Early January 2016 trip - advice please!

[Sorcerer Jody]

Hello! I had been planning a Feb. 2016 trip to Disneyland with my two kids (5 & 6), hoping for lower crowds, but with the news of Rivers of America and the railroad closing, I am rethinking. My kids love trains and I can't imagine not starting our vacation with a trip around the park. And one of our top things to do was see Fantasmic!, which they have never seen but it is my very favourite show ever. So instead, I am thinking of early January, maybe the 8th - 14th? I am assuming that the weekend of the 8th-10th will be crazy busy, do you think? Not only with the closing of ROA and DR, but also the permanent closing of Big Thunder Ranch and Aladdin. But then do you think after the weekend, the Monday - Wednesday might be pretty quiet? I think the Star Wars half-marathon is the next weekend, so it will get busy again. I've never been in January before - any thoughts? It will just be me and the kids, so lower crowds will make things a bit easier. Also, I would definitely try to book a Blue Bayou Fantasmic dinner on the 8th or 9th - I checked and it's too early to make the reservation now...do you think it will be hard to get a reservation? Thanks so much for any help/advice!

 

[Bud Ice]

Early January is a decent time to go. Just be mindful of the pending closures and such.

 

[Sorcerer Jody]

Yes, I would be going in order to see some of the attractions before they closed. Would most of you agree that the weekend of Jan. 8 - 10th will probably be very busy? But maybe the next few days a bit quieter? I know no one can say for sure what it will be like, but I feel like I just need some opinions/thoughts before I book anything! Thanks.

 

[Sorcerer Jody]

Also, do you think there will be nightly fireworks and Paint the Night in January, or just on weekends?

 

[brianerickson]

the dates you're looking at are actually the exact dates I'm going (well, the 9th to the 13th; close enough)!

I personally don't think that weekend is going to be too terrible; especially with all of the Southern California Select AP pass holders blocked from the parks that Saturday; maybe Sunday might be a bit worse than usual, but I'm not really worried about much (then again, I'm highly receptive to crowds and usually go during the summer anyway)