Disney in the winter!

[kandb]

We have always visited in the summer. We are considering visiting in January! I know park hours will be shorter but am wondering positive/negatives about visiting then. We are going during a low crowd time and plan on staying at POR. We love our nice sit down dinners, so will be doing that every night in either DS or at one of the restaurants on property. We are 5 people and if the parks close at around 5-6pm and it's dark out, I am wondering what we are going to do every night? For people who have visited at that time, did you like it? Did you get bored at night? I know we can spend some time walking around DS but not every night for 7 nights. Our children are teenagers. I know we will enjoy not sweltering from the heat for a change. Lol Any advice/recommendations about a January trip? Thank you!

 

[Tom_E_D]

We have always visited in the summer. We are considering visiting in January! I know park hours will be shorter but am wondering positive/negatives about visiting then. We are going during a low crowd time and plan on staying at POR. We love our nice sit down dinners, so will be doing that every night in either DS or at one of the restaurants on property. We are 5 people and if the parks close at around 5-6pm and it's dark out, I am wondering what we are going to do every night? For people who have visited at that time, did you like it? Did you get bored at night? I know we can spend some time walking around DS but not every night for 7 nights. Our children are teenagers. I know we will enjoy not sweltering from the heat for a change. Lol Any advice/recommendations about a January trip? Thank you!

Disney has listed park hours through January 12 and none of the parks are closing as early as 5:00 or 6:00. AK is the earliest and it is open until 7:00. Even last year, only AK closed as early as 5:00 or 6:00, and last year was very unusual and due to Covid.

 

[Disneylover99]

When in January are you going? From what I can see, up to the 12th, Epcot/HS close at 9pm.
I never get bored in the winter, I would just hang at the resort in the evening or visit other resorts if you don't want to/can't visit a park.

 

[WhoDatDisney]

Lower crowds and usually wonderful cool weather

 

[kandb]

When in January are you going? From what I can see, up to the 12th, Epcot/HS close at 9pm.
I never get bored in the winter, I would just hang at the resort in the evening or visit other resorts if you don't want to/can't visit a park.

Jan 28 to Feb 5th. I thought the parks closed very early! Glad to hear they don't.

 

[gharter]

January is dicey. We have had great trips and good weather and we have have cold and rainy trips.
Leaving the mid west (cold and snow) and getting to Florida with wind, rain and 50s was not a great time (only slightly better). Just watch the weather closely and plan accordingly.

 

[mom2rtk]

Disney in a sweatshirt is pure heaven! We've been in December or January for week long trips 6 times. And we've had rain only 1 or 2 days. We had that bitter cold in 2010. And the hot early January in 2020. But mostly it's gorgeous sweatshirt weather.

 

[cjlong88]

January/February is one of our favorite times to visit. Little to no humidity, lower crowds. We did early February earlier this year and it was simply wonderful. Agree with others that wearing a sweatshirt at Disney is awesome.

The only real negative I can think of is that it may be too cool to swim or enjoy the water rides where you may get soaked, especially if it’s brisk outside. But if those two things aren’t absolute must-dos for your trip, you will be fine.

No issues with parks closing too early for us because the lower crowds allowed us to do everything we wanted to experience in the time frames we had. I actually enjoyed being back at my resort a little earlier in the evening, sleeping in a little more than usual, etc.

 

[motherof5]

We have always visited in the summer. We are considering visiting in January! I know park hours will be shorter but am wondering positive/negatives about visiting then. We are going during a low crowd time and plan on staying at POR. We love our nice sit down dinners, so will be doing that every night in either DS or at one of the restaurants on property. We are 5 people and if the parks close at around 5-6pm and it's dark out, I am wondering what we are going to do every night? For people who have visited at that time, did you like it? Did you get bored at night? I know we can spend some time walking around DS but not every night for 7 nights. Our children are teenagers. I know we will enjoy not sweltering from the heat for a change. Lol Any advice/recommendations about a January trip? Thank you!

We went in December one year and wore winter coats in the park. We go in Feb most years and it's not too bad. I would say look at the weather a week before the trip to plan your outfits. If it's cold it wasn't busy so that's a positive.

 

[mickeymom629]

We will be going early January in 2022. We have gone early January before and it was a mixed bag of drizzle, cold and very nice. Another time we went at the end of January and it was quite cold (50s), rainy some days, perfect other days with sun. So, definitely check the weather and plan for layers. I'd take January's mixed bag over the summer heat any day!

 

[MsVanderquack]

It’s a great time to go, but bring layers and bring some options that are warmer than you think you’ll need. My in laws were freezing in sweatshirts during a Feb trip during a school break cold snap.

During a Jan trip I layered a fleece with a packable insulated jacket for a few mornings and even DH wore a pullover some days. It was an awesome trip but having layers was important. I only wore shorts one day that trip (on our arrival afternoon).

 

[RNTeacher]

We love the winter because I hate it when it is so oppressively hot. We have been in summer, spring and winter and my favorite is absolutely winter. I have never been bored.
Bring things to layer and enjoy! We are looking forward to our January visit!

 

[lorenae]

I go in the winter often, and haven’t been in the summer for more than 30 years. Usually, my favorite time is between new year’s an MLK weekend (it’s quietest from about January 5 or so until about the 18th) and after MLK weekend.
In 2020, it was in the 80s and pretty warm for an entire week. In 2019, it was cool and breezy. In December 2019, though, it was pretty warm.
It’s great- lower crowds, comfortable temperatures, no hot sun beating down on you while walking around Animal Kingdom, and the animals are very active in the cool-ish mornings.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

It can be the absolute best time to visit. No oppressive heat, no threat of hurricanes and storms in general. We've done it for years, and rarely have a trip where we don't enjoy some days at the pool. We have hit the rare cold snap, but most of the time the weather is great.

 

[Distriv]

January/February is my go-to time to visit. I live in the Northeast so getting away from the cold for a week is a nice treat. Crowds are usually lower too as long as you avoid race weekends and Mardi Gras.

 

[igrsod]

When we go in the winter, we rent/borrow movies back at the resort, play games (especially cards), and explore the resort areas at night when the parks close early. We actually like this better. We make great memories and don't feel so tired from spending long evening hours at the parks.
The only thing we found is that sometimes it's warm during the day, but very cool at night. We always packed two types of clothes and carried a sweater in a backpack during the day.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We have gone to WDW many times in January and we usually have weather that is too cold for swimming. A disadvantage is that there are always some rides that are closed for refurbishment and the parks close early. If it is really cold, like a high in the 50's, it can be downright cold in the parks, especially since they leave the doors of the stores open and there are few places to warm up. But it is also nice to get away from our cold winter in the Midwest. And the room rates are low. We go back every year, so it can't be too bad.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We have gone to WDW many times in January and we usually have weather that is too cold for swimming. A disadvantage is that there are always some rides that are closed for refurbishment and the parks close early. If it is really cold, like a high in the 50's, it can be downright cold in the parks, especially since they leave the doors of the stores open and there are few places to warm up. But it is also nice to get away from our cold winter in the Midwest. And the room rates at low. We go back every year, so it can't be too bad.

Your point about attractions being closed at times for refurb is a good one. They do tend to take some things down for longer-term maintenance between New Year's and March. Although lately, with the refurb/construction schedules being messed up due to Covid, they have maintenance outages all year round, it seems. But we have also had the occasional disappointment that something is not running while we're there in Jan/Feb.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Your point about attractions being closed at times for refurb is a good one. They do tend to take some things down for longer-term maintenance between New Year's and March. Although lately, with the refurb/construction schedules being messed up due to Covid, they have maintenance outages all year round, it seems. But we have also had the occasional disappointment that something is not running while we're there in Jan/Feb.

Splash Mountain and Kali River Rapids are the two rides that are most frequently closed during this time. The water parks will close when it is cold, as well as some of the feature pools at deluxe resorts, although the leisure pools stay open.

 

[mom2rtk]

When it's 50 degrees out in FL, you'll find cast members in winter coats and gloves. I'll be the one in shorts.