Large January Crowds

[UBSHANG]

What crowd levels can we expect during the first week in January? I understand that the week after New Years is typically one of the most highly attended times of the year. Can anyone who has been to WDW during this time confirm this? Thanks.

 

[Bill From PA]

My understanding is that Jan. 2 thru 10 will have the lowest crowds of the year, and if not, I'm going to be royally pi$$ed.

Bill From PA

 

[crazywig]

i believe it's the week after Christmas that's one of the most attended. after New Years should be quite managable

 

[BCVBRUCE]

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2005 states the week after Jan 1st is VERY close to one of the least attended times of the year.

Have Fun,
Bruce

 

[diswedwish]

We went last year starting 1/4 and until the marathon it was the least crowded time we've ever been there. Even during the Marathon it didn't pick up very much. HTH

 

[MHG26]

I've been there at many different times during the year and so far the first week in January has been the smallest crowds I've seen as well as the shortest lines. I get to ride all the popular thrill rides over and over again with very small waits pretty much, of course I time everything well and use Fastpass over and over again as well as single rider line when it's available. The only downfall to this week is the late open and early close times. Otherwise, this is my favorite week to go of all the times I've been, in fact, I'll be there this Jan the first week again .

 

[tiberius]

I have been to WDW during the first week of January in the last seven years. My wife says she would rather go then than at any time in the summer. You can expect to see a very busy January 1, and then epople will start going home for school and work. By the 3rd and 4th you will wonder where all of the long lines went. Unfortunately, the parks will close earlier, but you will almost certainly get more done even with the earlier closings.

BTW, we are going again for the first week of 2006!

 

[Heyyall]

im so happy to hear about the low crowds! we're going the 6th-12th, instead of the usual first week in december and we were a little worried.

1. i heard it might be a little colder than the first week in december, is that true?
2. how will the wdw marathon effect park attendance because it's going on the weekend that we're there.

thanks for all the help!

 

[Deb & Bill]

There will be races on Saturday morning at Epcot (Family Fun Run - 5K race, plus kids' races). Then the marathon is Sunday morning. Starts at 6AM. 1/2 marathon to Pluto Parking lot at MK parking lot will be finished about 9:30 (3.5 hours max). The full marathon will finish at Epcot about 1PM (7 hours max). Sunday night there will be a lot of marathoners at DTD - PI. The parks should be relatively uncrowded except for MK from about 7:30 to 9:30 AM.

 

[deanio101]

I am going on the 31st dec to the 14th jan. i am so glad that it will be least crowds. Thank you!

 

[drusba]

What you should expect. Jan 1 and Jan 2 will still be quite crowded because they are Sat and Sun and a lot Christmas goers don't leave until Monday when New Years is Friday, Sat or Sun. After that crowds will turn much lighter.

 

[seashoreCM]

I'm expecting minimal crowds for that week but unfortunately there may be minimal temperatures that week too. All the guide books say that attendance really drops after New Years.

Wanted to see the new Osborne Lights and the best airfare I could get brings me in on New Years. Hopefully no huge special event like cheerleaders or Pop Warner to crowd things up.

Was at WDW first week January a couple of years ago, did not need to use Fastpasses except for the really popular rides like Space Mountain.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Followup:
Trip report: Jan 1-7 '05, Pop Century
Jan 1 -- Magic Kingdom seemed very empty in the morning, then it became very crowded around parade time with ride waits shooting up to 30+ to 60+ minutes after the parade.
Jan. 2-3 -- I would say moderately crowded, fastpasses still desirable. Many rides had 30 minute waits much of the day. Popular shows like Little Mermaid at MGM filled up.
Jan. 4-7 -- Only the most popular rides like Space Mountain, Tower of Terror really needed fastpasses with regular wait time over 30 min. Most rides 15 minutes wait or less for much of the day.

<small>Never put soda pop in a baby bottle.</small>

 

[Giagie]

I'm hoping for light crowds as well, we'll be there Jan. 3 - 8; so hopefully we'll only hit a little bit of crowds from the marathon.

 

[fizz13]

Nice to know there will be lots of lime green around! I'll be looking for you which shouldn't be hard with these low crowds.
Much pixie dust,
Claire

 

[d-r]

We are going the weekend of the marathon. Help me think about what to do each day, we'll want to go to epcot and magic kingdom. Usually, we would do epcot on Saturday, because MK is more crowded on Sat. And do MK on Sunday. But it sounds like the marathon is at epcot on sat. and MK on Sunday - does it matter? Should we go to MK on Sat. and Epcot on Sun? We've really learned not to go to MK on a Saturday, in general.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The Family Fun Run is held in the Epcot parking lot and should be just about over before the park even opens. I don't think there will be any problem with Epcot on Sat. And MK was great last year on Sunday, everyone stayed away for the afternoon. We just about walked on everything. It's just a bit busy in the early AM, but that's just Main Street.

 

[Disneyholic]

Wanted to see the new Osborne Lights and the best airfare I could get brings me in on New Years. Hopefully no huge special event like cheerleaders or Pop Warner to crowd things up.

From what I've seen the final night for the lights is January 2. I hope so, because we are arriving on the 2nd and were hoping to get over to MGM to see them ourselves.

 

[KBFinFan]

I am arriving on the 1st and am ready for low crowds! Hopefully after the 1st and 2nd everyone will be heading back to work and school giving us a great time to do a lot with minimal waits.

I am hoping to catch the last of the land (for awhile) on the 1st and then seeing the Osbourne lights on the 2nd. Seeya there!

 

[CindiLouWho]

I'm so happy to hear this! I'm going to Orlando for business but will have time for Disney on Jan 8, and Universal on Jan 10! But I'll only have about 5 hours on each day, so I'm glad there probably won't be bad lines.

 

[d-r]

The Family Fun Run is held in the Epcot parking lot and should be just about over before the park even opens. I don't think there will be any problem with Epcot on Sat. And MK was great last year on Sunday, everyone stayed away for the afternoon. We just about walked on everything. It's just a bit busy in the early AM, but that's just Main Street.

Thanks!