***Official January 2025 Thread***

[Dagusto87]

You can look in the app to see what the wait times are right now if you’d like.

When are you going?

Hi MaidMarian,

Thank you, I know and or seems the waiting lines are not that crazy. I'm going the 20th of January.

Just looking for some experiences of veterans here if it is really that crazy as in holiday periods.

Thank you

 

[Griffin11]

Hi Griffin!
Not sure if you have already been before to WDW but I was wondering if Lightning lanes are really necessary in January. As I really don't mind to wait 30 minutes. If anyone has more experiences with wait times for certain attractions I'm all Mickey ears

Hi Dagusto!

We were last in Disney at the same time (late January/early February) in 2023. I don't think lightning lanes are necessary, but I think they're (usually) worth it for our family. We don't like to spend full days at the park, it's just too much (tiring/overwhelming). So with lightning lanes we can hit a bunch of rides in a relatively short period of time and then take a break outside the park without feeling like we're missing too much.

We're not planning on buying lightning lanes every day, but probably at least once for each park.

 

[Dagusto87]

Thank you Griffin, great to hear that.
It's my first visit and staying 5 days and would like to take things slow so your answer is really comforting.

 

[Griffin11]

Taking it slow is a great approach! Especially if it's your first visit - I think a lot of people try to do too much and get overwhelmed.

 

[lorimt]

Ok, for everyone who is visiting during the first half of January, please let us know when Christmas decorations come down!

Generally, resorts start first, and it's always weird to wake up one morning and see it all gone.

Marathon weekend is relatively late this year, and since they try to keep some decorations up for runners, I'm curious what they'll do.

So, if anyone can report whether decorations are still up anywhere, or if they have already disappeared from somewhere, it is very helpful for future reference.

Also, I'm assuming Christmas music has already stopped playing throughout WDW??

Decorations were still up yesterday in most areas but the gingerbread house at Grand Floridian was being torn down on Jan 2.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Was going to take one Epcot day to eat at the festival booths for lunch, dinner and snacks but the only thing (besides the desserts) I see that my family will eat is the grilled cheese. Guess only I’ll be eating at the festival booths lol. Our first Epcot festival day will be Monday the 20th, hopefully opening crowds have died down a bit by then. Part of me wants to drop into Epcot on the first FARTS day though just to see some of the Disney YouTubers in person lol

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Wishing safe travels to everyone whose vacation starts NEXT WEEK! ​

• January 12 to January 16: lukenick1 (SSR)
• January 13 to January 18: Zhoen (SoG)
• January 14 to January 22: Frank4202 (ASMu)
• January 15 to January 19: UpstateMick (POFQ)
• January 16 to January 18: bobbiwoz (BLT)
• January 16 to January 20: MaidMarian444 (BC)
• January 16 to January 26: kanerf (BWV Boardwalk View, OKW, RIV)
• January 17 to January 26: Tbiafore (AKL Jambo)
• January 18 to January 25: AngieInOH (AoA Lion King)

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Grand Floridian Pool & Pool Bar Closing Next Week for More Than a Month

Walt Disney World has announced that the Courtyard Pool and Courtyard Pool Bar will be closed starting January 13th for more than a month for “routine maintenance on the Courtyard Pool building”. Here’s the announcement and info from Walt Disney World:

The Courtyard Pool, spa, and Courtyard Pool Bar at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa are scheduled to be closed from January 13, 2025, through late February 2025, for routine maintenance on the Courtyard Pool building.

 

[MaidMarian444]

Does anyone know how to modify a lightening lane so it’s later in the day? (Not earlier). Trying to work around a niece’s nap time.

 

[FairyGodmother00]

I have never used the new system but if no one answers here, you can get help on YouTube

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Does anyone know how to modify a lightening lane so it’s later in the day? (Not earlier). Trying to work around a niece’s nap time.

Does this help?

“Yes the MDE app will offer you the next available return time by default but yes you can switch to a later time. You will see little time bubbles and you just pick one for later in the day or evening.”

https://www.disboards.com/threads/p...-world-starting-july-24.3948850/post-65875746

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Looking like it’s going to be cold and rainy on Monday, our After Hours night. Was so looking forward to that night. Cold I can handle but cold rain? Ugh. The rest of the week looks really cold too. This really sucks

 

[MaidMarian444]

Looking like it’s going to be cold and rainy on Monday, our After Hours night. Was so looking forward to that night. Cold I can handle but cold rain? Ugh. The rest of the week looks really cold too. This really sucks

I am sorry Disney Dreamer! Maybe the rain won’t happen, we’re still several days away!

 

[cjlong88]

We leave for the airport tomorrow! In just 16 hours I'll be walking around World Showcase sipping a beer and soaking up the sun in jeans and a sweatshirt. Bring on the long weekend at WDW!

 

[Pyxie]

Currently sitting in Nashville where up to 8 inches of snow is expected today. Fingers crossed they can clear the runways and my flight isn't canceled tomorrow!

 

[Jasper&Bowie]

Currently sitting in Nashville where up to 8 inches of snow is expected today. Fingers crossed they can clear the runways and my flight isn't canceled tomorrow!

Oh no! You can blame my daughter for the snow. Ever since she moved there for college and then permanently after, they have had more snow than I have here in NJ. She has rehearsals starting tomorrow before she goes on the road.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Fuentes del Morro Pool Closing for Brief Refurbishment at Caribbean Beach Resort

According to Walt Disney World, a last-minute closure of the Fuentes del Morro Feature Pool and Aquatic Play Area is scheduled for this month at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Here’s the latest:

Beginning January 13, the Fuentes del Morro Feature Pool and Aquatic Play Area will be closed for routine maintenance and is expected to reopen at the end of January. All other resort pools will be available.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Disney’s BoardWalk Merchandise Locations to Undergo Phased Refurbishment Through May

Walt Disney World has announced that merchandise locations along Disney’s BoardWalk will be refurbished in phases starting this month. The work is expected to last through May, and Disney plans on keeping at least two merchandise locations open to guests at all times throughout the work. Here’s the announcement.

From January 2025 through May 2025, the merchandise locations along Disney’s BoardWalk will be refurbished in phases. Two merchandise locations will remain available for Guests throughout the refurbishment. During this time, Guests may see and hear construction activity in the area.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

‘Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine’ Details Announced for 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Arts

The 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts kicks off January 17th, and in addition to the normal lineup of Instagram-worthy food and drink offerings (full menus), Disney’s specialty Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine has also returned this year. Here are the details!

Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine 2025​

Use your Festival Passport as a guide to look for special menu items. Purchase any 5 of the color stroll items, and be sure to collect a stamp for each.

Once you collect 5 stamps, bring your stamped Festival Passport to Deco Delights (near Port of Entry) to receive a sweet reward. You can complete this stroll at your leisure—but only during EPCOT International Festival of the Arts.

Menu Items & Locations​

Note that there are more menu items than you need to collect. In order to complete the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine, purchase and get stamps for any 5 of the following items:

• Enchanted Rose (Opening Bites in CommuniCore Plaza)
  Milk chocolate rose with raspberry and rose center
• Deconstructed Key Lime Pie (The Deconstructed Dish in World Discovery)
  Flexible key lime curd, “key lime” mousse, graham cracker cake and meringues
• Almond Frangipane Cake (Deco Delights near Port of Entry)
  Layered with raspberry jam and Belgian chocolate
• Avocado-Coconut Custard Tart (Tangierine Cafe in Morocco)
  with pomegranate cream and henna-inspired gelee veil
• Chorizo and Potato Empanada (Vibrante & Vivido between Morocco and France)
  with turmeric aïoli and annatto aïoli
• Citrus-Braised Beet Tartare (Gourmet Landscapes in Canada)
  with golden beet “egg” yolk, mustard vinaigrette, pickled mustard seeds, pickled mushrooms, spiced pistachios and “feta” snow
• Raspberry Pastry Tart (Figment’s Inspiration Station in The Odyssey)
  sugar cookie with raspberry and lemon cream cheese filling

 

[zanzibar138]

Once you collect 5 stamps, bring your stamped Festival Passport to Deco Delights (near Port of Entry) to receive a sweet reward. You can complete this stroll at your leisure—but only during EPCOT International Festival of the Arts.

Does that mean you could spread it out over several days?