Can't Get Excited About Going in January

[dixiedizfan]

We hate heat and crowds, so have always taken the kids out of school for WDW trips. Now they're both in HS, and can't miss a full week. However, we can go the first week in January, but I really have my doubts. We were always able to wear shorts on our past trips ... I can't imagine strolling thru MK in coats and gloves. It just wouldn't be the same ... or would it? Any thoughts or advice from those who have gone then?

 

[DawnM]

We have gone twice in January. We were not in coats and gloves at all. We had a good jacket that kept us warm or sweatshirts and we were fine. Only one or two days was it really chilly enough to keep the jacket/coat on all day. It wasn't bad at all. Literally walking on the rides is wonderful!

Dawn

We hate heat and crowds, so have always taken the kids out of school for WDW trips. Now they're both in HS, and can't miss a full week. However, we can go the first week in January, but I really have my doubts. We were always able to wear shorts on our past trips ... I can't imagine strolling thru MK in coats and gloves. It just wouldn't be the same ... or would it? Any thoughts or advice from those who have gone then?

 

[Poohsmommi]

We hate heat and crowds, so have always taken the kids out of school for WDW trips. Now they're both in HS, and can't miss a full week. However, we can go the first week in January, but I really have my doubts. We were always able to wear shorts on our past trips ... I can't imagine strolling thru MK in coats and gloves. It just wouldn't be the same ... or would it? Any thoughts or advice from those who have gone then?

It's usually cold here through February, and you will need the coat and sometimes gloves at night. Frankly, I find it a welcome change and love going at that time ... but I live here, so I do understand wanting to come to Florida and be able to swim, etc. You probably will not be able to do that ... it's been cold the last couple of years - but the parks are EMPTY.

 

[sanibelover]

I would consider the alternatives: July, 100 degress, 100 percent humidity, so many people you can't move, can feel the pavement burn your feet through your shoes

OR January, maybe 60 degrees (maybe colder, maybe warmer), walk on rides, not totally exhausted when you return to your room at night because of heat stroke, ......

I would take January any time!!!

 

[Uncle Servo]

I have been to WDW at various times between Thanksgiving and the end of February (including Christmas Day) since 1998, and I have never been so cold I had to wear long pants into the parks. Come to think of it, I've only rarely needed something more than a t-shirt & shorts during the daytime.

Now at night you might want either a light jacket or long pants, but that's about it.

 

[boston1029]

January is great! You're not sweating, little if any lines and a very enjoyable time to go.

 

[fizz13]

We were there this past january in the first couple of weeks and i have to say i thought the weather was great, definately shorts weather. I was actually annoyed because i had wasted packing space on warmer clothing. We had no problem going to Blizzard beach one day, it was plenty warm enough. So don't give up yet, you may be fine.

Claire xx

 

[Gabriel&Nana]

We hate heat and crowds, so have always taken the kids out of school for WDW trips. Now they're both in HS, and can't miss a full week. However, we can go the first week in January, but I really have my doubts. We were always able to wear shorts on our past trips ... I can't imagine strolling thru MK in coats and gloves. It just wouldn't be the same ... or would it? Any thoughts or advice from those who have gone then?

I have gone 2 times in January the parks are empty and it`s cold in the morning, but around 11Am it becames very pleasant/ you can use shorts & T-shirts. We used to go to wet rides around 1Pm and it was nice.
Sometimes, at night, there was a chilly wind ...
We never had interest in going to pools in January.

But my favourite time of the year at Disney is from middle September until the end of October. It`s hot , but not as July and the parks are emptiest than in January...

 

[Mymatisse]

I think it really depends what you are use to also. We are from NY so when we were leaving 30 degree temps and snow to come to sunny Floriday with 60's-65 degree temps during the day (or higher) it was a welcomed change. Native Floridians were walking around in gloves and a scarf but we thought they were nuts because the weather was beautiful. It did get a little chilly at night, but if you just throw on a jacket you'll be fine.

Just make sure you pack a few pairs of shorts, some jeans, t-shirts and sweatshirts so you can layer while in the parks and you'll be fine. Jan. is a wonderful time to go!

 

[JRawkSteady]

I always go during the Jan-Feb period and never had to wear gloves or a hat. Just a sweatshirt for the mornings and late evenings - (last feb it was my stitch sweatshirt - but then it got warm and I had to stuff it in my backpack)

 

[boomhauer]

I'm going in February and was a bit worried since it's obviously a bit cooler. When I went in January a couple years ago, it was actually very nice. It was a bit chilly in the morning, so we'd wear jeans and a sweatshirt. However, ny lunchtime, I wished I had worn shorts and always had my sweatshort off at that point.

Nights weren't bad. Just wore jeans and a sweatshirt and I was very comfortable.

 

[dixiedizfan]

Wow ... thanks to all who replied. I feel so much better about going in January now. What had me scared was that we live in hot and humid SC, and the past couple of Januaries, right after Christmas, we've had snow and ice. Wasn't sure how Florida was affected, though. Anyhow, I'll pack accordingly and hope for the best!

 

[disneymama73]

I am also visiting in January this year, and I am so excited! I don't do heat well at all and often become ill, so I can't wait to experience the cooler January weather and crowds.

Have a great trip!

 

[addicted2disney]

Disney is exactly the same wearing coats and gloves!! We have been there the past 7 January's and we have experienced upper 80's down to the 30's. We have had more nice, warm days than cold!! The year it was in the upper 80's, I was cranky. We were in AK that day, I was pushing the stroller and sweating. I hated it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE being in Disney when its just warm , and even cool where were have worn jeans and sweatshirts. Just the no crowds make you not even think about the fact you might have to change into something warmer when the sun goes down. You can walk on just about everything, you never get hot, the kids arent getting cranky from being hot or standing in lines, the parks have shorter hours, so you arent exhausted from being out in the parks for 18 hours.. Its perfect! The pools are heated, so the kids swim at night after the parks close. We even swam in 2003 when it was 40 at night!! LOL Disney is just as magical in jeans as it is in shorts. You will be sooooo happy NOT to be sweaty and standing in long lines, that you will want to go back in January every year. Well.. that at least how WE are!! Looking forward to our January 2006 trip!!

 

[Dina]

OMG!!! I love love love Disney in January. If my kids weren't sick all of January/February (I swear it feels like they are sick the entire winter-- preschoolers), we would go that time every year. We were there last January 7th-11th, and it was warm enough to swim. I had a long sleeve tshirt that I wore in the mornings and evenings, and in the afternoons took it off and wore short sleeves with shorts. Great Weather, no crowds and it was great because it was a break from the bitter cold that we have in the Northeast!!! Have a great time!!!!

 

[cruiserkaren]

Are the crowds in January comparable to those in September, particularly the week of/after Labor Day?

 

[StitchAMoo]

...but it can get cold. In Jan, 2002 - my first trip to Disney in Jan, I left Philadelphia where it was 36 degrees, to arrive in Orlando where it was 32 degrees! That was a major shock, since my only prior Florida experiences had been in the summer. I asked a few CM's and they said that was the coldest they remembered it in recent times. However, the weather quickly got back to more normal temperatures (70's daytime, low 50's night time). Regardless of the temperature, I had a great time, and the parks were EMPTY.

 

[m4travel]

Let me add our thanks, everyone, for your words of encouragement about WDW in January. We're going Home for the first time at the end of January for a couple of days after 4 days on the Wonder. We're tied into that particular cruise, so the park at that time is a given.

Of course, we used to vacation in England/Scotland/Wales during February so Florida in the 60s shouldn't be bad! Guess it's all a matter of being prepared for the weather. Your hints and advice are reassuring.

 

[addicted2disney]

Cruiserikaren- We took a trip 2 years ago at the very end of September into the first of October and not was it stinking sweltering and humid, lol, it was more crowded than January! I swear it had to be 85 degrees at midnight when we left MNSSHP.

StitchaMoo.. Thats weird.. we went in 2002 and thats the year it was in the mid-upper 80's!! I remember it because my DS was born in OCtober 2001, and that was his first trip and my mom's first trip too. I have pics where Im a complete sweat ball!!! We even bought the baby a hat with a big brim and flaps on the back of the hat to keep the sun off of his neck. It was HOT! Our hottest January trip ever. 2003 was our coldest. It was rather chilly most nights in the beginning of the trip, but by the last 2 days, it was COLD. Like 30 in the early morning. But it got better by afternoon, but still jeans and sweatshirt weather! THat was our coldest trip in January ever. All others have been in between. Some warm. Some cool. but those were our 2 extremes. Just goes to show you how the weather varies that time of year if you got 30's and I got 80's! ( even when it was 30 in '03, it was NEGATIVE 13 back in Pittsburgh.. negative 33 with the wind chill. Hmmm... 45 for the high wasnt sounding so bad..LOL)

mfortravel- do a weather check the day you leave. If its looking rather warm the whole time.. like 70's for the high, you should need too many wintery items. If the high is showing 50's.. bring jeans, a jacket, sweatshirts. I always buy some of those tiny little gloves that stretch to fit everyone.. I buy them for us and the kids. They take up no room and are great just to throw in a purse, stroller or back pack if its chilly. One more great thing about January.. not much rain. I remember it raining 3 times out of 10 trips. The first time it rained long enough for us to buy ponchos, then it stopped. That was our very first trip in 99. We never hit rain again until Jan. 04. We had one whole day of rain while we were in MGM. I mean.. we had to buy a poncho for the STROLLER! It poured off and on all day. THen it rained one evening this past January. Kept us from going to MK emh at night, but didnt keep the kids out of the pool at BWV!

 

[StitchAMoo]

Hi addicted2disney! You must have been there at the end of the month...I was there jan 4th-14th, 2002. It was 32 degrees when we arrived (but went up to a high of like 40 degrees - woohoo!). Also had 2 or 3 other days where the high only made it to the mid-50's. Brrrrrrr. But it was a great trip none the less. A cold day in Disney beats a warm day anywhere else.