First week of January 2018 - are we nuts?

[NH-to-FL]

It will be busy! As others have noted, the where holidays fall will mean that there will be many kids still out of school the first week of January.

We popped over to Epcot the Thursday before the marathon this past January to meet up with some friends for lunch and it was crowded. The Christmas decorations were mostly down in Epcot that day so you will want to get your holiday park visits in quickly after your arrival.

I am confident that we can manage as best as possible with rope drop, FP+ usage, afternoon breaks at the resort and extra magic hours, but I know it will be insane. I follow wait times using Lines and remember seeing 3-4 hour headliner waits last year over New Year's and 1-2 hour waits on C and D ticket attractions. I'm not sure I can tolerate waiting an hour for Figment or Small World.

Your plan is a good one but you also noted your concerns over the expected wait times. Only you can decide if the desire to experience WDW over the holiday is worth the wait times. I think you are correct with your observation that the cooler temperatures do make the crowds and wait times less stressful.

Good luck with your planning!

 

[MickeyWaffles]

We love going for NYE and/or the week followinG. Once, based on how the days fell, it was a ghost town after 1/2. Last time we went the 4-9 (2016). It was crazy busy at MK on 1/5 but the rest of the days were relatively dead.

NYE is amazing at Epcot. When we do NYE we go to MK 12/30 and Epcot 12/31. It's the best I don't think it's crazy at all. We thought we were nuts to do it the first time til we did it. We lived to tell the tale and then did it again and again!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Also, it's the 25th anniversary of runDisney marathon weekend from Jan 4th to the 7th.

So in other words, crazy crowded.

I could have sworn that this year they kept saying how this was the 20th year. But thinking right now, I'm wondering if perhaps the marathon started 25 years ago, and then after a few years they expanded to include the half marathon. I'm remembering that they kept talking about it being the 20th year of the half marathon, that DH was signed up for. I happened to be in WDW on marathon weekend 25 years ago (actually I thought it was 26 years ago), and I only remember mention of the marathon, not of a half marathon. Can anyone straighten out my memory?
By the way, make sure your wife wears her medal afterwards-everyone congratulates you, especially the CMs.

 

[g-dub]

I think we have decided to pull the trigger! Thanks for everyone's advice - will definitely make sure my wife wears her medal, and so looking forward to the NYE fireworks! Trying to secure a DVC point rental, we will see...

 

[FelisLachesis]

I could have sworn that this year they kept saying how this was the 20th year. But thinking right now, I'm wondering if perhaps the marathon started 25 years ago, and then after a few years they expanded to include the half marathon. I'm remembering that they kept talking about it being the 20th year of the half marathon, that DH was signed up for. I happened to be in WDW on marathon weekend 25 years ago (actually I thought it was 26 years ago), and I only remember mention of the marathon, not of a half marathon. Can anyone straighten out my memory?
By the way, make sure your wife wears her medal afterwards-everyone congratulates you, especially the CMs.

This year was the 20th for the half, which ultimately was cancelled due to weather. I wonder if they'll do a 20th-take-two next year?

The first marathon was in 1994, so that will make 2018 the 25th anniversary (remember, 94 was the first). 2018 is also the 5th for the 10k, which may go uncelebrated. 2018 will also be the 5th for Dopey, which will be a big deal.

 

[rteetz]

This year was the 20th for the half, which ultimately was cancelled due to weather. I wonder if they'll do a 20th-take-two next year?

The first marathon was in 1994, so that will make 2018 the 25th anniversary (remember, 94 was the first). 2018 is also the 5th for the 10k, which may go uncelebrated. 2018 will also be the 5th for Dopey, which will be a big deal.

No take two. They aren't celebrating 10K number 5 for some reason but there will Ben celebrations for Dopey 5 and marathon 25.

 

[FelisLachesis]

No take two. They aren't celebrating 10K number 5 for some reason but there will Ben celebrations for Dopey 5 and marathon 25.

I was hoping for a quadruple-celebration, but I'll take a double!

 

[Simba's Mom]

This year was the 20th for the half, which ultimately was cancelled due to weather. I wonder if they'll do a 20th-take-two next year?

Ah yes-that made the 20th anniversary somewhat special-if I remember right, it was the first time ever that the half had been cancelled. I can still remember DH sitting there on the website, refreshing every few minutes, and grabbing his cell phone whenever he got a text tone. The day of the half marathon was so cold and miserable for him that he almost couldn't fully enjoy his celebratory No Way Jose Sundae-almost!