How is January?

[smt218]

Hi,
Planning my next trip, went in December and can't wait to go back again. I think the trip will be in January 2006. Most likely the first 2 weeks. Is this a busy time? Are the Christmas decorations still up? When do they typically start taking them down? I see that this year there is a Marathon, is that a yearly thing? Where does it take place and does it make the parks crowded? Any opinions from people who have gone at this time are appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[nativetxn]

I've never toured WDW in January but I'll just bump this back to page one for you, so that some of our veterans can offer advice on this topic.

Katholyn

 

[perdidobay]

DH and I go the second week of Jan every year..... around the 8th -16th. The marathon does bring in some small crowds that are gone the day after the marathon for the most part. The marathon is always around the 8th. On a Sunday. The course goes thru all 4 parks, but doesn't cause too many problems traffic wise. Most all the Xmas decorations are down by the 8th.. Some of the WDW hotels still have them up, but by the end of the second week they are all down.
The crowds are as light as you will find them at any time, in the period between the New years crowds - till the MLK weekend around the 16th - 18 of the month. MLK day is Jan 16th next year.

 

[bjakmom]

Last Jan we were at BWV from the 10th through the 16th. We were there through the marathon and crowds were still pretty low, but not non-existent - most waits were 10 - 30 minutes, our returns with FPs were always walk ons. The weather ranged from low 40s at night (several nights cold enough for fleece head bands and stretchy gloves due to the wind) to low 60s mid 70s in the days. The park decorations were all down when we arrived, but the hotel decorations were up and came down day by day during our stay. We never did any swimming (except for MLK weekend at the HRH when it went into the high 70s), but we did use the hot tubs several times and there were always a few heart souls swimming every day and night. It was a great time to go if you don't like the heat, don't mind the changing weather, want to avoid extreme crowds and don't mind that the parks close early - we spent our evenings at the BW or at DTD. This year we're going at the end of Jan for a quick trip - hope it's as great as last year !