First week in January crowds

[DougG]

The family will be getting to WDW on January first, but we won;t hit the parks til the next day. How are the crowds? I heard they are less and less crowded through the week, but I am more concerned with the 2nd. Is there one park less crowded than another at that time? Also, my wife wants to know if there are still holiday decorations up at that time?
Thanks, everyone!

 

[fizz13]

We're arriving the same day as you! There has been a few posts about this and consensus seems to be that Jan 2 will be fairly busy but alot quieter than NYE as people will already be heading home to start school/work on the 3rd.
By Monday, the parks will be dead. As for parks being busier than each other, I would avoid MK (just a hunch that people will want to say goodbye before they leave) and head for Epcot as this park has never been known to close its gates on NYE which can be the busiest day. Therefore, the capacity is probably larger and will cope better with crowds.
We are heading for Seaworld on the 2nd as this park is quite good at spreading crowds (big audotauriums) and will hit WDW on 3rd. What about Disneyquest or a shopping day if you're nervous about crowds? Or maybe a character meal to set the mood (planning a PS to Chef Mickeys on the 2nd, maybe we'll see you there)
Decorations will still be up and jan 2nd is the last day of Osborne Lights at MGM so maybe this is worth a look, they are spectacular! All the resorts will still have decorations up for the first week of Jan. Try the resort board for more details of this, but these resorts are really worth a look as well. Gosh, I'm gushing, aren't I?
Anyway, sorry for waffling and hope I have been some help. Look out on the meet board for possible January meet-up if interested,
Much pixie dust,
Claire

 

[alicenwonder99]

We were planning on getting to WDW late on Jan 1 and then hitting the parks on Jan 2, but I'm thinking it's going to be crowded that day, too. I am just hoping the 3rd and the rest of that week isn't crowded.

Which hotel are you staying at? We haven't even made reservations yet since I haven't decided exactly which days we're going yet. We want to stay at the Contemp, but now I'm wondering if the NYE crowds will still have the resorts full then.

Mary

 

[winniedapooh]

You will see a huge difference in crowds after the 2nd and as you go on! I love going at that time of year. As I am from New England anyhow, unpredicatable Florida weather does not bother us! Have fun!

 

[QuickGold]

This page should be helpful: http://www.mgmstudios.org/wait.html

 

[DougG]

Thanks, everybody. Just making sure we're going to be making the best use of our time!

Mary--Staying at Riverside, made reservations through the Grand Gatherings program, but I don't believe that got us any kind of preferential treatment other than being able to have 3-4 fours all together.

Matt--great site! Nice resource to have; I've bookmarked it!

 

[Simba's Mom]

We'll also be arriving 1/1, hitting the parks on 1/2. This is the 4th time I've gone the very first week in January, twice previously I arrived 1/1. Happened to go to Epcot both times on 1/2 and didn't feel as if there were any crowds. The decorations should still be up. Remember, the Osborne Lights officially end on 1/2. However, if there are any decorations you particularly want to see, get to them right away. One year I saw the tree up in Epcot on 1/2. Two days later-poof! All the decorations and the tree were down. I'll never forget the comment of a CM when I commented to her one year how the crowds really thin out right after the first. She said that everyone blows all their money partying and buying things NYE, and since they're all out of money, they have to leave right after!

 

[sperk99]

I went last year at the same time. The crowds were not that bad but the big rides did have 30min waits...again not as bad compared to peak times in the parks

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

Originally posted by sperk99
I went last year at the same time. The crowds were not that bad but the big rides did have 30min waits...again not as bad compared to peak times in the parks

I agree........the word is out, and every year, there is more and more people attending WDW at this time. That, and the marathons keep getting bigger and bigger.

 

[BCVBRUCE]

Originally posted by sperk99
I went last year at the same time. The crowds were not that bad but the big rides did have 30min waits...again not as bad compared to peak times in the parks

New Years Day 2004 was on a Thursday last year. So, all the little kiddies had Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun before they had to go back to school on Monday, January 5th. You can look at last years schedule and see that the parks were open late those days as well. I think that would explain why the crowds lingered around last year.

This year, as you all know, New Years Day 2005 is on Saturday. The little kiddies most likely will have to be back in school on Monday, January 3rd. So, it looks pretty good for us big kids. I am willing to bet the crowds will die off quickly after January 2nd. Sunday, January 2nd may even be fine because everyone will be traveling back home.

I am an optimist!

I will be there from the 1st until the 8th and I can not wait. Looking forward to the cool weather and not collapsing from heat exhaustion.

Have Fun On Your Trips,
Bruce

 

[alicenwonder99]

My children don't have to be back to school until Jan 10th. That's why we're taking our trip then. This is for the grammar school and the high school. It's easy to take a child out of preschool, it's another thing trying to take a child out of high school for a wdw trip! It seems everyone has to be back to school on the 3rd, so I think we're going to be lucky with the crowds.

We finally made our ressies for the Contemporary...now I'm just waiting for the codes to come out so I can upgrade to a better view.

Mary

 

[Ashes8380]

I'm going to be there with my best friend the exact same time as you! I also went that week last year. The 2nd and 3rd were more crowded, but not bad at all. I think the longest I waited for anything that whole trip was about 25 mins, if that. Once it hit Jan. 4th the parks got pretty empty. It's a great time to go, as long as there's good weather. Last year it was 70 - 80 every day but one, so I hope I didn't get spoiled just in case it's not so warm this Jan.