*** OFFICIAL January 2013 Thread ***

[cyros]

Excited! Planning our first January trip (and second trip ever) for the last week of January 2013! We didn't get a chance to do Fantasmic on our first trip (late April a few years ago) and hope to this time.

I know we're months out still but I'm eager to plan my packing already. I wish I had a better idea of weather so that I could plan some disney-specific outfits for my dd7. Last time, it was dress weather every day but it looks like January is quite unpredictable for weather. That said, I'm from Canada, so even "bad" weather is good weather to me

 

[Danjocass]

Welcome!! I'll add your info to the first page, along with your hotels. Just let me know once you book and I'll update.

We overlap a few days, although we'll also be doing the DCL-Dream, too. We decided to try to get a longer vaca in with the 2 day school break we have over MLK. So DD6 will still miss school for her normal 5 days but we get to stay in WDW longer!

Thanks so much for adding me!! thats great that you can stay longer! Just wanted to let you know we decided to stay only at POFQ and save the $$$ for the 3 nights at BWI. Cannot wait until July so I can book my ADR's and I am hoping to be able to book Be Our Guest Restaurant.

 

[readytogotodisney]

Excited! Planning our first January trip (and second trip ever) for the last week of January 2013! We didn't get a chance to do Fantasmic on our first trip (late April a few years ago) and hope to this time.

I know we're months out still but I'm eager to plan my packing already. I wish I had a better idea of weather so that I could plan some disney-specific outfits for my dd7. Last time, it was dress weather every day but it looks like January is quite unpredictable for weather. That said, I'm from Canada, so even "bad" weather is good weather to me

We've done Disney in January almost every year since the mid 90's, we think it's a great time to go!
Weather wise, you'll see highs usually in the 70's. The mornings and evenings are always chilly so we always have a sweatshirt or hoodie close by for then. Key to Disney in the winter months is layers.
I will usually wear jeans with a short sleeved v-neck tshirt and a tank underneath that. Then I will also start out each day with a hoodie/sweatshirt and shed layers as I need to, then add them right back on as the sun goes down.
I'm from Indiana where the highs in January are in the teens usually if that gives you an idea.

I always

 

[mickeyplanner]

We are hpoing to get reservations at Be Our Guest too. The posts of the interior look beautiful.

 

[cyros]

Thank you so much readytogodisney!

 

[catdance23]

I just submitted my request to rent points at AKV for 1/16-1/21. I read the posts about MLK weekend. Hopefully it's not too crazy. Last time we went in May over Mother's Day weekend and crowds were good.

 

[leanne11]

OK..joining in...1/17..1/27....hoping for warm weather and no refurbs ..i know but i can dream...what's be our guest...hope its new...hope lots of new stuff...went last Feb...froze and crowded...well be offsite because about 12 of us....

 

[catdance23]

Be Our Guest is the new table service restaurant that is a part of the fantasyland expansion.

 

[catdance23]

So bummed. I was hoping to get my dates locked down this week but there are no home resort points open right now. I have to wait until June to see if I can rent points from a non-home resort member. Hopefully the room will still be available.

 

[Marshay]

Excited! Planning our first January trip (and second trip ever) for the last week of January 2013! We didn't get a chance to do Fantasmic on our first trip (late April a few years ago) and hope to this time.

I know we're months out still but I'm eager to plan my packing already. I wish I had a better idea of weather so that I could plan some disney-specific outfits for my dd7. Last time, it was dress weather every day but it looks like January is quite unpredictable for weather. That said, I'm from Canada, so even "bad" weather is good weather to me

Welcome!! We went this year on the last full week of January and it was a great time to go! Fantasmic was closed so I'm hoping it will be open when we go again next Janaury!

Thanks so much for adding me!! thats great that you can stay longer! Just wanted to let you know we decided to stay only at POFQ and save the $$$ for the 3 nights at BWI. Cannot wait until July so I can book my ADR's and I am hoping to be able to book Be Our Guest Restaurant.

FQ is a great resort! I definitely want to eat at BOG too...hopefully more than once!

We've done Disney in January almost every year since the mid 90's, we think it's a great time to go!
Weather wise, you'll see highs usually in the 70's. The mornings and evenings are always chilly so we always have a sweatshirt or hoodie close by for then. Key to Disney in the winter months is layers.
I will usually wear jeans with a short sleeved v-neck tshirt and a tank underneath that. Then I will also start out each day with a hoodie/sweatshirt and shed layers as I need to, then add them right back on as the sun goes down.
I'm from Indiana where the highs in January are in the teens usually if that gives you an idea.

Yep, sounds right!

We are hpoing to get reservations at Be Our Guest too. The posts of the interior look beautiful.

I hear ya!

I just submitted my request to rent points at AKV for 1/16-1/21. I read the posts about MLK weekend. Hopefully it's not too crazy. Last time we went in May over Mother's Day weekend and crowds were good.

We love going over Mom's Day w/e, too. With the F&G Festival, it is a wonderful time to go!

OK..joining in...1/17..1/27....hoping for warm weather and no refurbs ..i know but i can dream...what's be our guest...hope its new...hope lots of new stuff...went last Feb...froze and crowded...well be offsite because about 12 of us....

Well, this past January we had warm weather and minimal refurbs. But what was nice about the refurbs is that it made us try other rides/shows that we normally wouldn't do. And that was good.

Be Our Guest is the new table service restaurant that is a part of the fantasyland expansion.

It'll be CS during the lunch time and TS during the evening hours.

So bummed. I was hoping to get my dates locked down this week but there are no home resort points open right now. I have to wait until June to see if I can rent points from a non-home resort member. Hopefully the room will still be available.

Sorry to hear your dates are there yet but AKV is such a large resort and January usually isn't that crowded. You should be able to get your request. We always wait until 7 months prior to book our DVC ...but we love all the resorts.

 

[Marshay]

I updated everyone's info on the first post. As your dates and resorts are confirmed, just let me know and I'll update.

 

[mickeyplanner]

I had no idea Be Our Guest will be CS for lunch. Now I am really worried we won't get dinner reservations. Anyone know when they will start accepting reservations? I keep reading Holiday Season 2012, does that mean in November it will open?

 

[Marshay]

I had no idea Be Our Guest will be CS for lunch. Now I am really worried we won't get dinner reservations. Anyone know when they will start accepting reservations? I keep reading Holiday Season 2012, does that mean in November it will open?

I think that is Disney-speak for ... if it's done in time for Thanksgiving, they mean November and if not, then they meant Christmas, for December!!

 

[mickeyplanner]

I think that is Disney-speak for ... if it's done in time for Thanksgiving, they mean November and if not, then they meant Christmas, for December!!

Too funny, I wonder will they will let us know the opening date.

 

[Marshay]

Too funny, I wonder will they will let us know the opening date.

yeah, as they get closer to completion. We may know more by end of summer or fall.

I plan to make my ADRs in July and then try to switch to BOG once those ressies become available, which probably won't be until a month before we leave!

Everyone will be frantically re-working their schedules in Nov/Dec/Jan!

 

[mickeyplanner]

Sounds like we are all on the same schedule ready to make ADRs in July, I would hope we can to BOG at that time too.

Marsha, I just read you January 2012 trip report. You have a lovely, beautiful, funny and enjoyable family. Thanks for you sharing your trip with us.
I have two questions, one is on AutoTrain is it really that crucial to book at 11 months out...how much of a savings are we talking? We have never seen a need to have a car at Disney so I am interested in learning more because our DD would love to do Suessville.
Next question is on the Garden Tea, do you make reservations for that 180 days out too? Do they only do it certain days?

 

[catdance23]

newbie question. When will the hours (including EMH) for January be released? And, when they are where do I go to find them? TIA!

 

[readytogotodisney]

newbie question. When will the hours (including EMH) for January be released? And, when they are where do I go to find them? TIA!

January hours should be out in about a month! They just released the December hours on the TA site yesterday so the wait is on for January!

You can stalk this website, right now it shows Jan 2012, but when they release 2013 it will be updated.

 

[Marshay]

Sounds like we are all on the same schedule ready to make ADRs in July, I would hope we can to BOG at that time too.

Marsha, I just read you January 2012 trip report. You have a lovely, beautiful, funny and enjoyable family. Thanks for you sharing your trip with us.
I have two questions, one is on AutoTrain is it really that crucial to book at 11 months out...how much of a savings are we talking? We have never seen a need to have a car at Disney so I am interested in learning more because our DD would love to do Suessville.
Next question is on the Garden Tea, do you make reservations for that 180 days out too? Do they only do it certain days?

Oh, I'm glad you enjoyed my TR! I love doing them...as it's so neat to relive our trip and my girls like to see the photos.

As for 11 months booking...it's not crucial but prices will go up closer to your date. The one advantage is that the tickets are refundable up until the deadline. So what we do is book what we think we want to do and then we get our resort later. If we have to rebook Amtrak, then we just pay the difference if the price increased. Makes the price increase a bit more tolerable.

I just checked our January 2013 trip prices now. They have gone up ~$220 round-trip for a family of 4, family sleeper car with oversized vehicle, from when I purchased in February.

So that's about $50 per person.

However, I will keep checking ticket prices in case they decrease. That did happen to me on one trip (day before Thanksgiving, arriving T-day...someone bought 3 weeks prior to trip and was $300 cheaper than what I paid several months in advance).

January hours should be out in about a month! They just released the December hours on the TA site yesterday so the wait is on for January!

You can stalk this website, right now it shows Jan 2012, but when they release 2013 it will be updated.

Yay!! I can't wait for the hours ...then it will seem like I can really start planning!

 

[ButterflyJen]

Yay!! I can't wait for the hours ...then it will seem like I can really start planning!

ITA!! I feel like we are in a holding pattern right now. Totally ready to get going already!!