Tell me about your experience - late Jan./early Feb. 2018

[StarSeven7]

We're looking to return for a week in Disney World sometime early next year (my annual pass expires on April 20 so it has to be before then!) We've gone 3 times in the past 5 years either the last week of January or first week in February and had great luck with weather and crowds. This year I noticed that many people complained about the crowds that time of year being crazy and much worse than they've ever seen. I've also read a few different blogs that commented on how January and February were much more crowded than usual this year. We went in April this year because my husband had a conference then so we tagged along with him and we had a great time ! Weather was great and the crowds averaged around a 5. So if you were there this year in late January or early February, can you tell me what your experience was like? I'm not expecting low crowds but if I can get an average around 5, I would really prefer that! Thank you!

 

[PavlovPluto]

We were there January 21st through the 27th. We had actually moved the trip from April to January, thinking we would have low crowds - wrong! Half of Brazil was there. It seemed to be a combination of families on their own, and large tour groups. We went back in May, from the 7th to the 11th, and the crowds were much lighter. It felt so nice to walk through the parks and look around at everything, as opposed to January, when I was just trying not to lose my daughter in the crowds.

 

[coasternut22]

We wen Jan 21-31 in 2017 and Feb 2-10 in 2018.

In 2017 the crowds were manageable. We rope dropped everything and was able to ride everything with what you would expect waits. We never experienced long lines for restaurants. Never had wade through masses of humanity. Was able to get fourth and fifth fastpasses no problem. Nighttime, things cleared out nicely. The weather was all over the place. Experience every weather type: 80 degrees, cloudy, 60 degrees, thunderstorms, downpours.

In 2018, it was just plain packed. Our first full park day at AK, Touring Plans said it ended up being a crowd level 10. While there I noticed it immediately. Could barely walk. I could tell because you couldn’t even walk in The Dig or on the Animal Trails. So packed. Other parks were the same. You could tell it was more crowded, not because of wait times, but just more people at restaurants, walking on paths, etc. Weather was actually great except for Super Bowl Sunday in which it poured all afternoon and evening.

 

[StarSeven7]

Thanks for your responses! So would you go again that time of year or no? We need to go by mid-April next year but I’m worried that spring break crowds would be even worse than Jan/Feb crowds.

 

[larissawbb]

Early April may be nicer because Easter will be later in 2019.

 

[OneinThree]

2nd week of January this year was pure mayhem.

 

[Surgie2]

We were there Jan. 27-30. It was way busier than I expected. Saturday, Jan. 27 at MK was really packed. It ended up being level 9 crowds - we were totally unprepared for that as 7 was predicted. We thought if we went after MLK weekend we’d be ok. The other days weren’t quite as bad.

 

[fab1976]

I could have wrote your post! We like late January, early February and went in April this year, with plans for early February next year. The crowds reported this year were so unprecedented, so not what we have encountered in past years. Really hoping it goes back to “normal” next year but know it may not.

 

[focusondisney]

I agree that late January was much more crowded than I anticipated. It was our first time going that week. We stayed at POR. The food court was packed every morning at breakfast. This was "carry your tray of food around & look for a table" crowded. And no matter what time of the morning we were there, it was the same thing. We have stayed at POR resort before in late August & mid September. We've never experienced those kind of crowds there. The parks were pretty busy too.

 

[anomamatt]

Late Jan was super crowded this year. Caught me by surprise.

 

[StarSeven7]

I could have wrote your post! We like late January, early February and went in April this year, with plans for early February next year. The crowds reported this year were so unprecedented, so not what we have encountered in past years. Really hoping it goes back to “normal” next year but know it may not.

So what have you decided to do for 2019?? I'm really stuck trying to decide!! Touring Plans still shows those January/February weeks to be lower crowd levels than March or April next year (even though they've written a few articles about the crowds this year). Do you guys think that's the new normal for that time or year or do you think this just happened to be a strange year?

 

[Biggen]

Late January has been coinciding with several large trade shows in Orlando (e.g. Surf Expo). That coupled with MLK day makes January busier than you would think.

 

[mn51]

We're looking to return for a week in Disney World sometime early next year (my annual pass expires on April 20 so it has to be before then!) We've gone 3 times in the past 5 years either the last week of January or first week in February and had great luck with weather and crowds. This year I noticed that many people complained about the crowds that time of year being crazy and much worse than they've ever seen. I've also read a few different blogs that commented on how January and February were much more crowded than usual this year. We went in April this year because my husband had a conference then so we tagged along with him and we had a great time ! Weather was great and the crowds averaged around a 5. So if you were there this year in late January or early February, can you tell me what your experience was like? I'm not expecting low crowds but if I can get an average around 5, I would really prefer that! Thank you!

We were there during that time and it was much more crowded than the same time period in 2017. The best thing we did was Disney After Hours on January 30th. We got to ride everything we wanted several times without a wait. We will probably go back to our previous visit time of Labor Day. Please note that we still had a great time as we had planned very well but just found it too crowded on many of the days we were there. Happy planning and enjoy your next trip!

 

[SarahC97]

I was there 1/28-2/04 and it was the most crowded we've ever experienced. It was kind of miserable, truthfully, and I was irritated we took the kids put of school for it.

It could have been an anomaly, who knows. I wouldn't go again that time of year for at least a year or two to see if the crowds are trending that way because as someone else mentioned, it seemed to be a lot of Brazilian tourists. If they keep coming that time of year like that, then it's going to be crowded.

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

Interesting, it must be a bit of perspective - but we were there from January 23 to February 1 and I did not think it was overly crowded at all. Thinking back, I cannot recall seeing any Brazillian tour groups. I am not doubting they were there, but they certainly did not impact us.

We always go for 9 days, so I think I don't notice the crowd as much. If we have trouble getting on a ride or doing something, we just go back later.

Just to be clear - I am not disagreeing with anyone - it's just that the crowds did not seem to be an issue for us.

 

[SarahC97]

Interesting, it must be a bit of perspective - but we were there from January 23 to February 1 and I did not think it was overly crowded at all. Thinking back, I cannot recall seeing any Brazillian tour groups. I am not doubting they were there, but they certainly did not impact us.

We always go for 9 days, so I think I don't notice the crowd as much. If we have trouble getting on a ride or doing something, we just go back later.

Just to be clear - I am not disagreeing with anyone - it's just that the crowds did not seem to be an issue for us.

It is funny how differently people see things! I wonder if I just choose really poorly with what parks I went to. Truth be told, I didn't follow any of the crowd calendar suggestions for which parks to do which day because I thought crowds wouldn't be an issue and I didn't bother with park hoppers either.

 

[StarSeven7]

Interesting to get different perspectives! Have you been during more or less crowded times of year that you're comparing it to? I wonder if that makes a difference in how crowded it feels!

 

[GiJohnsGirl]

The races/presidents day tend to make it more crowded that time of year. I like April (far away from easter/before spring break) or even early June/late May before school is out at the tail end of f&g.

 

[momto4obkids]

We went Thanksgiving Day to December 1, 2017 and then I decided to take a quick trip January 26th to 30th and was shocked at the crowds. We felt it was more busy than our Thanksgiving trips!

 

[fab1976]

So what have you decided to do for 2019?? I'm really stuck trying to decide!! Touring Plans still shows those January/February weeks to be lower crowd levels than March or April next year (even though they've written a few articles about the crowds this year). Do you guys think that's the new normal for that time or year or do you think this just happened to be a strange year?

We have our first DVC trip booked so we are sticking with it! To go a different time may cost us more points wise and I’m not willing to do that. Hopefully it won’t be horrible, but if it is we will just approach it with a “get what we get done and not stress it” attitude. We know we will be back again!