Going To Disney In January 2004

[harry the spider]

HAS ANYONE BEEN TO DISNEY IN JANUARY?
I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT A LOT OF RESTAURANTS AND CAFES ARE CLOSED IN THE PARKS BECAUSE THE ATTENDANCE IS SO LOW
I HAVE BEEN TO FLORIDA 3 TIMES BEFORE AND THIS TIME I AM TAKING MY SISTER AND FAMILY WITH US SO THERE WILL BE 12 OF US ALTOGETHER.
ALWAYS GO IN DECEMBER ALTHOUGH LAST YEAR WE WENT IN SEPTEMBER AS WE HAD TO CHANGE THE DATES DUE TO MY MUM BEING TERMINALLY ILL.
ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL
I KNOW IT WILL BE A LOT COOLER BUT I'M GETTING WORRIED THAT I HAVE PICKED THE WRONG TIME OF YEAR AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY WILL MOAN AT ME!!!
THIS IS MY FIRST POST SO HELLO TO EVERYONE
LIN XXXXXXXXXXXX

 

[alisonia]

Lin
you do have to prepare for it to be cooler but it ought to be a lot warmer than Somerset.

We have been in January-up to the 5th-and although we got some nice sunny days-they could often be chilly.

You need to prepare for it to be changeable-so take plenty of layers. You might not get much use out of your pool-but there's so many other things to do-isn't there-and you do get to take advantage of low air fares, villa prices and no crowding at the parks.

I think you have picked a great time to go. I was fully booked throughout Jan, Feb and March this year-the discerning guest see-lol!!!!

 

[harry the spider]

so you think that january is a good time to go then??
we are going from 17th-31st jan.
believe me, i WILL be getting in that pool no matter how cool it gets!!! and i think the jacuzzi we have will come in handy too.
i was just a bit concerned about hearing that many things are closed in the parks. i know that you get attractions down for refurbishment all year round but i am just hoping that there is more than enough to do.
it would be a shame to go all that way and find out all the favourites are out of action
lin xxxxxxxxxx

 

[Sue F UK]

We always go in either January or February with no problems at all. With regard to restaurants etc. being closed there was no problem.

Florida has a year-round season which is due to many American 'snowbirds' spending the winter months there. This means that there is little difference between winter and summer with regard to the amount of attractions on offer. Some of the outside catering carts might be closed as the parks are quieter but all the main restaurants and catering outlets in all the parks will be open.

A couple of the rides may be closed for re-furbishment but they are careful not to have too many closed at any one time so it shouldn't spoil your enjoyment of the parks. They do close Blizzard Beach during the winter but Typhoon Lagoon should be open if you want to visit a water park. It may be worth bearing this in mind when considering if you want to get a 'Plus' Hopper pass for Disney.

If you are planning to swim in the pool at the villa make sure it is heated first!

I don't think you need to worry about your family moaning. As
Alisonia says there are many advantages in going in the winter so they will probably be thanking you!

Have a great time.

 

[alisonia]

Just to add what Sue says about getting the pool heated. If your villa has an electrically heated pool and the air temperature drops below 50-your pool heater will not work and so your pool will be cold.

If your pool is heated by gas-then it will get the pool hot-but you can expect to pay a lot extra on your rental for your pool heat as gas heating is the most expensive-almost double what an electric pool costs. I know some owners got gas bills for December and January of £500.

This January was very very cold indeed. Uncharacteristically so-it is rare that the temps stay down so low as that. I have solar pool heating as well and a pool blanket which did help a little so that guests could use the pool at some in their stay-but friends who were out for a week in january never got in the pool at all. I even saw pictures from another friend of icicles weighing down the palm trees outside of her house.

Hopefully this was just a one off. The UK has a good winter this year-which sort of makes you think-doesn't it?

Certainly I wouldn't let it put me off-I'd go any time. You still get the sunny days-which automatically makes you feel better to leave grey Britain behind-and don't forget it doesn't get dark till 6pm-almost 2 - 2 and a half hours more daylight than here-which again gives you a boost. In fact on our return last January-that was what I missed more-the longer days!

So go and enjoy!

Alison

 

[allie5]

We have been late Feb/March and did have a cold snap then, but all of the attractions except Blizzard Beach were open. Most days it was warm enough for T shirt and shorts.

It is very rare that restaurants are closed during this time. In Florida Nov/ Dec/ Jan are often counted as High Season because of all the Snow Birds visiting. The Gulf Coast tends to be a lot busier these months, but the Theme parks are generally pleasantly quiet!

Have fun!
Allie

 

[alisonia]

That's true Allie-I have a friend with a beach condo at Indian Rocks and she's sees the Florida winter time as high season and often gets very quiet over the summer-but with the British often wanting to do a two centre holiday I think things will pick upfor her too.

She's american and lives there-lucky, lucky, woman!

I think she's the person who got my life! The other person who also got my life was an american woman married to a dishy frenchman, with two gorgeous kids-living in Paris with a Pierre and Vacances time share (how we came to meet) which she could swap amongst all their places in France! How I envied that woman-LOL!

 

[harry the spider]

thanks everyone for your sound opinions.
i don't have any worries about visiting in january now.
i am so looking forward to going and i know there is so much to do that the weather won't bother me.it was just that when you are taking other people, you tend to worry that they will be disappointed after you go on non stop about how great florida is.
if i had the chance we would pack up everything and come over to live, only problem is getting a job.
we are taking my sister, b-in l, nephews, nieces partners and our great nephew who is 5 months old (aaahhhh!!!)


i went on the go2orlando website and someone wrote to me saying that they have been to florida many times and would never go in january again as it took 2 hours of wandering around MK to find some place to eat and most of the shows were cancelled. so as you can imagine, i'm thinking whoops what have i done?.
the last thing i want to do is take a whole load of people away to find it all spoilt by nothing open. but still, i couldn't quite get my head round it and thought that maybe this info was a little exagerated. thanx again lin
p.s i will get back to the guy i have rented my villa from and check on the pool being gas or electric-we got it a for £50 per week as a personal discount-usually£75 per week

 

[alisonia]

Lin-£75 sounds about right for electric and I would expect at least £100 for gas

Alison

 

[harry the spider]

AH WELL ALISON
LOOKS LIKE I HAD BETTER START KNITTING MYSELF A SWIMMING COSSIE!!!
WHAT DO YOU THINK PINK & WHITE STRIPES OR POLKA-DOCK??
LIN