Mid-Jan trip - TONS of ride closures! Problems going during low season?

[WendyWhy]

We are going to LA for a wedding and squeezing in 2 days at the parks (Monday 1-12/Tuesday 1-13), staying at GCH for one night. Our last trip was back in 2013! After looking at a few sites, the parks look like they will open at 10 (9AM EMH) and close at 8 - which is A-OK with us since our kids our small and fall apart after dinner.

The problem is there will be a TON of refurbs - PP, HM, Matterhorn, Winnie the Pooh, Splash, Soarin, and Luigi's (eh- that one is ok)...

I know it will still be a great trip - we have never been there with a crowd level below a 7 (previous trips have been Spring Break and Thanksgiving - cray, cray) - and touringplans predicts a crowd level of 2! But...still feeling kinda bummed!

I am wondering if there are OTHER problems going during low season - besides the main ones for most people (i.e. ride closures, no nighttime shows) - like, is service slower? Are the ride wait times slightly longer because they are not running them at full capacity, etc? Fewer characters roaming the park? Fewer photopass photogs?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Geemo]

We are going to LA for a wedding and squeezing in 2 days at the parks (Monday 1-12/Tuesday 1-13), staying at GCH for one night. Our last trip was back in 2013! After looking at a few sites, the parks look like they will open at 10 (9AM EMH) and close at 8 - which is A-OK with us since our kids our small and fall apart after dinner.

The problem is there will be a TON of refurbs - PP, HM, Matterhorn, Winnie the Pooh, Splash, Soarin, and Luigi's (eh- that one is ok)...

I know it will still be a great trip - we have never been there with a crowd level below a 7 (previous trips have been Spring Break and Thanksgiving - cray, cray) - and touringplans predicts a crowd level of 2! But...still feeling kinda bummed!

I am wondering if there are OTHER problems going during low season - besides the main ones for most people (i.e. ride closures, no nighttime shows) - like, is service slower? Are the ride wait times slightly longer because they are not running them at full capacity, etc? Fewer characters roaming the park? Fewer photopass photogs?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Yes....
That's the current list of attractions scheduled for refurbishment.

We have gone during this time of the year. There are usually several things closed. Before the trip as I watched the list, it changed a few times.
By the time we got there in Jan 2013 these are the things that were closed.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, IASW, Tea Cups, Tom Sawyer Island, Canoes, Mark Twain Riverboat and Grizzly River Run. The other thing during the weekdays, NO fireworks of Fantasmic!
Even with all the closures, we still found plenty to do during the week we were there.

I watch the list of refurbishments but I don't let it keep me from planning my trip once I have the dates set.

Geemo

 

[DahliaRW]

You also will not be seeing Fantasmic (it'll be weekends only) and I believe they do not do fireworks on weeknights either...

 

[figment_jii]

January is historically when a lot of refurbs are scheduled because the holiday crowds are gone. Added to that, there are more rehabs than normal (probably) because the parks are getting ready for the 60th anniversary in the spring/summer. So a lot of things are getting "spruced" up for the anniversary.

I am wondering if there are OTHER problems going during low season - besides the main ones for most people (i.e. ride closures, no nighttime shows) - like, is service slower? Are the ride wait times slightly longer because they are not running them at full capacity, etc? Fewer characters roaming the park? Fewer photopass photogs?

I don't think you'll see longer wait times, just because there are going to be fewer guests in the park to begin with. I also don't think you'll see fewer characters (at least not a noticeable drop) unless it's raining. I've gone during slower times of the year (not January) and there have always been characters out and about (except when it rained).

As DahliaRW noted, fireworks, Fantasmic*, and Mad T Party will only be presented on weekends (Fri-Sun) during the slower times of the year. So you won't see any of those when you're there. There should still be an afternoon parade.

*Caveat: Normally, WoC would be running nightly, but the latest rumor is that it will be undergoing a refurb from Jan 7 through March, so that might not be option. There is a companion rumor that Fantasmic might be running nightly while WoC is out of commission. So we just have to wait and see how this all plays out in January.

 

[PoohBearFriends]

Fantasmic looks loke it is running nightly per the dates you can book the new dinner package. It is open through your dates already so you can check.

Micechat where the unofficial list where the closures came from has said they were wrong and pulled them. So still waiting for the Disney list.

WOC. Luigi. HM. Look like for sure.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Nothing has officially been announced. I would say WOC is confirmed because there are no dinner package reservations offered for those dates. We will be there the 8-13th. January is traditionally refurb time, but it is our favorite time to go! Small World Holiday should still be going. That's a terrific overlay and they keep the outside display lit as well.

 

[SMD]

It makes sense that WoC will be down because the winter overlay will end the week before. I'd adjust expectations for "low" season. Disney has become very good at running promotions to keep crowds in the parks year round. While it won't be wall to wall people, it won't be a ghost town for more than a few hours per day, either.

It sounds like the Disney portion of the trip is a bonus part of the wedding trip. There's still plenty to do just being in the parks, even if literally half the rides are down and the night time shows don't run. Try not to focus on the can't dos.

 

[204charity]

Plus you are staying at a beautiful resort onsite - use that pool and soak in the hot tub!! The magic of the Disney Resorts in nearly as great as the parks themselves!!

 

[WendyWhy]

Nothing has officially been announced. I would say WOC is confirmed because there are no dinner package reservations offered for those dates. We will be there the 8-13th. January is traditionally refurb time, but it is our favorite time to go! Small World Holiday should still be going. That's a terrific overlay and they keep the outside display lit as well.

OH! I didn't realize that IASW would still have the holiday overlay - yes! Thanks!

 

[WendyWhy]

Plus you are staying at a beautiful resort onsite - use that pool and soak in the hot tub!! The magic of the Disney Resorts in nearly as great as the parks themselves!!

So true! I am so excited - keep talking about "Anaheim" as code for DLR in front of my kids - trying to keep it a Christmas surprise. Don't know if I will make it...

 

[wdwfan22]

Fantasmic looks loke it is running nightly per the dates you can book the new dinner package. It is open through your dates already so you can check.

Micechat where the unofficial list where the closures came from has said they were wrong and pulled them. So still waiting for the Disney list.

WOC. Luigi. HM. Look like for sure.

This. Disney announced some refurbs then took them back. So beside the 3 listed above, we really don't know any others yet. So don't bank on anything yet, who knows?

 

[Halloweenqueen]

So HM closure has been confirmed?

 

[DahliaRW]

So HM closure has been confirmed?

HM always goes down in January to remove the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay. Last year it was January 7-17 if I remember correctly.

It's a sure bet that IASW and Jingle/Jungle Cruise will be down at some point to remove their overlays too. Last year JC went down on the 13th and IASW on the 21st.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Disney initially said HM would go down on the 12th on their phone hotline, but have taken it down. Just curious if another date was confirmed.

 

[DizMe]

I love going in January. It's one of my favorite times! The crowds are low, the pace is slower, and...oh yeah! My birthday

The downsides have been mentioned but with the exception of last year (I think), when there were monumental numbers of big rides down at the same time, there is still plenty to keep you happy. I have never been too bothered by the ride closures even when I thought I would be.

One that has not been mentioned is that it is not unusual to get rained on in January. Generally, that is not a gushing downpour but a light rain that clears up. I have been during a gushing downpour, though, and while I don't prefer it, the park was absolutely empty other than the ducks swimming down Main St (not an exaggeration!).

My advice is to "go with the flow" and not have a strict agenda in mind beforehand. January is best enjoyed in a non-commando way IMO.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Yes, we have been fortunate to visit DL in every season and our January trips have been our favorites. I think it is because we take a more relaxed pace.

 

[GeneralTso]

There's still so much to see and do you won't really miss it. The parks are full of things to do. Can you imagine them trying to do this work in summer? Gads, it would be even more nuts. I love going in low season and don't care what's closed because I can actually NOT have to maneuver massive crowds. That's worth a lot to me!

 

[wdwfan22]

Disney initially said HM would go down on the 12th on their phone hotline, but have taken it down. Just curious if another date was confirmed.

I don't think a date is confirmed for HM either. It was thought it would go down on the 6th or 7th, when the Holiday season officially ends. That's what it has always done in the past. Then Disney popped up with this 12th date and as far as I know took it back with the others. I guess time will tell. I just don't get why DL can't release info a little soone like DW does. I mean, it doesn't have to be 6 months, but 3 would be nice.

 

[YukonMommy]

Our last 3 trips have been in January! We love it. The crowds are lower, the wait time for most rides is quick.

We always met tonnes of characters, we found everything staffed well.

Have a magical time!

 

[krisbars]

My friend and I will be there January 9th to the 13th, and we are staying at the GCH. I have actually contacted Disney more than once, and they said WOC will not be closed. I am a WDW girl, so I have zero experience with DL (this is my first trip to DL). However, during our last trip to WDW this past May, there were a bunch of refurbishments posted on people's Disney blogs, but none of the presumed closures were actually closed. I now take it with a grain of salt.