Jan 1st-7th crowded?

[natenapril]

Is the first week of Jan. crowded? TIA, April

 

[DisneyPhD]

It will get less crowded as the week goes on. The Christmas decorations start coming down that week and will be all gone by the time you leave. You should be able to see them the 1st days though. We have been a few times this week and while it wasn't a low of crowds at mid Dec (13 to 20th) it was very manageable. I think it was pretty simlar to the 1st week in May for us.

The marathon is that weekend. It doesn't seem to make the parks any more busy, but getting rooms can be hard. The days of the marathon (Sat and Sun) take Disney transport, the roads can be messed up in the am.

The weather can be all over the place. Pack for everything, 50's to 80's you might get it all. We did last year. Coats, hats, gloves and the like can be used, swimming the next day.

We will be there Jan 3 to 10th 2007, VWL. We are on the wait list for BCV, but I don't think it will come through, because of the marathon. Still VWL is great in the winter, so warm and cozy.

 

[Questforthemouse]

DW and I were at POP last Xmas into the NY (Dec 28th - Jan 7th). As others on these boards have mentioned and as we experienced...January 1st remained quite busy in the parks but the parks were noticebly less crowded from the 2nd onward. Marathon weekend seemed to impact the resorts and the roadways more so than the parks themselves. As at any other busy park time...get to the parks as they open. You will accomplish more in the first 2 hours than the next 4 hours. Then sit back and enjoy the magic .

Some other thoughts...

A CM told us that WDW unofficially celebrates the 12 days of Xmas and therefore Xmas music and decorations were part of our resort experience up to and including the 5th of Jan. Next morning (Jan 6th) woke up to regular music and no Xmas tree/decorations in the resort lobby. I believe MGM an AK stopped the Xmas music prior to the 5th of Jan. Admittedly, 12 days of Xmas music can become somewhat annoying but for those just arriving at the end of the Xmas season it adds to the magic!

As far as weather goes...we had an amazing 10 days. 15 minutes of rain on one day (that was it). Temps of 72 -84 the first nine days. Our last day was cold (44 - 52), overcast and quite breezey. Went from t-shirts and shorts to jeans, sweatshirt, windbreaker and thin pair of gloves. As DisneyPhd mentioned, be prepared for any type of weather and dress in layers if need be.

Dw and I will be there again this Xmas (Dec 26 - Jan 6) !

Have a fantasmic trip

 

[MomtoGKC]

We're going Jan. 5-7th - I hope we get to see some of the Christmas decorations before they come down!

 

[Questforthemouse]

We're going Jan. 5-7th - I hope we get to see some of the Christmas decorations before they come down!

If they do things as they did last year then Jan 5th should be the 12th day of Christmas. There were still some decorations in the parks on the 6th but they were coming down quickly. Here's some pixie dust for you. Best of luck!

 

[emh1129]

We will be there Jan.2-13 and I'm also looking forward to the decorations
I hope it won't be too crowded, but we plan on taking it slow-paced..

 

[marconat]

Here is an other one for the month of Jan... Dec 31 - Jan 15...
we will take it easy on the first week, but the second week should be very fun....

 

[marty Jay]

We are going Dec 30-Jan 6th along with 90+ others that all belong to where my husband works. And no the company is not paying for it!!
We made a group reservation for dinner on New Years night at a resteraunt outside of the parks in one of the hotels. I'm worried though that we won't be able to get back into the parks after supper (5pm) if MK reaches capacity. Which I'm thinking might happen Dec 31st. Anyone with any experience or thoughts?

Marty Jay

 

[wenpop]

I'll be there from Dec 31st till Jan 7!!! I really hope it is not really crowded... BUt oh well, It's Disney, How bad can a busy day at Disney be compared to being at home clean the house.... Hope to see ya'll there!!!!

 

[Questforthemouse]

We are going Dec 30-Jan 6th along with 90+ others that all belong to where my husband works. And no the company is not paying for it!!
We made a group reservation for dinner on New Years night at a resteraunt outside of the parks in one of the hotels. I'm worried though that we won't be able to get back into the parks after supper (5pm) if MK reaches capacity. Which I'm thinking might happen Dec 31st. Anyone with any experience or thoughts?

Marty Jay

Disclaimer...Past performance does not guarantee future performance...

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but your chances of getting into MK after 5pm on New Year's Eve are slim and none. Last year people were still trickling into Epcot between 5pm and 6pm although in other years it was closed to all visitors (including resort guests) shortly after 1pm. I wouldn't even bother with MK at that hour and would head straight for Epcot (if it's your second choice...just incase you can still get in...it will be packed in World Showcase by 7pm) otherwise I'd likely head to MGM. MGM is as big as MK but won't be nearly as busy so you stand a better chance of late entry.

Are you driving to dinner? What Resort are your staying in?

 

[katylady]

We'll be there Dec. 30 - Jan. 7. I'm looking forward to a good time, and if it's crowded, at least it won't be as hot as it is in the summer (I hope!).

 

[marty Jay]

Hi Questforthemouse,

We are staying at the All Star Movies, and the dinner reservation is for Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary ( did I spell that right? ). I'm thinking that we might just forgo the dinner plans and stay at MK. My hearts set on being there with the other thousands of people to ring in the New Year. I wonder if there are any places that might still be available for us to make dinner reservations within the park?

Thanks
Marty Jay

 

[Questforthemouse]

Hi Questforthemouse,

We are staying at the All Star Movies, and the dinner reservation is for Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary ( did I spell that right? ). I'm thinking that we might just forgo the dinner plans and stay at MK. My hearts set on being there with the other thousands of people to ring in the New Year. I wonder if there are any places that might still be available for us to make dinner reservations within the park?

Thanks
Marty Jay

Hi Again Marty Jay,

If you use the search function and search these forums for "new year's eve" you'll get a boat load of information. Nonetheless...I think the general rule with MK now is be there at opening and be prepared to stay until closing. It makes for a very long day. I spoke with a couple last year at Epcot on NYE and they told me they had spent the previous 3 NYEs at MK and all 3 years the park was closed to ALL guest by roughly 10am. Even if you had a dining ressie in MK you couldn't get back in if you left and so missed your ressie. This couple said they were in the park by 9am and didn't get back to their All-Star resort until shortly after 2am (they used WDW bus service). In terms of getting reservations in MK at this late stage...all you can do is call and cross your fingers.

Good luck,

 

[dizchick]

We were there 2 years during the first week of January and it was wonderful! Didn't seem very crowded, warm, Christmas decorations still up, and people in the pool. You couldn't ask for more! What a great time!

Edited to add that we weren't there for New Year's Eve, we showed up around the 2nd or 3rd.

 

[2bearsmom]

We are going to WDW 1/6/07-1/13/07, for the first time, and am glad to hear the crowds may be a little less than the first of the month. We are staying at The Caribbean Beach resort. I am so excited. We are telling our ds on Christmas that we are going and I can not wait to tell our 5yr old. I want to tell him now!

marty jay, I love the pic of your Golden with Scooby Doo. It's too cute. Nothing to do with Disney but we too have a Golden, Zoe, who will be one next month. I wish she was as young as the one in the pic though.

 

[dizchick]

2bearsmom-I don't think a kid could imagine a more wonderful Christmas present than a surprise Disney trip! You must be so excited to see the look on his face!

 

[buttons]

We will be there December 31-January 6 staying at the Family Suites. I was wondering when the children in your areas are going back to school from Christmas break? The reason we are going at that time is because here the kids (and myself b/c I work in a school) are out until January 9. I was wondering if that is common since kids being out of school means bigger crowds at Disney. I was just hoping we had the upper hand this time.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Schools in MI go back to school Jan 3rd (or is it 2nd?) Anyway my DD will be missing a week of K. My DH teachs college and they don't go back until Jan 14th so that is why we are going that week.

 

[emh1129]

Our schools go back on Jan.2 or 3. I have noticed that some of the other DISers have mentioned going back on the 8th, though

 

[marty Jay]

2bearsmom,

The golden in the pic is what we in our family jokingly refer to as our GOLDEN GIRL. Two years ago she was limping for a stretch of time, and it just never got any better. Finally the vet took some x rays and discovered that she had an osteosarcoma ( bone cancer ) in her right front leg. We had her leg amputated off, and then started chemo. The odds for her being around two years after were not good. But, being our Golden Girl, she is still here with us today, running faster than any of us can, on three legs.

We just love her so much, and this experience although very ruff on us at times, would never deter us from getting another golden. They are the best family dogs around. IMHO of course.

Also, just wanted to say that I envy you that first time you let your kids know they are going to WDW. The magic on their faces is so precious.

Marty Jay