Disney World in March 2026 (Dates, Weather, and Crowd Expectations)

If you’re thinking about visiting Walt Disney World in March, you probably won’t be surprised to find out that it’s a busy month. The first day of the month kicks off with the Princess Half Marathon, and the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival starts a few days later. And we haven’t even gotten to Spring Break yet. Below, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about visiting Walt Disney World this March. As always, remember that this is a living guide that we’ll continually update as needed until the entire month has passed. Let’s take a look at what we have to date.

What About the Crowds This Month?

You can expect crowds in March. The good news for this month is that Easter doesn’t fall until April 5th. So, unless you’re coming in for an extended trip around the end of the month, you’ll hopefully miss the extremes. I have spent quite a good amount of time observing crowds during the busy spring break season. I will say this. If you were to happen upon a lull, you’ll know it. When I lived in the area and visited the parks weekly, I was always surprised at how the spring break crowds changed from week to week. Sometimes it would go from super busy on a Friday to where’s everyone at by Sunday? Then things would pick back up a few days later. (Please note that Easter is a different story. The week before and after Easter Sunday are some of the busiest times of the year.)

Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to indicate whether or not you’ll end up on a slow or busy week. My best advice is to expect the worst and roll with it. While I’m not one to purchase Lightning Lanes often, this time of year I would make an exception, especially when visiting with family and friends. At the very least, Lightning Lane Multi Pass will help a great deal if your family wants to focus on rides.

What About the Weather in March?

The weather in March is about the most pleasant you’ll find. It could be chilly. It might even be hot. You probably won’t have to deal with any considerably cold weather. However, I recommend bringing a lightweight jacket if you plan to be out in the evening. For the most part, you’ll want shorts and short sleeves for this time of year. Don’t forget to bring plenty of sunscreen and ponchos. While we haven’t quite reached “daily afternoon thunder shower” mode, you’ll likely experience a storm or two over a week’s vacation.

March 2026 at Disney World

Here is our timeline for the month:

Major Dates, Holidays, and Events

• March 1st: This is the last day to experience the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The attraction permanently closes at the end of the day. It will be rethemed to a Muppets-inspired roller coaster and is expected to open later in the summer of 2026.
• March 1st: runDisney Princess Half Marathon (See entire 2026-early 2027 runDisney schedule.)
• March 1st: Epcot opens late this morning. The park does not open until 10:00 a.m. (9:30 a.m. for early entry) on this Sunday morning due to the runDisney Princess Half Marathon.
• March 4th: Start Date for the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival
• March 8th: Daylight Saving Time (It will get dark later in the theme parks, which means evening entertainment will begin to shift to later times until the fall.)
• March 17th: St Patrick’s Day (Don’t forget to wear green!)
• March 19th: The Garden View Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa re-opens!

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival: This festival celebrates the return of Spring, gardening, and flowers! I personally consider it to be the most wonderful time of the year at Epcot. You’ll find incredible topiary displays throughout the park, the Garden Rock concert series held nightly, and outdoor kitchens offering a variety of fresh eats, among other things. We’ll have our 2026 Epcot International Flower and Garden Guide available as we know more about the upcoming offering.

Extended Evening Hours

We’ll list the dates for extended evening hours in March as they are posted:

• Monday, March 2, 2026: Epcot (9:00 to 11:00 p.m.)
• Wednesday, March 4, 2026: Magic Kingdom (9:00 to 11:00 p.m.)
• Monday, March 9, 2026: Epcot (9:00 to 11:00 p.m.)
• Wednesday, March 11, 2026: Magic Kingdom (9:30 to 11:30 p.m.)
• Monday, March 16, 2026: Epcot (9:00 to 11:00 p.m.)
• Wednesday, March 18, 2026: Magic Kingdom (9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.)
• Monday, March 23, 2026: Epcot (9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.)
• Wednesday, March 25, 2026: Magic Kingdom (9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.)
• Monday, March 30, 2026: Epcot (9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.)

Extended Evening Hours are offered twice weekly for deluxe and deluxe villa resort guests. If you would like to learn more, we’ve put together an extended evening hours calendar with hours highlighted for March 2026.

*Disney notes that applicable theme parks, days, and times of operation, attractions, and service availability may vary and are subject to change without notice. Subject to capacity and cancellation.

Disney After Hours Dates in March

Disney After Hours will be held on the following evenings in March 2026. They will not affect park hours, but you might see more crowds at the park between 7:00 p.m. and regular park closing times as guests begin to arrive for the event:

• Magic Kingdom: March 2nd and 9th
• Epcot: March 5th and 12th
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: NA in March

If you would like to learn more, see our guide to Disney After Hours in 2026.

Which Water Park is Open in March?

Blizzard Beach is open in March, and Typhoon Lagoon is scheduled to be closed for refurbishment. Both water parks are expected to be open by the start of Cool Kid Summer in late May.

Temporary Attraction Closures for March 2026

Magic Kingdom: The following attractions are currently closed for refurbishment. As of this update, a reopening date has not been announced.

• Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin is closed for a lengthy refurbishment and is expected to reopen in the Spring of 2026.
  
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is closed for a lengthy refurbishment and is expected to reopen in the Spring of 2026.

• Cinderella Castle is scheduled to be repainted in 2026. Disney has noted that you might see cranes around the castle on or before noon each day. There could be slight entertainment changes to Let the Magic Begin (welcome show), Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire (castle stage show), and Happily Ever After. You’ll want to check the entertainment schedule in the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit.

• Pete’s Silly Sideshow may still be closed for refurbishment. The characters who normally meet at this location are still available within Storybook Circus.

Epcot: Nothing is posted for the month.

Hollywood Studios: Nothing posted for this month.

• Reminder: The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster permanently closes on March 1st.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Nothing is posted for the month.

• Reminder: The entirety of Dinoland U.S.A. closed in early February 2026. A new land is being constructed in that area of the park.

For all scheduled refurbishments for the year, see our list of Disney World Ride Refurbishments. For ongoing and upcoming refurbishments at the various resorts, see our list of Disney Hotel Refurbishments.

Final Thoughts

We will update this calendar as more announcements are made. As always, we hope that our timelines will serve not only as a current reference but also as a future one. If you’re thinking about visiting in March 2027, the majority of the information outside of refurbishments and slight date changes will be similar. Remember, though, that this month could look different if Easter falls in March.

If your dates are flexible, our guide to The Best and Worst Months to Visit Disney World compares crowd levels, seasons, and major events throughout the year. It is a helpful starting point when deciding when to visit. Or you can browse the other months below.

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

Make sure to check back with Resorts Gal soon for the latest Disney news, planning, and reviews. You might also enjoy joining our newsletter list.

In the Comments

Are you planning to visit Walt Disney World in March? Do you have any questions that we didn’t touch on in this guide? If so, let us know below in our comments section.