January VS. February 2015

[LilGreenMen]

Hello!
We're a couple in our 30's, no kids, no annual passes. I'd like to go for 7 days +/- in Jan/Feb because of the colder weather and smaller crowds. I've read this is the slowest time to visit.

We have flexible work schedules and can go anytime Jan 2nd-Feb 28. Which week do you recommend for the best discounts and smallest crowds? When is the best time to book? When do more discounts become available.

Right now, it is showing around $3600 for the first week in Feb with standard view @ Wilderness Lodge, (2) 7-day park hoppers tickets plus disney dining plan- will that go down, i.e. what is a reasonable $$ amount for this time period/hotel?

Thanks in advance so much for all the help! I'm so grateful to find this forum; I can't wait to read and learn more! :

 

[viluvsdisney]

I'm wondering the same thing

 

[karly05]

Hi. You'll want to avoid the time around Martin Luther King Day (Jan 19 next year) and Presidents' Day (Feb 16), when prices and crowds go up. Also, Mardi Gras is Feb 17 next year, so that week is going to be crazy! Looks like Jan 7-11 is WDW Marathon weekend and Feb 19-22 is the Princess Half Marathon weekend.

For the past three years, I have gone to WDW in early February, always leaving on the Wednesday or Thursday before the Presidents' Day weekend. Resort rack rates are as low as they get, and crowds have been quite manageable. Weather has been mostly lovely (dry with average highs in the 70s), though I had a couple of freezing (but sunny) mornings in 2012 and a couple of (not cold) days this year that dripped rain off and on. (The two negatives that are pushing me to try April next year are the fact that Splash Mountain is often closed in Jan/Feb, and I don't like worrying about winter precip getting back and forth to my home airport.)

Looking at the calendar for 2015, I would think either the last week of January or the first week-and-a-half of February would be good. The Mousesavers site has info on historic discounts for various periods at WDW. I know there have been room only discounts offered during my Feb dates, although they will vary by resort. I believe the discounts for Jan/Feb usually come out some time in October.

I've learned an awful lot from the Dis. Stick around and have fun planning!

 

[LilGreenMen]

Thank you so much for all the info! This is very helpful and I will be sure to schedule our vacation around the busy parts of those months!! Splash MT: I'm a weenie (Seriously, sometimes Pirates is a bit much) so I'm actually kinda glad that it might not be open so I won't be forced to ride it

Bookmarking Mousesavers right now- thanks!!

Hi. You'll want to avoid the time around Martin Luther King Day (Jan 19 next year) and Presidents' Day (Feb 16), when prices and crowds go up. Also, Mardi Gras is Feb 17 next year, so that week is going to be crazy! Looks like Jan 7-11 is WDW Marathon weekend and Feb 19-22 is the Princess Half Marathon weekend.

For the past three years, I have gone to WDW in early February, always leaving on the Wednesday or Thursday before the Presidents' Day weekend. Resort rack rates are as low as they get, and crowds have been quite manageable. Weather has been mostly lovely (dry with average highs in the 70s), though I had a couple of freezing (but sunny) mornings in 2012 and a couple of (not cold) days this year that dripped rain off and on. (The two negatives that are pushing me to try April next year are the fact that Splash Mountain is often closed in Jan/Feb, and I don't like worrying about winter precip getting back and forth to my home airport.)

Looking at the calendar for 2015, I would think either the last week of January or the first week-and-a-half of February would be good. The Mousesavers site has info on historic discounts for various periods at WDW. I know there have been room only discounts offered during my Feb dates, although they will vary by resort. I believe the discounts for Jan/Feb usually come out some time in October.

I've learned an awful lot from the Dis. Stick around and have fun planning!

 

[anelson81]

Late Jan/early Feb is historically the least crowded. Avoid presidents week at all cost. Parks close earlier, but that's the trade-off.

 

[karly05]

Thank you so much for all the info! This is very helpful and I will be sure to schedule our vacation around the busy parts of those months!! Splash MT: I'm a weenie (Seriously, sometimes Pirates is a bit much) so I'm actually kinda glad that it might not be open so I won't be forced to ride it

A-ha, in that case, Jan/Feb should be great for you. (I've never done Space Mtn or Everest or RnRC, and haven't done ToT in years, so I get it. I do love Splash, though!)