week. Is the week before Easter really that much worse than July 4th week??

I've never been during the summer so maybe someone else will comment on the crowds then, but the week leading up to Easter is typically when we go and yes it is busy. It is not unbearable for us because we plan out what the "must dos" are and make sure everyone gets those in. Everything else is a plus. I know a lot of suggestions are to stay away from EMH, but for us it works. That is usually when we get our "must dos" accomplished. We also spend most afternoons at the resort swimming, napping or just plain relaxing.

I am really hoping for Free Dining again this year, but the only downside with it for us is that I had to make our park plans around it. That was different for us, but the experiences we had at some of the table service meals was awesome.