Need some advice, please and thank you! :)

[Oakenshield]

First of all, hello! New to the forum. I hope I'm posting in the correct area, if not I apologize in advance!

I haven't been to Disney in 15 year when I was a teenager (And that was my 1st time) and could use a bit of advice now that I have a family of my own. I finally convinced my husband that taking out 2 year old is a great idea. So, we've decided to go in January. During my research I've seen a lot of people only recommend January because of the low crowds, and say that there are ride closures that could deter 1st timers from coming again. I'm really trying to sell this to my husband and make it as awesome as possible while we're there. Hubbys birthday is in January too, so I'm trying to play that up!

Am I setting us up for disappointment by planning for January? I'm trying to book everything within the next week, and don't want to make any mistakes! Also, I know they open up table reservations 180 days in advance and we're way past that. Chances of us getting dinner reservations at Be Our Guest is probably miniscule, right?

Thanks all!!

 

[jotrudeau]

We're going for the first time with our kids in November. We didn't go on and reserve stuff until after the 180 day mark and are having a bit of trouble finding reservations ...although we aren't going crazy.. But you may be able to find reservations on the cancellation threads if you have an idea of where you want to eat.

Good luck!

 

[smbowtie]

Just be aware that in Jan it is winter and temps in FL can be a little cool if not cold. Def not pool weather. Could go to the 40s at night 70s during the day. This past early Feb we were in sweatshirts during the day and layers at night.
But being at WDW is still better than not being there.
Go and enjoy.

 

[Oakenshield]

Just be aware that in Jan it is winter and temps in FL can be a little cool if not cold. Def not pool weather. Could go to the 40s at night 70s during the day. This past early Feb we were in sweatshirts during the day and layers at night.
But being at WDW is still better than not being there.
Go and enjoy.

Ha! Oh I know! But it's definitely going to beat anything we have here in Massachusetts. By then we'll be looking at single digit temps at home, I'll take 70s! I'm mostly looking for a low crowd time, and it seems January and early February are it (without having to wait until September of next year!). Th 70s will be like a heat wave. Thank you!

 

[nugov2]

If the ADR's are important to you and you have an open window of when you can go in Jan/Feb just go onto the website and input dates to see what ADR's are out there. You don't have to be booked to make ADR's, just a CC to guarantee, but you can cancel without penalty if you do it early. ADR's are important for us, but there are so many places to pick from that I'm sure you will still get some good ones. Also, lots of ADR's open up the closer you get.

 

[MandiC]

Don't count on 70s this past year was FREEZING in January. Several of my dh's coworkers went in January and they said it was definitely sweatshirt/jeans and at night coats weather....and we live in Northern WI and much of our winter was well below zero last year. Even when we went in February we did get lucky with 4 days in the 70s/80s but the other days were highs in the low 60s...and despite leaving Wisconsin in below zero temperatures, that felt cold. If you are okay with the colder weather I wouldn't worry about it, but don't expect 70s...this winter is predicted to be as cold if not more so than last.

As for ADRs...unless you can get a cancellation dinner at BOG is probably out. We booked our February trip in early September last year and it was hard enough to get some of the popular reservations. It's worth a shot though and if Disney figures out the lunch FP+ deal with BOG that is an option. If so that will open up for you about a month in advance.

The refurbishments were a little disappointing, thankfully for us it wasn't anything that would make or break the parks that was out of service while we were there.
January isn't always low on crowds, I know New Years itself is VERY busy there. Marathon weekend and Martin Luther King Jr. weekend is also busier. I haven't looked too closely at January so I'm not sure just how busy or when those are this next year, just something to consider.

All that said, it is what you make of it. If you are okay that it might be cold and that some things might be closed for refurbishment it can still be magical. We had a wonderful time. Will we go back at that time again? It wouldn't be my first choice, but I wouldn't avoid that time either. For me it is better than going at a super busy time of the year or going during the Florida summer heat.

 

[laughinplace199]

DH & I often go in January to run the marathon (kids stay home w/my parents), but I don't think I'd take my family then. The weather is so unpredictable.

We were there in 2010 and it sleeted on the day of the half marathon. The day of the full, it was just over 30 degrees at the start. At each water stop, the water would freeze as people threw their cups on the ground. The volunteers kept yelling, "Watch out for the ice!" Never thought I'd hear that in Orlando.

 

[bostonminnie]

We are also from Massachusetts and went during an "unseasonably cold" January. We thought the weather was fine, and we didn't have to worry about our young son overheating The crowds were minimal, it was a great trip!

Be Our Guest is a hard reservation to get, but if you can't get it at first keep trying.

Have a great trip

 

[hsmamato2]

DH & I often go in January to run the marathon (kids stay home w/my parents), but I don't think I'd take my family then. The weather is so unpredictable.

We were there in 2010 and it sleeted on the day of the half marathon. The day of the full, it was just over 30 degrees at the start. At each water stop, the water would freeze as people threw their cups on the ground. The volunteers kept yelling, "Watch out for the ice!" Never thought I'd hear that in Orlando.

we were there that day! the coldest I've ever experienced in Orlando...we weren't running, we were sitting at Kona cafe over hot french toast and coffee!

 

[hsmamato2]

I would say due to various things being taken/added to the parks, there are a fair number of closed attractions anyway- in January, you will find the bteer crowds. I would rather deal with a closed attraction like Splash Mountain than deal with crowds. I have visited in May, January and November. I liked November the best for low crowds and hot weather, but my DH prefers January when it gets chillier (tho hopefully not like 2010!) my ds still swims-we just pack and wear layers

 

[jacknsally19]

As a Bostonian that often goes to the parks in the winter, I can say that you will be just fine You can always do BOG for lunch if it's really important to you. There are a lot of meal options that are great with a toddler that you don't need to book 180 days in advance. Some restaurants that have a great experience for 2 yr old are: Biergarten, Raglan Road, Ohana (breakfast), Whispering Canyon, Sci-Fi Cafe. I know it has a meh reputation but Tonys is great if you can get a reservation before one of the parades!

You will have lots of fun!

 

[jacknsally19]

By the way, I would figure out which park you are going to each day and then decide where to make dinner reservations. Before I had kids, I was fine going all over the place but with toddlers I think it's easier to do one park per day. So make your general park plan and then decide where to dine. I usually use crowd calendars to pick the park - I like Josh's at easywdw

 

[tiffjoy]

Yay for the first time with your family!!!

I have never been to WDW any month except January and one time in February. My in laws vacation in FL that month, so that is why we go then. Well, that and I would a hundred times pick winter over humid summers. There have been very cold weeks, cold weeks, and beautiful warm weeks. It's all over and absolutely no guarantee. We just roll with it because that's when we are going to go, so that's that. Since our youngest DD was born in January, we really like it as we celebrate her birthday there. It's also not crowded (so long as you avoid MLK weekend) and we've never minded the ride closures as it is never a "once only" trip for us. I suppose it helps that we live in California and aren't looking to escape winter weather, so if it's cold, it doesn't matter that much to us.

I've never been any other time, but we enjoy our visit in January. I hope you enjoy whenever you decide to go!

 

[tiffjoy]

By the way, I would figure out which park you are going to each day and then decide where to make dinner reservations. Before I had kids, I was fine going all over the place but with toddlers I think it's easier to do one park per day. So make your general park plan and then decide where to dine. I usually use crowd calendars to pick the park - I like Josh's at easywdw

I do this too. we stick to one park now as well, I look at crowd calendars and pick, and then choose ADRs based on that.

Also, although I got up before the sun to book our ADRs at our 180 mark, there are plenty of great options still available. Also, keep looking and don't assume just cause you can't find it now, you won't at all.

 

[laughinplace199]

we were there that day! the coldest I've ever experienced in Orlando...we weren't running, we were sitting at Kona cafe over hot french toast and coffee!

Oh how I would have loved to switch places with you that day! I'm used to cold weather, but when I go to WDW, I want to leave the cold at home!

 

[Oakenshield]

Thank you all so much for your replies! We booked for February 2-7! I'm so excited, and I'm definitely going to be planning which parks daily and checking out crowd calenders from Josh's at easywdw. I figured we'll mostly be hitting MK and Animal Kingdom on our trip. Studios doesn't seem to have anything that would interest my son, and Epcot we'll probably make a half day of to go to Nemo and probably lunch or dinner there a few times. We most definitely will be going to Downtown Disney to the TRex Cafe, my son is OBSESSED with Dinosaurs! I'm going to keep trying for BOG for dinner, but i'll be happy if I can get FP for Lunch!

 

[jacknsally19]

Thank you all so much for your replies! We booked for February 2-7! I'm so excited, and I'm definitely going to be planning which parks daily and checking out crowd calenders from Josh's at easywdw. I figured we'll mostly be hitting MK and Animal Kingdom on our trip. Studios doesn't seem to have anything that would interest my son, and Epcot we'll probably make a half day of to go to Nemo and probably lunch or dinner there a few times. We most definitely will be going to Downtown Disney to the TRex Cafe, my son is OBSESSED with Dinosaurs! I'm going to keep trying for BOG for dinner, but i'll be happy if I can get FP for Lunch!

Contact Trex directly for reservations. Wdw only has a few tables on their system.