What to Wear to Disney World in March: Weather and Packing

If you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation, and you’re from another part of the country or world, chances are the weather will be different than you’re expecting. March is a particularly confusing time because it can be extremely cold in many areas of the US and the world but is almost never freezing in Central Florida. That being said, it won’t usually be brutally hot either, and the weather changes drastically with the sunlight. We’ve been to Disney many times in March and absolutely love it.

Below I’ll give the specifics on the weather at Disney World in March, packing ideas for March and any time, special events and crowds, and a few other tips. I hope this helps you have an amazing trip.

Pin this on Pinterest if you find the article useful.

March Weather at Disney World

The average highs and average lows at Disney in March are what many would consider perfect. The average high is around 77 degrees Fahrenheit (or 25 degrees Celsius for any international guests with a more logical temperature system), and the average low is about 58 degrees Fahrenheit (or 14.5 degrees Celsius).

That being said, temperatures at the beginning of the month and the end of the month vary widely. At the beginning of the month, it’s possible that temperatures could be in the low 40s (7 Celsius), while it will be almost always above 55 (14 Celsius) by the end of the month. And the end of the month temperatures can top 85 (29.5 Celsius), bordering on what I would consider hot (though I’ve been to Disney plenty of times in summer with mid-90s temperatures).

These temperatures are close to perfect. However, remember that the subtropical sun in Central Florida is somewhat intense, and you’re planning on being outside on pavement for long periods of time. That, combined with the humidity, will make the mid-day sun seem a lot hotter. You’ll also be walking around a lot, which will make it feel hotter.

Here’s a great graph of the weather at Disney World in March. The middle area is March. Photo Credit Weather Spark

It’s also important to note how the temperature will change throughout the day. It will start out cool each day from open until about 10 AM. Then it will start to heat up. Earlier in March, it will stay comfortable, but later in March in will begin to get warm from about 1PM-7PM. What this means for each person varies, but for me it means I can wear a light jacket and pants for the morning, but by the afternoon I’m down to a t-shirt and wishing I had shorts. So be prepared to change or take an afternoon break for a wardrobe change if you’re whiny like me.

We were totally fine wearing these outfits at night in March.

That being said, if it’s overcast or raining, it will minimize the temperature change. And if you're planning on rope dropping (showing up before the park opens), you can expect cooler temperatures in the early morning.

Speaking of rain, no matter what time of year you go to Disney, expect some rain. March is not during the rainy season, so you won’t get as many freak thunderstorms (or potential hurricanes), but you’re still looking at a 25% chance of rain on any give day.

What to Pack for Disney World in March

You should whatever you wear when the weather is perfect. For me that’s shorts and t-shirt, but I’ll use usually bring a light sweater, hoodie, or sweatshirt for the mornings and evenings. A long-sleeve t-shirt might be a good option as well because you can push up the sleeves if you get too warm.

This stranger and I were both comfortable in matching Nirvana/Jack Jack shirts.

If it’s overcast, you will probably be able to wear pants and a sweater comfortably for the whole day, but remember, you’ll be walking a lot more than is usual for most people (like 20,000 steps), so your body heat will be higher than usual. Therefore, it's a good idea to plan for 10 degrees higher in your head. Again, that Florida sun is hot.

However, if you’re going to be inside a lot or sitting (like an ECV or stroller), you might want to be warmer. To save room in my luggage, I usually try to reuse the same one or two warm items for the whole week. I know you have a lot of cool Disney hoodies, but you don’t want to lug them all around. 

I recommend bringing a stroller or a bag to put the layers and other supplies in. This includes sunscreen and rain gear as well to handle the potential rainy days.

Stroller and bag ready for carrying all of our stuff.

Here’s a great article on what to pack for Disney as well as printable pdf of a Disney packing list.

And if you need supplies, make sure to check out my Disney Amazon supplies list (if you use the link, I might earn and be able to afford another funny shirt).

What to Pack Any Time of Year

Make sure you bring all your essentials, your Disney gear and ears, your sunscreen (the sun is always intense, even in winter). Pack your own rain gear because it’s extremely expensive in the parks. I’ve had to buy several $20 ponchos in the parks, and they aren’t great quality. Also, don’t forget good shoes. I don’t recommend flip flops, shoes with little support, or dress shoes. I also recommend multiple pairs of shoes so that they put pressure on different parts of your feet. Here’s the best shoes to use for Disney from experts I interviewed.

Here’s the outfits and shoes we wore on a recent adult trip to Disney in March.

I’ve found that the older I get, the more comfortable shoes matter, so don’t fret about your kid wanting to wear his Crocs.

You’ll also need a lot of non-clothing items. Don’t forget your wallet, your chargers, your toiletries, stuff to read at the pool, back up chargers, and of course, your phone for navigating the My Disney Experience app. I also recommend a mini-pharmacy to deal with everything from stomach issues to blisters.

Back to how much walking you’re going to do. Stay hydrated. I usually order a big case of bottled water to my room because Central Florida tap water tastes like eggs/sulfur. If you don’t mind the water, you can get free tap water at just about any restaurant.

Finally, remember there’s a lot of walking, using the restroom, climbing onto and out of rides, high speed roller coasters, and so forth. Think about doing those things, and pack practical things. You might look awesome in a pantsuit and heels, but you will regret it.

Do Not Bring These Things to Disney World

Now here’s what not to bring to Disney World. First, don’t bring a costume for anyone over 14 (unless it’s a Halloween party), and don’t bring costumes that cover your face. Why? Because Disney wants to keep everyone safe and keep adults from confusing kids or impersonating cast members.

Next, in March or later, you definitely won’t need a big winter coat. I have seen it occasionally when it gets into the 40s in the winter, but it’s overkill.

Here’s a good idea of what everyone’s wearing to dance at Disney World in March. My shirt says “I use antlers in all of my decorating” to quote Gaston. I think highly of my witty shirts.

Third, don’t bring heels, platforms, or flip-flops. Plenty of people do, so this is just my take, but it’s just not worth the risk to me. I want my feet healthy, so I'm bringing comfortable walking shoes.

Finally, Disney is serious about creating a family-friendly atmosphere, so risqué clothing, clothing with vulgar sayings or graphics, or clothing that may malfunction to your embarrassment is not welcome. You might get turned away at the gate when you try enter the Disney theme parks. I’m not making a judgment on what counts as inappropriate, but they might. Here’s a list from Disney’s website of prohibited items in case you’re not sure.

Special Events and Crowds in March

As far as crowds, it’s difficult to judge what March will look like. School systems across the country have different Spring Breaks, and many in Florida will be in March. Spring Break will greatly increase the amount of people at the park, especially near the end of the month. That being said, many school systems have Spring Break based on Easter, which is almost always in April, so you really just need to watch out for the large Florida counties. Mardi Gras may also increase crowds, which is usually in February, but can be in March if Easter is late. It's hard to give you a week for the best time to go, but the second week of March is probably a great time for a Disney trip.

Another crowd factor is sporting events. There aren’t usually a lot of cheer competitions or dance competitions in March, but there may be some Spring baseball and Flag Football. Disney has gotten good at spreading things out to keep things from being too crazy, but don’t expect the parks to be empty.

Now on to events. EPCOT will have the Flower and Garden festival for most, if not all of March. We love this festival with the amazing topiaries, beautiful flowers, and my daughters’ favorite, the butterfly garden. This may increase congestion at EPCOT, but it usually doesn’t impact ride length because everyone’s looking at the decorations. It may also make the crowds at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom a little lower.

Here we are with a Pluto topiary. Plutopiary? Flower and Garden Festival at EPCOT in March.

Another thing you might see is Spring and Easter decorations at various resorts. We thought the Easter egg display at Grand Floridian was unbelievable. This thing is made mostly of chocolate and fondant, but it’s a working clock!

This was our favorite of the Easter eggs. Unbelievable attention to detail. Typical Disney.

Next, St. Patrick’s Day is not a huge deal at Disney, but there may be some merch to be had or fun things at Raglan Road in Disney Springs. Lastly, there aren’t any themed special night events, but there will be after hours events at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios most likely. If you want a low crowd day, go to a park with a party later (but it will close early). Or, if you want a low crowd night, go to one of the parties. Here’s my review of Magic Kingdom After Hours and my EPCOT After Hours review.

Can You Swim at Disney World in March?

Yes, you can swim at Disney World in March. Even if it’s unseasonably cold, they keep the Disney resort pools heated to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but most of the time, especially in the afternoon, it will be warm enough to swim. They keep the pools open at the Disney-owned resorts year-round, even in the winter months. Even the water rides at the Disney parks won't be painful during a March trip. Therefore, add that bathing suit to your packing list.

My daughter would like you know that the water is just fine at Stormalong Bay in March.

Are the Disney Water Parks Open in March?

Just like the pools, the water parks (Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach) are open year-round. Since Covid, they’ve been opening one water park for a few months, then closing it, and opening the other one. No word as to when both will be open at the same time again.

Conclusion and Further Reading

Hopefully this article prepares you for having all the right clothes and accessories for a Walt Disney World Resort trip in the month of March. The crowds might be a little higher than normal, but the weather will be much better than the summer months. The sunny days won't be brutal, and the rain won't be as constant. We've enjoyed going in March and think it's a good time to go.

For more information on Disney, start with my article explaining Disney World, and for more supplies, check out my article on the best portable chargers for Disney.

Let me know in the comments your experience in March at the Most Magical Place on Earth.