HELP?! How is Janurary 1st?

[blessedby3]

I have a friend who is thinking of going to Disney on Jan 1st (a Saturday) for that week. She wanted me to get some expert advice from the disboards about this time of year. She really wants to go when there are low crowds. I have never been at this time so any information would be helpful to her. Thanks so much

 

[safetymom]

That is not a time to go if you want low crowds. The parks may close due to very large crowds.

 

[BCV23]

Wow, I can't believe it but I disagree with safetymom. Dec. 31st is crazy but the 1st is not bad especially in the am and since most schools will be starting the 3rd, I would bet that Sunday the 2nd won't be very crowded as it will be a travel day for many. Starting the 3rd, it should be GREAT!

 

[cooldisneymom]

We were this year Jan. 2 - 6 and it was extremely crowded. We actually went back to the hotel at 3:00 on the last day because MK was so crowded, couldn't move for the people! Now to contrast that last year (03) we were there same week, and not nearly as crowded. Weather was colder also. This year is was in the 80's that week. So basically, it's a gamble. No way to be sure.

 

[mickeymousefan]

I wouls like to know this as well as I have ressies for Jan 2- Jan 8th. Would it be better to go from the 8th to the 13th?

 

[cooldisneymom]

Originally posted by mickeymousefan
I wouls like to know this as well as I have ressies for Jan 2- Jan 8th. Would it be better to go from the 8th to the 13th?

IMHO I would say yes. Based on our experience this year. Just to be safe. It should be much slower. Our kids have to be back in school usually around the 6th or 7th here.

 

[mickeymousefan]

Our kids have to be back in school usually around the 6th or 7th

Wow is this a southern thing? Up here kids will be back in school on the 3rd. I figured everyone would be checking out as we were checking in. Exactly how bad would you say the crowds were? Like spring break bad? We are only planning on doing two days at the park. Maybe I would be safe making those days later in the week?

 

[auntpolly]

I was there January 1 of this year. I've been there summer vacation. I've been there spring break and Easter. But I've <i>never</i> seen it as crowded as it was January 1 !!!!!!!!. It calmed right down nicely after that weekend, though.

 

[shelly3girls]

I think one thing to consider is that many schools did not return to school this year until the 5th b/c the 1st was so late in the week. This coming year those same schools will pick back up on the 3rd. I personally think that the crowds will die down on the 2nd when most people will be leaving, but who ever really knows? We plan to check in on the 1st since we always use our first day to get settled in and do a character dinner.
Another thing to consider is that the WDW marathon is the next weekend although I have heard this does not significantly impact the parks.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I was about to post on my experiences and suggest low crowds, but now I'm wondering. I was there the very first week in 2000, 2001, and 2002-in 2002, I arrived on 1/1, and crowds were very low. I remember commenting to a CM about how low the crowds were right after the first and she said she thought everyone partied so much on New Year's Eve that they all ran out of money and so had to leave right away! The least attended E-nite I ever attended by far was January 3, 2002-practically no one there. I'm going 1/1-1/6 this coming year, and I was confident of low crowds again, but now I'm wondering!

 

[auntpolly]

It probably varies year to year. Since this year January 1 was on a Thursday, a lot of people probably just made a really long weekend out of it. For us this year, it settled down completely on Sunday the 4th. But I am not exagerating when I say the 1st was <i>packed</i>! At Epcot, even the big spaces were hard to get through and the line for spaceship earth was as bad as test track!

 

[cooldisneymom]

Originally posted by auntpolly
I was there January 1 of this year. I've been there summer vacation. I've been there spring break and Easter. But I've <i>never</i> seen it as crowded as it was January 1 !!!!!!!!. It calmed right down nicely after that weekend, though.

You said auntpolly!!!! UNBELIEVABLE is the word for that weekend. We had heard that they had to close MK by 1:00 on one day.

 

[Quadman]

Bump....

Just looking for a few more opinions......

Thanks

 

[PrincessDadx2]

If PS requests are any indication I had my choice of Cinderellas or Epcot princess breakfast on Jan 2nd even though I called about an hour late. For our upcoming trip in Oct/Nov I could not get a date for 2 weeks even though I called every day at 7:00am.

 

[shelly3girls]

I have had no problems getting any of the PS I wanted for 1/2 - 1/10 and I forgot to call last week. I got the exact time I wanted for Chef Mickeys for a party of 8 which I have always had a difficult time doing in the past unless I called the first day.

 

[Queen Quinnella]

We are going Jan 1-8 and were told (by Disney Res) that the crowds should be pretty reasonable. Kids here (Texas) have to go back to school on the 4th. When I made my Princess Breakfast Ressies (Jan 2) they had plenty of openings. I don't think that there is going to be too big of a problem with crowds.