Can't Get Excited About Going in January

[Camping Griswalds]

We've gone in Jan 5 times and Aug 2 times. August is a killer!!We just dress in layers for Jan. t-shirt, sweatshirt light jacket, always down to t-shirt by mid day. We watch weather for jeans or shorts and have worn both in Jan on different days. We've never worn heavy jackets!!! It has gotten down to freezing while we were there, but the parks aren't open so late that you are freezing!!!

 

[henrylovespooh]

We went late February of this year and loved it. DH hates heat and my favorite season is autumn. We loved being able to wear jeans and a sweatshirt. Most days the sweatshirts came off and we wore t-shirts, and many afternoons shorts would have been fine.

Compared to other trips when it was hotter, I felt I could do more because the heat didn't get to me and wipe me out. And my kids' moods were better.

I thought it was great. I hope to go again at that time.

 

[addicted2disney]

Hi StitchaMoo!! Your trip sounds like our 2003 trip!! I agree though. I cold day in Disney is better than a warm day anywhere else!!
We always try to make our trips towards the end of the month. This coming Jan we will be there from 19-29. WOOHOOO The cooler weather also keeps locals away it seems. It was DEAD there in 2003. We stayed one night for Spectromagic and it was SOOOOOOOOO cold we were bundled up in our winter coats and gloves!! iT WAS GREAT!! We could see 2 other families in all of Frontierland, and we got ALL the attention from the characters in the parade!!! The kids loved it.

 

[addicted2disney]

Hi StitchaMoo!! Your trip sounds like our 2003 trip!! I agree though. I cold day in Disney is better than a warm day anywhere else!!
We always try to make our trips towards the end of the month. This coming Jan we will be there from 19-29. WOOHOOO The cooler weather also keeps locals away it seems. It was DEAD there in 2003. We stayed one night for Spectromagic and it was SOOOOOOOOO cold we were bundled up in our winter coats and gloves!! iT WAS GREAT!! We could see 2 other families in all of Frontierland, and we got ALL the attention from the characters in the parade!!! The kids loved it.

 

[LiteBrite]

We used to go in January every single year (I homeschooled my daughter all the way from kindergarten through high school, so we weren't tied down to the school schedule), and we *loved* it. Now that she's in college, we're school schedule slaves like everybody else, and I miss those January trips so much! Everything is so uncrowded and laid back, and the weather is usually just wonderful - sunny and a little cool. We rarely got to swim, though, but it just never seemed like that big a trade-off, considering how pleasant the parks are.

You do, however, need to be prepared for truly cold weather, which does happen sometimes. If it does, just bundle up and go with it - the parks will be even less crowded!

 

[joliesmom]

We usually go in Jan and the past few years have been cold. This past Jan there was only 1 day in the 70's that my daughter could swim. We came from New Jersey and were looking forward to warm weather. It seems like each year it has been colder. On the other hand I just returned from WDW and it was ungodly HOT, so i'll probably return to Jan trips.

 

[ErinSLP]

I feel so much better about our upcoming Jan trip to WDW. We went in July for our honeymoon, and it was almost unberable---the crowds and the heat! Our next trip was Feb, the first 3 days we swam every day. The last 2- we had to buy coats. But we had so much more energy and were able to do so much more.

I'm really starting to get excited now, although packing will be tough!

 

[kizmac]

I know what you mean. We always went in September and the one time we went in December 03,Florida had a major cold snap. We needed hats and gloves and jackets. I am from PA and I was freezing. Not to help matters, we all got the flu while there too. Having done Disney in the heat and the cold both and just recently back.......give me the heat any day. It just wasn't the same. Not to mention I hated packing for that time of year because of how unpredictable the weather is. It's bad enough having to pack for 6 kids but trying to cover every possible weather condition, not easy.....BUT I would rather be chilly at Disney than not go at all so just go and enjoy! Hopefully they will have a warm streak while you are there.

 

[Taratink]

We have gone 2 times in January. The first time it was cool in the morning and hot in the sun in the afternoon. The second trip was really cool.We still went to the water parks but it was chilly. The weather reminds me of spring in New England. The parks were pretty empty. Dress in layers.
Tara

 

[TinkHappy]

Us too, Us too!!!! We are going at the end of January. We can't wait. We have been in May, October, November, December and August can't wait to add January to the list. I enjoy the cooler weather. We are from CT, so the cooler weather doesn't bother us. I just LOVE WDW, so whatever the weather...We will be there!!!
Don't worry and have fun!!!

 

[Michelina]

The first week of January is our favorite time to go! The parks are still so pretty for the holidays and we were able to see the Osborne Lights this year. I wore a pair of jeans for the flight down and I think I only remember wearing them one night, the rest of the time we were in shorts and t-shirts! The crowds really thin down after the first two or three days. I'm sure that you and your family will have a wonderful time!

 

[DOOM1001]

I love going in January, it might be a bit cold in the morning and after the sun goes down especially if it's windy. Being from Florida where it's hot, humid and rainy 80 percent of the year I'll take highs in the 60's and 70's and lows in the 30's or 40's anytime, especially since it rarely ever rains in January and the weather is beautiful.

 

[cjb71870]

Jan. to Feb. is a value season which usually means crowds are low. Our weather can be crazy. Just watch the reports for FL before you come.

 

[harvey]

We go for Lotusphere at the end of January, and have done so for several years. I think it's awesome for all the same reasons others have posted.

This past January was whacko, though, as the first part was unseasonably warm (mid 80's) while the week we were there was the coldest Orlando had seen in 20 years (it was 41 and windy the day we went to MK). I must say that was no fun. We had frost on the car each morning, and did no shorts the entire week The kids had fun, but I was bummed....I think it had more to do with the overcast skies all week and not so much the cold.

Every other time we've gone it's usually sunny and pleasant. One of my favorite things is walking along World Showcase waiting for Illuminations with hot cocoa! (It does get chilly after dark around the lake, so we do bring hats and mittens when we go to Epcot).

Also, there tends to be a lot of construction hither and yon around the World in January as crowds are so low. Generally not a problem, but again, this past January it seemed more so....and with the weather, it wasn't one of our best trips. Even so, I'd choose January over any of the summer months in a heartbeat.

Have fun!

 

[laurabelle]

I just noticed your thread after I posted on a simliar thread here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=929747

 

[cjb71870]

During our winter days the weather is perfect usually. Sun comes out and it's great. But, our nights vary on the weather coming. We get cold fronts that can really be COLD! Two years ago on the first weekend of Dec. the temp. got down to 32 degrees. Last year on the same weekend it wasn't bad. Just watch the weather forecasts for FL. before you come. We don't have snow atleast.

 

[jann1033]

we went in 04( second Jan trip). both times it was nice most days, first trip needed occasional sweatshirt, 1 day and some eveings, last trip 2 night and 1 day we needed winter coats/jeans( temps were in the 40-50s but the wind was really strong so felt more like late Oct- early nov in the north). the rest of the days were short/ capri weather. we usually took a light jacket/sweatshirt for wishes ect as once the sun goes down it's cooler. sometimes we used it mostly we didn't. if you are from the north it should be a nice break as Ohio was inablizzard whenwe left...btw, the cold snap was unusual last time according to the weather channel ect. a nor'easter came through while we were there and all the locals were making a huge deal out of it so i think it was very abnormal

swimming is iffy that time of yr...( not abig thing to me), don't think most days would be good water park days, resort pool would probably be ok( husband swam at vero the week before we were at disney, din't take the time at disney) but for the lack of crowds, walking on rides( longest we ever waited was tot 15min without fp, did use fp once or twice for rnr ans stuff like that and then had no wait for those things but fp isn't always open) we are spoiled and i am afraid to go any other time!

maybe we have just been fortunate but i think most times you'd look out of place in gloves and mittens..i saw some that one day and night but the first time i have ever seen them at disney..( unless you like them with shorts )we used to go in dec( 6 times) and the weather was about the same and never saw them then either. even at it's coldest i didn't need them and probably wouldn't have worn a winter coat if i had had more to layer under a sweatshirt.( just took tees and 1 lghtweight fleece)

 

[TinkHappy]

During our winter days the weather is perfect usually. Sun comes out and it's great. But, our nights vary on the weather coming. We get cold fronts that can really be COLD! Two years ago on the first weekend of Dec. the temp. got down to 32 degrees. Last year on the same weekend it wasn't bad. Just watch the weather forecasts for FL. before you come. We don't have snow atleast.

We were there that week. Wouldn't you believe the day we left it was 80*, funny how things work out. We still had a blast and I picked up a couple extra Disney sweatshirts for our cold winters here in CT.