January Crowds & touring plans website

[wdwfan22]

I'm trying to figure out a time frame to go during the early/middle part of January. I know I asked a similar question question about HMH yesterday, but this is a little different.

I was wondering if anyone could share there experience with crowds that time of year. I know rehabs are a factor, that doesn't really bother us (except for HMH, but even that is not a deal breaker).

I'm concerned because touring plans has Jan 6 - 16th as anywhere from 2s to 6s. Very managable. But their historical crowd levels has the same time frame last year as mostly 8s and 9s (with a couple 3s in there.)

I have used them for DW and found them very unreliable, but I don't know where else to find crowd predictions (like easywdw for DW, which I love) so I thought this would be the best place to see if anyone can share their experiences for this time frame in the last year or 2. I have tried finding trip reports for this time frame, but haven't had any luck.

Thanks so much for any experience anyone can share. This is the first time I have taken my daughter there in 10 yrs and our first mother/daughter trip, and I am just trying to hit the lowest crowds. Probably I am overthinking this.

Thanks again!

 

[Girimama33]

Crowd predictions from Touring Plans do not work, IMO. They usually are better for WDW, so if you find they are inaccurate there they will likely...actually very likely be off at DLR.

During mid January, crowds should be lighter than summer or over the holidays, but you can still find plenty of people in the parks, especially on the weekends.

Here is a thread Hydroguy worte about his thoughts on TP. I find it helpful...http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3196851

 

[figment_jii]

There really aren't very many touring plans/crowd calendars available for Disneyland. I think that is because, DLR is still largely a "local's" park and they don't need (or at least they don't want to pay for) crowd calendars and touring plans. Touring Plans and RideMax are the two most common services you hear about here on the Disneyland board. Some folks love them, others found them a waste of money, so it's one of those "your mileage may vary" type things.

HydroGuy also has some thread about the different "seasons" at Disneyland. If you go to the DLR Info/Links thread and then scroll down to "SEASONAL AT DLR", you'll see several links.

I really have no idea why the crowd calendars would put 1/6-1/16/2014 at 8s and 9s last year. The holiday "season" ended on 1/6 (last day) and there really isn't anything on the calendar that screams "high crowds" to me. There was the Tinkerbell Half Marathon on Jan 16-18 in 2014, which I could see resulting in high crowds on those days (and maybe a few days before). On that note, it's worth noting that there is going to be the Star Wars Half Marathon on Jan 15-18/2015, so expect high crowds on that weekend.

 

[tarheelalum]

I'm a former customer of DL touring plans and I agree with Girimama33. It is not accurate. It will say that the parks are a 2 or 3 and you show up and its a 6 or 7,8. You just cannot trust it at all.

January can be a bit slower sometimes but you cannot plan on it to be slow. We went one day this past January and it was pretty crowded. Granted the weather forecast said it was going to be 70 degrees that day and that is why we drove up there. I guess a lot of the other AP holders had the same idea that day.

Most of January will be a little bit slower than usual but not dead the way it use to be. Around the 19th of January (MLK) it will probably be very crowded but the rest of the month will just be regular, crowded. The days of a 2 or 3 crowds are gone unless its pouring rain that day and everybody in southern California stays away. But don't let that scare you away. With proper planning you can have a great time and ride a lot of rides. You just have to get up early and get things done before the crowds show up later in the day. Also you have to be prepared for some rides being down for maintenance in January but you can still have a great time. I hope you enjoy your trip.

 

[YukonMommy]

We were in DL January 3-16, 2014. The crowds from the 3-6 were pretty big and the wait times pretty long, but after the 6th we noticed a huge drop in people and wait times!
HMH, Nemo, and F! last days was on the Monday (the 6th) but the only other things down were BTRR(which was still in refurb) if my memory serves me corrected. The Dl site had said Alice, Jungle cruise, and GRR would also be going down but they never did while we were there. IASW closed towards the end to take down the Xmas stuff.

We like to go in January as the crowds seems less. Yes there will be some rides down for refurb but since there is so much to do and see it has never bothered us!!

I think whenever you go it will be a magical time!

 

[monkeymers]

I too am interested in this as my kids' school district doesn't resume from winter break until Jan 12. We were thinking 3-7. Anyone have a thought?

I will be there for the Star Wars half marathon MLK weekend. I have done the Tinkerbell race that used to happen that weekend every year since it started. It's a VERY busy weekend and catches non-racers by surprise. Anyone going in Jan that wants to avoid crowds, don't go MLK weekend.

 

[DLfan4]

we were in California Jan 15 - 22 2012. Monday Jan 16 was MLK day. we chose to visit DLR tues -17th, wed -18th and Friday 20th. tues and wed had very low crowds, most rides were walk-on with just a few with long lines. Friday has a bit larger crowds, but still low.

its our favorite time to go.