MLK Week???

[christa112]

How busy or not busy is Martin Luther King week?

We are thinking of heading down in January and are wondering if we should avoid this week. I don't have any issues taking my kids out of school, so that is not an issue. My son's b-day falls during MLK week and would love to be down their for his b-day, but if it is busy, I will plan another week.

I would love to hear from people who have traveled in Jan whether it was during MLK week or another week.

This will be our 1st DVC vacation!!!

TIA

Christa

 

[tiggerrifficheidi]

We actually had our wedding on MLK Day this year. We weren't in the parks until a couple days later (MLK was 19th, we didn't get into the parks until 20th). I think the crowds pick up a little on the weekend itself, but if you're there during the week days, they're typical January crowds.

I checked www.touringplans.com's crowd calendar, and it seems to confirm that (slightly crowded during weekend...although not to summer or spring break level...and regular Jan crowds during the week).

I will warn you that January weather is UNPREDICTABLE. It was cold when we first got there (Jan 14th), it was beautiful (60s and 70s) on the day of the wedding (19th), and it was FREEZING (literally) the day of our MK photo shoot (21st). I'd say typically, January is GREAT weather, but do come prepared...just in case!

 

[OKW Lover]

MLK weekend is busier than the rest of the month, but still that's a slow period so its really not bad at all.

 

[christa112]

Thanks!!!!

We actually had our wedding on MLK Day this year. We weren't in the parks until a couple days later (MLK was 19th, we didn't get into the parks until 20th). I think the crowds pick up a little on the weekend itself, but if you're there during the week days, they're typical January crowds.

I checked www.touringplans.com's crowd calendar, and it seems to confirm that (slightly crowded during weekend...although not to summer or spring break level...and regular Jan crowds during the week).

I will warn you that January weather is UNPREDICTABLE. It was cold when we first got there (Jan 14th), it was beautiful (60s and 70s) on the day of the wedding (19th), and it was FREEZING (literally) the day of our MK photo shoot (21st). I'd say typically, January is GREAT weather, but do come prepared...just in case!

 

[Starr W.]

We fly in Thursday night before MLK weekend. This yr we went to MK on that Friday and boy was it empty! We rode the tea cups with Alice and the Mad Hatter even!

Had lunch at Cosmic Ray's and had CM's fussing over us as the place was practically empty. And this is a CS place.

We saw Tiggerifficheidi's welcome dinner over at Epcot!

The only really problem I see with MLK week/weekend is the constant weather watching to know what exactly to pack. Long underwear, convertable pants and 3 in 1 jackets are essential to that time of yr, because you never know about the weather.

 

[jodifla]

We were there MLK week this year and found it to be PACKED, much busier than we've ever seen a January.

 

[christa112]

I am thinking we will avoid MLK week completely. We are use to traveling in Sept and crowds are pretty low. I am thinking we will leave on 1/23/10.

 

[PoohBear543]

We went this year from Jan. 11 to 18 and MLK day was the 19th. This was the lightest crowds we had seen until friday the 16th at epcot. Wow did it get busy fast!! It was unseasonable cold though especially at night. Overall though, it was perfect time. When we got there it was marathon weekend but I didn't find it that busy.

 

[Anal Annie]

We went over MLK weekend in 2008 and loved it, although the weather was definitely a gamble. Crowds were manageable compared to mid-summer BUT there were several of those Brazilian tour groups which gunked things up a bit. I don't know how much of January they're there but they're just simply annoying as all get out. We packed for layers and had weather ranging from low 50's with lots of wind (so it was COLD) up to low 70's one afternoon. Also had thunderstorms and got drenched. It was a little bit of everything for sure. It was FREEZING back home so we wore ski coats with zip out fleece linings so we could adjust our layers. I took convertible zip off pants for both DS and DH which worked out great. Just pack for flexibility. None of the long range weather forecasts on the internet were of any help for packing 'cuz it just kept changing. Have fun!

 

[tiggerrifficheidi]

I remember the Brazilian tour groups!!! They ARE annoying! I'd like to know if they only come certain weeks!