January 20111...let's start planning

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Thanks for the replies! DH keeps reassuring me tht this winter is so not normal. I'm hoping that we'll get to go for 9 or 10 days. We can go anytime within the first 3 weeks of January, but right now I'm leaning toward around marathon time. We're thinking about staying at CBR, but I would love to get a few nights in at the Poly.

 

[flamingglobessigmund]

Jan 2011, not sure of the dates quite yet.

Staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

 

[emh1129]

We actually arrive in Orlando Dec. 28th, but we are spending 5 nights off-site. I already booked that through Priceline. I'm just not sure what to *do* for those few days. We haven't ever done Universal, Sea World, or Kennedy Space Center. All we've done is Disney. Any ideas? My kiddos will be 8, 6, and 2. I need to *try* to keep it as budget-friendly as possible.

Then we check-in at Disney on Jan. 2nd for 7 nights. I'm trying to decide between the ASMu Family Suite or POR, but I have POR booked for now as a room-only.

 

[mommy22gurlz]

Okay....I am totally really having WDW withdrawals BAD...January cannot come fast enough. BUT we can think of it like this, for the ones doing the dining plan, we can book our reservations in July! It doesn't sound so far off when we get to do that kind of fun stuff in just a few months.. LOL...

 

[Kazooie01]

So have any of you been to WDW in January before? I'm a little worried about the weather. If we don't go in January our other choices would be April and October. I'm worried that April would be too busy (and much more expensive) and October is too far away. Is there a better time to go in January?

We plan on going again this January (our dates aren’t firm yet but we'll be staying at Port Orleans Riverside). This will be our fifth January in a row and we love Disney this time of year. The weather can be all over the place but 65-75 degrees is pretty common. You'll have the occasional cool day but we just pack layers in case. Anything is better than Upstate New York winters.

 

[highnmighty217]

I am a first timer(first post on this board and in planning for our first WDW trip Jan. 12-15 2011!). I am going for a Childrens Ministry Conference at CSR and hoping to bring the whole family. I am hearing alot of negativity about the time of year and not getting to enjoy it. We have 4 kiddos DS(15), DD (9 1/2), DD (3 1/2), DD (1 1/2) so I want to make sure it's something they all can enjoy . Any advice would be great!

 

[Kazooie01]

I am a first timer(first post on this board and in planning for our first WDW trip Jan. 12-15 2011!). I am going for a Childrens Ministry Conference at CSR and hoping to bring the whole family. I am hearing alot of negativity about the time of year and not getting to enjoy it. We have 4 kiddos DS(15), DD (9 1/2), DD (3 1/2), DD (1 1/2) so I want to make sure it's something they all can enjoy . Any advice would be great!

If you don't mind me asking, what have you been hearing?

Over our last four January visits we have stayed on site anywhere from January 13 all the way to the end of the month. We have experienced nothing negative during that time period (including a stay over MLK weekend). The only drawback is that some rides may be closed for refurbishment (see- Splash Mountain). The crowds are low, weather usually is in the 60's to low 70's, and if it gets cooler (and you have packed layers to enjoy the cool weather) the parks can be a "ghost town". We have had several days of being able to walk on most rides and attractions. It is absolutely our favorite time of year to visit (O.K. we are a bit biased).

 

[highnmighty217]

Just hearing that the weather makes it impossible to fully enjoy. I think alot of people are referring to this past Jan when it was snowing and freezing temps. Like I said before we arent concerned about the water part of it all.

 

[Kazooie01]

Just hearing that the weather makes it impossible to fully enjoy. I think alot of people are referring to this past Jan when it was snowing and freezing temps. Like I said before we arent concerned about the water part of it all.

Those cold temps. are a rarity. We got in this year the 13th, the day after the cold weather broke. We were pretty lucky, we even had three or four days where it was warm enough to swim (it seems every year there is a least a day or two warm enough to swim). Of course being from Upstate New York 60 is warm enough to swim! If 60's to low 70's during the day and low to mid 50's in the morning and night don't worry you, you'll be fine.

 

[highnmighty217]

Awesome! Thanks for the positive feedback!

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Those cold temps. are a rarity. We got in this year the 13th, the day after the cold weather broke. We were pretty lucky, we even had three or four days where it was warm enough to swim (it seems every year there is a least a day or two warm enough to swim). Of course being from Upstate New York 60 is warm enough to swim! If 60's to low 70's during the day and low to mid 50's in the morning and night don't worry you, you'll be fine.

Do you think that there is generally a difference between the beginning and end of January? We can go anytime within the first 3 weeks of January and are trying to figure out if a certain time is best.

 

[mydreamparty]

Hi am planning for our week trip December.
Cant wait that long so need to plan a few mini in between
Cindy

 

[Kazooie01]

Do you think that there is generally a difference between the beginning and end of January? We can go anytime within the first 3 weeks of January and are trying to figure out if a certain time is best.

Weather wise, towards the end of the month we have noticed the warmer days to be more common. As for the crowds, around marathon time and MLK day (the 17th in 2011), it tends to make the parks a bit more crowded. From our past trips, I guess it would be the third week (as a preference). That time of year with minimal day planning, use of Fast Passes, and avoiding Hollywood Studio on Fantasmic Days (busy, busy), we have never had a wait over 20 minutes. Low, low crowds and lots of fun.

 

[dorothyh]

We just booked a 2 bedroom villa at BWV, 2 bedroom for Jan 6- 14, 2011-

we're going to Disneyworld!!!!

 

[GrammyJudy]

We just booked a 2 bedroom villa at BWV, 2 bedroom for Jan 6- 14, 2011-

we're going to Disneyworld!!!!

Congratulations!!! Can't wait to book ours...thnking Jan 25-Feb 1 at POR. Are you running the marathon that weekend?

 

[DrmWvr1299]

Count us in! Last week in Jan and staying at YC again

 

[mythreeboys]

We just upgraded our trip by exchanging DH's aunts RCI points into DVC! We got a 2BR villa at BCV for the Jan 15-22, my 30th b-day week! So now I have a place for us, DH's parents, and DH's aunt/uncle. I just need to find a place for my parents and sister/family and DH's two brothers and their family. We're getting there though! Can't wait till January!!!

 

[GrammyJudy]

We just upgraded our trip by exchanging DH's aunts RCI points into DVC! We got a 2BR villa at BCV for the Jan 15-22, my 30th b-day week! So now I have a place for us, DH's parents, and DH's aunt/uncle. I just need to find a place for my parents and sister/family and DH's two brothers and their family. We're getting there though! Can't wait till January!!!

maybe they can rent points at BCV also!

 

[mythreeboys]

maybe they can rent points at BCV also!

The problem isn't needing points, we have more than enough points. The problem is we are exchanging through RCI and it can be tricky trying to find units. We were lucky enough to come across two the night we could start booking, both 2 bedrooms, one at BCV and the other at SSR. We weren't sure if there was a cancel fee to move it if BCV came up again, so we didn't book it. That and we weren't sure if anyone cared about staying somewhere else, which we know they don't. So I'm taking whatever (if anything) comes up again. We've also talked about having them just rent from a DVC member, but we're holding on for now to see if anything pops up on RCI. We have backup plans, so I'm not worried.

 

[wvjules]

We are going down for the marathon. We will be running our first 1/2! Yay! Not quite sure of the days we will be there though. I'm leaning towards arriving on the 7th so we will have all of our park (and eating) days after the marathon. I dont' want to be at Disney before the marathon and have to worry about what I'm eating. lol

I'm going to go with January 7th - 12/13th?