Jan? Feb?

[Cant wait for Disney]

Hi dvcers! We just returned at the beginning of the month from an awesome time at AKV. Of course, we are excitedly talking about when and where we will go next! Until this most recent trip, we had been June vacationers. Boy oh boy did the fall weather change us for good! We are now throwing around wanting to try Jan, Feb or even March. What can you pros tell me about this time of year? Weather, crowds, what villas are hard or easy to get? anything at all, we know nothing of wintering at the world! thanks for your help!!

 

[Kidanifan08]

We were just there 12/1-12/9, and I suspect that the weather that week was a bit warmer than usual.

We have gone a few times in January and February, and the weather has been cooler every time we have gone that time of year. We have not done any swimming in those months. The crowd levels at the parks are wonderful, and we have been lucky to have warm days in the 60's and low 70's most of the time. We have always had a day or two over the week that barely got out of the 50's. It is quite cool at night. We always have fleece pull-overs, warm jackets and warm-up pants if we are going to be in the parks after dark.

 

[Barbydoll8]

I'm sure others will chime in but here's my 2 cents. I live here and the weather starts to warm up in Feb so if it's swimming you want, you may want to wait until Feb. Avoid Pres weekend as it is VERY crowded.

Jan can be cool in FL but this year they aren't predicting a cold one. It's hit or miss in winter here.

I personally like Jan. It's cooler, low crowds, low points and everything but the water parks are open.

We do weekends since we live here and a Jan and a Feb weekend are a must for us due to low crowds and good weather.

 

[OKW Lover]

January and early February (before Presidents Day) is a great time to visit WDW. Low attendance levels (even considering MLK weekend) and the weather is usually pretty good.

Mid-February is very busy with lots of schools in the northeast having their winter vacation then. March has a similar issue with college spring break.

 

[Cant wait for Disney]

This is such great, helpful information! Thank you!

 

[Chuck S]

January can be COLD, not cool, COLD!! Most of the time it is pretty nice, but if you hit a cold year, it is really bone chilling because of the humidity.

 

[nuts]

January can be COLD, not cool, COLD!! Most of the time it is pretty nice, but if you hit a cold year, it is really bone chilling because of the humidity.

I can vouch for that! We've been in January when it was in the 30's with a nice humid breeze. Needless to say, I had one very unhappy wife!

 

[Cant wait for Disney]

That is really good to know! Our little guys will still be little and I can't imagine much fun in the freezing cold!!

 

[drusba]

January: avoid first four to five days because crowds are often still Christmas size. Generally manageable crowds thereafter with some increase marathon weekend and days around MLK but even then it is not bad. It can be warm (day temps mid to high 70s, night temps mid to high 50s) or cold (day temps 40s to low 50s, night temps 20s) and sometimes both extremes in consecutive days.

Feb: Feb seems a little more steady with high 60s to mid 70s usually becoming the norm as the month progresses although you can still get a cold stretch. President's Day time (Sat before to Fri after) is usually very crowded but rest of Feb is manageable.

March: temps become more consistently in the upper 70s and steadily into the 80s as the month progresses although a cold day can happen once in a while. Early March is not too crowded but once you hit just before mid March you are firmly into the spring break crowds. Also week before and of Easter are the most crowded of the year next to Christmas week and thus if either of those are in March, you likely want to avoid.

As far as reservation difficulty, if you are talking about Jan 2013 through March 2013, you may have a difficult time with anything reserving this late other than SSR and possibly OKW or AKV (standard or savanna). If you are talking 2014, then at 11 months out you are virtually certain to get anything at your home resort other than possibly AKV concierge if AKV is your home. If reserving at 7 months out for that period you will likely find what you want unless you want AKV concierge or value, BLT standard, BWV grand villa, and possibly BCV or BWV standard or boardwalk view(although even those are open at times during that time period)