January vs May

[Renee94]

Hi all

We are planning a family vacation and are trying to decide between January and May of next year. January would be middle to end and May would beginning to middle. Tell me pros and cons of each from your past experiences.

 

[ItsOnlyMoney]

Haven't been in May but Jan can be cold. This year about 1/2 our days were also rain all day. Being from New England I brought wool sweaters and socks, gloves and earmuffs. But I was hoping for some 70 degree weather - which happened on the day we left.
We decided next time we'll try March or April.

 

[dez1978]

I've been in Jan, March and May. The year we went in may was SOOOOOO hot. All my kids wanted to do was go back to the hotel and swim. It was over 100 heat index every day and at home it was still just in the 60s. I was prepared for it to be 80-90, but not 100 lol. Jan and March have been perfect and we had an equal number of cool and warm days both of those trips. Jan was less crowded than March and May.

 

[Barbydoll8]

I live about 75 miles west of WDW and frequent it all times of year. May is hot. Like 90's hot. It isn't like that in most of the country at that point so you may be uncomfortable. I find that the crowds are slightly lower because of the end of the school year but be prepared for serious heat at that time.

Jan is iffy. It can be cold or warm. This year most of Jan was warm with the exception of one week. Feb so far has had my heat on more days than I like to have normally. Mid Jan is usually similar in temp to a northern March. A total mixed bag.

 

[k5xs]

As others have indicated, January weather can be anything from very warm to uncomfortably cold. (We have even experienced rare sleet at WDW in January.) But the "average" (whatever that means anymore) January high temp is 71F and the average low is 49F. Records are 86F and 26F in January. Crowds can be lighter in January, but be sure to avoid WDW Marathon Weekend, which this year was Jan 5th-9th.

May weather is far warmer (average 87F high, 67F low), but 87F in Florida can be uncomfortably warm. And the record high of 97F in May would be brutal. Crowds are much bigger as the schoolyear ends in May for some districts.

 

[Miffy]

I've been a lot in both January and May. It used to be that January was great because hardly anyone was there, but lately that's so not the case. The negatives of January are (1) cold, sometimes even wear-your-winter-coat-all-day cold, weather; (2) rain--although it could rain at anytime in Florida; (3) numerous rides closed for refurbishment; and (4) possible delays getting there or going home, depending on where you're coming from. If it's the Northeast, then January's a toss-up--you could be delayed by a blizzard or have zero problems. I've had both.

May: The beginning of May (your target time) is not half so hot as the last 2 weeks of May, when it might as well be June. We were there May 2021 and we had perfect weather--breezy and 70s--not the usual way, but we were thrilled. Attractions are no longer closed for refurbishment in May unless they're closed for the duration (like the railroad's been for a couple of years). The crowds are probably similar to what January's like right now--doable, not crazy. May might be more expensive than January, depending on your dates. Also, I don't know if you're staying onsite or off.

My vote is with May. I stopped going in January for the negatives stated above.

 

[unrequited23]

May. We've been at the end of January and the beginning of May. For us, the weather in May was consistent--it was really warm and sunny, we could swim every day. In January, the weather was unpredictable, sometimes cool and rainy, we only swam twice on days when it was 74 degrees (the warmest it got.)

 

[NCDisNut]

May is probably my favorite month to go. I like the period at Disney after the spring break crowds are gone and before the summer crowds get going.

 

[Nabas]

May is probably my favorite month to go. I like the period at Disney after the spring break crowds are gone and before the summer crowds get going.

Yeah, May before Memorial Day is the best.

We go to WDW 4-6 times a year and have lots of experience staying onsite throughout the year.

Even on a good day, January is in the high 70s during the warmest part of the day. Mornings and evenings can be downright cool - jacket weather. And you can get the odd 50-degree high day in January. Who wants to be at WDW with that kind of weather?

May is hot, usually in the high 80s or low 90s. But summer humidity usually hasn’t hit yet. This means you will sweat a lot in the sun but feel noticeably more comfortable in the shade. We find ourselves hopping from shaded spot to shaded spot, and usually do well at the theme parks.

Crowds are more modest in early January (excluding the marathons or MLK weekend) and in May (before Memorial Day). I’m not sure either has the advantage here.

We don’t go to WDW to wear jackets. We go to wear shorts and swim at the pool every day. For us, it’s May all the way.

 

[NCDisNut]

Yeah, May before Memorial Day is the best.

We go to WDW 4-6 times a year and have lots of experience staying onsite throughout the year.

Even on a good day, January is in the high 70s during the warmest part of the day. Mornings and evenings can be downright cool - jacket weather. And you can get the odd 50-degree high day in January. Who wants to be at WDW with that kind of weather?

May is hot, usually in the high 80s or low 90s. But summer humidity usually hasn’t hit yet. This means you will sweat a lot in the sun but feel noticeably more comfortable in the shade. We find ourselves hopping from shaded spot to shaded spot, and usually do well at the theme parks.

Crowds are more modest in early January (excluding the marathons or MLK weekend) and in May (before Memorial Day). I’m not sure either has the advantage here.

We don’t go to WDW to wear jackets. We go to wear shorts and swim at the pool every day. For us, it’s May all the way.

I have not paid attention during the pandemic, but May was also usually better for things not being shut down for refurbishments.

 

[Unclelude]

Personally I prefer January...

*Should* be lower crowds. Next Jan might be slower as the pent up demand might have normalized by then...

I'm coming from Minnesota, so if the temps are 'cool' it won't bother me ( I hate 80s+ in FLA running around theme park ... too hot ...Aulani it's ok )

If you are thinking renting or staying DVC all of Jan and thru May 14 are good point values! ( Late may not horrible either)

Have fun!

 

[OwnedByRetrievers]

We chose May for the weather. I am on the Gulf Coast, so I'm used to warmer weather but despise being cold. May is pretty consistent, whereas, in January, you never know what you're going to get. I would just stay away from Memorial Day weekend.

 

[Eeyore daily]

Do you prefer seeing the Festival of the Arts or the Flower and Garden Festival? That would help decide since crowds are always going to be present no matter when you go.