January vs. February?

[Lovemy3babes]

If you had to pick a trip in either late January, early February or late February, which would you choose and why? I just cannot decide.

 

[ruthies12]

Well I went in January 2014 the very last week for the purpose of low crowds. I went to MK on that Wednesday and here is a pic that I took close to noon. It was cold and raining. It was awesome!

 

[ajwolfe]

I would pick late January. That has been our favorite time to visit so far.

 

[CAS239]

Jan due to the temps still being relatively cool most of the time

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Is January too cold though? Does February warm up much?

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Well I went in January 2014 the very last week for the purpose of low crowds. I went to MK on that Wednesday and here is a pic that I took close to noon. It was cold and raining. It was awesome!

Awesome? Was it very cold? Or awesome because of the low crowds?

Jan due to the temps still being relatively cool most of the time

Is it super cold? Or do you like to travel in those kind of temperatures?

 

[nkereina]

Personally I would pick early February. Slight chance of higher temperatures, slightly longer daylight, possibly slightly longer park hours. Definitely avoid MLK weekend in January, and President's Week in February. Also watch out for marathons - I think there's at least one this time of year that draws the crowds.

 

[nkereina]

Is it super cold? Or do you like to travel in those kind of temperatures?

It's not uncommon for people to wear winter coats and gloves in January. I think the average high temperature in January is 70 degrees, which is pleasant, but keep in mind that's the daily high and it doesn't reach that until 1/2pm. During the morning and at night, its in the 40s and 50s. We were there in November last year and experienced highs in the 50s and THAT was cold for touring and outdoor rides. While January is a great time to go for low crowds, you'd have to resign to the fact that there's many things closed for refurbishment and the weather is not conducive to swimming.

 

[chelseabun76]

We were there last week of January of this year. The weather was good enough for us... We're in Canada and do things in Celcius, so you can think of the conversions lol But the coldest morning when we were at the bus stop it was 7 degrees Celcius which was pretty chilly in our flip flops and capris we had on for when it warmed up later in the day, and then some afternoons it got up to 21 degrees Celcius. With the crowds we encountered, I wouldn't think it was worth the chillier weather, I think we hit some fluke busy busy days.... Not sure how the first week of February is for crowds.

 

[CAS239]

Is it super cold? Or do you like to travel in those kind of temperatures?

We live down here south of Disney. So we only get to experience the cold weather a couple weeks out of the year. I love going to Disney and being able to wear hoodys and winter clothes instead of shorts and a shirt. I love it when we can go to the park and its 40 or 50 degrees out instead of the sweltering heat.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Thank you!! Is later February usually decent weather? Forgive my silly questions. We have only ever been in the fall. Our budget is making us wait a little longer this time around though unfortunately.

 

[ruthies12]

I thought it was awesome for the low crowds. It was cold a few days of our trip and warm enough for shorts on a few days. If you look at easywdw crowd calendars he includes the average temps for each day as well as the average amount of rain.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I thought it was awesome for the low crowds. It was cold a few days of our trip and warm enough for shorts on a few days. If you look at easywdw crowd calendars he includes the average temps for each day as well as the average amount of rain.

Thank you!!

 

[HopperFan]

I go that time of year and have jumped all different weeks in Dec, Jan and Feb. There is no real low season anymore and one thing that can make Main Street etc that empty is that rain. Cold and rain are not fun. January weather can be 80's swimming or I've had 30's winter coat and bundled.

Here is my requirement for picking my week - where am I staying?

If I am in a value resort budget then I will no longer go Jan and in Feb I will go the very last week I can. The BTG are there until end of Feb and there are thousands in each value resort and for two years in a row completely ruined my hotel experience. At the parks they are a pain but you can usually go the opposite way. I still went in January but stayed offsite in a great newer one bedroom suite for less than what a value would cost with a hot cooked to order breakfast. In Feb I picked the last week of Feb/first week of March at POP and in my entire week only saw one group at DHS. It was night and day hotel experience.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I go that time of year and have jumped all different weeks in Dec, Jan and Feb. There is no real low season anymore and one thing that can make Main Street etc that empty is that rain. Cold and rain are not fun. January weather can be 80's swimming for I've had 30's winter coat and bundled.

Here is my requirement for picking my week - where am I staying?

If I am in a value resort budget then I will no longer go Jan and in Feb I will go the very last week I can. The BTG are there until end of Feb and there are thousands in each value resort and for two years in a row completely ruined my hotel experience. At the parks they are a pain but you can usually go the opposite way. I still went in January but stayed offsite in a great newer one bedroom suite for less than what a value would cost with a hot cooked to order breakfast. In Feb I picked the last week of Feb/first week of March at POP and in my entire week only saw one group at DHS. It was night and day hotel experience.

What is BTG?

 

[HopperFan]

Big Tour Groups. They are 15 years olds from a couple countries in SA that come with minimal adult supervision. It is their summer vacation but most report back to school by March 1.

 

[amylevan]

We've been all over Jan/Feb; and for the most part the weather is unpredictable that whole time, but does tend a little warmer by the end of Feb. We are from PA though, so even 50s feels wonderful when we are coming from snow and wind chills in the single digits.

The last week of Jan and the first week of Feb have felt the emptiest. You are after MLK, marathon, etc and before Presidents Day crowds.

The end of Feb is the best bet to lessen things being closed for renovation.

 

[emilik]

We went end of February last year and it was the BEST time I have ever been (though I have not been in January). Temps in the 70s, we swam very comfortably, one day of light rain in the afternoon, LOW crowds (we never waited more than 20-25 minutes and did everything our children wanted more than once). We went the very last week of Feb and so avoided President's Day. ONLY down side was that Splash was still closed for annual winter refurb.

 

[kaetra]

Late February. Better weather, fewer giant tour groups. January can be very, very cold. See your breath cold.

 

[Stefecatzz]

As PPs have already stated, the weather is unpredictable for those months. One day, it could be in the 70's & the next day it will be in the 50's for the high (keep in mind to always add the humidity factor, which is what makes the cold in FL feel that much colder). I grew up in PA so I had been used to pretty cold winters. When I moved to FL, I didn't bring a lot of my winter clothes/coats. I quickly learned that because of the heavy humidity, the cold feels that much colder as if it could penetrate your bones at times. I think some people don't take it into consideration for the winter months but think how it is in the summer w/that sticky, wet heat just opposite. Sorry about the weather rant..

Anyway, February tends to become a bit warmer so if you're concerned about that, go mid-late February instead of January.

Crowd-wise, since New Fantasyland has been completed, it seems the 'slow season' doesn't exist like it used to. It will be less crowded but don't expect it to be near empty as it had been in the past for this time, especially at MK.