Disneyland in March 2024: Weather, Events, Hours

Disneyland in March is when we start to see the crowd levels perk up as Spring Break season begins and the Food & Wine Festival returns to Disney's California Adventure.

Everyone has personal preferences to consider when planning the date of their Disneyland trip- each season will have its pros and cons and guests' choices will vary based on those. Make sure to read our Disneyland crowd calendar to get an idea of what to expect when picking a date to visit Disneyland.

Keep reading 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 Events in March

Here are all the current events to know about impacting Disneyland in March!

Food & Wine Festival

The Disneyland Food and Wine Festival will return to Disney's California Adventure on March 1st. The Food and Wine Festival features special festival food booths, cooking demonstrations, celebrity chefs, live music plus the return of Soarin' Over California. The celebrity chef offerings are some of the most popular events with this festival and sell out quickly!

Disneyland After Dark

Disneyland After Dark is a special ticketed after hours event with different themes that bring out rare characters, food, and entertainment options. Disneyland After Dark- Disney Channel Nite will take place March 5 & 7, 2024.

St. Patrick's Day

You’ll find special foods throughout the resort for St. Patrick’s Day at Disneyland.

Easter at Disneyland

Disney has an Easter egg hunt throughout both theme parks. You can purchase a scavenger hunt packet from participating shops throughout the resort, find all the eggs, turn in your packet, and then receive a prize.

Spring Break Season

March brings the beginning of spring break season at Disneyland which has some pros and cons. The pros of this is that Disney usually works to wrap up any refurbishments and ride closures by March to accommodate traveling tourists. The cons is we start to see the crowd levels pick up with the influx of spring break travelers.

Refurbishments

Since March is considered a slower time of year at Disneyland 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.

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Disneyland March Crowd Calendar

Visiting Disneyland in March varies in terms of crowd levels depending on which week of the month you visit. Since many schools have their spring breaks in March, many towards the middle/end of the month, you can expect to see higher crowd levels with these spring break visitors. To avoid the larger crowds that come with spring break season, visiting during the first week of the month will be your best bet.

The Food & Wine Festival at Disney's California Adventure is also a popular event with the Disneyland locals and many come out to experience the offerings. Some late night drinking may occur on festival nights although Disneyland does strive to keep guest experience positive for all families.

It's always helpful to take a look at the Magic Key blockout date calendar. 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.

You can still have a great vacation even if Disneyland is crowded as long as you plan ahead. Make dining reservations, learn how to use Genie+, and arrive early to the parks every day. 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. Read our full guide on handling crowds to prepare yourself for visiting Disneyland in March.

Disneyland Weather in March

Visiting Disneyland in March comes with typical unpredictable spring weather. Like many other states, spring can be hard to predict with some seasons in Southern California being rainy, dry, or hot.

Disneyland won't close because of rain but rides with outdoor tracks often will close during rain. One good thing about experiencing rain at Disneyland is it tends to empty out the parks as many guests dash back to their hotels. This is a great time to throw on a rain poncho and experience low wait ride times. It's best to check the weather as your trip date gets closer to get the most accurate idea of whether you will have to contend with rain or not since there is such variance this time of the year.

The average temperature for Anaheim in March is a high of 72 degrees and a low of 50 degrees. The weather can be unpredictable this time of year. There might be some days that feel so warm in the sun that it feels like spring or days with rainfall so hard that it's a downpour.

Disneyland's operating hours will start getting longer this time of year with the parks averaging an opening schedule of 10 hours a day on weekdays with limited entertainment and weekends with longer hours ranging up to 16 hours a day and more entertainment options. The entertainment options will increase the closer it gets to the middle/end of the month. Keep in mind that Daylight Savings Time also occurs in mid-March bringing with it a change in daylight hours.

Tips for Visiting Disneyland in March

When it comes to visiting Disneyland in March, we have some tried and true hacks for having a magical time on your vacation.

What to Wear 

One of the most frequently asked guest questions is: what should I wear to Disneyland? Always check the weather leading up to your trip. I always recommend guests wear layers when visiting during the Spring in Southern California. You just never know what the weather might do- it could feel so sunny one day you'd want to be in shorts or rain another day! The good news is that you can rent lockers at Disneyland to store any light jackets or extra layers in. If rain is projected during your trip then dress for rain with warm layers and a rain jacket. Once the sun goes down, the parks will feel cooler so packing a sweatshirt will be wise.

What to Pack 

Pack clothes for warm and chilly weather so you're prepared for any weather change. Considering there's still a slight chance for rain in March, still bring a rain poncho! 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.

What to Expect

There are a few things you should expect when choosing March as your month to visit Disneyland:

• Plan for Unexpected Rain- spring at Disneyland can still bring some rainy days so checking the weather before your trip and bringing a poncho will be a wise idea! Set your expectations to not be disappointed if it does rain- this just means that you'll get to ride more rides with lower wait times. Be prepared with the clothes you wear, bring a rain poncho, and know that the outdoor track rides may close for inclement weather.
• Food & Wine Festival- the International Food & Wine Festival at California Adventure is a must see event. Take the time to explore the marketplace booths and take in some of the live entertainment. If you have your heart set on a session with a celebrity chef then make sure you book your reservation the day they open- these sell out each year.
• Genie+ Replaced FastPass- the new Genie+ system is what permanently replaced FastPass at Disneyland. This paid access allows you to virtually reserve your spot in line for many popular attractions and skip the longer standby line.
• Check for refurbishments- read through our guide to seasonal refurbishments at Disneyland to get an idea of what rides may not be available during your stay.

But most of all, remember to enjoy your time at the happiest place on earth!

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 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:

• Discount Disneyland Ticket Guide
• Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Guide
• Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway
• Guide to Parades at Disneyland