January Strategy

[BunsenH]

We (middle aged couple, no kids) are planning a visit to WDW in January.

We prefer to arrive on a Tuesday and return on a Saturday, but are flexible on which week to go. Has anyone's research indicated a week that is better than another regarding availability of rooms, conventions, MLK weekend crowds, marathon impact, etc.? I realize that January is slow, but since we can move our dates, I would like to make the best selection (at this time).

And bring on those January discount rates!

 

[grimley1968]

I really don't think you'll run into any significant crowds at any point in January.

But keep this in mind: I see you're from Massachusetts. While central Florida is certainly nowhere near as cold as it can be in your state, it can still be downright cold, and even below freezing, with steady winds, at night. Florida tourism people don't mention this fact much, but believe me, it can get quite cold. With that said, I'd pick a week as late in January as possible to go, to maximize your chances of being out of the bitterly cold times. Typically, you don't get much chance of the conditions I described above outside the months of December and January, although it can be bad for a day or so at a time. I've been a few times in Dec. and Jan., though, and it was really too cool to do much of anything outdoors the whole week. Fronts that bring near arctic weather to my state and further north typically tend to stall out near Florida, and just churn cold winds around down there, before dying out.

But if you push your trip to late January, you might get weather more like what they get in February or March, which can actually be just about perfect for being outdoors, at least during the day. Also, I don't think the crowds would pick up significantly in late January, so I'd imagine whatever discounts Disney comes up with would probably be good for the entire month.

 

[jann1033]

we always go in either the first week of Dec or first week of Jan...weather is usually a little better first week of dec.but take winter coats and summer clothes for either and you'll be fine. it can be 40-50 or 90, either usually only lasts a day or so then the rest of the time it's shorts and teeshirts during the day and a sweat shirt or spring type jacket at night. it is well worth it for the lack of crowds( longest waits are maybe 15 mins for something like rnr mid afternoon). we went once in July and never again...imo only one time has been down right winter jacket cold( out of 6) for a day, usually it is colder at night and warms up during the day so unless you are camping not a big deal.( we have camped in tents and not frozen at those times) sometimes it has been warm enough to swim sometimes not so it depends on how important that is to you. if it is , go on the first hot day in case you don't get another

marathon didn't have much impact except AK ee was during the same time the racers hit that park so much was closed/delayed till after 10:30 and it was pretty chaotic..so maybe check the race schedule and see what time they get where before deciding where to go early that day( ee was supposed to be mk but they changed it at the last min.)

i think our last trip also included MLK weekend & it was more crowded at MK sat( zoolike in fact) epcot was fine but a little more crowded ( i think we left sunday that weekend if i recall right)

 

[BunsenH]

For some reason, there is no availability at the BC/YC for Jan 3-7. Must be something going on that week.

 

[onlyoneforme]

The Disney Marathon is during that time