**The Official January 2012 WDW Thread**

[ladyfoundhertramp]

We will be there from 1/22-1/28 and on 1/22 we will be in MK. At first it was scheduled to close at 11pm (even with EMH), however I decided to check them one day about a week or so ago and noticed that that day they changed the hours, so now the park is closing at midnight (still evening EMH) . This is our arrival night so we were really happy to see that change. I too am wondering if there will be any changes for January. Just keep looking at the calendars I suppose.

YAY!! We will be there from 1/21-1/27 and have an ADR the 22nd at MK. Glad the EMH were extended thanks to the park hours changing!! Now lets hope DD3 takes a REALLY good afternoon nap so we can stay that late. LOL

 

[jandkmom]

So excited! We just changed our reservations for May to January 21th-28th. It ended up saving us over $2000 This will be our first time going in January. What's the weather and crowds like? I'm from Maine so I'm used to it being cold. We have a rule that when we are in Florida we have to wear shorts everyday (except for nights when we stay late)

We go every year around the same time as your trip and the crowds have always been awesome. It's one of the quietest times in WDW with the exception of some Brazilian tour groups at times. The weather can be unpredictable but usually on the cooler side for Fla, although its pretty balmy compared to Maine Layers are key, especially for the early mornings and evenings.

 

[Marshay]

YAY!! We will be there from 1/21-1/27 and have an ADR the 22nd at MK. Glad the EMH were extended thanks to the park hours changing!! Now lets hope DD3 takes a REALLY good afternoon nap so we can stay that late. LOL

hmmm, I was just thinking the same thing about my DDnearly3 and DD6...I'd love to do it if the weather was warmer that night. I doubt most people will stay up that late and January EMH-PM can't be anything like another month EMH-PM.

I think we're working on:

- Option 1 if nights/mornings are really cold then just sleep in a bit, stay in the park and let DD2 nap in stroller, then leave 3-6pm each day

or

- Option 2 if the nights are manageable (for us -- I don't do well in cold), then we'll do our typical RD - lunch- nap at resort - back to park in the evening.

 

[PamelaASmith]

We're arriving Jan 3 for our first ever trip in winter. I noticed we'll be able to catch some holiday happenings, which is a huge bonus! Jan 3 appears to be the last night for Cinderella's Holiday Wish and the Dream Lights on the castle, so we'll catch that just in time. Osborne festival of lights goes through the 7th, so we're good there. How long do the decorations in the resorts stay up? How about Santa Goofy at AK? I read where that lasts into Jan, so we'll be able to see that. Have any of you been to that? Are the some other holiday things we'll be able to see?

I am so happy we're going back to Disney! . Our school break goes until Jan 10, so we're able to go at a time we normally can't go. The crowds should be down, airfares were low, we got 35% off our room at OKW, and DH can run the half marathon.

 

[Kazooie01]

So excited! We just changed our reservations for May to January 21th-28th. It ended up saving us over $2000 This will be our first time going in January. What's the weather and crowds like? I'm from Maine so I'm used to it being cold. We have a rule that when we are in Florida we have to wear shorts everyday (except for nights when we stay late)

This is our sixth January in a row and since 2007 I've worn shorts every single day I've been there (we're from Upstate New York and I might be a little warm blooded anyway ). And I love your rule! I will not wear pants at WDW (but I was awful close one day in 2009 or 2010 when the high was only in the 40's/low 50's and raining ). We'll be there the 21st-29th, and the crowds are GREAT this time of year. You'll have a blast!

 

[jesse0418]

This is our sixth January in a row and since 2007 I've worn shorts every single day I've been there (we're from Upstate New York and I might be a little warm blooded anyway ). And I love your rule! I will not wear pants at WDW (but I was awful close one day in 2009 or 2010 when the high was only in the 40's/low 50's and raining ). We'll be there the 21st-29th, and the crowds are GREAT this time of year. You'll have a blast!

Sounds great! I am so excited about this trip! Plus to be able to say I'm going to Disney NEXT month is even better!! I've already got my luggage out and am ready to start packing. As for the whole being a little chilly thing...I'm not the type of person to complain if it gets a little chilly at night and stuff. I mean come on, we'll be in Disney! No complaining allowed

 

[keypooh90]

We are so excited to be heading down for our first January trip as well. We have have made many December trips, so we are thinking the weather should probably be comparable.

 

[Marshay]

Sounds great! I am so excited about this trip! Plus to be able to say I'm going to Disney NEXT month is even better!! I've already got my luggage out and am ready to start packing. As for the whole being a little chilly thing...I'm not the type of person to complain if it gets a little chilly at night and stuff. I mean come on, we'll be in Disney! No complaining allowed

Oh, I'm not complaining ... I just don't want to get sick. My body tends not to like the cold and when I'm outside in the cold, esp at night, I wake up the next day with sniffling, sneezing, aching, coughing ...now that's not fun, ESP if you are at Disney!

 

[okw19]

We will be there from 1/22-1/28 and on 1/22 we will be in MK. At first it was scheduled to close at 11pm (even with EMH), however I decided to check them one day about a week or so ago and noticed that that day they changed the hours, so now the park is closing at midnight (still evening EMH) . This is our arrival night so we were really happy to see that change. I too am wondering if there will be any changes for January. Just keep looking at the calendars I suppose.

Yay! That's awesome news.

Oh, I'm not complaining ... I just don't want to get sick. My body tends not to like the cold and when I'm outside in the cold, esp at night, I wake up the next day with sniffling, sneezing, aching, coughing ...now that's not fun, ESP if you are at Disney!

Me either. I'm worried about DD too.

 

[carebee21]

This is our sixth January in a row and since 2007 I've worn shorts every single day I've been there (we're from Upstate New York and I might be a little warm blooded anyway ). And I love your rule! I will not wear pants at WDW (but I was awful close one day in 2009 or 2010 when the high was only in the 40's/low 50's and raining ). We'll be there the 21st-29th, and the crowds are GREAT this time of year. You'll have a blast!

It's funny how it feels so different to so many people, especially based on where they live. There's no way I'd be in shorts in the 50's or 60's. That's bundle up in my jacket with a scarf and gloves on weather. But we're in Las Vegas, so we don't get the freezing temperatures and snow or any of that, so my basis of cold is based on the weather here

We're down to exactly one month. One month from right now I will be running around the house like a crazy person making sure everything is done and we'll leave for the airport in 1 hour. So excited and I can't believe it's flying by so fast!!!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

It's funny how it feels so different to so many people, especially based on where they live. There's no way I'd be in shorts in the 50's or 60's. That's bundle up in my jacket with a scarf and gloves on weather. But we're in Las Vegas, so we don't get the freezing temperatures and snow or any of that, so my basis of cold is based on the weather here

We're down to exactly one month. One month from right now I will be running around the house like a crazy person making sure everything is done and we'll leave for the airport in 1 hour. So excited and I can't believe it's flying by so fast!!!

Well, now I wouldn't be in shorts with temps in the 50's and 60's, but I might be wearing a jacket in the early morning and evenings. It was 60 here on saturday during the day and I was wearing jeans and a long sleeve shirt and flip flops, Once you get to the lover 50's, I do need a jacket and real shoes.

But, the wind off Bay Lake and Cresent Lake can cut like a knife at night, so I might be bundled up then.

I have a local, Disboard friend that is headed down to WDW on Friday afternoon, I am so jealous. This will be the first time in 5 years I haven't been in December, hope at least a few decorations are still up when we get there.

 

[princess&her4princes]

33 more days, can't wait!! Our first January trip, ASMu family suites, 1/15-21st!

 

[jesse0418]

Just booked our reservations for the dessert party at MK. So excited to try this! Has anyone done this before? Is it worth it?

 

[BiltmoreConcierge]

I will be staying at ASMu with QSD from Jan 28th to Feb 3rd.

I am looking for somebody to share dinner with at Citrico's or Yatchsman.

 

[ladyfoundhertramp]

Sigh..mid-late January refurbs keep growing!!

I know we should expect refurbs in January, but this coming year seems a bit much..Here's the latest update

Epcot
Tutto Italia- closed 1/8/2012-4/1/2012
Innoventions: House of Innoventions exhibit- closed 12/4/2011- 5/2012

Magic Kingdom (everyone's favorite park just seems to be a mess in January!)

Fantasyland Construction- Construction wall photos work continues until 2012.
Dumbo- closed 1/9/2012-2/17/2012
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad- closed 1/9/2012-5/27/2012
Liberty Square Riverboat- closed 1/28/2012- 2/3/2012
Plaza Ice Cream Parlor- closed 1/4/2012-3/27/2012
Main Street Electrical Parade- not performed 1/20/2012-2/10/2012 this really bums me out!!

Recent Permanently Closed Attractions:
Fantasyland Skyway Site- has been demolished.
Pooh's Playful Spot
Ariel's Grotto
Scuttle's Landing
Exposition Hall- Walt Disney Story Theatre
Storytime with Belle
Magic Kingdom Pet Kennel
Mickey's Toontown Fair

Animal Kingdom

Kali River Rapids- closed 1/23/2012-2/9/2012

Disney Hollywood Studios

Fantasmic- not being performed 1/9/2012 -2/12/2012. (still wont be able to see this!) have tried 2 other trips and once it was closed and the other trip it was cancelled due to a tornado warning in January--that was the strangest night of weather
.

 

[BiltmoreConcierge]

Oh! I am so sad the Main St. Electrical Parade is being refurbed when I am visiting WDW. It is the highlight of my MK memories. Oh well. At least I don't have to revolve my MYW tickets around the day of the Parade.

 

[keypooh90]

I'm so bummed about BTMRR and the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor. I'm headed down for my CP and BTMRR is down for pretty much my entire program, stinks.

 

[okw19]

That's so sad about the MSEP.

 

[readytogotodisney]

Oh! I am so sad the Main St. Electrical Parade is being refurbed when I am visiting WDW. .

Sorry it'll be shut down while you're there, but you had me worried there for a second! It'll still be going while we're there and that is the one thing that my sister is looking forward to the most! We missed it last year so she'd be so mad if she didn't get to see it this year too!

 

[JD698]

Sigh..mid-late January refurbs keep growing!!

I know we should expect refurbs in January, but this coming year seems a bit much..Here's the latest update

Magic Kingdom (everyone's favorite park just seems to be a mess in January!)

Fantasyland Construction- Construction wall photos work continues until 2012.
Dumbo- closed 1/9/2012-2/17/2012 Since this is our first trip i'm bummed about this.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad- closed 1/9/2012-5/27/2012 Also bummed about this - one of my sons would have LOVED it.
Main Street Electrical Parade- not performed 1/20/2012-2/10/2012 this really bums me out!! This one bums me the most because I've been looking forward to it.

Disney Hollywood Studios

Fantasmic- not being performed 1/9/2012 -2/12/2012. (still wont be able to see this!) have tried 2 other trips and once it was closed and the other trip it was cancelled due to a tornado warning in January--that was the strangest night of weather Not sure whether I would have seen this but - guess it doesn't matter this trip oh well.
.

I'm hoping that the other perks to coming at this time of year will outweigh the effect of these refurbs/closings. Also hoping that none of the POFQ/POR pools end up being refurbed when I'm there too. Maybe there will be no more refurbs . . . "Fingers crossed"