Disney World in January??? or Thanksgiving?

[sccruises]

Hi,

I would love hear some feedback on what the weather is like in Disney mid to late January. I am currently booked to stay in Disney World this Thanksgiving for 4 nights. Due to time constraints, that's all I can do in November. We have never been there around Christmas time or have ever done the Mickeys Very Merry Christmas party. So, this gave us the opportunity to do this for a few days with 2 kids, 8 and 3. The other option is we can wait till January and go for a whole week (which is better to have more time). I am just not sure how the weather is. My kids do enjoy going in the pool a day or two. We usually go to Disney in either March, April, or May. Would appreciate some feedback to help me decide since I have to make a decision quick. Thank you so much!

 

[Lynzer4]

I have been multiple times the first week of February. Its my favorite time to go.

You will most likely have to dress in layers. In the morning it can be cold but it usually warms up to mid 60's. During my most recent trip this year we had to wear jackets every morning but always took them off mid-day. One morning it was cold (like 40) the next it was 55. So it can change quickly.

As for swimming the pools are heated so they are always nice but it can be cold getting in and out. My nephew swam a few times (on the days that got in the mid 60's).

That's a tough call but I think I would wait and go in January. Longer trips are always better in my opinion plus Crowds will be less too. I've never done the Xmas party but I've done the Halloween party. An extra day would give you more time in the park vs the time at the party. Plus the cost of the party ticket would be more then an additional day if you are going a week.

 

[TommyJK]

Similar question was asked over in the Universal Forums. Here's what I wrote:

The temperatures can yo-yo from day to day. I was down Mid-January 2014, the winter of the "Polar Vortex" and it was so varied from day to day. Some days we had temperatures in the low 70's and it was nice enough to swim/sunbathe. Other days it was in the low 50's. So a really mixed bag from day to day.

A site I check to see historical temperatures for exact dates is https://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KORL/2016/1/15/DailyHistory.html

Have a look at that and check some historical temps for the time you are going from years past.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We have been to Disney many times in mid January to the first week of February and most of the times it is on the chilly side. We've had several trips where the temps dropped in the 30's and the high of the day barely broke 50. Those were cold days. But the parks are less crowded that time of year than around Thanksgiving. The one thing to keep in mind is that all of the parks have shorter hours and rides that are closed for refurbishment, especially the water rides. It isn't unusual for MK to close at 8 or 9pm in late January.

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

We visited at the end January of this year, having previously visited in March, June, and December. During our week in the the World this past January, the low temps were down in the 30's-low 40's and high temps reached upper 60's-low 70's. For someone that lives up North, I imagine those temps would be perfect! However, we are from Texas and thought we might freeze to death.

ETA: my girls were 7 and 9 on this trip and they went for a short swim once.

 

[gatorlisa]

Central Florida temps are so unpredictable in January. I have been the last week of January the last two years (this year and 2015). In 2015, it was pleasant. Shorts with t-shirt during the day, light jacket at night. 2016 was borderline miserable. It rained a lot and was cold. No shorts that trip and jacket stayed on pretty much all day. The last day of the trip was very cold for Orlando and very windy making temps feel like they were in the 30s. I cannot imagine swimming in that type of weather. I know the pools are heated, but still, not my idea of pool weather. If decent pool weather is important, November is a safer bet. Personally, I'd still go in January, because I'd rather not deal with the crowd levels of a major holiday, and pool use is not a factor for me. But you'll need to decide if the extra time is worth the risk of less favorable weather.

 

[CynBeth]

There is no MVMCP that week. The last one is held the Friday before and it will not be again until the Sun after. The Holidays Around the World and CP begin on Black Friday. Depending on what your 4 days are it would probably not be worth it. Instead of Jan could you go a whole week around Thanksgiving or early Dec next year when you would hopefully have more time for all of the holiday stuff including resort hopping to see the decorations?

 

[KrazeeK120]

Similar question was asked over in the Universal Forums. Here's what I wrote:

The temperatures can yo-yo from day to day. I was down Mid-January 2014, the winter of the "Polar Vortex" and it was so varied from day to day. Some days we had temperatures in the low 70's and it was nice enough to swim/sunbathe. Other days it was in the low 50's. So a really mixed bag from day to day.

A site I check to see historical temperatures for exact dates is https://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KORL/2016/1/15/DailyHistory.html

Have a look at that and check some historical temps for the time you are going from years past.

I was down in mid January 2014 as well! I think the wind chill was something like -20 at home in Illinois. I was also down the same time in 2013. The wind chill was down in the 30s some mornings, and the high got up to the low 70s some days. It was really a mixed bag, but anything other than spending my birthday in -20 wind chill was fine with me!