Advice DVC trip in winter

[fatherAZ]

We are currently planning a trip to WDW in Jan or Feb using our hopefully soon to be purchased DVC plan (currently in ROFR phase). I was wondering if anyone frequently travelled during these months and had some advice on when the best time to go is particularly addressing:

1) Cheaper points for resorts in Jan vs Feb (we would go early Feb)
2) Will attractions be more likely to be closed in Jan after the holiday rush?
3) Weather in Florida, which month is better (warmer)
4) Crowds, is it much less crowded in the parks in Jan
5) Resort availability: we would like to book BWV, BCV or SSR but won't be able to book until at the earliest mid September. We really want to stay at an Epcot DVC resort. Would January be more difficult b/c of the cheaper poitns or early Feb b/c it is closer to Spring break?

 

[dianeschlicht]

We are currently planning a trip to WDW in Jan or Feb using our hopefully soon to be purchased DVC plan (currently in ROFR phase). I was wondering if anyone frequently travelled during these months and had some advice on when the best time to go is particularly addressing:

1) Cheaper points for resorts in Jan vs Feb (we would go early Feb)
2) Will attractions be more likely to be closed in Jan after the holiday rush?
3) Weather in Florida, which month is better (warmer)
4) Crowds, is it much less crowded in the parks in Jan
5) Resort availability: we would like to book BWV, BCV or SSR but won't be able to book until at the earliest mid September. We really want to stay at an Epcot DVC resort. Would January be more difficult b/c of the cheaper poitns or early Feb b/c it is closer to Spring break?

We often go in January, and love that time of year.
1) points between Jan. and Feb. are near the same. (both low)
2) Some might be, but we find it averages out over the years. It won't be like half the park is closed, but maybe one or two attractions.
3) Weather this time of year is variable. We have been there when it was 90 and also when it was 35! The strange thing is that those two temps were on the same trip!
4) Crowds are non-existant until Presidents week.
5) You wont know unless you try, but your best chance will be with SSR or BWV because of the size. You can always go on a waitlist if your preference isn't available at the time you call.

 

[dvc_john]

Just to add to what Diane said:

In January, some of the parks will close earlier. MK frequently closes at 6pm, AK at 5pm. But with the lower crowds, you can accomplish more at MK before 6 in January than you can by midnight in July. EPCOT will always be open until 9 though. And you'll be able to take advantage of the evening EMH (extra magic hours). Also, either Typhoon Lagoon OR Blizzard Beach will be closed.

 

[littlestar]

We've had 50's all the way up to the low 80's (in the same week, no less) during this time of year. We've been in the middle of January the last two years and February one year. It was most crowded around the President's Day holidays.

We wear light winter jackets down and bring gloves just in case and definitely bring sweatshirts. If we dress in layers, we just peel them off if it gets hot. I love going during this time of year. It's not too hot and it's perfect weather usually for doing the parks. Also, after the holidays, I always felt let-down in the past. Not anymore! I'm going to Disneyworld in January. I'm the crazy person wandering around smelling the roses in Epcot. hee hee

 

[deide71]

Compared to the weather in Minnesota in January, even 50 degrees seems balmy. I've heard people say it's too cold to swim in the pools in January, but hey, there heated. People from Minnesota cut the ice off the lakes in the winter to take a dip, so I figure I can handle a heated pool. Plus, you can laugh at the southerners in their parkas when it is 60 degrees and you are wearing shorts.

 

[deide71]

Oops, see your from AZ. Nevermind.

 

[fatherAZ]

Actually AZ are my kids, Andrew 4 and Zachary 1. We live in Missouri which is why we want to get away in Jan and Feb! Thanks for all of the advice. Anyone who lives in FL or travels there a lot, is it much warmer in Feb than Jan? We are leaving to escape the cold and don't want to go if it'll be too cold (40's). Thanks

 

[mrsdon]

I used to live in SE GA 5 miles from the FL border.
Feb is alot warmer than JAn,
Although we did have a few cold snaps (at least to us).
As someone else posted, when its 60 we are wering our coats.
It you go toward the end of Feb you will have better luck.

 

[JUFAL]

fatherAZ
WE DO WHAT YOUR LOOKING TO DO. OUR CRITERIA IS WARM ENOUGH TO SWIM. IT DOES VARY BUT GENERALLY, JAN IS TOO COLD SO WE GO IN EARLY FEB., AFTER SEVERAL GOOD(WARM),YEARS LAST YEAR WAS COLD AND WARMED UP JUST BEFORE WE LEFT (FEB 13&14) THIS YEAR WERE GOING
MID-FEB.. THE PARKS WILL BE MORE CROWDED BUT IT'S A TRADE OFF.
BESIDES, THE CROWD IS A HAPPY ONE AND MUCH MORE BEARABLE
GOOD LUCK

 

[SJSJ4]

Our family went Jan 2005 from the 1st to the 10th. The 1st and 2nd were busy, but after that - no lines!! The parks close earlier but the extended hours are great. HAVE FUN!!

 

[Caskbill]

Compared to the weather in Minnesota in January, even 50 degrees seems balmy. I've heard people say it's too cold to swim in the pools in January, but hey, there heated. People from Minnesota cut the ice off the lakes in the winter to take a dip, so I figure I can handle a heated pool. Plus, you can laugh at the southerners in their parkas when it is 60 degrees and you are wearing shorts.

Of course if you moved to Florida, then in about 4-years you'd be the same, wearing that parka at 60 degrees. Years ago we moved from a cold (Iowa) climate to Texas. I'm not a doctor, but it was explained to me by our doctor down there something like this:

Climate acclimation is a physical change in your body. The full effect takes about 4-years. During that time, the smallest blood vesels in the skin (the capillaries) slowly migrate closer to the surface in a hot climate, or further away from the surface in a cold climate.

When blood flow is close to the skin's surface it allows better cooling off, just like a radiator getting rid of excess heat. When the blood capillaries are further from the surface, there's more fat between the blood flow and the outside skin, which helps maintain body heat in a cold climate.

This is also why 95 degrees to you is hot, but not to someone who lives year round in a hot climate.

Have you ever noticed how much colder 40-degrees is in September/October, but how warm 40-degrees feels in March? That's because in a climate that goes Hot to Cold to Hot, your body undergoes slight acclimation within each season, where the capillaries migrate a little going closer to the skin's surface throughout the summer, then migrating deeper during the winter..

Anyhow, that's the way I understand how it works. It's not that someone in the South is a whimp, but that their bodies are tuned for cooling, not for heating.

So, getting back on topic, one thing to keep in mind for WDW in January, is that the heat mostly comes from thermal warming, basically the sunshine heating everything up during the day. It will cool down a lot at night. On many occassions we would go to Epcot and always take a light jacket with us. We'd get a locker and put them in there. It might be 75-degres when first get there, but after the sun goes down it can cool quickly. That's when we go and get our jackets.

It makes it real nice as the crowd of "northerners" who act like it's summertime, and just came with T-shirts and shorts, had to leave the park because they didn't wear the right kind of clothing. If it's 40 degrees, and the sun has set, and you only have a T-shirt on, you'll get cold quickly, no matter what the temperature has been back home.

Just food for thought.

 

[fatherAZ]

All of the feedback has been very helpful. I think we will do do late January or early Feb to try to take advantage of the warmer weather but before the big crowds come!

 

[deide71]

I don't think people from the south are wimps. Actually I took my first vacation to WDW this august. The average temp was in the 90's, and the humidity was unreal!!

Personally, I think anyone that can spend any length of time in those conditions is an amazing human being.

So for me January is a triple bonus. Even in the 50's to 60's its much warmer than the place I left, the points are less, and the parks ar less crowded!!!

Just a wilting flower from MN

 

[tjkraz]

Regarding the weather, here's my take. Think "layers." Every single day the temps will start in the 50s - 60s. At best, you'll maybe be able to leave your room around 8-9am wearing shorts and a sweatshirt or jacket.

On the best days it will get into the low 70s. By late morning you'll be able to remove the jacket / sweatshirt and spend the rest of the afternoon in shorts and a t-shirt.

By sundown, you'll be in jeans / khakis and a sweatshirt / sweater / jacket. It will get into the 50s EVERY NIGHT...sometimes even the 40s. As soon as you lose the sun, the temperatures drop rapidly.

And that's on the best days. On the bad days you'll be lucky if it hits 60 in the daytime. Rain is uncommon, but not impossible.

On average, late-February will see more "good" days than early January. But don't expect radical variations. We've had good weather during trips that time of year and bad. During one memorable January week it got into the low 70s all but one day. But we've also had trips where there was only one day when it reached the 70s.

I've lived in the north my entire life, and am pretty tolerant of the weather. But my vacation mindset has become such that if I need to wear a jacket and sweatshirt at Disney, it just isn't enjoyable. Trying to think "at least it's warmer than back home" doesn't give me much comfort.

Unless I'm virtually guaranteed my vacation will be spent in shorts and a t-shirt / polo shirt, it's just not worth going. For those who can't tolerate high temps and humdity, it's a godsend.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Believe me, even on a "cool" Jaunary WDW day, it will be at least 40-80 degrees warmer than at home, so I never complain, but I DO bring a jacket. I'll be needing in when I get off the plane at home anyway. We love early January for the light crowds and moderate weather. I think the best part is that we have NEVER had rain on any of our January trips like we have had other times of the year.

 

[MdmMim]

This northerner has been going to WDW in Jan & Feb for years. (I can't take the summer heat.) What I do is layer. As previous posters have said, once that sun goes down--it gets much cooler, or just cold. The cold in Fla is NOT like the cold up north--it's very damp. I think Feb is a bit better. A sweatshirt and long pants are usually fine for nighttime. However, there have been times when a winter coat, hood, and gloves weren't enough, with frost on the windshields in the morning.

Some years, the weather has been quite warm--70's and 80's.

However, it IS the best time of year to go! I love it then!