**The Official January 2012 WDW Thread**

[tehSAC]

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.

awe man I hope not. the 2nd - 7th is the only time we can go.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

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!

I know that is one of the reasons I waited a few more days, besides that first week is a heavy time at DH's job and they really need him, especially since he will be gone with his reserve Unit next month for 2 1/2 weeks. And they are being so nice to approve him now, so I can make plans. You take some, you give some.

awe man I hope not. the 2nd - 7th is the only time we can go.

It's really only theory, but I have been on these boards long enough to almost bet money on it. It won't be as crowded as say the week before that. We have been going Christmas wek for the last 2 years and I can bet it won't be as bad and that either and we haven't had that bad of an experience then either.

I would have chosen that week, but DH job needs him as I posted above, so I agreed to the week we are now going. Besides, we saved a little bit more money and can now do the Deluxe Dining Plan.


Ok, so I have been working on my dining plans (DxDDP), and I, for once, am having a hard time. We are going to end up at Epcot almost every night, not that it is a problem. Maybe I am making a mountain out of a molehill, but we have never used the DxDDP before. We don't schedule park days per say, except that I love Evening EMH and don't like to miss those.

We are having a character or TS breakfast every morning, except the first one, because we will arrive late the evening before and have decided to slep in and start with lunch at The Plaza and Hoope De Doo that evening. And, then we have a TS dinner every evening, a couple of Signature. I only have 3 meal credits left over for CS meals, so I guess that's not bad. We have never had this many ADR's and it isn't that I am worrying that we will miss riding something, we go often enough that I want to mix it up a bit. Do I sound crazy? Tell me it will work out just fine. I don't want to feel like we are running from one meal to the next.

Suzanne

 

[Hockeychic]

We are booked at POP Jan 4 - 14th we go this time every year for marathon weekend.

Can't wait!!!

 

[tehSAC]

We are booked at POP Jan 4 - 14th we go this time every year for marathon weekend.

Can't wait!!!

What do you expect crowds are going to be like? This is the first time I've been to wdw during Jan.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

What do you expect crowds are going to be like? This is the first time I've been to wdw during Jan.

A PP said the that the crowds should be higher than in the past..this year it was! Because of the extra week after NYE that a lot of the kids had off and I believe the school schedules follow a similar path in 2012. That's one of the reasons we are going that week..and I know we won't be the only ones taking advantage of that week. DH and I can't get xmas off from work, but we can get the week after and this way the girls will only be missing a couple of days the next week.

 

[tehSAC]

Well that bums me out.

As long as it isn't crowded like it is during Christmas week, I think we could live with it.

 

[DrMomof3]

We're going January 5-9 and staying at the Grand Floridian. It's a huge splurge because DH is running his first half-marathon on 1/7 and I'm running my first marathon on 1/8. I'm super excited!!!

We were there for marathon weekend this year (2011) and I didn't think the crowds were bad. We arrived on Thurs and left Monday night. I ran the half marathon on Saturday and we went to MK after the race. We got there in the late morning and had a noon ADR at Crystal Palace. After lunch the park seemed pretty crowded to us but we're usually Rope Drop people who leave in the early afternoon. I didn't notice bad crowds any other time during the weekend.

Amanda

 

[tehSAC]

well all my worrying has been for nothing. My wife and I decided this evening that we should push our trip to May of 2012 after she is finished with classes. Looks like this is the right idea for us, it will be much warmer, and my wife will enjoy it more.

i feel like a tool now.

 

[marie1203]

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!

We are planing on going the 4th-11th. I checked the crowd calendar and according to the week we are there the busiest day is a 5 out of 10. It actually seem it gets busier closer to MLK day close to the 14th.

 

[LaLaDisney]

No turning back now! Got reservation confirmations already...I'm hoping that crowd levels are lower, but we are going this year (as opposed to summer) because school returns later in Jan. 2012 and as a bonus, we're going to take a cruise. I can't wait!

 

[Mickeyfan333]

Booked entire package! Dates are the same, 1/14-1/21, but staying at Pop instead of AS Sports. 203 days to go!!

 

[mousescrapper]

hey Jan planners official OP hours are out on the TA site...

http://www.disneytravelagents.com/S.../pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_jan.pdf


bummer though is F! will be dark for most of the month I believe for refurbs.... huge bummer for us...we skipped it in Nov last yr due to timing and my kids really wanted to see it this trip...I had started a prelim plan w/ the kids (they are doing the planning ) based on predictions and last yr Jan hours...so now we are changing our plans around....

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

hey Jan planners official OP hours are out on the TA site...

http://www.disneytravelagents.com/S.../pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_jan.pdf


bummer though is F! will be dark for most of the month I believe for refurbs.... huge bummer for us...we skipped it in Nov last yr due to timing and my kids really wanted to see it this trip...I had started a prelim plan w/ the kids (they are doing the planning ) based on predictions and last yr Jan hours...so now we are changing our plans around....

Somebody posted this earlier in the week, and I have been trying to work on our ADR's. We don't really plan our park days, because we love to hop, but we are doing the Deluxe DDP this time and I needed to maximize use of it. I am finding that very difficult.

Fantasmic seems to be dark every night of our trip, guess that is a sing I don't need to see it again. We have only seen it once and that was in Dec 2006, we have never been able to make it to see it again.

Suzanne

 

[MaggieMollyMom]

Hi! We became DVC members even before our first trip! Some friends had become members and sounded like a good idea...and it was! I have always been a fan as a child and the last time I went was age 16. I am 38 now, married 9 yrs and have twin girls (3 yrs).
We are planning a trip from Jan 1st - 8th (the 4 of us and my mother in law). MIL has NEVER been! I am so excited to see her face! I am working on all our ADRs and want to try and avoid Extra Magic Hours. I believe the parks are busiest on those days. Since the girls are little, the extra time really isn;t needed yet. They get tired still. Can anyone tell me if this week s still as busy as the week before Christmas? (when we went last year).

Hope to post my ADRs and plans soon!!!

 

[readytogotodisney]

Hi! We became DVC members even before our first trip! Some friends had become members and sounded like a good idea...and it was! I have always been a fan as a child and the last time I went was age 16. I am 38 now, married 9 yrs and have twin girls (3 yrs).
We are planning a trip from Jan 1st - 8th (the 4 of us and my mother in law). MIL has NEVER been! I am so excited to see her face! I am working on all our ADRs and want to try and avoid Extra Magic Hours. I believe the parks are busiest on those days. Since the girls are little, the extra time really isn;t needed yet. They get tired still. Can anyone tell me if this week s still as busy as the week before Christmas? (when we went last year).

Hope to post my ADRs and plans soon!!!

How exciting to take you MIL for her first visit! I love seeing others reactions!
I haven't been the week before Christmas or the first week of Jan, but I've heard the weeks leading up to Christmas are just wall to wall people! That is not for me.

Have you looked at the crowd calenders yet? I always go for the free ones, and they don't quite have January out yet, but they might calm your fears.
Jan 2011
Dec 2011

 

[Marshay]

Hey, guys!

I just read the entire thread -- saw people coming and going for January...saw park hours posted and need to check these out. Will pack for cool weather in mornings and evenings and short-sleeves (w/long sleeve layers) during day. Also bring coats, hats, gloves, etc if predicted. This time I won't pack 3 weeks ahead of time. We'll really need to wait to see the weather forecast.

My DD will be sad if/when Kali River Rapids closes (she just went on for her first time in May).

Anyway, we are leaving VA on Jan 19 via the Autotrain (arrive WDW Jan 20th) until Jan 28th via Autotrain. We were hoping to stay at BLT on points but can't get all our days. Still deciding whether to wait-list or just choose another resort. Leaning towards OKW since we haven't done that one before and it's a lot less points.

My crew is Me, DH, DD6 and DD2.

 

[MaggieMollyMom]

Hey, guys!

I just read the entire thread -- saw people coming and going for January...saw park hours posted and need to check these out. Will pack for cool weather in mornings and evenings and short-sleeves (w/long sleeve layers) during day. Also bring coats, hats, gloves, etc if predicted. This time I won't pack 3 weeks ahead of time. We'll really need to wait to see the weather forecast.

My DD will be sad if/when Kali River Rapids closes (she just went on for her first time in May).

Anyway, we are leaving VA on Jan 19 via the Autotrain (arrive WDW Jan 20th) until Jan 28th via Autotrain. We were hoping to stay at BLT on points but can't get all our days. Still deciding whether to wait-list or just choose another resort. Leaning towards OKW since we haven't done that one before and it's a lot less points.

My crew is Me, DH, DD6 and DD2.

Hi, just a thought about OKW....we had booked there (because of the lower points value too) but learned that there aren't elevators in alot of the buildings and the buildings are very spread out. I don't know if this will be a problem for your family but it was for ours because we have children with disabilities. We decided to go back to AKV again...loved it there last year but wanted to try a different resort this time.
Something to think about anyway

 

[terbethk]

Well...we're currently booked for Jan 5-12 at Pop. But we're for sure changing to All Star Sports.
We're taking the IL's for their first trip since the early 80's.
and I'm thinking of changing our dates to Jan 10-17 (which is over mlk weekend, but with as busy as everyone is saying its going to be over Jan 6-8 w/ marathon and schools not being back in session yet, i think i'd rather go over mlk weekend. Am I right?? I'm open to opinions and advice).
DH is also in the national guard, and I need to make sure his drill dates don't coincide with either of those weekends.
Also, I hope they put out the refurb schedule, so hopefully we can work around any closures? Splash is my favorite, so I'm crossing my fingers its open.

 

[MaggieMollyMom]

Well...we're currently booked for Jan 5-12 at Pop. But we're for sure changing to All Star Sports.
We're taking the IL's for their first trip since the early 80's.
and I'm thinking of changing our dates to Jan 10-17 (which is over mlk weekend, but with as busy as everyone is saying its going to be over Jan 6-8 w/ marathon and schools not being back in session yet, i think i'd rather go over mlk weekend. Am I right?? I'm open to opinions and advice).
DH is also in the national guard, and I need to make sure his drill dates don't coincide with either of those weekends.
Also, I hope they put out the refurb schedule, so hopefully we can work around any closures? Splash is my favorite, so I'm crossing my fingers its open.

From what I've been reading, it really won't be that bad the first week of Jan. Many schools are back that week also. I hear the MArathon crowds aren't a big deal except on the roads. The ride line ups etc. aren't really affected by the marathon. I was worried too but am going to keep things the way they are for us (Jan 1-8).
I'm now thrying to get my ADRs in order and an "itinerary" going

good luck with you plans!!

 

[terbethk]

From what I've been reading, it really won't be that bad the first week of Jan. Many schools are back that week also. I hear the MArathon crowds aren't a big deal except on the roads. The ride line ups etc. aren't really affected by the marathon. I was worried too but am going to keep things the way they are for us (Jan 1-8).
I'm now thrying to get my ADRs in order and an "itinerary" going

good luck with you plans!!

Thanks for the input! I know, especially since we're doing at least one universal day, I'm thinking we should keep it the original dates. Ooh, decisions, decisions. I'm crossing my fingers that air tran will still be air tran at that point (they haven't released any flights yet), and I'll see what days we can get cheaper flights for.