how about Jan. crowded or NOT ?

[JuneChickie]

Has anyone been in January ? how are the crowds in the Disney parks.

We are looking at Jan. 7th. thru the 14th ,,,,,,,,

Are there any conventions or special groups or events going on ??


June

 

[tink1978]

I love January in the World!!! I go on the 1st through 8th and crowds start tapering off around the 2nd. I have been the week you are going, and the crowds were not bad at all. We did not wait more than 15 minutes for anything!

 

[JuneChickie]

OMgosh, ,just reading that is very comforting for sure. I can't wait to go back

 

[abner1776]

What crowds ?? We arrived on the 17th for 5 days. We were first in line each day at the parks...what a waste of good sleeping time. MK opened at 9am and by 10:30 at both Splash M and BTR the wait was....nada, zippo...walked over the Space M and the wait was...nada, zippo. We got in more rides than we needed...but I could have used that extra 60 minutes of sleep in the AM !!!.

My advice for park touring in January is to sleep in; arrive at the parks around 30 minutes after they open in which case the early birds will already have gotten in their first rides, then just walk onto the ride of your choice. January is a great time to visit WDW...as long as the weather cooperates...leave the bikini at home and be sure to bring a sweatshirt and/or windbreaker just in case.

 

[RitaZ.]

It should be an excellent time without crowds. We plan to go after New Year's Day for a week. We've taken several trips in that time period and they've all been wonderful Did I mention how much I dislike crowds?

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

We love January Check out the timer below -we are counting down to January '07

 

[byoung]

Go you will love the crowds.

 

[steffali]

When do any packages come out for 2007? THey can only give me a quote for the room

 

[dixiedizfan]

This year the first week of January was very crowded, and I expect it will be next year also. Best to wait til second week of January if you are able.

 

[MissMagnolia]

We have went during that exact time frame two years in a row. The crowds are nonexistent. We wore sweatshirts with shorts in the a.m. (about 45-50 degrees) and were down to our t-shirts and shorts in the afternoon. It did get chilly at night. We even managed a swim or two during the day. We are going in August this year to take advantage of free dining, but if free dining wasn't offered we'd be there again in January. Oh - and the marathon that happens around that time did not increase the crowds in the parks whatsoever!

 

[antmaril]

We went this year from January 9th to the 14th. It was fantastic
Beautiful weather and low crowds - a perfect vacation.

I am hoping to go again in January '07 - same week.

 

[Nancyg56]

We were there the first week in January last year. This time we are going after MLK day and arriving on the 19th. I can't stand in long lines with a 4 YO. (She was fine, I get antsy)

 

[jann1033]

our last 2 trips have been roughly the same time as yours...the weather is iffy( only cold. as in needed a winter coat cold, really 2 days out of 16 or 17 but chilly in the morning and evening,,,sweatshirt weather, sunny and 70-80s usually in the day) but the crowds are pretty non existent...imo it's my favorite time since i can dress for cold but can't take standing in line for hrs in the heat

 

[DianeL]

This year the first week of January was very crowded, and I expect it will be next year also. Best to wait til second week of January if you are able.

Totally agree with Dixiedizfan! Marathon Weekend in 2007 starts 1/4/2007 and ends 1/7/2007 so it's falling on the beginning of your dates.

The 5k is being run at MGM on the morning of 1/5/2007
The 1/2 Marathon which will start outside Epcot, goes thru MK and returns to Epcot is on 1/6/2007.

The FULL Marathon is on 1/7/2006 and goes thru all 4 parks. Starts outside of Epcot and ends in Epcot's parking lot (1/2 ends at same place)

Expect Monday and Tuesday to be a bit crazy and Wednesday should be settling down. Tuesday might not be as bad I can't remember how bad but it wasn't anything like the prior Friday. The reason is not totally the Marathon but how the school holidays are falling for the US and overseas. We talked with a family this past year who came down AFTER New Years because the Canada schools were off for the 2 weeks yet. I think they headed back around 1/10/2006 or so was their flight home.

Next year thanks to the holidays I'd expect the same crowds with families. In 2004 and 2005 the crowds weren't too bad because Marathon Weekend fell late enough that the kids were back in school. I believe it's the 1st weekend in January every year because I was looking ahead to 2008 trying to figure it out and 2008 should be bad again. Bad compared to the quiet 2004/2005 years. It's no were near Summer crowd levels just more then what some have been used to.

It's a lovely time just be prepared for the parks not to be empty

If your interested in Marathon Weekend the dates and info (including race courses) can be found under the Disney Wide World of Sports site. Under Special Events or under Sports then click Endurance. It's a fun time

Also, the 1/2 and Full Marathons have start times of 6 am. So the full is finishing up in Epcot by 10 am, I think there were some still coming in at 10:15. The 1/2 Marathon is allowed 3.5 hours to finish while the Full has 7 hours. If you are at Epcot when it opens you might catch the final people going thru the MK will be cleared by the time they open for guests.

The Full - check the course but I know in 2004 we saw them running thru the AK in the morning and I think the last one ran thru around 11 am or Noon (we slept in that day). Not sure when you can catch them in the other parks. The course is marked off and CMs wave you across the course when an opening comes up.

In 2006 we slept in (needed it!) and hit DTD in the morning, lunched and heaaded to the MK because we knew the roads and park would be cleared of the Marathon by that time

Enjoy!

 

[Kimberly815]

Oh, this is all so great to hear!

I am getting married on Jan 7th in Punta Gorda, FL. And then us newlyweds, and most of our familys are heading up to Orlando to enjoy our favorite place on earth! I can't wait for all the first timers that will be will us to see how great it is!

 

[TinkGirl]

We've been that week twice, and it was great! We found MK to be almost empty the day of the marathon--it's just a challenge getting there. I think some traffic patterns are changed for the race. My husband ran the 5K Fun Run one year. It was his first race complete with Mickey, fireworks, and confetti. He's run a few since, but it's not the same.