Disneyland in late January?

[Elle23]

i found some extremely cheap airfare tickets to LAX in late January. I would love to go to Disneyland again (I grew up in Tustin.)

I have read that January is great for crowds, but that it rains a lot and lots of rides are closed during that time (and park hours are greatly reduced).

I'm trying to figure out if it is even worth it to go. Honestly, for me, just getting to be in the park and experience it again would be a big deal, but I know my kids want rides!

Does anyone have experience going in late January? Can you share it with me and tell me how it was for you? Would you recommend it?

 

[Aurora0427]

We are thinking about going the same time. I didn't realize it rained a lot in late January and that so many rides are closed. We've never been to Disneyland. Maybe we'll pick a different month.

 

[Malcon10t]

Average rainfall in Anaheim in all of Jan is 2.8 inches. Hours are usually 10a-8p Mon-Thurs, 8am-midnight Fri-Sun. They do have rides down in Jan-Feb. It is common. Here is a list of what was closed in Jan 2015. Some of these are short and are holiday overlay removals.

Disneyland

• Matterhorn Bobsleds – closed January 7 through May 16 for refurbishment.
• Haunted Mansion – closed January 12–22 for refurbishment.
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – closed January 12 through April 3 for refurbishment.
• Splash Mountain – closed January 12 through April 3 for refurbishment.
• Pooh Corner and all Critter Country stores – closed January 12 through April 3 for refurbishment.
• Hungry Bear Restaurant – closed January 12 through April 3 for refurbishment.
• Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes – closed January 12 through April 3 for refurbishment.
• Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough – closes January 19 for refurbishment; reopening date unknown.
• The Enchanted Chamber [Sleeping Beauty Castle virtual walkthrough] – closes January 19 for refurbishment; reopening date unknown.
• Snow White's Wishing Well and Grotto – closes January 19 for refurbishment; expected to reopen May 1.
• Cafe Orleans – closes January 26–28 for refurbishment.
• "it's a small world" – closed January 26 to February 5 to remove the holiday overlay.
• Disneyland Railroad – closes January 26 for refurbishment; expected to reopen February 13.
• La Mascarade d'Orleans– closes February 2 for conversion into a Pandora jewelry store; reopening date unknown.
• Peter Pan's Flight – closes February 2 for renovation; reopening date unknown.

Disney California Adventure

• It's Tough to be a Bug – dark through January 29 for refurbishment.
• The Bakery Tour – closed through January 26 for refurbishment.
• Soarin' Over California – closes January 6 through May 14 for refurbishment.
• Taste Pilots' Grill – closes January 7 through March 13 for refurbishment.
• Fly 'n' Buy – closes January 7 through March 13 for refurbishment.
• World of Color – dark January 7 through March 13 for refurbishment.
• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail – closes January 19 through March 3 for refurbishment.
• Grizzly River Run – closes January 20 for refurbishment; expected to reopen March 20.
• Boardwalk Bazaar; Sideshow Shirts; Point Magu Tattoo – expected to close January 26 for refurbishment; reopening date unknown.
• Ariel's Grotto – closes February 2 for refurbishment; reopening date unknown.
• Luigi's Flying Tires – scheduled to close February 3 for renovation; reopening date unknown. Has since been removed from public refurbishment calendar.

 

[tricia464]

We went the last week in January in 2016 and the weather was perfect. There were a few things closed for refurbishment, but none of the most popular rides. We were there for six days, so it was fine with us that the parks closed earlier as we had three small children in our group. We would definitely go back again at that time.

 

[l4dyj8]

The only thing guaranteed are ride closures for refurbishment.

Weather is widely unpredictable. One year is was perfectly sunny and cool. Another year rainy.

It used to be low crowds. But this year, jan 29 to be exact was horribly crowded. It was like spring break/holiday crowds. I don't know what it was. They had a Lunar New Year event. It was also the first good weather weekend in SoCal. They also had a SoCal ticket deal that was happening. But it felt like everyone was there. We have passes so it wasn't that big of a deal. But we really didn't bother with any rides that day cause it was that bad. There was a long extended line for Ariel of all things! (As a frame of reference, this is usually 5 minutes)

 

[tiffjoy]

My younger daughter' birthday is the end of January, so we have been at DLR 3 out of the last 5 years (one other was spent at WDW and did something different another year) and we have plans again this coming January 2018.

We have always enjoyed ourselves. It has rained in the past, one year quite a bit. And it's much cooler. But the crowds are always lower then as a result. We bring rain jackets if rain is expected and winter coats if it's cold, and it's never been a problem. I do make sure to have dinner reservations at that time of year after learning our lesson eating outside in the dark and cold, and last year, learned a further lesson on that one that WCT terrace is still cold on cold nights even with the space heaters.

This past year, DD's bday weekend lined up with Chinese New Year, and that was a lot of fun. I really liked the celebration at CA, and would recommend trying to time with that if you are going in Jan/Feb time.

Since it's DD's birthday, and she asks every year to go there, we wouldn't ever consider not going. But the park hours are shorter, rides will be down (she's always upset IASW is closed because it's one of her favs but it's always is down then to de-Christmas), it's colder, and it sometimes rains. But I've never NOT enjoyed DLR. We also go in mid-August for older DD's bday, and that month carries the same amount of negatives, just different ones. You just have to be prepared for them, no matter what time you go- there will always be some challenges.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I've lived in Orange County my entire life. It it not consistantly rainy in January. Sometimes we get no rain at all in January. This past year we got a lot of rain but it was the end of a very long drought so it wasn't typical. Sometimes it's 70 degrees and sunny in January. I wouldn't let weather concerns put you off of a January trip at all.

 

[Angel Ariel]

We're looking at an end of Jan. trip as well, so thank you for posting this!

 

[Elle23]

Thanks for all of your replies and input.

I'm still undecided on what to do. And I'll probababy stay that way till the flight prices skyrocket and hotels become unavailable.

It's just hard at this point not knowing exactly what will be closed down. That list from 2015 was extensive, but other years it looked like not as much was closed.