**The Official January 2012 WDW Thread**

[tree320]

Well, I think my trip is doomed now. I have our first night room only booked and paid for, I have the perfect package and all of my dining reservations booked, and Dh's car decided to crap out beyond repair. I am going to hold onto everything until the last minute and hope for a miracle.

I hope some pixie dust fall your way.

 

[ArmyWife7]

I hope you don't mind if I join. We have reservations for Jan. 14-21 at Shades of Green; however, I'm willing to change hotels if a great deal comes along.

We chose Jan for two reasons. First, our last trip was in Jan. 2006 and it was perfect as far as weather and crowds so I'm hoping for the same this trip. Second, DH will return from Afghanistan in Dec.

This will be the first trip for our daughters, who are 4 and 2 years old. I can't wait to see everything through their eyes! The 4-year old is really into the princesses.

I'm getting so nervous about making my ADR on Tuesday. I hope we get everything we want and I'm making the right choices.

 

[okw19]

I hope you don't mind if I join. We have reservations for Jan. 14-21 at Shades of Green; however, I'm willing to change hotels if a great deal comes along.

We chose Jan for two reasons. First, our last trip was in Jan. 2006 and it was perfect as far as weather and crowds so I'm hoping for the same this trip. Second, DH will return from Afghanistan in Dec.

This will be the first trip for our daughters, who are 4 and 2 years old. I can't wait to see everything through their eyes! The 4-year old is really into the princesses.

I'm getting so nervous about making my ADR on Tuesday. I hope we get everything we want and I'm making the right choices.

Yay!
January is my favorite time to visit, and congrats on hubby coming home! That is so awesome that he's serving us.
Your daughters are going to have so much fun, and I've heard that Shades of Green is really pretty. You'll have to take lots of pics for curious folks like me who won't be able to experience that Disney resort. Good luck with your ADRs, there are tons of reviews on the board that I've been checking out to help me with my ADR decisions.

 

[ArmyWife7]

I just read that I booked my trip during the MLK holiday. Now I'm extremely nervous about crowds and wondering if I should reschedule for the week prior. I never even considered a 3-day weekend in Jan. Has anyone visited during this timeframe? I don't think I can push our trip back a week because DH wanted to return to his regular job that week.

OKW19 - I've heard mixed reviews about SOG. One thing I heard today is that the bus service isn't great at SOG. The buses run only once per hour. I'm definitely open to other possibilities if the price is right.

 

[readytogotodisney]

I just read that I booked my trip during the MLK holiday. Now I'm extremely nervous about crowds and wondering if I should reschedule for the week prior. I never even considered a 3-day weekend in Jan. Has anyone visited during this timeframe? I don't think I can push our trip back a week because DH wanted to return to his regular job that week.

We always go the weekend of MLK, and while it is busier on the weekends bc of the holiday, it's is NOTHING compared to the really busy season. Majority of rides will be a min wait time, 20 min or less, bu of course there are still the biggies that you will be waiting for an hr+, but nothing a FP won't cure.

But if you get to go to the park on the Friday or the Monday you will notice a difference in crowd level.

 

[readytogotodisney]

Made our ADR's today ! We got everything we wanted at the times we wanted , not a problem at all! We've got CP, Liberty Tree, Via Napoli, and Cape May all lined up.
Very excited and now I just have to sit back and wait for January to roll around....

 

[ccjohnson23]

We will be going 1/7-14. There are 12 in our party now and hoping to add more. Staying at BLT.

 

[okw19]

Made our ADR's today ! We got everything we wanted at the times we wanted , not a problem at all! We've got CP, Liberty Tree, Via Napoli, and Cape May all lined up.
Very excited and now I just have to sit back and wait for January to roll around....

Sounds good! Glad you got the ones you wanted.

We will be going 1/7-14. There are 12 in our party now and hoping to add more. Staying at BLT.

Wow, 12+?! That makes me tired just reading it. I hope to get BLT for our 2013 trip. It's so pretty!!

 

[WickedDreamer]

I am going in my first over seas holiday in January and to the world from the 24th to the 10th of February

 

[readytogotodisney]

We will be going 1/7-14. There are 12 in our party now and hoping to add more. Staying at BLT.

Our last trip we had 13 people and stayed at BLT. Are you getting a grandvilla or does each family have their own villa? We had to do (2) 2 bedrooms, but the grandvillas look amazing!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I just read that I booked my trip during the MLK holiday. Now I'm extremely nervous about crowds and wondering if I should reschedule for the week prior. I never even considered a 3-day weekend in Jan. Has anyone visited during this timeframe? I don't think I can push our trip back a week because DH wanted to return to his regular job that week.

OKW19 - I've heard mixed reviews about SOG. One thing I heard today is that the bus service isn't great at SOG. The buses run only once per hour. I'm definitely open to other possibilities if the price is right.

We just stayed for the first time at SoG in April and what you heard about the buses is true, the services sucks. We mostly walked to the Poly and used their transportation. I never did even find out where at DTD the SoG bus picked up.

We were going to stay at SoG in January, but got a great military rate at Pop and I can't say anything but good things about staying there, especially with children. Have you checked the military rates at the Disney resorts?

Thanks everyone for the good wishes, I hope we can work something out so we can get DH a new to him vehicle and still take our trip. He is in California for the next 3 weeks with the Army, so I don' thave to really worry until he gets back. If we didn't work opposite shifts, we would have no problem, but we do. I am hoping to rearrange my hours enough to be able to manage for awhile anyway.

It seems like everytime we plan something special (this is for our 10th Anniversary), something bad happens.

 

[Marshay]

I just read that I booked my trip during the MLK holiday. Now I'm extremely nervous about crowds and wondering if I should reschedule for the week prior. I never even considered a 3-day weekend in Jan. Has anyone visited during this timeframe? I don't think I can push our trip back a week because DH wanted to return to his regular job that week.

My philosophy was to pick a week in January to AVOID the crowds, so I stayed away from Jan 1st, MLK, and marathon weekends, since they will attact more people.

We just did July 2010 with average days of 8-10 crowds and May 2011 with average days of 3-6...I must admit I'm looking forwards to some Jan 2012 days with 2-4's. In fact one of my days is listed as a 1!! Woo Hoo!!

Made our ADR's today ! We got everything we wanted at the times we wanted , not a problem at all! We've got CP, Liberty Tree, Via Napoli, and Cape May all lined up.
Very excited and now I just have to sit back and wait for January to roll around....

Wonderful!! I'm hoping to find the same results for me, too!

 

[ArmyWife7]

Thanks for all the advice about MLK weekend. I think we have decided to stick it out, even though I might regret it later. When we went in Jan '06, some rides had absolutely no lines and the CM asked if we wanted to ride again without getting off the ride. I was hoping for the same experience this trip; but I doubt that will be the case. I just hope it won't be too bad. I'm nervous as it is with my 2 toddlers.

Congrats to all of you who have made your ADRs and received what you wanted. I start the process tomorrow and I haven't yet revised my schedule to accommodate the MLK holiday. I'm fairly certain we should avoid MK Sunday and Monday. Any other advice? I wonder if Sea World will be less crowded on the weekend. We were planning a day there since military get in free.

 

[readytogotodisney]

Thanks for all the advice about MLK weekend. I think we have decided to stick it out, even though I might regret it later. When we went in Jan '06, some rides had absolutely no lines and the CM asked if we wanted to ride again without getting off the ride. I was hoping for the same experience this trip; but I doubt that will be the case. I just hope it won't be too bad. I'm nervous as it is with my 2 toddlers.

Congrats to all of you who have made your ADRs and received what you wanted. I start the process tomorrow and I haven't yet revised my schedule to accommodate the MLK holiday. I'm fairly certain we should avoid MK Sunday and Monday. Any other advice? I wonder if Sea World will be less crowded on the weekend. We were planning a day there since military get in free.

I understand your worrying with going with toddlers and crowds. We went last MLK weekend with my 13 month old and this trip he'll be 25 months.

I like to go with the free crowd predictor, and for MLK weekend it shows this.
Friday - Recommended parks: MK and HS. Avoid: Epcot and AK
Saturday - Recommended parks: Epcot, and AK, Avoid: MK and HS
Sunday - Recommended parks: Epcot, AK, and HS, Avoid: MK
Monday - Recommended parks:Epcot Avoid: MK, AK, and HS
Tuesday - Recommended parks: HS, AK, and MK Avoid: Epcot

so given that, this is our plan for the weekend

Friday - we arrive too late to go to any parks.
Saturday - MK in the morning, and DTD in the evening
Sunday - HS in the morning and Epcot in the evening
Monday - Epcot in the morning and MK in the evening
Tuesday - AK in the morning and MK in the evening

We also always take a mid day break and head back to the hotel for a little bit. Usually around 1 or so and head back into the parks around 4.

 

[BethR9]

Where is the free crowd predictor located?

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

I think they are using easywdw.com

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Random question...
anyone with January experience remember when they posted the big refurb schedules? I keep hearing rumors that BTMRR will be down for an extended refurb. I can only hope that they wait until the second week of January so my DD 7 can get a chance to ride it a couple of times on our first MK day. It's her fave and we are so proud of her since she is the most timid thing when it comes to rides! We make sure she gets at least two rides per MK day when we are there now!
Thanks to anyone who can help with this...if necessary we may have to do 2 MK days back to back to make sure she gets her "fix"!

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Hope? I noticed that the travel agents calendar was updated on july 15th and STILL shows Fantasmic showing on Friday the 27th-rest of the month

http://media.disneywebcontent.com/S.../pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_Jan.pdf

 

[readytogotodisney]

I think they are using easywdw.com

Yup, sorry should have mentioned that!

 

[marie1203]

Random question...
anyone with January experience remember when they posted the big refurb schedules? I keep hearing rumors that BTMRR will be down for an extended refurb. I can only hope that they wait until the second week of January so my DD 7 can get a chance to ride it a couple of times on our first MK day. It's her fave and we are so proud of her since she is the most timid thing when it comes to rides! We make sure she gets at least two rides per MK day when we are there now!
Thanks to anyone who can help with this...if necessary we may have to do 2 MK days back to back to make sure she gets her "fix"!

I been looking into because I heard the same rumor but nothing official yet . I move our trip up to the 2nd just to try to fit everything in, it is my sister first trip I would hate it if ti was closed. The only thing I seen posted in them is the Fantasmic being closed.
http://allears.net/tp/rehabs.htm#jan
http://www.wdwmagic.com/news.htm