Advice on planning next trip in early January 2018

[GabetrixDisney]

Hi there!
Deeply apologize if this is in wrong section.

Me and my significant other are planning our next trip to WDW and the only time that can work is January 3-9 or 4-10. Anyone else travel around that time?

My questions concerns are I know that marathon weekend will most likely take place during that period and does anyone have any advice on how to navigate around that or what to do to beat the crowds. The event sounds cool but unfortunately I'm not a runner.

We want to stay at CSR. We want to accomplish a lot but have some resort downtime to rest and take in the smaller moments. I'm excited and any advice on the time, events or anything would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[D0naldDuck!]

I by no means am a Disney planning expert but planning is my favorite part of Disney! Can you stay 1/3-1/10? That extra day can be a relax at the resort and Disney Springs type day.

We're currently planning for next year as well. What we found easiest was to split the day in half with downtime at the resort. So we did PPO BOG one day and Kona another, the did Magic Kingdom. Met family at Poly (we stayed CBR) and lunch, and went to another park after. With the split, we got a lot done. We were out the door by 7am and in bed by 11pm but we kept going all day (with a 1-3hr lunch break/downtime).

Edit to add: I too am from Philly!

Edit to add:
Here's an example of what we did one day:
5 am wake up and showers.
Leave by 7:00 am to get to PPO BOG.
8:05 breakfast, was done by 9:05 and in line for Peter Pan.
10:30 or 11: Friends Fair Show
11:30: left for Poly and met family for snack/lunch
2/3: AK
3-5: rides
5: dinner
6- fireworks: back to MK, more rides the fireworks.
After fireworks- leave for hotel. Which staying at CBR is distant so we got home between 10-11

 

[GabetrixDisney]

I by no means am a Disney planning expert but planning is my favorite part of Disney! Can you stay 1/3-1/10? That extra day can be a relax at the resort and Disney Springs type day.

We're currently planning for next year as well. What we found easiest was to split the day in half with downtime at the resort. So we did PPO BOG one day and Kona another, the did Magic Kingdom. Met family at Poly (we stayed CBR) and lunch, and went to another park after. With the split, we got a lot done. We were out the door by 7am and in bed by 11pm but we kept going all day (with a 1-3hr lunch break/downtime).

Thanks for the reply!
Our plan is to take breaks throughout. Last time we went we made the rookie mistake and tried to do everything we wanted. We did accomplish a lot but we ran ourselves into the ground and had zero energy by the time the trip was over.
We'll be planning things more accurately this time I'm just a little concerned with marathon Weekend and the massive crowds and traffic I keep hearing about. I don't even know where that's located.

 

[D0naldDuck!]

Thanks for the reply!
Our plan is to take breaks throughout. Last time we went we made the rookie mistake and tried to do everything we wanted. We did accomplish a lot but we ran ourselves into the ground and had zero energy by the time the trip was over.
We'll be planning things more accurately this time I'm just a little concerned with marathon Weekend and the massive crowds and traffic I keep hearing about. I don't even know where that's located.

Totally understand! Our trip is planned at the end of the princess races so we're in the same boat.

 

[gillep]

Hi there!
Deeply apologize if this is in wrong section.

Me and my significant other are planning our next trip to WDW and the only time that can work is January 3-9 or 4-10. Anyone else travel around that time?

My questions concerns are I know that marathon weekend will most likely take place during that period and does anyone have any advice on how to navigate around that or what to do to beat the crowds. The event sounds cool but unfortunately I'm not a runner.

We want to stay at CSR. We want to accomplish a lot but have some resort downtime to rest and take in the smaller moments. I'm excited and any advice on the time, events or anything would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I would highly recommend the 4-10. With the Marathon so close to NYE (again) the crowds that week will be quite high. We were there last year during this time frame and it was extremely crowded until the Monday directly after the marathon. MK will be the worst, so I highly recommend rope drop and leaving by like 1pm for a rest when the crowds really descend. I would also avoid Epcot the Sunday of the marathon, as a lot of runners like to hit World Showcase after the marathon. Not a lot of other tips really but to pack your patience, enjoy the little things, and give yourself plenty of time to get around. I can't really help with avoiding traffic as we stay at AKL specifically to be away from the race related traffic and don't venture too far past the lodge on Marathon day.

 

[cutigerlady]

Marathon weekend will start on Thursday and go through Sunday. Racers will be getting there on Wednesday for the crazy people (my husband) running all of the races!! They don't really crowd the parks because getting up so early, they go to bed early. They also are saving their legs and don't want to walk around too much. Especially as the week goes on. You will notice them in restaurants and around the resorts.

As for traffic, you definitely will notice it on Saturday and Sunday. I would plan to use Disney transportation to get to your parks on those days, especially Sunday for the marathon. The runners will be out of MK by park opening, but you will see them in AK, HS, and Epcot(definitely the most runners).

I love going at this time of year. Each day after the marathon, you'll notice the holiday decorations disappear.