Do all schools go back on Jan. 9th? Will this effect the crowds?

[Doede95]

Hi-
We booked a trip from Dec. 31- Jan 8th. Our kids up here in Illinois go back to school on the 9th. I know they say that after New Year's the crowds thin out, however will it be different this year? I am just wondering when everyone has Christmas break this year. I need to prepare myself if it is going to be holiday crowds. I love Disney and I will have fun either way. I was just hoping to get an idea of how crazy it will be. I appreciate any help. Thanks!

 

[alicenwonder99]

Hi,

I was wondering the same thing. This year we were there the first week of January and the crowds were dead. Our school district also didn't start back until the 10th, so the kids only missed 1 day of school (our traveling day back home). This year, because of Christmas being on Monday, I'm thinking that the rest of the schools will have that first full week of Jan off.

Mary

 

[Merriwind]

Sarasota County schools in Florida go back on the 3rd. So, maybe not a lot of states/counties/districts will have that week off in the US.

We've been the first week in January and it was very pleasant. I expected it to be almost deserted, but that wasn't the case. It seems much of Europe and South Africa's Christmas holidays extend through the first week in January, so we met lots of folks from abroad. (It seemed our American accents were in the minority!) But, the crowds were quite light--very, very manageable. FWIW, I think that's a great time to visit WDW, as long as most of the US is back in school.

 

[Doede95]

Thanks for your quick responses!!

 

[rkmassa]

Our kids are back the 2nd in S.E. Kansas.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

We went in Jan 2-6 last year, and the only crowds were on the 2nd. Epcot was almost empty the morning we went, and there were no lines more than 10 minutes in MK or Epcot. Even the weather was great!!!

Have fun
Jen

 

[Minerva]

We go back Jan 3 and I'm sure all the districts around me do too.

 

[claudia]

Long Island, NY, the kids are back 1/3.

 

[sunni]

I think in NY most kids are back the first day after New Year's. I didn't realize some had another week off. In 2001 we went the week of Jan 6, the crowds were light and lines were reasonable. Some things were closed, but that was expected. (And it was COLD that year!)

 

[SqueakyMouse]

My school system goes back on the 2nd, but my son's (We live in the neighboring district) goes back on the 9th. He gets 3 weeks as opposed to my 1 1/2 weeks this year. Not fair!

 

[TiggerPiglet]

The kids here go back on the 3rd too.

 

[Hieatt]

Our district in Ohio is back on Jan 3. If my district had the week of 1/2/06 off, I'd definitely be at WDW that week!

 

[Traveliz]

Where I am in ILlinois the kids will be back on the 3rd.

Liz

 

[akrake]

we went last year 1/12-20.....it was only crowded the weekend of mkl but thined out after that.

 

[SeaSpray]

We're in Massachusetts, and our schools (at least in my town, anyway!) will be going back on January 3rd, 2006.

 

[BCV23]

We're in DuPage County which is suburbs of Chicago. Our schools go back the 3rd.

On the DVC board someone had a poll going recently and almost everyone was going back 1/2 or 3 when I saw it.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Dallas public schools go back Jan. 4.

 

[LargoLori]

Pinellas County Fl schools go back on 1-2-06.

Lori

 

[sugermouse]

Where the heck is Illinois................

 

[Doede95]

Thanks for all of your answers. Now, I am really getting excited for our Disney trip. We are in New Lenox, Illinois which is a southwest suburb of Chicago. I guess not all Illinois schools go back on the 9th. I am happy we are in the minority.