January in the Parks? Need advice

[mommyof3princess27]

Looking for advice from people that go to the parks in January. How is the weather? The crowds? The ride closures? Never been any other time then Oct-Dec.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I've been twice in January (2013 and 2014). Splash was closed both times. I think that's the only attraction within he major theme parks that is regularly closed in January. The weather is variable - we had highs in the low 50s some days (with wind chill in the 30s in the morning) and highs in the mid 70s some days. My birthday is in January so that's why we went at that time. I don't really have any complaints - I prefer going in the cooler weather as I don't get tired as quickly. I'm going this weekend at 15 weeks pregnant with highs in the mid 90s...I anticipate I'll need to slow down quite a bit more than I'm used to.

 

[mzsarah10]

January was our favorite time to go. Yes splash was down every time but the crowds were low. We wore our north face jackets in the morning and at night but jeans and tshirts during the day. We felt we did everything we wanted and even got to swim. Now our girls are in school and we have to go in hot, hot June.

 

[scoobygrl79]

I'm familiar with winter touring (many Dec and Jan trips). I'd have to say that the weather is great for long hours at the parks. If you plan to do Disney that way, then you are in for a treat compared to any other time of the whole year, in my opinion. Your stamina will be much better as you won't have the weather to zap you plus it will be very comfortable for a longer stretch of the day. However, like previously mentioned, anything related to water rides/swimming will be touch and go. One trip, every one of my 8days 7 nights were too cold for swimming. Often, Splash Mountain is not in operation, nor Kali River Rapids.

 

[hopeful4fl]

The wind chill was pretty bad on our trip. On an extra Magic hour night at MK, people in our group could not stand to be outside and we headed back to the resort.
Crowds were moderate, but a lot of maintenance work and construction was going on this Jan.

 

[mommyof3princess27]

Thanks. Anyone take advantage of the stay play and dine offer? And trouble getting ADR's? We like to do deluxe and im still on the fence about January. Id rather go in October or november but idk if hubby's work will allow another vacation lol

 

[mom2cgj]

We did January 2013 with the stay play dine offer and DxDDP. Had no problems at all with ADRs - got everything we wanted including CRT and multiple character meals and pre-opening ADRs. We had fabulous weather while we were there - mid-70s/low-80s every day. That was the end of the month and I am guessing was unseasonably warm! Crowds were virtually nonexistent when we went. Splash and KRR were closed for refurb. We love going in January, and are headed back in 2016, but more in February this time (arriving 1/31)

 

[lovndisney12]

We have been late December twice and I have been in January twice. Weather is hit or miss - expect cool. We have not done the water rides - but don't really care to. As long as you don't hit a holiday weekend - (MLK day or early January when kids will still be out around New Year's) crowds will be very manageable. I can't imagine having trouble getting ADR's since we haven't had too much trouble when we have gone during the peak days around Christmas.

Our experience has been this is an excellent time if you don't mind cooler weather (we prefer it over the heat and humidity of the summer - but we are from the Midwest). For the most part crowds will be less than the Oct. - Dec. timeframe because you are avoiding halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas and all the extra stuff that comes with those. I would just make sure to pack a wide range of clothing - especially layers as the early morning and evenings will be cool but the mid-day sun can be quite warm. Since it looks like you have been Nov. - Dec. - it really is the same deal - you can get "cold" and you can get "pretty warm" weather. Really just depends on what front is moving through during the time you are there.

 

[Lucius Best]

January is a great time to go in terms of crowds, and it is also one of the least expensive times to go. Aside from Marathon and MLK weekends, we've always found crowds light. However, with light crowds come shorter park operating hours. You can see from last January's calendar, there are many nights with no MK parade and no Fantasmic. On January trips we would hop to Epcot many evenings because the other parks would be closed so early.

Like others said, Splash is typically down for maintenance the entire month. Also, chances are only one water park will be open, it was Blizzard Beach on our January trips.

As far as weather goes, average high is around 70F, but temperatures could be in the 80s one day, then down into the 30s a few mornings later. You will want to pack clothing for heat and cold.

 

[Baptist]

I agree with Lucius Best, pack everything from shorts to winter coats! The weather is too hard to predict. My wife really enjoys the cooler weather and lower crowds. The kids prefer slightly warmer temps to hit the pool.

Have a great time. I'm sure you will enjoy January at WDW!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We were there in January for 10 days in 2014 and are going back for anothr 10 days in January of 2016 - both times around the runDisney events, so second weekend in January. We have also done a few other shorter trips in January. We love January because the crowds are low, but be prepared for the cold. We have had entire days too cold to go to the parks, and we live in the Northeast. When it gets cool with winds blowing at 20+ MPH, the parks are miserable. The parks, on days like that, are EMPTY - and even that doesn't make it worth it for us.

So go, but have plan for cold days just as you would have a plan for really rainy days in the summer.

 

[rznhal]

We went for a long MLK weekend (5 nights) this year.....it was not our favorite trip.....the crowds were bad, weather cool, and we were hit by something we weren't expecting....flu season!!! My daughter and husband were both sick with the flu.....I think we are done with January for awhile...

 

[mommyof3princess27]

oh no rznhal thats not good. Thanks everyone for the reports of January. I dont mind cool weather. I like it better then the heat and humidity. We are from Maryland where id could be 30's one day and 70's the next day. my husband has to take a non prime week at work (jan-march) so we are trying to find the least crowded week and trying to fit it around every other competition and marathon and whatever else is going on around then. I may miss the seasonal stuff at disney though

 

[Lucius Best]

my husband has to take a non prime week at work (jan-march) so we are trying to find the least crowded week and trying to fit it around every other competition and marathon and whatever else is going on around then. I may miss the seasonal stuff at disney though

You could also look into early February, as long as it's before Presidents Day. Room rates and crowds will take a big jump up starting with Presidents Day.

 

[Cando86]

We were there this past January from the 5th-16th. Crowds were low and we didn't wait more than 10-15 minutes for anything. Christmas decorations were still up for the beginning of our trip and I think the last day of the Osbourne lights was the 5th or 6th, but our HS day wasn't until after. The marathon events were going on but didn't impact us at ALL. No noticeable increase in crowds. The only day we noticed it was going to MK one morning and the bus had to drop us off at The Contemporary and we had to walk over, but it was no big deal. Weather was a bit chilly - we had a couple days nearing the 80s but most days were in the 50s and 60s and some were downright cold. We were wearing hats and gloves in Epcot one day. Splash mountain is typically closed during this time and one of the waterparks will be closed - they alternate years so if last year was Blizzard Beach, this year will be Typhoon Lagoon. It's a pretty good time to go; definitely slow in terms of crowds and we had an absolutely fabulous trip but I don't know if I'd return in January and that is only because of the weather. I don't like being in gloves and a jacket in Florida! Edited to say I just read that you don't mind cool weather and if that is the case, this week would be perfect for you!

 

[Ambear]

One time there was like a freeze in January when we were at Disney. But coming from one of the snowiest cities in the US, we were still wearing shorts. And looooved it! Cold weather at Disney is fun. Except Splash Mountain was getting refurbed I think.

 

[Cando86]

One time there was like a freeze in January when we were at Disney. But coming from one of the snowiest cities in the US, we were still wearing shorts. And looooved it! Cold weather at Disney is fun. Except Splash Mountain was getting refurbed I think.

Did this happen to be in 2010 by any chance? We experienced a freeze too! They had to cover up a bunch of the foliage with signs indicating there was a freeze.

 

[Ambear]

Did this happen to be in 2010 by any chance? We experienced a freeze too! They had to cover up a bunch of the foliage with signs indicating there was a freeze.

Yes I'm pretty sure it was! We stayed offsite at a different resort and everyone who worked there would laugh at us for wearing shorts and very light jackets/sweaters. We went to Old Town that trip too and it was dead. All the locals must have decided the cold wasn't worth it haha. And I remember the local news freaking out about the poor oranges.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We have been to Disney in January many times. We like the low room prices and relatively low crowds. Most of the time we get cool weather and sometimes very cold weather. One thing to keep in mind is that the parks have reduced hours during this time, with MK often closing at 8pm during the week. There have been times when the nights were too cold for shows like Fantasmic. But we keep coming back since we are escaping even colder weather back home.

 

[Cando86]

Yes I'm pretty sure it was! We stayed offsite at a different resort and everyone who worked there would laugh at us for wearing shorts and very light jackets/sweaters. We went to Old Town that trip too and it was dead. All the locals must have decided the cold wasn't worth it haha. And I remember the local news freaking out about the poor oranges.

I remember that too about the oranges That cold definitely kept the locals away but I also remember wearing a t-shirt and getting strange looks. I could tell those people weren't from Michigan where we frequently get temps in the negatives in the winter!