A quick month-by-month look at Disney World cost, crowds, weather, and special events

[notfrostyjosh]

This is not true. I posted this awhile back:

2010 - Closed January 3 - February 27

2009: Closed January 4-18

2008: Closed January 1- February 15

2007: Closed January 2-27

2006: Closed January 23-27

I've been there in January 3 years in a row and Splash was open for two of them. Also, I haven't seen any evidence of it being opened when it's scheduled to be closed. I've seen several threads where people were hopeful ... Maybe it's happened, but I'd hate for people to get their hopes up if it hasn't happened.

Also, what you posted for average temps for January is off a bit. My research showed average high is 72. More than that, I think it's worth pointing out that January weather is wildly erratic. We've seen snow at WDW in January. Inevitably, there's always a day during our week (mid-late January) where we are bundled up and can see our breath. Then again, there are always days when it's warm enough to go swimming! I think we saw 85 degree highs on our 2009 trip. Anyway, I thought that was worth pointing out.

I'm not sure what you're disagreeing with. By your own dates, if you had gone January 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th it would have been closed each of the last 3 years and it closed for the entirety (or all but three days) of January 3 out of the last 4 years. Thus, "Splash Mountain is usually closed throughout January" seems to hold up as being true. If you really wanted to ride Splash Mountain, I think we can agree January would be the worst month/most common for Splash Mountain to be closed.

As far as weather, it depends where you hold your thermometer. The link I used is the Weather Underground link in the post. The average high for Jan 1-15 is 69 and the average high for Jan 15-31 is 70 based on the last 15 years. Weather in January of 2011 is not supposed to be as cold as 2010.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

2010 brings the first year of the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon on October 1 and 2. The various races and prices are explained in full at http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/endurance/wine-and-dine-half-marathon/. The Marathon begins at 10pm at the ESPN Wide World of Sports and finishes at Epcot for the after-party, which runs (no pun intended) through 3am. Spectators may also purchase separate tickets to just the party. I’m not sure if mixing alcohol and endurance races is the best idea I’ve ever heard of, but we’ll see how it works out.

You realize we drink AFTER we run 13.1 miles, right?

A cold beer is pretty refreshing after all the half marathons I've ran in the past and I'm pretty sure this one won't be any different, especially since runners get one free drink and snack So I think it's one of the best ideas Disney has actually come up with!

The rest of the post is very helpful though!

Oh, another thing I noticed.... prices DO go up in the Values/Mods during Marathon weekend. Discounts are usually not available that weekend at all as well. Plus for the full marathon in January, there are definitely runners still on the course after the park opens. You figure it takes the slower runners over 6 hours to finish a marathon, so if they start at 6am, they'll still be in the parks well around 12pm. We sat and cheered a lot of them on this past January in the World Showcase

 

[notfrostyjosh]

Yes, January 2011 is updated on the post at easywdw with the correct pricing information. In 2010, the pricing at the values/mods didn't change for the marathon, but in 2011 they do. I haven't edited the original post here because it takes so long to convert it to the forum code with the correct spacing. Maybe with the next major update.

 

[PalmPomDisneyMom]

Awesome, thanks for this

 

[Disney_Jill]

Great site! I love easywdw. I used it (along with tgm and tp) when we went last Nov. 18-23 and it was right on the money. I like how you list the recommended parks in order. We are going in 2 weeks, Feb. 17-21 and I consulted the calender again and planned my days. Thanks Josh!

 

[lllGurulll]

Curious, why does the May version of this calendar talk about free dining when there is no free dining that I am aware of during that month?

 

[notfrostyjosh]

Free Dining was available to guests that will begin their stays on May 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31. Although the promotion has expired, I left the information there to remind people that they'll want to make as many dining reservations as possible for stays around those dates.

 

[Dan Murphy]

No 'free' dining earlier in May, Josh? I am hoping not.

 

[notfrostyjosh]

Nope, just for stays beginning on May 27 - June 2

 

[Dan Murphy]

Nope, just for stays beginning on May 27 - June 2

Thanks, Josh.

 

[KARENjcb]

Thanks for the info! So nice of you to put the time and effort into it.