**The Official January 2012 WDW Thread**

[readytogotodisney]

Ok, we are newbies as far as January goes only, Ineed to know what to expect. We normally go the week before or wht week of Christmas, but DH got a new job last Dec and won't get his vaction until January 2012 and he wouldn't be able to take off the week we originally wanted to go anyway due to those with senority.

We are planning on January 7 thru 14. What can we expect? We want to do the Deluxe DDP, unless the crowds are still pretty high. We are celebrating our 10th Anniversary (which is actually Dec 8th). But, between DH's job and Military Duty, we are going to wait to celebrate. We plan to stay at Pop, as usual.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Suzanne

January is our top pick as far as time to go to WDW, we've been going in Jan for the past 10 years. Love it!

Weather - it'll be chilly in the mornings and evenings, but just dress in layers. "Most" days will start off in the high 40's low 50's and get up into the 60's or 70's during the day. But once the sun goes down the temp will drop fast. Of course like anywhere else you can have out of season temps, warmer or colder.

Crowds - Minimal. Most rides you can walk on or wait a short time. The biggies (Soarin, Everst etc) will still have a wait, but with FP you'll be on in no time. On our last trip the standby wait for Everest was only 25 min and the FP return time was only an hr later. As opposed to in busy times FP running out on the big rides.

Rides closed for refurbishment - There is always one of the water parks that will be closed. But not a big deal since it only gets in the 70's most days. We'll still swim, but we can devote enough time to make a water park worth it.
We also have never rode the Kali River ride bc it's always down when we're there.

Park hours - The park hours should be posted less then two weeks, hopefully sooner on the TA site, but they're usually Epcot 9am-9pm, AK 9am -5pm, HS 9am-7pm and MK 9am-8pm. But since the lines are so much shorter you really won't have much of a problem getting to ride everything you want to.

HTH!

 

[readytogotodisney]

January park hours are up!!!
http://www.disneytravelagents.com/S.../pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_jan.pdf

 

[tehSAC]

woo hoo! now I can schedule my ADR's!

or at least get an idea on when i want to.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

January is our top pick as far as time to go to WDW, we've been going in Jan for the past 10 years. Love it!

Weather - it'll be chilly in the mornings and evenings, but just dress in layers. "Most" days will start off in the high 40's low 50's and get up into the 60's or 70's during the day. But once the sun goes down the temp will drop fast. Of course like anywhere else you can have out of season temps, warmer or colder.

Crowds - Minimal. Most rides you can walk on or wait a short time. The biggies (Soarin, Everst etc) will still have a wait, but with FP you'll be on in no time. On our last trip the standby wait for Everest was only 25 min and the FP return time was only an hr later. As opposed to in busy times FP running out on the big rides.

Rides closed for refurbishment - There is always one of the water parks that will be closed. But not a big deal since it only gets in the 70's most days. We'll still swim, but we can devote enough time to make a water park worth it.
We also have never rode the Kali River ride bc it's always down when we're there.

Park hours - The park hours should be posted less then two weeks, hopefully sooner on the TA site, but they're usually Epcot 9am-9pm, AK 9am -5pm, HS 9am-7pm and MK 9am-8pm. But since the lines are so much shorter you really won't have much of a problem getting to ride everything you want to.

HTH!

Thank you so much. We have been in Dec the last 6 years, and of course the weather has never been the same twice. I knd of assumed the weather for January would be similar.

I don't ride EE, and may not ride Soarin, but DH can do the single rider line at EE and TOT and be fine, while I do something else. We like late nights and EEMH. Maybe we can sneak in a Cirque de Soleil show, I know DH really wants to see one.

Disney Quest, I see is open late, that may be good for 1 evening and Epcot is open later than the other parks, we can handle that, most of our dinners are at WS.

Thank you for the calendar, I can do some real planning tonight. and I think we will go with the DxDDP, maybe we can even leave home on Jan 6th.

Suzanne

 

[marie1203]

YAY! I am so happy about the parks hours. Time to start the real planning!

 

[bubsmoljo]

I sure hope they add more Fantasmic showings, as well as more MSEP's. I had a tentative schedule based on Jan. '11 and it's going to be thrown off a bit if those two things don't change. I can't make my ADR's until July 25th so they have some time to work this stuff out (I hope)

 

[Piecey]

I sure hope they add more Fantasmic showings, as well as more MSEP's. I had a tentative schedule based on Jan. '11 and it's going to be thrown off a bit if those two things don't change. I can't make my ADR's until July 25th so they have some time to work this stuff out (I hope)

I'm in the same boat. We don't do PH so I try to really put a lot of effort into our ADRs and I'm bummed there will be 1 Fantasmic while we're there! 1/27.

Our ADR day is 7/25, looks like we'll be there at the same time.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

They don't even have Fantasmic one evening we are there, I sure hope they add at least one, but we always miss it anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter.

 

[Piecey]

I've never tried to get to it once I started going with my DH. Fireworks bother him so I'm not sure how he'd respond to the show. I've always figured I'd never plan it but if it worked out so we could go, we'd approach it...

Looks like I don't have to worry about it even coming up for this trip, hah.

 

[CAStevens218]

Could they be doing some kind of rehab of the Fantasmic! amphitheater this January?

Either that or they just haven't decided how often to run it yet...

Here's to hoping for the latter!

 

[bubsmoljo]

My friend that I'm going with in Jan. has gone 3 years in a row in Jan. and they always add shows. She's not worried!

 

[kymmyk13]

add me to january list we are planning on going the 13th - 22nd. It will be me and DD6 who will turn 7 on the 21st. I will be staying with my sister who lives there and just found out today she got my rental car for free, now if southwest would post flights for my dates we will be all set.

 

[CAStevens218]

My friend that I'm going with in Jan. has gone 3 years in a row in Jan. and they always add shows. She's not worried!

Yeah, they definitely added shows for my last two trips, one Dec and one Jan, so I'm sure they will again! Its just weird that that there is such a large gap in the shows but they DO show up again at the end of the month. That's why I wondered if perhaps the show will be closed for rehab?

I love Fantasmic, so I sure do hope they add shows!!

Either way, I love that the calendar is out! I can't wait to sit down to plan park days and ADRs!! If you guys were running the half marathon, which park would you do on that day?? I'm thinking EPCOT because there are only a few attractions that we need to get fastpasses for, so even if we don't get there until 10AM or so we should still be fine. Any thoughts?

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Wahoo! Thank you for posting the hours!

 

[PoohsFan1]

January park hours are up!!!
http://www.disneytravelagents.com/S.../pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_jan.pdf

Thanks for posting these

 

[janabananas]

Going to be going Jan 24 & Jan 25 POFQ with the Dboyfriend for our 2 year anniversary. We have Seasonal AP's and TIW. Cant wait!!

 

[DisneyGirl201017]

Planning a trip for either January 5-11 or 8-14, any advice on what we should do?
How bad are crowd levels for these weeks?
Thanks so much for the help!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Planning a trip for either January 5-11 or 8-14, any advice on what we should do?
How bad are crowd levels for these weeks?
Thanks so much for the help!

Based on prices and what I have been reading here, it will probably still be crowded from the holidays on the 5th-8th and a little less the 8th-14th, that is one reason we picked 7-14. I don't think most schools go back in session until Jan 9th. The marathon is the 5th-7th and then there is some holiday the 13th-15th.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

We are going from Jan 5-12, staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek! So excited, bought our airfare through Direct Air when they were having their family ties sale and paid only $84 per person each way..the only kicker is where we fly into. But that gives us the opportunity to try something new..Kennedy Space Center!! I think the kids and DH will really enjoy this. We have never been in January and I am a little leery of the weather, but it beats shoveling snow in Canada!!!!

 

[DisneyGirl201017]

Based on prices and what I have been reading here, it will probably still be crowded from the holidays on the 5th-8th and a little less the 8th-14th, that is one reason we picked 7-14. I don't think most schools go back in session until Jan 9th. The marathon is the 5th-7th and then there is some holiday the 13th-15th.

Thank you! I think I'll try to get us in the 8th to the 14th. I priced both out this morning and that week is a little cheaper anyway!