Are there any cons to going in January?

[sweet7696]

Hi everyone!! My husband and I would like to celebrate my birthday and our (almost) first anniversary in WDW next year. This means going at the very end of January. I've only ever been in the summer, so what can I expect? I know the crowds will be smaller, but are there any cons to going at this time (other than shorter hours)?? Any help is greatly appreciated!
Jess

 

[noseybuddy]

Well if you want to do the Water Parks it might be a bit too chilly. The weather can go either way. I have had it warm and cold that time of year.

 

[Chuck S]

WE used to always go to WDW in January, now we go in early December to do the Christmas stuff. But January was usually a very nice time to go. Do expect the parks to close earlier and some attractions to be down for rehab that time of year, though.

 

[TDC Nala]

It's COLD at night. Can be cold during the day, too.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Shorter park hours (which isn't toobad because it's not very crowded).

More than average amount of rehab rides.

It is freezing. Probably too cold for water parks/rides. Nights will be very cold and days might be too.

But like FL weather this can change daily.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

We're taking our first trip home to DVC in the first week of January '05. It didn't take much for me to make that decision this year when I was shoveling snow for the greater part of January. Freezing in Florida = perfectly splendid weather for Canadians in the middle of winter.

 

[Shannon G]

It is freezing. Probably too cold for water parks/rides. Nights will be very cold and days might be too.

Actually, the weatheris hit or miss. While it CAN be freezing, it can actually be quite nice also. We have gone twice in January and once in February, and had very nice weather each time - 70s and 80s. We generally don't visit the water parks, but have gone swimming at the hotel, including. I would say just be prepared for anything as far as the weather goes. The last time we went in January, we had great weather, but just the week before we arrived they had had frost several nights.

Personally, I thinks it's a great time to go. Yes there will be shorter hours, but you won't be spending as much time in line, so you will be able to see more attractions in a shorter time. I'll take that over the heat and crowds of summer any day!

 

[sweet7696]

Thanks guys! I'm not too concerned about weather. It is at least freezing, if not far below that here in Missouri in January. I can take it! LOL!!! I'll just pack a variety of clothing. Also, the water parks aren't a big deal to us (well, husband). He can't swim, so we probably won't ever go there, even in the summer. I will be happy so long as the crowds are low and I'm not sweating through my clothes.. LOL!
Jess

 

[Saa62]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think most of the Christmas decorations will still be up at that time. I don't think they get serious about taking them down until the first of February, so you may get an added bonus of the holiday decorations.

 

[Chuck S]

Actually, most of the Christmas decorations will be gone during the first week of January. We saw very remaining Christmas stuff when we used to visit prior to MLK weekend.

 

[iwannabeminnie]

We always like to straddle January and February. Go the last few days of January and return the first few days of February. The weather can be 80 one day and 50 the next though, so be sure you pack for both extremes. One more hint.....the last time we straddled a month we where in for a shock when we went to check out. The same credit card we used to check in was no good when we went to check out! It expired the last day of January! My husband got a dumb look on his face when he remembered the new card coming in just before we left home. He tossed it into the desk unopened without even thinking that we would NEED it! Fortunately, we had another card we could use (just not the one we WANTED to use).

 

[msmouse]

We are going Jan 25-Jan 30, 2005. We have been there the last 4 years in January. We love it! Walk on everything. We have been very, very lucky with weather. Picture perfect each time. As far as rehabs, I guess we have been lucky there too because there were none except one year when Splash was down.

 

[LisaRay]

Hi, we have been 3 times in Jan. and we really do like it. Crowds are small and yes hours are shorter but epcot is always open late. And we like the shorter hours as long as crowds are low because we don't feel the pressure of staying out late. We can get an early start in the AM and then close down the parks and plan on a nice dinner at one of the resort hotels. Then relax in our room for awhile before bed. When a park is open till 9,10,11 or later you just don't get a chance to relax or enjoy your hotel.

The only thing we don't like is that it is cold. We are from IL. and it is still cold even to us. The kids rarely took there sweatshirts off. the adults did mid day but put them right back on when the sun went down. Now don't get me wrong i would much rather be cold at disney than have it be in the 90's! ( been there done that in july and never have gone in the hot months again! )

But as long as you don't care to swim you will be fine!
This year we will be there the 2nd week of Nov. because my DH said when we were there just this past jan. that he wanted our next trip to be warm enough to swim.

By the way: i know there will be people who will say that they swim in Jan. but after 3 years in a row staying a week each time we never had a day that it was warm enough to make the swimming fun. yes, you could do it but we wouldn't have enjoyed it! As a matter of fact we have 4 days worth of water park pluses left from old tickets we hope to use on our next trip in Nov.

 

[jtjarvis]

We went this past 1/30-/2/1 and had an odd assortment of weather, plus lots of rain, but we're from the south and did not come for the weather. We had an absolute ball. Stayed at FW, were one of relatively few occupied cabins, enjoyed short park hours because we got to do MK attractions to the nines. Rode Splash twice in a row without lines, that kind of thing etc. We'd started out following a crowd strategy by hitting Fantasyland early and that was smart because later in the day the lines backed up-- but we actually abandoned our strategy in the afternoon because we realized there was no need for one!

Believe me, we will always go with a strategy in mind but I just wanted to post a delightful lack-of-line report!

Have fun!!

 

[sweet7696]

Thanks again everyone! I love hearing about all the short lines! LOL!!! I just really wanted to beat the heat. When we went in June 2002 the heat made both of us cranky at times... Hopefully this time around we won't have to sweat all day. LOL!!
Jess

p.s. Do they have fireworks (at least on the weekends) at MK during January??

 

[Forever42]

The best thing about the end of January is that you can go on Superbowl Sunday...when no one else is in the park!

I believe they do fireworks at the MK every day, rain or shine. They won't drop Tinkerbelle in inclement weather, though.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

One of the things I noticed between going in the spring and our trip last Dec. was shortened daylight hours. We were pretty much in for the evening after dinner because my DD's aren't crazy about going out at night and it would be dark after dinner.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Since you don't mind the weather you will have a great time. I've gone 3 times the end of January and this year the beginning of February. The weather has been nice almost every day. One day this last time it was very chilly, but the other days, including all the other trips, it was nice. I would start the day out in shorts, short sleeve shirt and a sweatshirt and before noon I would have shed the sweatshirt. I'd have it with me in case I needed it before park closing. We've also have VERY little rain.

I didn't watch the MK fireworks, but I know that they were offered at least a time or two during the week.

I agree with other posters that I like the shortened hours. Since it isn't crowded we do everything that we want to do, but are not "burning the candle at both ends". It's amazing how exhausted we still were every evening, though.

This last trip I went with my sister and my 4yo, I will go with just my 4yo this October, and hopefully my 4yo, my sister, and my 81yo mother this December. Then I have to figure out how to squeeze one more trip in maybe the end of January before my AP expires...

T&B

 

[Serenity]

I love going in January too. We have been for the last 3 years - my husband likes to run the Marathon. And we will be going back in Jan '05 (after we spend 5 days there at the end of Dec for my first ever Christmas trip - how did I get lucky enough to have a husband who understands my Disney addiction???).

The other posters are all correct in that the weather is very different from day to day. I have been when we spent the entire week in shorts, swam every day (and I am from the south - I don't swim if when you get out of the pool you freeze), and had to wear sun screen because we were getting sun burnt. I have also been in January when we had to wear jeans and sweatshirts every day and for the night time parades and fireworks we brought blankets and put them in lockers during the day. So just be prepared for all kinds of different weather and enjoy the fact that you have the parks to yourself.

ENJOY.

 

[sweet7696]

Thanks again everyone! You guys are getting me so excited (as if I need ANOTHER reason to be excited about Disney!)!! I've been dreaming about going back since we got on the plane to go home the last time we were there! LOL!!! Now I just have to figure out what resort to stay at and how to get time off from work.. LOL! Thanks again everyone!
Jess