January surprise birthday trip help needed!!

[meemee mouse]

My sisters and I are planning a surprise Disney trip for another sister's 40th birthday! We are trying to decide between the 6-8th and the 20-22nd. Has anyone been that weekend after New Years? I would love to be there when the Christmas stuff is still up but I don't want to fight huge Christmas type crowds either.

Also, is there a place to check historical park hours? That might make a difference too.

Thanks!

 

[Canuck16]

Check out this thread from HydroGuy for historical park hours. Have fun planning!


DLR has the annoying habit of not posting park hours, entertainment or refurb lists until 4-8 weeks in advance. This can make trip planning difficult. WDW vets accustomed to schedules posted 6 months in advance may get particularly frustrated.

Fortunately things do not change much from year to year at DLR. You can look at prior years for the date range of interest and get a pretty good idea of what to expect in the future. Here is some historical information for DLR.

CAUTION - Do not use future month's information below beyond about one month as DLR only provides schedules 4-8 weeks in advance. Thus no one knows what will actually happen out further than that. Use past month's information below to project to the future.

For future refurbs, the DIS schedule on wdwinfo is recommended: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/plan.htm#rehab


DIS/WDWInfo
Hours, entertainment and refurbs - not maintained well prior to 2009

2016 - January, Feburary, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2015 - January, Feburary, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2014 - January, Feburary, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2013 - January, Feburary, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2012 - January, Feburary, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2011 - January, Feburary, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2010 - January, Feburary, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2009 - January, Feburary, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Last edited: Mar 5, 2016
06/2016 (BWPPI), 10/2015 (Tropicana), 08/2015 (BWPPI and D23 Expo), 11/2014 see JC Blog & WOCWD Blog (Tropicana), 07/2014 (DLH), 11/2013 (Day Trip), 8/2013 GCH (CCI for D23 Expo), 10/2012 CCI, 07/2012 GCH, 08/2011 CCI (D23 Expo), 06/2011 GCH, 09/2010 BWPPI, 07/2010 GCH, 08/2009 (Day Trip), 05/2009 Doubletree Anaheim/OC, 11/2007 (Day Trip), 06/2007 BWPPI, 08/2006 (Day Trip), 11/2005 BWPPI, 08/2005 BWPPI, 07/2003 HoJo's, 07/2000 PPH, 1966-1998 Numerous Day Trips Including... 06/1981 (Grad Night)
WDW 05/2015 Swan, 05/2013 Swan, 02/2012 CBR, 03/2011 Dolphin, 05/2008 AKL, 06/2006 FW Cabins
DLR Paris 06/2007 - Newport Bay/Santa Fe/Holiday Inn (solo) - see my Trip Observations
Tokyo Disney Resort 11/2009 - SunRoute Plaza (with DS13) - see my Trip Report (with photos)
HydroGuy DLR Tips Compilation, DLR Abbreviations List, World of Color Superthread
HydroGuy, Sep 22, 2009 Report

 

[Geemo]

My sisters and I are planning a surprise Disney trip for another sister's 40th birthday! We are trying to decide between the 6-8th and the 20-22nd. Has anyone been that weekend after New Years? I would love to be there when the Christmas stuff is still up but I don't want to fight huge Christmas type crowds either.

Also, is there a place to check historical park hours? That might make a difference too.

Thanks!

This thread will give you an idea of Disney events and school holidays.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/2017-calendar-of-events-school-breaks-and-dlr.3528760/

If you want to see Christmas stuff go Jan 6-8. Crowd wise I'm not sure which would be best.
Since the holiday black out period for SoCal/SoCal Select AP's is over Jan 3, that might add to the crowd Jan 6-8th.

At least you're not going during MLK weekend. We made that mistake once back on 2004. It was a MAD HOUSE!!

 

[SMD]

January 6th will likely be the last day of Christmas, with HMH or Jingle Cruise possibly staying open a few more days until it closes to remove the overlay. IASW closes to remove that overlay after HMH reopens, which will likely be right around your second set of dates.