Early January vs. Early March

BankBunny

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Sep 23, 2005
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I'm looking ahead to 2012. My DH and I are looking to bring a couple that we are good friends with to Disney for the first time. Our time table is limited since they both go to college part-time. So we are looking at either early January (roughly Sunday the 8th-Sunday the 15th) or early March(roughly Sunday the 4th-Sunday the 11th). We've never gone at either time before. We don't have kids so we usually go in May or September. So what can you tell me about the crowds in the parks and booking at 7 months out for either January or March.
 
Crowds that time in Jan are for some of those days similar to September. The first couple will be a little more (not much) crowded because of Marathon weekend and the last two days will be more crowded because it begins MLK weekend but nothing unmanageable.

March 4 to 11 will be significantly more crowded although still not overwhelming. First few days of March are not bad but as soon as you the first full week you start hitting real spring break weeks.

As to weather, that March time is usually low 70s/high 60s but can get some cooler days (50s) or hotter ones into the 80s. January can vary substantially. Have been that time when it has been high 70s/low 80s all week with no rain, when it was mostly mid-60s but one or two 40s day and some rain, and then there was January 2010 when we were there for 9 days:

Entire time highs in 40s with one low 50s. 20s at night and early morning, got up to high 30s by noon, mid to high 40s by 2 and then as soon as the sun set at about 6 temp dropped to the mid 30s and a few hours later you were close to the 20s. Coldest I have ever been in Orlando on consecutive days and it basically had about 16 days in a row just like that which we kept hearing was one of the or the longest stretch of hitting sub-freezing temps on consecutive days that Orlando ever had.

As to booking 7 months out you may be blocked out at BCV (some chance), VWL (some chance), BWV standard or boardwalk view (less chance), BLT MK or standard view (highly unlikely), or AKV concierge ( highly unlikely) or value (less chance).
 
Since Easter in April 24 next year, early March should not be super crowded,
January is cooler but normally much less crowded. It can be 'cold' in January over night. Below are from Weather.com for Orlando.
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/USFL0372


Month Avg. High Avg. Low Mean Avg. Precip Record High Record Low
Jan 72°F 50°F 61°F 2.43 in. 87°F (1991) 19°F (1985)
Mar 79°F 56°F 67°F 3.54 in. 92°F (1994) 25°F (1980)

January will use the lowerst points, Adventure vs. Magic season for March.

Have a great trip, either will be better than the snow we're having here in PA.
 
Easter in 2012 will be April 8th. Early March should not be too bad but mid to later March will get really crowded.
 

In view of what this year's January was like from the 6th to the 11th, (I think it got better starting on the 11th, the day we left!), I would book March over January for a time to visit WDW. The weather was just too cold this year. The only other time we were at WDW in January was 1977...then too there were freeze warnings around Florida and everyone was worried about the oranges and strawberries. So, that's 2 out of 2 Januarys with below "normal" temperatures.

Bobbi:goodvibes
 
I won' do january either ever again. I was in WDW from1/29-2/7/09 and it was cold. At night it was 20-30's. the pools are completely empty. We came from Chicago; even in our jackets, we felt very cold, especially waiting outside for rides and character pictures.
 



















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