looking for advice for booking just after MLK 2020

[Dznypal]

we are still fairly new at DVC and the AP--we usually go the end of Jan till very beg. of Feb

we are already booked for Jan 29 through Feb 6

so in order to get 2 trips out of the passes I need to bump up the trip in 2020 by about a week which puts us just after MLK day

in 2020 MLK is JAn 20--so if I get the passes now they would expire JAn 29 2020--

so the furthest away from MLK day I could get is Jan 23 2020 and leave JAn 30

so my main concern is how are the crowds say like MOn after MLK

I know that weekend will be nuts but were thinking a few days after wards hopefully wont be so bad

and advice or tips

thanks all

 

[jina]

I haven't been in January since '99 so that's not a good data point but I do recall reading these boards the past few years that while January in general is a less popular time, lines can be long due to shortened park days and if I recall right, lots of tour groups from Brazil (?).

Having said that, if my kid didn't have school I'd go in January in a second versus not going at all. If you plan it right and/or set expectations with yourself on what the must-dos are, you can have a fantastic time any day of the year.

I'd think MLK will likely be pretty crowded but the days after less but again, could still feel busy due to shortened hours and the tour groups.

 

[fla4fun]

MLK week is a busier week than the week before or after, but it's not horrible. I go that week and the following week every year. It is noticeably busier over the three day weekend than during the week. I think some people may take the Friday before or Tuesday after to extend their weekend. But you notice the crowds dropping off a little starting on Wednesday and each day is a little better.

 

[Katie Dawn]

Galaxy's Edge will have opened late 2019, so I think crowds will be higher than usual for every week for several months. You'll still have fun but something to keep in mind!

 

[Lisa F]

I am going that week this year - booked it to get a second trip out of APs and my son has two days off (the friday before and the monday after that weekend) - we did his winter break the week after president's week last year and we were there for the weekend at the end of president's week/princess half marathon before going on our cruise.

I have made all of my ADRs and FP+ and am a little amazed at how much availability there still is (jan 17-26 so the thursday before to the saturday after). the actual weekend is more booked up but still TONS of good ADRs and FP+ more than 60 days out (FoP and SDD is gone but 7DMT and all tier 1's at epcot were still available that weekend and FoP is available at less than 60 days out the tuesday/wednesday/thursday following MLK weekend, but no SDD). I don't know if it's typically a quiet week or due to the predicted quieter time in advance of GE opening but I am surprised by how slowly things seem to be booking for this period.

That said I kind of planned for the weekend to be crowded, we arrive on Thursday and then do MK, Friday is Epcot, Saturday is AK and AK is pretty easy to do crowded with good FPs... Sunday we are doing RD and MK and then horseback riding and brunch at Ft. Wilderness with a long break and then back to MK for HEA dessert party which is a good thing to do in crowds and hoping for expanded hours after it. Monday is my switchover day from VWL to poly so we are packing/sleeping in/doing Disney springs before a 4pm Ohana dinner at the Poly and then evening FPs at Epcot. After all that crowds are predicted to drop.