Early to mid January

[princesslover]

Hello,

We just got back and am in planning stages for my next trip! . While we had an awesome visit (two full weeks!!!) we have decided never again in the summer. The heat was intense by the end and for the first time ever, I literally was ready to go home which has never happened.

So looking ahead we are thinking January (2027) because we are DVC and it’s the second lowest tier for points. My daughter is in college so needs to be back by January 12. So we’d probably go December 30 to January 10 or something like that. Obviously new years brings crowds. And I am aware of some groups coming in (Cheer??). But overall what is it like those first two weeks? Are there Christmas decorations up? Is it warm enough to swim? What after hours parties are typically offered in January? Any details would be helpful. Thank you!

 

[lorimt]

Crowds will be very high at the beginning of the month but get better after marathon weekend. Decorations usually stay up until that weekend as well and are then gone pretty quickly. Weather can be mild or cold. We went the first week in 2023 and 2025. The temps were great in 2023 and our youngest did swim once but I never would have considered it this year! We love January for the cooler weather but the crowds wore us out and I don’t know that we will do that time again.

 

[princesslover]

Crowds will be very high at the beginning of the month but get better after marathon weekend. Decorations usually stay up until that weekend as well and are then gone pretty quickly. Weather can be mild or cold. We went the first week in 2023 and 2025. The temps were great in 2023 and our youngest did swim once but I never would have considered it this year! We love January for the cooler weather but the crowds wore us out and I don’t know that we will do that time again.

Interesting. I’m interested in comparison to other times. I don’t know that there is a slow time. Spring break and Christmas are both busy. This summer seemed busy to me even though people posted here that it was slower than normal. The heat could have influenced my perception with crowds. Granted I have seen it worse. But it would surprise me if January is higher than summer. I could be wrong about this though which is why I’m asking.

*Edited to say we didn’t swim much this trip because the water felt gross..like swimming in your own pee. Not refreshing at all.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I expect it could be pretty crowded almost all of your stay during that time. 12/30-1/1 or 1/2 will be very busy. The fact that 1/1 is a Thursday could lead some folks to stay through the first weekend of 2026. Then it likely thins out for a few days and will pick up 1/7-11 for the runs and the marathon - that's probably their biggest running event of the year. Since we don't go during the heat of the summer, I can't really compare crowds - but it'll be busy most of those dates.

 

[lorimt]

Interesting. I’m interested in comparison to other times. I don’t know that there is a slow time. Spring break and Christmas are both busy. This summer seemed busy to me even though people posted here that it was slower than normal. The heat could have influenced my perception with crowds. Granted I have seen it worse. But it would surprise me if January is higher than summer. I could be wrong about this though which is why I’m asking.

*Edited to say we didn’t swim much this trip because the water felt gross..like swimming in your own pee. Not refreshing at all.

I’ve never been in the summer so I’m not sure how the crowds compare. We used to go for spring break and I think the January crowds seem worse than spring break.

 

[princesslover]

I’ve never been in the summer so I’m not sure how the crowds compare. We used to go for spring break and I think the January crowds seem worse than spring break.

That is something I’ve never heard anyone say before. Huh. I wonder if this is new. Never heard anyone say January crowds are worse than Spring break.

 

[princesslover]

Thanks everyone. Perhaps we will change our plans. Maybe Christmas or Spring break is better. Seems like this is an absolute terrible time to go. Appreciate the feedback.

 

[Simba's Mom]

That is something I’ve never heard anyone say before. Huh. I wonder if this is new. Never heard anyone say January crowds are worse than Spring break.

I used to go during the beginning of the month when I taught-I taught at a private boarding school, and they gave a longer Christmas break. It never seemed overly busy at all, except as the time got closer to the Marathon Weekend. But now I've discovered the joy of the Festival of the Arts, so I go towards the end of the month (DVC rates are still low until February 10th, I think). I also want to avoid the heat, and January's a good time to do it-the first January I was there, I had to buy a pair of sweatpants-at Disney prices-because I wasn't prepared for that level of cold!

 

[sponica]

I want to double check, you're talking January 2027 and not Jan 2026, right?

The marathon date hasn't been announced yet but it'll probably be that second weekend in January. But I suspect it'll be crowded new year's weekend, slight drop in crowds, and then crowded again marathon weekend.

I haven't gone that time of year in 20 years (yikes that hurt to write) so I have no modern day experience.

 

[princesslover]

I used to go during the beginning of the month when I taught-I taught at a private boarding school, and they gave a longer Christmas break. It never seemed overly busy at all, except as the time got closer to the Marathon Weekend. But now I've discovered the joy of the Festival of the Arts, so I go towards the end of the month (DVC rates are still low until February 10th, I think). I also want to avoid the heat, and January's a good time to do it-the first January I was there, I had to buy a pair of sweatpants-at Disney prices-because I wasn't prepared for that level of cold!

Once my youngest graduates college we will likely shoot for late January/early February. Very disappointing to hear people say early January is mobbed.

 

[sponica]

Once my youngest graduates college we will likely shoot for late January/early February. Very disappointing to hear people say early January is mobbed.

You want the sweet spot between the marathon and MLK weekend.

 

[focusondisney]

Once my youngest graduates college we will likely shoot for late January/early February. Very disappointing to hear people say early January is mobbed.

Touring plans shows January 1-6 this year as 6-9s. The rest of the month was pretty much all 4 & 5s. Tuesday - Thursdays were 2 or 3 during the 2nd & 3rd weeks. So out of the whole month, maybe 2 days were 2s & 3 - 4 days were an 3. Also had a couple of 7s on Fridays. The first 10 days of February were all 4 & 5s. Slow times are mostly individual days here & there anymore. We had read about the end of January being slow so decided to book then about 10 years ago. POR food court was packed every day, with families walking around with their trays of food looking for tables. More crowded than trips we took in August. The other thing to consider is as parks have gotten more crowded, the crowd calendars have been adjusted. A 4 years ago might be a 2 now. So even if the number is low, the parks will feel busier than 15 or 20 years ago.

Disney has more festivals & marathons year round now. January, February & May have cheerleading competitions. The quietest times now seem to be July - end of September, when the weather is hottest, wettest & possible hurricaines. The rest of the year is moderate to heavy crowds.

 

[pens4821]

We’ve gone January and February many times. As far as the weather is concerned, I feel like every time we had a drastic temperature difference. I feel like during our week there is always a morning that it’s in the 30s and there will be a days it’s near 80 as a high. And the week is usually everything in between.

Mornings can be downright cold. This is from a northern. I always feel like I’m colder in Florida when it’s 45 than when I’m at home. Maybe it’s because you are just standing there in line and not moving much. Afternoons are usually comfortable. Evenings cool.

Pools are heated. We’ve seen some of the really cold mornings they have delayed opening (or early closing if it get cold in the evening). Just remember when you get in that while the water is warm, if you put your head under it’s then going to be cold when you then stay out haha. Everything that stays underwater is comfortable. The walk to our room one day at AoA when it was in the 50s was COLD.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

You want the sweet spot between the marathon and MLK weekend.

Actually, from our experience, the sweet spot is a couple days after MLK weekend through before Pres Day/Valentine's weekend in February. The second half a Jan is better after MLK. Although I do agree that Festival of the Arts is becoming more popular. It's our favorite festival - but that only impacts World Showcase a bit, especially weekends.

 

[CarolynFH]

Thanks everyone. Perhaps we will change our plans. Maybe Christmas or Spring break is better. Seems like this is an absolute terrible time to go. Appreciate the feedback.

I disagree - even though January is busier than it used to be, it still doesn't approach Christmas or Spring Break attendance! I'd rather go after MLK (arrive on MLK day or the Tuesday or Wednesday after), but if your daughter needs to be back at college by the 12th those dates won't work. You'll be looking at New Year's to over Marathon Weekend, probably. Marathon Weekend is always the weekend before MLK weekend. MLK Day in 2027 is Monday, Jan. 18, so as posted above, I'd expect the Marathon activities to cover Wednesday Jan. 6, when the Expo opens, through Sunday Jan. 10, when they run the full Marathon. Crowds then might seem high, but they won't approach Christmas or Spring Break. Although a caveat is that Spring Break crowds depend on when your Spring Break is. Ours was the first or second week of March, so relatively early and not so bad, but some have it the week before or after Easter, and those weeks are almost as busy as Christmas.