Tell me about WDW in January

[Susiesnowflake]

My daughter is on college break until mid January, and I was thinking about a quick mother-daughter trip to WDW. Have never been during that time of year. For those that have been during early Jan, what is it like?

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

It's a great time to go. Crowds are pretty light. Cooler weather (sometimes a bit too cool). You need to dress for all kinds of weather from coats to shorts. We love the low crowds and it is still much warmer than Kansas in January. There seem to be a lot of South American people (especially Brazillians) there on their "summer" break.

A great trip no matter when it is, but January is a wonderful time to go! (Maybe I shouldn't tell people that) : )

 

[MagicKingdom05]

KarlaG4Kids,

Yes please keep that quiet

 

[bbogz]

My DD and DGD were there 2 years ago in January. It was wonderful. So much so that 8 of us will be going back mid January, 2006. Small crowds, comfy weather. We did not do any swimming though. My new favorite time to go. Parks close early, but Epcot countries are open till nine, so it's nice to go to parks during day, then try one of the countries for dinner. We stayed at AKL, but this time will be at Beach Club so we will be able to walk to Epcot. Go--you'll love it.

 

[GoofItUp]

We are going over the MLK holiday weekend. Do the crowds pick up any on that weekend or the days around it?

 

[bbogz]

That's when we will be there.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

My understanding is that the crowds are a little more on MLK weekend & holiday. I will be there on the Saturday prior to MLK day of this year so I guess I will find out for myself. I'm sure even on the busiest day of January it is nothing like the crowds in the summer. There are a few conventions going on at that time of year also. But hey....any day at WDW is better than the best day at work!

 

[iliketoby]

I think I remember reading in the UG that crowds pick up a bit on MLK. I'll be there for 10 glorious days in January. And I WILL be swimming. I have never swum (swam?) outdoors in January. Can't wait!

But in the cold months you have to pack for summer and coolor stuff. Or maybe I'll "forget" my Mickey sweatshirt and buy another!

 

[aubriee]

We were there Jan 9th-15th last year and crowds weren't bad at all. There were alot of rude Brazillian tour groups however, that were always loud and cutting lines. They wouldn't prevent me from going back however. In fact, I'll be there Jan 2nd-8th with my GD and can't wait. The weather when we were there wasn't bad at all. In fact, I had packed almost all jeans and sweats with only two pair of shorts. Those two pair of shorts got washed out everynight. It didn't get cool until the last two days when we wore fleece pullovers and jeans. I understand it got very cold the very next week however.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Darn, I was hoping the rude Brazilians had stopped coming in January. I have had the same experiences 3 different years when I have been there in January. But like you, it won't stop me from visiting WDW at this wonderful time of year. Maybe we can gang up on the rude Brazilians and push them back to their own places in line.

 

[Blondie]

So far, January and February are my favorite times to go!

Little to no crowds and it's usually nice and warm during the day, sweatshirt and long pants during the evening.

There was only one time that it got extremely cold! We had to put the heater on in our room at the Wilderness Lodge! The news was all about the fear of orange crops freezing. It went down to 28 degrees one night!

Even so, it's still my favorite time to go!

The only "tour groups" we encountered during January or February was a group of senior citizens from the UK and you couldn't find a nicer group of people!

 

[momto2]

We will be going Jan 2-7. Are there any holiday light leftovers to enjoy? Do they still have any extra magic hours during this time?
Thanks

 

[Stitch1404]

We are going January 3-8 and I am wondering about crowd levels as well. Are there going to be people leftover from Christmas/New Year's? We went a little before this time a few years ago, and if I remember correctly, they were taking the decorations down the day we were leaving. We were leaving the hotel at 4am (early flight!) and there were TONS of CM in the lobby of the Beach Club taking down decorations. They said they had been working all night and they take them down overnight so no one sees. You just wake up in the morning and Christmas is gone from Disney! I think that was around January 4th or 5th.

 

[jlbower79]

I'm also going at the end of January.. I was wondering if packing just jeans for my trip is ok? I was thinking of just jeans a long shirt tshirt, then a sweater over top for the mornings and evenings... I would be able to wear shorts and then go home in weather down in the 30's at night. I was just wondering what others would pack... I do have shorts but does it get that hot that I would actually sweat if I wore my jeans? I live in the DEEP DEEP south (mississippi) and yes, I HATE to sweat. I think they should just put a big AC bubble around my state and never turn it off!

Jaime

 

[Blondie]

Jaime, it wouldn't hurt to pack a few pair of shorts, just in case.

January in Orlando can be very fickle!

 

[princess mom of 4]

I've been wondering too when they take all the Christmas stuff down...
Our next trip will either be in early December or just after Christmas/New years week....

 

[bbogz]

When we went two years ago, I took capris and shorts and one pair of slacks. We only had one day (at the Animal Kingdom) when it got really cool and we ended up buying sweat shirts. (It was a good excuse to buy them!)

 

[hollali]

We were there in January last year--over MLK holiday. It was cool but not cold a couple of days. I would suggest gloves and 180's (earmuffs) for the fireworks, it was very chilly around the lake at Epcot. I only packed one pair of shorts and wished for more...it was 70's in the day a couple of days. We love it so much we're going back again this year.