*** OFFICIAL January 2013 Thread ***

[Marshay]

Updates are done on the first post. As always, if you have any changes or wish to be added, let me know.

 

[Jonesloonybin]

Just wanted to post to tell all the New England Disers to stay safe.

I am in NC and we had some crazy wind for the last three days, but we missed most of the rain, etc.

Hope it turns out to not be as bad as they are saying.

 

[camandjacksmom]

Im coming a little late to the party! Ill be running the half marathon and staying at POR Jan 9-15. I will actually be flying down ahead of my family om Jan 9th!!! A whole entire day to myself......what should I do?????

 

[Marshay]

Im coming a little late to the party! Ill be running the half marathon and staying at POR Jan 9-15. I will actually be flying down ahead of my family om Jan 9th!!! A whole entire day to myself......what should I do?????

Welcome!!

Go do everything you want to do that your family complains about!!

Whether that be sleeping in, shopping all day, seeing the "corny" shows, going on the wild rides, etc.

Have a great day!!

 

[ag98]

Just checking my countdown...

 

[Ldynred812]

My family will be visiting the world Jan 19-25. We were last there Thanksgiving week 2009. Crowds were insane...fastpasses were vital. Can anyone who has gone during an extreme busy time and then gone during a low crowd time complare the two for me? I have heard that Jan has low crowds, but I truly cannot even picture what that means. I have been to WDW 7 times and it has always been durning peak crowd seasons...Im just curious as to how different this time may be.

Thanks!!
Kecia

 

[Marshay]

My family will be visiting the world Jan 19-25. We were last there Thanksgiving week 2009. Crowds were insane...fastpasses were vital. Can anyone who has gone during an extreme busy time and then gone during a low crowd time complare the two for me? I have heard that Jan has low crowds, but I truly cannot even picture what that means. I have been to WDW 7 times and it has always been durning peak crowd seasons...Im just curious as to how different this time may be.

Thanks!!
Kecia

We went the last week of January 2012 and found most rides to be a walk-on to about a 15 minute wait. Only the big rides like TSMM, Soarin and Space Mountain had longer wait times (45 minutes to over an hour). FPs last longer so you don't have to be in a rush to get them (like you do in summertime/Xmas, etc).

Walking through the parks is anywhere from "a breeze", hardly anyone around, to a somewhat crowded.

You will encounter the Brazilian Tour Groups, so zig when they zag and if they just entered the FP line, wait until they go through a bit (if your time allows you to).

The weather may be cool, cold, nice, warm or hot. Don't do your final packing until you are about 2-4 days out (I always pack about 2-3 weeks out when we go other times during the year). Bring layers and/or a jacket in the morning and after sun goes down.

Be aware of the park hours -- at this time of year, they are not open as late and EMH are only extended for 2 hours in 2013. So plan your dinner times wisely -- you may not want a 5:30pm dinner if the park closes at 7pm.

The caveat to all of this is that you are going to be there over MLK weekend and crowds will pick up. Also, those who are there for the marathon will add to the crowds this year. There is a great special right now and folks are taking advantage of it as well and it's adding more people. Disney also just announced a new "limited time magic" which may draw more locals in January for them to come check it out. Finally, the new Fantasyland will have just opened up, along with AoA resort suites and LM rooms and people may wait out the Thanksgiving/Christmas crowds and will visit in January. OH and don't forget that January is notorious for several rides/shows to be down for maintenance -- and guaranteed it'll be some big ones.

All of this will add up to IMHO, crowds for January 2013 will be more crowded than in past years for the same time period. My guess, and only my guess, is that instead of 5-15 minute waits on average, we may see 15-35 minute waits on average (which is still better than peak!). Expect FLE rides/shows to have longer wait times, of course, since they are the new thing!

As always, even in January, get to park at RD, use FP wisely and you'll be ahead of the crowd if you wish to get an early start.

We relax a bit more in January and usually don't do RD each day (maybe just 1-2x). We know it'll be less crowded so try to enjoy it more ... try out some of the old rides or shows that we normally don't take the time to do.

HTH!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

My family will be visiting the world Jan 19-25. We were last there Thanksgiving week 2009. Crowds were insane...fastpasses were vital. Can anyone who has gone during an extreme busy time and then gone during a low crowd time complare the two for me? I have heard that Jan has low crowds, but I truly cannot even picture what that means. I have been to WDW 7 times and it has always been durning peak crowd seasons...Im just curious as to how different this time may be.

Thanks!!
Kecia

Our last two trips were in April 2012 (a week after Easter weekend) and January 2011 (last week of January). Even though our April trip was only moderately crowded compared to the peak crowds in May and June, I can tell you there was a significantly noticeable difference in crowd levels. During our January trip, most rides were walk-ons during the first couple of hours of park operations. We still pulled FPs for the really popular rides such as Peter Pan.

The weekend you're arriving in January is probably the second busiest weekend for the month after New Years because of the three-day weekend with MLK day. Even then, I think you'll still be able to appreciate the lower crowd levels if you're comparing to Thanksgiving time, and everything will be at a more relaxed pace. The crowds will thin out a bit more after the weekend.

Stay clear of the international tour groups. If you see them heading in one direction or towards a specific attraction, go the opposite directions. Standing behind one of these groups in the queues can significantly affect your wait times. And if you see the tour group leader (usually holding a flag) at a FP machine, use another one since he or she will most likely be drawing about 100 FPs in one standing!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Sorry about the duplicate post to Marsha's

Everything she said!

 

[Marshay]

Our last two trips were in April 2012 (a week after Easter weekend) and January 2011 (last week of January). Even though our April trip was only moderately crowded compared to the peak crowds in May and June, I can tell you there was a significantly noticeable difference in crowd levels. During our January trip, most rides were walk-ons during the first couple of hours of park operations. We still pulled FPs for the really popular rides such as Peter Pan.

The weekend you're arriving in January is probably the second busiest weekend for the month after New Years because of the three-day weekend with MLK day. Even then, I think you'll still be able to appreciate the lower crowd levels if you're comparing to Thanksgiving time, and everything will be at a more relaxed pace. The crowds will thin out a bit more after the weekend.

Stay clear of the international tour groups. If you see them heading in one direction or towards a specific attraction, go the opposite directions. Standing behind one of these groups in the queues can significantly affect your wait times. And if you see the tour group leader (usually holding a flag) at a FP machine, use another one since he or she will most likely be drawing about 100 FPs in one standing!

I agree!!

Sorry about the duplicate post to Marsha's

Everything she said!

Other perspectives are always good!

I read some TR for the same time we were at Disney in January and they thought the tour groups had a huge impact on wait-times ... but I just didn't see that. Maybe we got lucky and just picked the opposite parks of the tour groups...

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

I read some TR for the same time we were at Disney in January and they thought the tour groups had a huge impact on wait-times ... but I just didn't see that. Maybe we got lucky and just picked the opposite parks of the tour groups...

I agree with you. It's probably true that crowd levels have been increasing over the past couple of years for off-peak (value) seasons in part due to the increasing tour groups but also in part to the promotions Disney runs. But even with those increases, it's still a picnic in the park compared to the peak seasons.

The other thing I noted during our last trip is that the tour groups don't seem to follow the widely accepted touring plans and prioritize rides quite differently. So I think it was fairly easy to avoid crossing paths with them especially during the early parts of the morning. Not once during our last January trip did we find ourselves in the same line as them.

 

[Ldynred812]

Thanks for the replies and the info!!! I have done several major holidays at Disney...July 4 and Thanksgiving. We were in MK on Thanksgiving Morning. By noon their were THOUSANDS of people entering the park and heading down Main Street...an absoulute zoo!! We went to HS and the crowds were bad, but MUCH more bearable. I've also done Disney twice between Christmas and New Years, and twice in August. To walk on a ride etc just seems completely unbelieveable to me. LOL Even if the crowds are up for MLK weekend, Im guessing it will seem like nothing compared to years past. This is also the first time I will be having a kiddo in diapers in Disney!! LOL I cannot wait!!!

Thanks again-
Kecia

 

[DopeyKel]

We will be at POR from January 2 to the 8. Doing Disney and Universal.

 

[Marshay]

We will be at POR from January 2 to the 8. Doing Disney and Universal.

Welcome!! I'll add your info.

 

[Marshay]

So I just read where Splash Mountain and Mad Hatter Tea Party will be down in January ... and a rumor that there won't be Dessert party in MK b/c of a refurb for Tomorrowland Terrace. Also, the D-Tech Me, which my daughters really wanted to do ends this year.

Anybody hear of other closings for January?

I know there are always some big ones in January ...

 

[DopeyKel]

Forgot to mention we got free dining for that time frame. Helped a lot keeping the cost down.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

So I just read where Splash Mountain and Mad Hatter Tea Party will be down in January ... and a rumor that there won't be Dessert party in MK b/c of a refurb for Tomorrowland Terrace. Also, the D-Tech Me, which my daughters really wanted to do ends this year.

Anybody hear of other closings for January?

I know there are always some big ones in January ...

Splash and Tea Party are the ones I've heard as well. My kids are going to miss the Tea Party.

This January is unique than previous January months because for us the New FL and new Test Track will more than make up for all of the refurbs.

I'm remain skeptical of the rumors of the Dessert Party not being available as the threads I've read state that this is mostly coming from the CMs on the ADR phone lines, and they have in the past been unreliable when it comes to future refurbishment information. Have there been citing of other sources for this rumor to date? I'm just hoping that the rumors are not true.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Just read WDW Magic's account of the lunch quick service experience at Be Our Guest, and I am very excited about this. I've been trying everyday to see if I can find a dinner ADR but nothing so far. But based on this report, I think I'll just be equally happy to have lunch at this restaurant. I'm guessing crowd levels will be extremely high the first few weeks if not months after opening so probably will have to plan for an early lunch.

Here's the link to WDWMagic.com's report!

 

[Marshay]

Splash and Tea Party are the ones I've heard as well. My kids are going to miss the Tea Party.

This January is unique than previous January months because for us the New FL and new Test Track will more than make up for all of the refurbs.

I'm remain skeptical of the rumors of the Dessert Party not being available as the threads I've read state that this is mostly coming from the CMs on the ADR phone lines, and they have in the past been unreliable when it comes to future refurbishment information. Have there been citing of other sources for this rumor to date? I'm just hoping that the rumors are not true.

Nope, just rumors on DIS. I keep calling every other day.

Just read WDW Magic's account of the lunch quick service experience at Be Our Guest, and I am very excited about this. I've been trying everyday to see if I can find a dinner ADR but nothing so far. But based on this report, I think I'll just be equally happy to have lunch at this restaurant. I'm guessing crowd levels will be extremely high the first few weeks if not months after opening so probably will have to plan for an early lunch.

Here's the link to WDWMagic.com's report!

Hey, if I can get my Dessert Party for 1/21, I'll be giving up my BOG dinner that night. Stay tuned...

I'm also excited to try the lunch!

 

[KJMAX1]

Nope, just rumors on DIS. I keep calling every other day.



Hey, if I can get my Dessert Party for 1/21, I'll be giving up my BOG dinner that night. Stay tuned...

I'm also excited to try the lunch!

So with this new seating we dont need reservations?? If so I might give it a try. We decided not to eat at BOG because we didnt want another sit down, but a QS would be awesome.