I KNOW how to plan for August ...... but January? Don't.Have.A.Clue. HELP!

[CrabbyPatty]

We've been to WDW several times in August, and recently have been at DL the last few years. I feel like I've got a pretty good handle on August at WDW, and planning for DL is SO easy! However ..... I'm planning a secret trip for my DD14 and myself in late January ..... and haven't a CLUE about weather, how busy the parks are, and since we haven't been to WDW recently, FP+ is a mystery to me!

I'm an avid reader of the DIS boards and will be spending between now and then reading up on various threads to get more familiar with what's new, but for now, I had a few questions that I haven't been able to find answers for on the boards.

Weather - sounds like January can be anywhere from 40 to 70 degrees. Since we're in Minnesota, 40 degrees in January sounds GREAT, so I'm not too worried about clothing. We'll probably bring stuff we can layer, but I'd appreciate any tips on what works well for a 3-days-in-the-park trip starting January 25th.

Touring Style - we are very relaxed in the parks. We don't do any rides that spin, roll, rock, gyrate, twirl, etc. so we aren't the sort of folks that will wait 90 minutes to ride some roller coaster. We generally have an idea of the things we want to see/do during our trip and if one park is busy, we'll hop to another and find something to do.

How will this style work with FP+? I can't see planning our trip around 3 daily FPs in a specific park at a specific time. In late January, will the parks be slow enough that we'll be able to do enough rides without doing FP+?

Dining - Again, over the years, we've been to every character meal at WDW plus Ohana, the Luau, Hoop-de-do, etc. I've definitely been spoiled by Disneyland, because it's so easy to get just about any ADR you need, with little notice. If we go to WDW without ADRs, will we be shut out of TS restaurants, or can we wing it?

Tickets - A while ago, I bought 10-day PH non-expiring tickets from Undercover Tourist. Is it fairly easy to link these tickets to the whole MagicBand system?

Thanks for any advice you can give me - I appreciate it!

 

[sharonabe]

I think the week you're going is probably one of the last remaining slowest weeks of the year. Crowds should be fairly light. That doesn't mean walk on rides, but considerably less than August.

As for FP+, we haven't been with that yet either. mesaboy has a great thread somewhere that will get you up to speed on that. My non-tested advice would be to decide on the parks you want to start in each day and book your FP+ for fairly early in the day. Once you've used them or the time has elapsed, you can get new FPs at the kiosks, so hopping to another park shouldn't be a problem. It sounds like you won't be wanting the most coveted FP+ anyway.

Dining can be hit or miss. With just the two of you, I think you'll have pretty good luck with walk-ups as long as you're not wanting some of the most popular. Also, if you can eat at off times, you'll have a better chance.

Can't help with the other issues, but hope you have a magical time!

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

It could be 80, it could be 55. Honestly, the winter months pack for everything. Or if space is an issue, wait until the day before and then get an updated forecast and go from there. But I have had trips in the winter where parts of the trip I'm in shorts and others times with a jacket on.

 

[KimBean]

We've been to WDW several times in August, and recently have been at DL the last few years. I feel like I've got a pretty good handle on August at WDW, and planning for DL is SO easy! However ..... I'm planning a secret trip for my DD14 and myself in late January ..... and haven't a CLUE about weather, how busy the parks are, and since we haven't been to WDW recently, FP+ is a mystery to me!

I'm an avid reader of the DIS boards and will be spending between now and then reading up on various threads to get more familiar with what's new, but for now, I had a few questions that I haven't been able to find answers for on the boards.

Weather - sounds like January can be anywhere from 40 to 70 degrees. Since we're in Minnesota, 40 degrees in January sounds GREAT, so I'm not too worried about clothing. We'll probably bring stuff we can layer, but I'd appreciate any tips on what works well for a 3-days-in-the-park trip starting January 25th.

Touring Style - we are very relaxed in the parks. We don't do any rides that spin, roll, rock, gyrate, twirl, etc. so we aren't the sort of folks that will wait 90 minutes to ride some roller coaster. We generally have an idea of the things we want to see/do during our trip and if one park is busy, we'll hop to another and find something to do.

How will this style work with FP+? I can't see planning our trip around 3 daily FPs in a specific park at a specific time. In late January, will the parks be slow enough that we'll be able to do enough rides without doing FP+?

Dining - Again, over the years, we've been to every character meal at WDW plus Ohana, the Luau, Hoop-de-do, etc. I've definitely been spoiled by Disneyland, because it's so easy to get just about any ADR you need, with little notice. If we go to WDW without ADRs, will we be shut out of TS restaurants, or can we wing it?

Tickets - A while ago, I bought 10-day PH non-expiring tickets from Undercover Tourist. Is it fairly easy to link these tickets to the whole MagicBand system?

Thanks for any advice you can give me - I appreciate it!

Just addressing weather. Layers are the only way to go. Do not rely on a weather forecast even the day before you leave. Light long sleeve shirt, t-shirt, jacket. Capris or pants whatever you like. I like capris because I will feel pretty comfortable in these no matter what the weather and then I can just add or take off layers from the top and be comfortable.

 

[msb578]

I think the week you're going is probably one of the last remaining slowest weeks of the year. Crowds should be fairly light. That doesn't mean walk on rides, but considerably less than August.

It depends on which part of August you mean. The last week of August is dead. Parts of January are in the ballpark of that week.

 

[CrabbyPatty]

Thanks for the replies - I appreciate it! Sounds like layering is the way to go for the weather.

If late January is in the ballpark of late August, I think we'll be fine, given our non-interest in the "big" rides.

 

[Eastern]

Bring a change of shoes. It rained a lot during our January trip last year and I was wearing mesh-type shoes that got soaked early on. I don't think they really dried out the entire trip.

 

[itchin2go]

We've been to WDW several times in August, and recently have been at DL the last few years. I feel like I've got a pretty good handle on August at WDW, and planning for DL is SO easy! However ..... I'm planning a secret trip for my DD14 and myself in late January ..... and haven't a CLUE about weather, how busy the parks are, and since we haven't been to WDW recently, FP+ is a mystery to me!

I'm an avid reader of the DIS boards and will be spending between now and then reading up on various threads to get more familiar with what's new, but for now, I had a few questions that I haven't been able to find answers for on the boards.

Weather - sounds like January can be anywhere from 40 to 70 degrees. Since we're in Minnesota, 40 degrees in January sounds GREAT, so I'm not too worried about clothing. We'll probably bring stuff we can layer, but I'd appreciate any tips on what works well for a 3-days-in-the-park trip starting January 25th.

Touring Style - we are very relaxed in the parks. We don't do any rides that spin, roll, rock, gyrate, twirl, etc. so we aren't the sort of folks that will wait 90 minutes to ride some roller coaster. We generally have an idea of the things we want to see/do during our trip and if one park is busy, we'll hop to another and find something to do.

How will this style work with FP+? I can't see planning our trip around 3 daily FPs in a specific park at a specific time. In late January, will the parks be slow enough that we'll be able to do enough rides without doing FP+?

Dining - Again, over the years, we've been to every character meal at WDW plus Ohana, the Luau, Hoop-de-do, etc. I've definitely been spoiled by Disneyland, because it's so easy to get just about any ADR you need, with little notice. If we go to WDW without ADRs, will we be shut out of TS restaurants, or can we wing it?

Tickets - A while ago, I bought 10-day PH non-expiring tickets from Undercover Tourist. Is it fairly easy to link these tickets to the whole MagicBand system?

Thanks for any advice you can give me - I appreciate it!

First of all, I LOVE Disney World in January. Congrats on your upcoming secret trip!

Weather - plan to dress in layers. I wore a short sleeve t-shirt with pants (cargo, khaki, jeans or sweats), and a sweatshirt-type jacket. I feel like that would work for all but the most extreme weather situations. By mid-day, I could typically come out of the jacket.

Parks - Everyone is different, but except for the rare DHS/Epcot situation, we don't like to hop. We would typically rope drop whatever our park for the day would be (mapped out with a crowd calendar of some sort), and ride standby for most everything. We were typically done with all we wanted to accomplish by 2:00. Evening was for an ADR and something leisurely (exploring AKL, Boardwalk, World Showcase, for example.

ADRs - Popular things still book up, but we had no trouble booking same day ADRs for anywhere we got a hankering to go to. We would call by lunchtime and see what was available for evening. There was always something.

Can't help with the ticket situation.

I'm jealous of your January trip! Our October trips have, frankly, paled in comparison to our January ones. I love the cooler temps so much.

 

[Bluegrrl]

Weather/clothes: open your closet. Pack everything that you see in the closet. Jan is our dry season, so you should be ok. Even if it's cool out though, bring your sunscreen since Florida is quite sunny, and you can still get sunburn.

Shoes: bring open and close toes shoes. Better yet, bring all your shoes. (actually, I wear my Uggs in Jan, as well as close toed and sometimes sandals).

Rides: should be ok, but in case, look up winter break for Floridians. That may give you an idea of crowds. It usually is pretty ok, but also check when the marathon is, because that can also influence crowds.

Dining: Make those ADRs, especially in you want things like Hoop. Just always make ADRs. Although we haven't had too many problems with walk-ups and such, some places get really picky about ADRs and you can find out quickly that your favorite place suddenly has no availability. Make them early! (like we thought we could get Boma once, and were even told that if we got there at opening we could still get seated - nope. They are really picky about ADRs. If you have a favorite, make it NOW!)

Ticket: no clue.