January trips? Help me get excited

[Raya]

Our trip last month was canceled due to hurricane. Now it looks like the best time for us to reschedule is Janauary. I've never been in January but it seems kind of boring - no festival at EPCOT, no special decorations. But somehow a lot of hotels sold out (for Sun to Thursday night). I don't understand how everything is sold out when there's nothing special to do/ going on. Could someone explain January to me? I know there's the marathon, but what else is there that's a draw? Honestly, if everything is sold out, so there are crowds *and* nothing fun going on, I'm not sure we'll bother.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

You are quite mistaken about the festivals. January is the Arts Festival at EPCOT - absolutely our favorite of all the festivals - and the most expensive for us!! We usually end up with Disney art coming home with us! Great food, great art, and entertainment - and that's just EPCOT. As for WDW in January? Best time of the year to go - not the stifling heat, yet we normally have a few days where we can swim. Oh yea - no hurricanes!!

For DVC folks, it's a low point time, so we get more days for less points. You'll still have all the evening fireworks and shows. Not sure why you think January is such a downer! We do avoid the marathon weekend at the beginning of Jan, but the rest of the month can be quite enjoyable! Obviously, if what you enjoy isn't happening in January, you should consider waiting. But it's a time of year we've enjoyed for many, many years. Enjoy your trip - whenever you go!

 

[sponica]

I guess it depends when in January you're going. If you're going in that week AFTER the marathon but before the festival of arts begins, i'd consider it a sweet spot crowd wise.

Some parts of the country take the week after new years as part of their christmas break, so you'll still have vacationers. Instead of dealing with hotter than the sun extremes, the weather extremes go the other direction, which more people are willing to take a chance on (I think).

But if it's after the marathon, you have a slight dip in attendance. I'm sure the days of walk ons are long gone, but it's an attendance dip never the less.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I guess it depends when in January you're going. If you're going in that week AFTER the marathon but before the festival of arts begins, i'd consider it a sweet spot crowd wise.

Some parts of the country take the week after new years as part of their christmas break, so you'll still have vacationers. Instead of dealing with hotter than the sun extremes, the weather extremes go the other direction, which more people are willing to take a chance on (I think).

But if it's after the marathon, you have a slight dip in attendance. I'm sure the days of walk ons are long gone, but it's an attendance dip never the less.

Excellent point - the Festival of the Arts only begins on the 13th in 2023. That does leave a couple weeks without a festival. Marathon/Runs the 5th-8th (which is something we avoid!), and FOOA starting on the 13th.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

So January has the marathon, MLK day and Festival of the Arts starts at Epcot in mid Jan. While it's not a peak season, it's definitely not a value/slow season. Also, depending on your length of stay, that could hinder your search, 2-4 night stays are harder to come by than 5 night resort stays or longer. While January isn't the holidays and by definition maybe not the most fun time, it's still WDW and it's only 2 months away. We never plan trips that far in advance and we usually always find a resort we like, just may take some continual checking a few times/day and maybe adjusting dates some, adding a day on the front or back end.

 

[FantasmicMike]

We've only been to WDW in January, always during the first week - our first trip in 2015, unaware that it was Marathon Weekend, and then 2020 with it as part of the plan (running the 5 & 10k races). We're going back this January so that DW and DS18 can run the Half Marathon - but we're not really a running family (other than DW). Even though it is busier then than the following weeks, we've found it a pleasant time to go. The weather has been very good (just a few rainy days in 2015, almost nothing in 2020), and the crowds are manageable. You find yourself enjoying the experience a bit more when you don't have to worry about getting out of the heat (which I know from experience vising DLR in warmer seasons).

 

[Simba's Mom]

I went last January for the first January trip. I loved the Festival of the Arts. Having now done the "Big 3" of Festivals, it's definitely my favorite. However, I froze and was miserable with the weather all week. But I'm going again this January and I can't wait. My reaction to the weather was my own dumb fault. I didn't read the weather forecast beforehand-just thought "I'm going to WDW, better bring my shorts." I ended up having to spend $50 for a pair of my most expensive sweatpants ever while I was there. I found the crows levels to be relatively low. I think you'll enjoy your January trip-just check the weather before you pack!

 

[jsmla]

I go every year, usually later in the month. Late January is usually one of the less crowded times in my experience. The weather can be almost anything. I’ve had trips when I swam (and I’m a huge cold weenie!), trips when it was sleeting and trips that saw temps swing from highs in the 80s to in the 50s over the course of the week.