January 2014 discount watch!!

[DisMama3]

Did you go the week before MLK?

Because if you went the week before MLK you were smack dab between Marathon and MLK Jr. Day. So you have a run-off of marathoners and an early group of people who took an extended MLK holiday.

**ETA: I saw your dates and that's weird that it was so crowded but I've been in the summer so I think I can manage. I'm wondering what your level of insane is it's all relative, right?

Haha we have yet to do summer, and probably never will. All rides were a half hour wait or more in January , even it's a small world! We arrived on MLK weekend. I do confess we do the park based on EMH as I still have nappers, but the parks close so darn early if not using the hours since it is winter.

 

[luvallprincesses]

Haha we have yet to do summer, and probably never will. All rides were a half hour wait or more in January , even it's a small world! We arrived on MLK weekend. I do confess we do the park based on EMH as I still have nappers, but the parks close so darn early if not using the hours since it is winter.

Either it is truly all relative or the EMH parks make that much of a difference, because my good friends who always arrive in the Sat of MLK weekend said its a little hairy in the weekend and then smooth sailing the rest if the week, including last year. They never waited more than 15 mins for anything. They use park hoppers.

 

[DisMama3]

Either it is truly all relative or the EMH parks make that much of a difference, because my good friends who always arrive in the Sat of MLK weekend said its a little hairy in the weekend and then smooth sailing the rest if the week, including last year. They never waited more than 15 mins for anything. They use park hoppers.

We stayed through the week as well and didn't see relief so when I mentioned it to a CM they did say it seems to be based on the parks with EMH. Maybe we will try a new strategy this time around! We don't do the park hoppers.

 

[middlesista]

Either it is truly all relative or the EMH parks make that much of a difference, because my good friends who always arrive in the Sat of MLK weekend said its a little hairy in the weekend and then smooth sailing the rest if the week, including last year. They never waited more than 15 mins for anything. They use park hoppers.

Also found it crowded for the MLK long weekend but better later in the week but this was in 2012 and I have read that this past year things were busy. We decided to go the end of January through the first week of February next year and do have park hoppers plus we do check the crowd calendars - so hoping for the best. This is better for us than the heat of the summer and the crowds then. We have gone in the summer in the past when our children were young and we did not want to pull them out of school. Back then the Polynesian was a lot more affordable so staying on the monorail line was great. We would head back to pool every afternoon and swim/relax and return at night. One thing that I did love about the summer was how long the parks are open and Disney at night.

 

[DisMama3]

What app do you guys like best to see the crowd levels?

 

[vacation_junkie]

Also found it crowded for the MLK long weekend but better later in the week but this was in 2012 and I have read that this past year things were busy. We decided to go the end of January through the first week of February next year and do have park hoppers plus we do check the crowd calendars - so hoping for the best. This is better for us than the heat of the summer and the crowds then. We have gone in the summer in the past when our children were young and we did not want to pull them out of school. Back then the Polynesian was a lot more affordable so staying on the monorail line was great. We would head back to pool every afternoon and swim/relax and return at night. One thing that I did love about the summer was how long the parks are open and Disney at night.

We go that same week every January.
Its a great week! It quiets right down right after the MLK weekend.

 

[prune1977]

We go that same week every January.
Its a great week! It quiets right down right after the MLK weekend.

Thats when we went to week after MLK and normally never waited more than 15 min for anything but this time we seemed to run into BTG everywhere we went and all parks except maybe one day at Epcot just were very crowded compared to our past experiences.

 

[ilovepete]

Hoping for a room only discount here!

 

[luvallprincesses]

Hoping for a room only discount here!

Me too! We are planning to stay at the Dolphin using the teacher rate but will consider switching to YC if we can get 35% off. I'm really starting to wonder if we would be at a disadvantage at the Dolphin instead if truly "on site" with a package when this whole new Magic Band/Fastpass+ thing is live, which I'm pretty sure will be by January.

 

[judypriv]

Hoping for a room only discount here!

I'd take that too. Anything would be a big help. The kids free deal they have had in the past would also be big.

 

[Bettie]

We have gone the last week in January (into Feb) the last couple of years, and the crowds have been fantastic. We have done Spring Break before and believe me, there is a HUGE difference!! We do generally follow EasyWDW, which usually avoids the EMH parks, so that may play a big role for sure.

 

[vacation_junkie]

We have gone the last week in January (into Feb) the last couple of years, and the crowds have been fantastic. We have done Spring Break before and believe me, there is a HUGE difference!! We do generally follow EasyWDW, which usually avoids the EMH parks, so that may play a big role for sure.

We use to go April every year. One year we changed to January. Since then were hooked. We check in the Saturday after MLK weekend and the crowds are awesome, weather fantastic. Best time of the year to go

 

[middlesista]

What app do you guys like best to see the crowd levels?

We also use easyWDW and touringplans.com

 

[Cobern]

We use to go April every year. One year we changed to January. Since then were hooked. We check in the Saturday after MLK weekend and the crowds are awesome, weather fantastic. Best time of the year to go

Super excited to hear this! We check in in the 23 and I was a little concerned about crowds. Everyone tells me they dwindle starting in the Wednesday after.

 

[vacation_junkie]

Super excited to hear this! We check in in the 23 and I was a little concerned about crowds. Everyone tells me they dwindle starting in the Wednesday after.

I an't remember if it was last January trip or the one before we went on Test track 3 times before noon. We haven't used fast passes in a few years in January.
The only problem is that you can expect 1 or more major ride referb. during that time period.
Weather has always been great. Warm enough for the pool but cool enough to enjoy a beautiful evening watching the fireworks. Temps in the past few January trips have been between 72 & 89!

 

[Cobern]

I an't remember if it was last January trip or the one before we went on Test track 3 times before noon. We haven't used fast passes in a few years in January.
The only problem is that you can expect 1 or more major ride referb. during that time period.
Weather has always been great. Warm enough for the pool but cool enough to enjoy a beautiful evening watching the fireworks. Temps in the past few January trips have been between 72 & 89!

Good, good, good! We live in south Florida so I am used to those temperatures . My dads only request is to ride test track so I hope it is not closed for refurbishment. We tried for years to ride it and it was always broken or under refurb .

 

[vacation_junkie]

Good, good, good! We live in south Florida so I am used to those temperatures . My dads only request is to ride test track so I hope it is not closed for refurbishment. We tried for years to ride it and it was always broken or under refurb .

No referb on Test track...they just did it a bit ago

 

[disney-inspired]

No referb on Test track...they just did it a bit ago

Yeah, it was closed for a while last year, so I didn't get to ride it in Sept. I hope country bear jamboree is up. Since they removed it from DLR a long time ago, I miss it!

 

[Cobern]

No referb on Test track...they just did it a bit ago

YES!! Seriously this is going to be such a fun trip! I haven't been with my parents for over 10 years and now they are coming with us to see their grand kids experience it. I love the wealth of knowledge on here

 

[hairtopleaseu2]

We're going in May 2014. Our dates are flexible though, we just thought May was a good time? Not to hot? Taking our daughter, her husband, and 4 year old grand daughter, and probably our daughters in laws will go with us, as our darling grand daughter has never been to Disney, and they would hate to miss out on her excitement!

Just starting to look and plan. Wanting to stay at a Moderate, we have stayed at CS, and l enjoyed it, but that was before our grand daughter came along, and we are open to suggestions on that too.

What do you think, is that a good month to go? I have never received a pin code, or any kind of discount for that matter, as I know a lot of you haven't either.

Any kind of suggestion as to how to get one? Or is it luck of the draw? Is FD ever offered in May? Or should we change the month

We are AAA members, and I could have a TA do all this planning for us, but that would take away all the fun. I LOVE planning!!!

Any suggestions, and hints would be appreciated!