January '08

[Disney Mommy 3]

Hey guys! We finally got our internet service up and running, so I have missed quite a bit!! Just wanted to know if the Jan. 08 rates were out--I need to start planning this trip!!!!

Also, we are looking at the week of the 6th-opinions? Weather and crowd wise-Or the week of the 13th, or 20th--give me some clues!

TIA and have a blessed one!!!

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

Weatherwise you can plug your dates in here for some history:

http://www.wunderground.com/tripplanner/index.asp

But basically, January in Orlando is completely unpredictable. You could have warm days (80s) with cool mornings, or you could have mornings near freezing with afternoons in the 40s or 50s. Or you could have it somewhere in between.

Crowdwise, you'll be fine. It's pretty empty in January once you get past the weekend after New Year's.

 

[brentalex]

Jan rates will probably be available sometime this month or August. You can call and make a room only reservation paying based on the current rates.

 

[pilferk]

Hi,

Weatherwise you can plug your dates in here for some history:

http://www.wunderground.com/tripplanner/index.asp

But basically, January in Orlando is completely unpredictable. You could have warm days (80s) with cool mornings, or you could have mornings near freezing with afternoons in the 40s or 50s. Or you could have it somewhere in between.

Crowdwise, you'll be fine. It's pretty empty in January once you get past the weekend after New Year's.

And new years eve and day in '08 is actually on a Monday/Tuesday. Many of the schools (at least up our way) are back on Wednesday the 2nd. So that should help ease the crowds the weekend AFTER new years just a tad (but will probably pump up the crowds the weekend before a bit). We're arriving on the 5th of Jan...but won't even TOUCH the parks that day. We'll be heading to the parks on the 6th..hoping that it's less crowded since most of the rest of the New Years crowd will probably be checking out that day.

 

[monte]

Don't foget marathon weekend, which I think is the 12th & 13th? Not sure of the dates, but it maybe crowded during that time.

I'll be there walking!

 

[Bob P]

Don't foget marathon weekend, which I think is the 12th & 13th? Not sure of the dates, but it maybe crowded during that time.

I'll be there walking!

Marathon weekend usually has more of an impact on traffic around the parks and resort capacity. The parks themselves are not that crowded on Marathon weekend.

Good luck with your walk..my wife and I ran the half in 2004...

 

[Wigit12]

Do many marathoners stay the next week? We're arriving on the 13th.
My DD will be driving to meet us--should I tell him to avoid any roads in particular on the 13th?

 

[Bob P]

Do many marathoners stay the next week? We're arriving on the 13th.
My DD will be driving to meet us--should I tell him to avoid any roads in particular on the 13th?

It's the roads around the parks, particularly the MK and Epcot, that are jam packed on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

We found that most of the marathoners do not stay long at WDW.

 

[Dragonfly0521]

We are going the 4-12 of Jan. I did notice on the Disney Website that they have the "Wonderful Weeks of Disney" up (no prices yet). They show the week of the 6-12 as one of those weeks. I think they choose the weeks with the lowest crowds each season. I am also hoping that we get some good discounts too!

 

[pilferk]

We are going the 4-12 of Jan. I did notice on the Disney Website that they have the "Wonderful Weeks of Disney" up (no prices yet). They show the week of the 6-12 as one of those weeks. I think they choose the weeks with the lowest crowds each season. I am also hoping that we get some good discounts too!

We're there the 4th - 11th..though we're at the Nick hotel the first night before checking into AKV.

Called for our ADR's on Monday.

I've asked a bunch of folks who have done that week, and all say it's pretty quiet from Sunday to Friday. Saturday and Sunday the parks are still quiet, but, as Bob P mentioned, the roads are sorta nuts in the AM.

 

[Database]

We will be at WDW for the marathon. Not running though!

 

[solferino]

duplicate post. Something went wonky, sorry!

 

[solferino]

We arrive on the 7th and DH is doing the half. We were there in 06 during the marathon and found the parks to be very manageable. The traffic around the MK was a little slow, but we allowed extra time. We left the day of the marathon and thre were several people on our ME bus that had run it and were leaving the same day. I don't know if that holds true every year, but I wonder if the majority of the runners go just for the weekend.

oh, as of this morning the 08 rates haven't been released. I'd called for ADRs and inquired. The CM I spoke to didn't say exactly when they were coming out.

 

[Maukey]

Hey guys! We finally got our internet service up and running, so I have missed quite a bit!! Just wanted to know if the Jan. 08 rates were out--I need to start planning this trip!!!!

Also, we are looking at the week of the 6th-opinions? Weather and crowd wise-Or the week of the 13th, or 20th--give me some clues!

TIA and have a blessed one!!!

Okay, I think I can help you out so I'm going to chime in here. I've been planning my trip to the World forever. I've had to change dates, Resorts, etc. numerous times. The big thing for my family and I have been LOW Crowds and COOL Weather. November and December of this year were the original dates that we were looking at, but due to financial shifts, we were forced to have to go with January; which is considered the second slowest month at Disney! Since deciding on January, I've been in front of my computer non-stop trying to get the perfect week, and here's what I came up with.

Most crowd predicting sites tell you that anytime after Marathon Weekend, the 14th through the 31st, are the best times to go. The only other things you'll need to consider are:

1) A Cheerleading competition will be going on the weekend of the 18th through the 20th.

2) MLK Holiday is the Monday after that Cheerleading competition and the parks will probably be at increased levels that entire weekend.

Based on these facts, I've come up with the date ranges of the 23rd through the 31st as the best week to go in January! I'll actually be there the 25th through the 31st.

So, hope this helps and happy planning!

 

[corie161]

Do you know where you saw that there was a cheerleading competition there in January? I did a quick search and the only place I saw those dates with cheerleading was in Jacksonville.

Edited: Nevermind, upon further looking I see a college championship the 18-20th in Orlando.

On another note: I wish they would release those packages already. It's just not right for the planning types who really want to have everything booked. I realize I can book room only, but half of going to Disney is know just how much it's going to cost and without precise figures it makes budgeting and planning extremely difficult. The price could be a matter of not being able to stay as long as we like, therefore how do you book airfare and ADR's, not to mention if we want to book a dinner show it needs to be paid for in advance since we can't officially sign up for the dining plan.

In case you can't tell, I'm starting to stress!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Thanks for all the info. Maukey-I am glad you did your research!! Curious about one thing, did anyone say why the week of the 6th wouldn't be as slow as after the marathon? I figured the public schools would all be back in session and bring lower crowds. Whatcha think?

 

[madisonwi]

Is it really time to make ADR for that week already? I better get my butt in gear and make those!

 

[Maukey]

Thanks for all the info. Maukey-I am glad you did your research!! Curious about one thing, did anyone say why the week of the 6th wouldn't be as slow as after the marathon? I figured the public schools would all be back in session and bring lower crowds. Whatcha think?

Well, most sites do predict the 7th through the 10th to be slow as well, but as is the case with any big weekend event, you have to account for the dozens who decide to go ahead and bring their families for the entire week before or after the event. Does that mean the crowd levels will be bad? No. I just feel safer staying away from the Marathon since it's pretty big. Weeks before and after cheerleading competitions? Okay, since those mostly impact weekends, value resorts and have very little impact on park crowds. But Marathon weekend, I personally know people who participate and bring their families to stay the week before and the week after. Would I go the week of the 7th if that was the only time I could go in January? Absolutely, because those dates will still have lighter crowds than about 95% of the rest of the year!

So, to sum up my rambling , I think that as long as you stay away from the first week in January, and the Marathon weekend, you can't go wrong with this month. However, if you are a perfectionist like me and are looking for the best possible week in January, I'd say that any day after the 21st gives you that; although it's never a sure thing when it comes to Disney!

Anyway, good luck with your planning, and maybe my family and I will see you there !