****Official January 2021 thread****

[nekonekoneko]

That's awesome. I was looking after you mentioned it and I didn't see anything,so you definitely got the jump on the drop.

I just rechecked for 1/6, and ask the restaurants in MK still have availability at 7:00, or just before. Something is glitchy with 3 people, where MDE didn't want to show anything, but moving it to 4 people opens everything up, even BOG.

Edit: just realized I don't see anything for Cindy's...

 

[GBRforWDW]

I just rechecked for 1/6, and ask the restaurants in MK still have availability at 7:00, or just before. Something is glitchy with 3 people, where MDE didn't want to show anything, but moving it to 4 people opens everything up, even BOG.

Edit: just realized I don't see anything for Cindy's...

I've noticed that too about 3 people not always working in mde.

for some reason, CRT can only be booked on the website. I see at least 1 available each night after 6pm for the first 2 weeks, except the first and second.

 

[sethschroeder]

I guess the side benefit is that I no longer have to worry about infection or spreading infection. According to the CDC and our state's Department of Health, we have at least a 90-day get out of COVID free card.

In this same group as well. It was rough getting through it though.

Once we were all in the clear I moved up our trip to January from March.

 

[sethschroeder]

I just came to post this! Fingers crossed they extend through the end of the month!!

Ya I don't really understand why Disney reduces hours in the middle of MLK weekend.

Maybe we see something extended. Issue is if they extend it then I will be back to looking for restaurant reservations constantly lol.

 

[GBRforWDW]

Park hours extended for 10th - 16th.



These are the same every day except Animal Kingdom opened til 6pm on Sunday Jan 10th and Saturday Jan 16th.

Glad I moved my BoG reservation to 6:55 on the 12th

 

[GBRforWDW]

Ya I don't really understand why Disney reduces hours in the middle of MLK weekend.

Maybe we see something extended. Issue is if they extend it then I will be back to looking for restaurant reservations constantly lol.

Since the pandemic reopening, they've stuck with a standard set of hours for initial release about 2 months out. Then as the dates get closer, they look at park reservations and adjust the hours as necessary. Basically every time they add a new week of park hours, they adjust park hours of the week after the last adjustment, seems like about 2+ weeks out right now is when they're adjusting hours.

 

[nekonekoneko]

A day early Call it a little Christmas present?

 

[sethschroeder]

Well have to wait for our adjustment next week.

 

[Dcloutie]

We will b there Jan 18th! Cant wait though I dont even begin to know how to plan! Its all so different! Made park reservations but we may just roll the dice on the rest?

 

[Leigh L]

We will b there Jan 18th! Cant wait though I dont even begin to know how to plan! Its all so different! Made park reservations but we may just roll the dice on the rest?

Welcome to the DIS!
Yup! Definitely more old school. We found it kind of fun not worrying about fast passes, etc.

About planning, if you are comfortable and planning on it anyway, I'd recommend making a few dining reservations. When the family went in August and DD and I went in November, there wasn't a whole lot of availability, esp at MK and Hollywood Studios. (It might be different now though.)

At some of the busier QS places it's helpful to mobile order in advance before you want to eat and choose a time you want to pick it up (don't worry it'll sit there cold, what you do is click "I'm here" when you're nearby). Some places the time slots fill up quickly. The day we were at Animal Kingdom in November we waited until we were hungry and everyone had wanted to eat at Satu'li Canteen and we missed the ball on that, and anyplace else we checked, the next time slot was too far away. We ended up wandering around to find someplace without a long line lol.

Also, if you are early risers, parks have been starting rides pre-official opening (how early varies) a ton can be done that first hour.

(We arrive on the 16th! Our flights were all changed though yesterday again so now trying to figure out our park days. In a way the changes are better since we arrive earlier and leave later, giving us another almost 2 full days. )

 

[Leigh L]

Since the pandemic reopening, they've stuck with a standard set of hours for initial release about 2 months out. Then as the dates get closer, they look at park reservations and adjust the hours as necessary. Basically every time they add a new week of park hours, they adjust park hours of the week after the last adjustment, seems like about 2+ weeks out right now is when they're adjusting hours.

Any thoughts on when they might adjust MLK weekend? (or the rest of that week) Would that be on Fridays as well, meaning this Friday?

 

[nekonekoneko]

Any thoughts on when they might adjust MLK weekend? (or the rest of that week) Would that be on Fridays as well, meaning this Friday?

They usually do it on Fridays, but this past weekend, they did it on the 24th, probably because Friday was Christmas Day. They've adjusted to January 16.

 

[GBRforWDW]

They usually do it on Fridays, but this past weekend, they did it on the 24th, probably because Friday was Christmas Day. They've adjusted to January 16.

@Leigh L i agree with Neko here. They may do it Wednesday this week though since New Year’s Eve is generally celebrated more than Christmas Eve. Either way, I’d definitely expect to see longer hours for the holiday weekend. I could see after that, less days getting extended, but who knows, seems people aren’t shying away from trips any more, which was the motivation for shorter hours.

 

[Leigh L]

They usually do it on Fridays, but this past weekend, they did it on the 24th, probably because Friday was Christmas Day. They've adjusted to January 16.

@Leigh L i agree with Neko here. They may do it Wednesday this week though since New Year’s Eve is generally celebrated more than Christmas Eve. Either way, I’d definitely expect to see longer hours for the holiday weekend. I could see after that, less days getting extended, but who knows, seems people aren’t shying away from trips any more, which was the motivation for shorter hours.

Great, thanks so much @nekonekoneko and @GBRforWDW
I was kinda thinking - and hoping - they'd extend MLK weekend at least for that week (if not all the days ). I'll keep an eye out starting Wednesday.

 

[GBRforWDW]

More info on the festival of the arts - was released Saturday, but just saw it:

https://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney...-international-festival-of-the-arts-released/
I’m getting excited about the food options. They look excellent. We’ll be at Epcot on Day 2 of the festival. Can’t wait!

 

[Leigh L]

More info on the festival of the arts - was released Saturday, but just saw it:

https://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney...-international-festival-of-the-arts-released/
I’m getting excited about the food options. They look excellent. We’ll be at Epcot on Day 2 of the festival. Can’t wait!

I agree, many of the options look great!
( I also noticed one of my favorite wineries was on the list )

 

[figmentfinesse]

I’m ready for real menus!

 

[Dcloutie]

They usually do it on Fridays, but this past weekend, they did it on the 24th, probably because Friday was Christmas Day. They've adjusted to January 16.

I hope they do it for MLK week!

 

[Leigh L]

Looks like MLK week got an hours update this morning

 

[sethschroeder]

How long until restaurants update?