Jan. 2-8th 2006 - Crazy Busy or Do-able crowds??

[shoots]

Hi,
A friend of mine emailed today on Disney advice. I have helped countless people with holidays as I've stayed on site at Disney and Universal 3 times in the last 5 years. I have never been at Christmas or after New year's, but since we're both teachers, we have to go in either March, July/August or at Christmas.

I went this past summer and carefully planned my trip, what days to be where, when, dining etc.

This is a last minute thing but there is an sale on flights etc out of Toronto Canada, so my friend is thinking about going and staying onsite.

Will dining be a problem???(I'm a 90 day + planner when I go and have favourite restaurants etc. and have used the dining plan on the last trip with great success too.)

Can any "real" Disney experts help out this "amateur" expert??? I'm good when I have time, but I think the sale is only for 72 hours so she needs help QUICKLY!

Thanks a million,
Nancy

 

[LMC]

We went this same time frame this past January and it wasn't bad at all! Most schools here are back in session around 1/5/06 so everyone is headed home. You may have a little more crowds depending on the college bowl games that are in South Florida (I don't have any info on those) but I don't remember it being bad at all.

I will say I have been in March at Spring Break and it was awful and January was nothing compared to it!

 

[HopperFan]

We will be there - no school till the 9th. That is the Marathon Weekend. Expo on Thurs/Fri/Sat.....Half Marathon, EPCOT 5k and kid races on Sat am and the full Marathon on Sun am. Roads close during the night and transportation is tricky in am. Races do go in parks, but mostly affected on Sunday. Splitting the races to two days may increase participation (potential for something like 20,000 per race although I bet it is less). Folks like us who are out of school making it a long week instead of going for the long weekend for the race. If you want sit down for dinners, I would suggest ADR at least for Fri and Sat. Restaurants were packed during the race weekend. Just hope we hit the 80's like last year

ps We did this same week in 2002 and it was PACKED ! Even the yearly snow birds who "live" in the campground could not get over the crowds. That was the last time our school vacation went this late.

 

[dixiedizfan]

I think it'll be pretty busy that week. We'll be there then because school doesn't start back until January 10.

 

[ottawa-newbie]

Hi,
A friend of mine emailed today on Disney advice. I have helped countless people with holidays as I've stayed on site at Disney and Universal 3 times in the last 5 years. I have never been at Christmas or after New year's, but since we're both teachers, we have to go in either March, July/August or at Christmas.

I went this past summer and carefully planned my trip, what days to be where, when, dining etc.

This is a last minute thing but there is an sale on flights etc out of Toronto Canada, so my friend is thinking about going and staying onsite.

Will dining be a problem???(I'm a 90 day + planner when I go and have favourite restaurants etc. and have used the dining plan on the last trip with great success too.)

Can any "real" Disney experts help out this "amateur" expert??? I'm good when I have time, but I think the sale is only for 72 hours so she needs help QUICKLY!

Thanks a million,
Nancy

Sorry to have to ask, but is the sale on flights still on??

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

We have been to Disney many, many times in January and have never had a real problem with the crowds or dining. As will be the case this year, we are always there for the Marathon. For some reason, I became increasingly nervous for this upcoming trip and made ADRs. I've never felt the need to make them before, but this year I guess I panicked and went ahead and made them. I called about 2 weeks ago to make the ressies, and I had no problem getting the restaurants and times I wanted.
Are they doing the Marathon different this year? We will be leaving on the 9th to fly home. Should we expect some traffic delays?

 

[mamacatnv]

We will be there 12/29 - 1/5/06 - schools here are out until the 9th - but I have to be home the morning of the 6th to process payroll(cutting it close, I know) Pixie dust for me that our flights are smooth and not delayed!

We are planning on the parks being pretty busy after the 1st as a vacation poll awhile back showed lots of schools out on break during the week after New Years. I don't think it will be as bad as pre New Years, but I am not expecting the parks to be empty either. I made all my ressies a few months back (all 3) were going to wing the rest.

 

[GGOOFY1]

The parks are do-able, but the weather is unpredictable. Bring clothes for all seasons. We were there one year and they were covering the plants to protect from frost. Went to the Animal Kingdom with winter coats, gloves, scarfs and hats. I would think the water parks are out, unless you have a beautiful day, too cold to be getting in and out of water. Have fun, wish I was with you

 

[Forevryoung]

I'm going 1/3-1/11 and I thought I would be escaping the crowds... I guess not but it's too late now to change anything.

Do you think it will be more crowded than June?

 

[shoots]

Thanks for your help!

Keep your posts coming!

 

[Bill From PA]

We arrived New Year's Day this year and stayed until the 10th. From the 3rd on we had the lowest 'crowds' we've ever experienced, almost never used FastPass and never made a PS, we walked right on the rides and into the Epcot restaurants. Not only that, but daily temps topped 75 the first few days and 80 the rest of the time. It's going to be hard to top that week.

Bill From PA

 

[jann1033]

we've gone that time and had no crowds but i don't know how the school breaks will impact. imo marathon wasn't much of a problem except at ak ( it was emh and a mess) the morning of. we got there around that time in 04 and it was the usual Jan dead till mlk weekend but do not know about school breaks that yr.

 

[The Sweetness]

Heres my 2 cents~ Ive been in Jan, and in June. In Jan, DD was about 5, and was slightly disappointed that I wouldnt let her play in the water at Ariels Grotto. Also, leaving Ariels Grotto, I got blasted in the face with watr, having to buy something dry to wear for the rest of that day. I thought it was pretty cold, but as a native FL. Im something of a wimp.
In June, it is suffocatingly hot, just like August IMO.

If it helps any, My dd goes back to school on 1-2-06

 

[Ashes8380]

I've gone the last two Januarys, from approximate the 2nd to the 10th, and the parks have been pretty dead. Minimal lines for everything, only did fastpasses for the really big stuff. Sometimes those rides only had a 30 min wait or so, but we decided to get the FPs anways. I'm not sure about the public schools elsewhere, but in NY you almost always go back to school on January 2nd. Why would they give you a week off afterwards when you have probably had all the time between christmas eve and the 2nd off? Unless there is a drastic change between now and last year, you should be fine. I'm hoping for the weather in the 80's like last year too!

 

[attagirlx2]

The half marathon is on Saturday the 7th - it starts at 6am and will be finished by 9:30.
The full marathon is on Sunday the 8th - it also starts at 6am but won't end until 1:00pm.

We were there last year and are going to be there this year. DH is one of the runners. Great warm weather for touring, lousy warm weather for running. He is hoping for much cooler temps this year.

Last year we were there from the 8th to 15th (Races were on the 9th). This year we are going before the races.

Minimal crowds last year...only used fast passes on a few rides. The only insane day was the Sat of MLK weekend at Magic Kingdom. Friday was rainy so I think more people than planned to be were in the park on Sat. Friday was perfect despite the rain...walked on every ride or had less than a 5 minute wait.

I do think this year will be more crowded. Partly since they split the races so they could increase (double) the number of runners (from 10,000 to 20,000). Both races are filled to capacity and have been for some time now. And partly more crowded since we are there the same week as New Year's.

I do know transportation to Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom was a mess on Sunday. Part of the roads are closed for the runners. It took us over an hour to get from Animal Kingdom to Epcot to see DH finish. We took a cab from our hotel to Animal Kingdom in order to see him along the course.

Still I think it is a lot less crowded than summer. But I don't think it is as empty as it used to be in January.

 

[dangler]

Our schools don't go back until Jan.9th, I know lots going that week! Hopefully the crowds will be low for you!