Jan or Feb to avoid tour groups?

[Lauren44]

Hi everyone this is my first post.
I've been planning a WDW trip in January 2012 for awhile now, and have been on cloud nine for the past few weeks doing all my research and planning. It will be mother and grandmother and I. My grandmother is a BIG Disney lover, and I have many happy memories of her and I there together when I was a child. She always got just as excited to see Mickey as any us kids. However, she hasn't been in over 12 years because her arthritis makes it painful to walk for long periods of time, and she was always too proud to use a wheelchair. After a recent layover in ATL airport, she reluctantly used the wheelchair service, and is now a convert This means WDW is now an option for her again, and I'm planning our trip as a Christmas gift for her. We're really looking forward to being together as a family at WDW again.
It wasn't until last night, however, that I came across a thread warning me of large tour groups of unruly, unsupervised teenagers (mostly from Brazil) flooding the parks in January. The more posts I've read, the more a January trip seems like a bad idea. Are they really as bad as some of these posts make it out to be? From reading some posts, it seems like we'll be entering a war zone.
I'm most worried about pushing and shoving in lines when my grandmother is prone to falling. And, also navigating with a wheel chair.
Because of budget reasons we will be staying in one of the Value resorts. I understand that might be a bad place to be at that time of year due to the same loud tour groups.
I'm trying to decide whether to Stick to our Mid January plan or change to early February. Some posts I've read state that the tour groups arrive in late January and stay through February. Others say to avoid January all together and that the Brazilian schools start up again in the first week of February. I'm confused over which times to avoid.
So, I'm just wondering which is the better time to go? Are they less prevalent in early/mid January than late January? Are they still around during the first two weeks in February?
Also, I heard that Pop Century doesn't allow tour groups to stay there. Is that true?
Thanks so much to anyone who replies I get so excited about my Disney trip when reading these boards

 

[ladyfoundhertramp]

We went in mid January in 2008 and never saw 1 tour group. This year we are going the 21-27 of January, and hoping for the same outcome.I think honestly you take the good with the bad in Disney..If you go during the summer its the heat, Spring Break/Easter it's monster crowds,Holidays..crowds again.

January is a really nice time to visit. We never waited to ride anything, our resort was half booked, you can get ADRs very easily. And the weather is 70s during the day and 50s at night (so if you are from a cold January climate its a nice break!)


You have to take alot of what you read on here with a grain of salt because it is alot of different peoples opinions on their trip and experiences.

Happy Planning!

 

[Teacher Princess]

I would suggested to avoid going the first week in December...Two words: Pop Warner Groups!! eek!!!!

A college friend stay at the ASMU last December and they were soo loud!! Out of control!! just my humble advice...
Have fun planning..

ESL P.R. Teacher and proud a Army wife..

 

[GrammyJudy]

We go the end of jan and have seen tour groups. They were at ASMu last year but they have their own bus so that was ok. IF we run into them in the park we just go a different way and have not had any problems. It is a great time to go because even with the groups there are practically no lines. We are going to ASMo this year 1/2q-1/28.

By the way try to persuade your grandmother to rent an ECV. IT is hard to push a wheelchair around the parks and she will be so much more comfy with the ECV. I rent from Apple Scooters and it is $175 for the whole week. The bus drivers are great helping me on and off the buses. You can read a bout them on the Disabilities board here.

Have a great trip and enjoy your time together! The memories are priceless!

 

[Lauren44]

Hi everyone. Thanks for all the Replies. You've all really eased my mind about a January visit. At least the tour groups will be easy to avoid while in the park. From what I understand, you can hear/see them coming from a mile away.

GrammyJudy
My grandmother is convinced that she will be unable to drive an ECV, and might run over people and hurt them. She won't use them in supermarkets or malls either. I LOVE my grandmother, but she is stubborn. I'm just glad she's agreed to the wheelchair . I'm young and physically fit, so hopefully pushing her won't be too difficult. On the bright side, maybe I'll lose some weight pushing her (despite all the churros I plan to eat). She's able to walk for short periods of time, but needs the wheelchair for long hauls and long lines. I will check out the disAbilities board for more information. Thanks

 

[Saratoga Springs Tom]

We traditionally visit WDW in early February. We have not had issues with groups. They are there, but have not caused any problems for us. The crowds are low and the lines move quickly if there is one.

 

[Jessica14]

I had started a thread last week asking the same thing because the CM that made my reservation told me that there was ONLY ONE room available during free dining at POP (and every other value) and that everything else was taken up by competition groups. We are going to be there the 10th-the 17th. My original dates were the 8th-15th.

I can't imagine them offering free dining to large groups, but I could be wrong. When I checked online, there were also no availablility. It is a value/MLK time, but I didn't think that anything totally filled up like the busy season during a value time period. Well, we are booked and will just have to deal with it!
Jessica

 

[Kakikomori]

I was there the second week of Jan 2010, at All Star Movies. I did see a lot of the Brazilian tour groups, but I never thought of them as particularly rowdy, though. I also followed the earlier suggestion of going a different direction and never had any problem. The worst thing was being tired of hearing Portuguese.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

We were there 3rd week of January 2010 and never saw one tour group. Going again this January. We plan to just head another direction if we see them. Our January trip was the best!! Nice weather, and no lines hardly at all except at Toy Story Mania and we used fastpass so that was fine.

If you want to see a few January park pictures, check out our 2010 trip report below. One thing we did do that seemed to work was when we went to Magic Kingdom, we headed straight thru the castle first and did Fantasyland before the crowds got there. You'll see us standing in front of It's a Small World and no one was there.

Have fun on your trip!!