January???

[tlovesdis]

Please tell me the pros and cons of going to Disney World in January? Thank you so much!

 

[Bob P]

Hi Tina,

If you do a searc on this board you will find lots of other threads on going in Janauary. Basically, January is a very light month for crowds once you get to January 2. MLK weekend can be crowded and the marathon Weekend (in 2006 it will be Jan 6-7-8) is not that crowded in the parks but there are some disruptions at the parks and in traffic flow because of the races.

The weather can be a pro if you like it cool or a con if you want warm weather. In fact you can often get both on the same trip. It can get down near freezing in the morning or up near 80 during the day.

Bob

 

[Micca]

Park hours are shorter in January. You should be able to get a good room rate on-site. The weather varies, but it most likely won't be pool weather.

 

[sugermouse]

Its WDW, how can there be any cons?

 

[the kabuki]

Having gone 4 times in Jan, I can tell you it's our favorite month. We're going again in 2006 too, so that must tell you something!

Weather is a gamble. This past Jan it was perfect-80's all week. Year before, well we have pics from the same trip showing us in bathing suits one day and coats on another. The cold weather doesn't bother me too much. WDW to me isn't a "beach" vacation, so I'd rather not be there when it's 90+ degrees.
If we have good weather, great, if it's cold, oh well it's gotta be better than what's in Michigan

As for everything else, rooms and airfares are typically cheaper (as long as you avoid MLK weekend), lines are short or non existant. Longest we waited for anything was 10 minutes.

 

[kirbsam]

the shorter park hours are more than made up for by the small crowds. last jan, we stayed at bwi and walked to cape may for breakfast and took a picture of my two girls in winter coats. it was a cold morning, but we were swimming the day before. my family loves january.

 

[opal]

We have gone 4 times in January, 2 trips we had pool weather, the other two definately not 3 of the 4 trips the crowds were very light. This past January was pretty crowded, at least for Jan. We were 1/1-1/7 The New Year's crowd didn't thin out until the 5th. Probably because New Year's was on a week end. We will be going a week later this year

 

[disneyvoice]

I've visited WDW the last week of January before and it was a pretty good time to be there. The weather can be pretty cold in the morning but, at least when we were there, it warmed up to nice temperature in the afternoon. We wore shorts and sweatshirts to the parks in the morning - and froze - my legs were actually numb. But by the afternoon we had put our sweatshirts in the lockers.

The crowds are basically non-existant. We literally NEVER once waited in line, we walked directly on to every ride. The park hours are much shorter but it won't matter, you'll be able to do everything you want to do - twice, and still have time to spare.

The only thing that's a bummer is that the crowds are so low that it is almost a bit weird. Not that I want to be fighting through crowds of people, but it's strange to be at WDW when it's almost empty. Also, a lot of the food carts aren't open which adds to the "ghost town" feeling - but there isn't a shortage of foods and snacks.

If you like the water parks, January is definately not the time to visit WDW.

 

[justcruisin]

We'll be there over MLK weekend. How bad are the crowds then ... Compared to summer?

 

[nowellsl]

I love Disney in January. We went last year during the marathon weekend. The parks weren't crowded but some of the roads were closed for a while. We went MLK Weekend year before last and I didn't think it was that crowded. You never know about the weather!

 

[Annette_VA]

We love late Jan / early Feb. There are no crowds.

The weather is great. Last time we went then, we wore jeans & t-shirts. Much better than sweating our butts off when we went in Sept!

One of the waterparks may be closed for refurb but it may be too cold to swim anyway. And, since it's off-season, there's more of a chance of rides being closed for refurb as well

The park hours are shorter & they may have parades & shows less often, so a bit more planning is required.

But the lack of crowds, cool temps and cheaper prices definitely make it worth it!!

 

[Mymatisse]

January is an absolutely beautiful time of year to go and I am hard pressed to think of any "cons" at all. If you like to frequent the water parks it may be a bit to breezy to do that, but we've gone swimming in Jan, the pools are heated, and it does get warm during the day. The only other thing that I can think of as a con is the fact that since there are fewer people they often rehab rides so you may have a few rides closed down during that time. You take your chances. I loved every one of my Jan. trips however, and would go back in a heartbeat. It was wonderful time of year in WDW.

 

[have2getaway]

What dates did you travel in January? I have a trip planned for 1/9-1/13 so I was just wondering what to expect.

 

[PA DISNEYLOVER]

We love going in January. We went over MLK week last year and it was pretty crowded in the afternoon but empty in the am and during the EMH's. It was freezing the week we were there. We wore winter jackets and hats and gloves the whole time but after going again in June my kids said Please don't make us go back anytime except Jan. So we came home and booked a trip for Jan 21-27. POR here we come.

Oh I also notice that there were a lot more characters out in Jan. Maybe because of the weather. They were everywhere.

 

[nutsforgolf]

Hey, PA DISNEYLOVER...I'm from Bensalem too. I graduated from Bensalem High in '89.

I looking at going Jan 24-29 (over MLK weekend). How would you compare the crowd levels to President's weekend?

 

[agotta]

We love going in January. Not to reiterate what everyone else is saying, but yea low crowds and cheaper rates. The weather is usually nice, but not scorching, then again it's January and you never know! I would go every January if we could. We will be there Jan 2006 from the 5th-11th.

 

[PA DISNEYLOVER]

Nutsforgolf-- The crowd was no where near as bad as the crowds in June. Over MLK weekend at 11am the wait for test track was 85 min. No fastpass left BUT Epcot was open late that night and we got on 3 times in a row with no wait. In June the waits were around 85 min during the day and 50-60 during EMH. It's alot easier to stand when you are cold then it is when the sweat is dripping off of you. Hope this helps

I graduated from Pennsbury but my husband graduated from Bensalem in 83.