Orlando in March: beautiful and packed, so plan like it

Why March is so busy, and why people come anyway

Spring break is not one week. Colleges, northern school districts and other countries all pick different weeks, and they stack up across March. The result is high crowds almost every day from about the second week onward, peaking in the middle of the month and again around Easter when it falls early. Universities in Florida also break in March, so local attractions and beaches feel it too.

Hotels price accordingly. If you have any flexibility, the first few days of March or the weeks after Easter are usually calmer and cheaper.

Highs usually run from 75 to 82°F, lows from 54 to 61°F. Humidity is still low, rain is light and evenings are comfortable in short sleeves. It is warm enough for pools and water parks by the end of the month, though early March mornings can still be cool. Sunset moves later after the clocks change, usually to around 7:30 p.m.

Usually on the calendar

• EPCOT's Flower and Garden Festival usually opens in early March and runs into early summer, with topiaries and outdoor food booths.
• The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is usually held on the third weekend of March and draws huge crowds to Park Avenue.
• Spring training games usually continue through late March.
• Universal's Mardi Gras usually keeps going on select nights.
• Bike Week usually fills Daytona Beach in early March, and the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City usually runs in late February into early March.

A plan for beating the crowds

1. Arrive at the park gate 45 minutes before opening and ride the headliners first.
2. Leave the park by lunch, when lines peak, and rest at your hotel pool.
3. Go back for the evening only if the park stays open late.
4. Put the non-park days midweek, and fill them with springs, gardens or the coast.
5. Book restaurant tables at least a few weeks ahead for any sit-down meal near the parks.

Off the ride lines

March is perfect for the places locals use. Harry P. Leu Gardens is in bloom. The springs are cool and clear before summer crowds close the gates. A day at Cocoa Beach works as the ocean warms, and a rocket launch from the Space Coast is a free show if your dates line up. Evenings at Lake Eola or along Park Avenue feel like the city at its best. None of these need a timed reservation, and most cost little or nothing, which helps balance a pricey park week.

What to pack

Short sleeves, shorts and a light layer for evenings. Strong sunscreen, a hat and a refillable water bottle, because the sun feels like summer by midday. Bring a swimsuit; most pools are comfortable now. Comfortable shoes matter more than usual, since crowded parks mean more walking around queues and detours. A small backpack with snacks saves you from the longest food lines at lunch.

Money and traffic

Expect peak rates for hotels and rental cars, especially mid-month. Booking three to four months ahead usually beats last-minute prices. Off-site hotels along International Drive or in Kissimmee tend to cost less than the resorts along Lake Buena Vista. Use our trip budget guide to see where the money goes and where to trim.

Traffic is part of the March crowd. I-4 backs up around the attractions in the morning and again in late afternoon, and park parking lots fill faster than usual. Leave earlier than the map app suggests. Rideshare prices surge at park closing time, so either leave a little before the fireworks end or wait thirty minutes for the rush to clear. If you are staying near the parks, resort buses and the hotel shuttles along International Drive save you the parking fee and the stress. On festival weekends in Winter Park, park a few blocks off Park Avenue or ride SunRail, which stops right by the festival.