~~**The Official January 2014 Group**~~

[autoracepr989]

I'll be down there jan 4-12. Not sure what resorts I'm all staying at as it'll be a split stay w/DVC points & cast member discounts. I do hope to stay at AOA on the discount. We also are talking about grand floridian & animal kingdom lodge for points.

 

[shopn24seven]

Just requested to join the Jan group on fb.

 

[Cobern]

Just requested to join the Jan group on fb.

Me too

 

[HeatherLassell]

Please add me to your list. Traveling with another family for the marathon and staying at BLT 1/8/14- 1/13-14. Ready to go now!!

Subing -- Going for DH Annual Meeting at the Swan & Dolphin - not sure of exact dates yet but usually stay at the swan & dolphin

Ok so glad I found this group! Going January 2014!!! Second trip for all of us (went in May and our DD loved it and DH fell in love with the Polynesian [just visiting for dinner]. So I convinced my parents to come with us . So in total it will be me, DH, DD3, DS 1.9 and my mom and dad . Staying Jan 23-30 at the POLY!! We are super excited as it will be a late anniversary celebration for DH and I (5 years on 12/22/13).

I can't wait to hear about everyone's plans as I am already obsessing over ADRs

Hi all! Count me in! We are going Jan 10-19 and are staying at AoA in LM rooms. We usually do not stay at Values, but I really wanted to check out the new resort and for as long as we are staying I wanted to save some money.

Dh and I are both running the full marathon! It will be my first marathon and Dh's 3rd!

It will also be our first trip without our oldest dd as she starts class on the 13th and can't miss her first week of classes.

I joined

I'll be down there jan 4-12. Not sure what resorts I'm all staying at as it'll be a split stay w/DVC points & cast member discounts. I do hope to stay at AOA on the discount. We also are talking about grand floridian & animal kingdom lodge for points.

Just requested to join the Jan group on fb.

Me too

Welcome!!! You've al been added to the main page and I just added all those who requested to the FB group!

 

[diamondpixienc]

Just decided to take the plunge and do a mom and kids only trip in Jan 2014. So excited! I hope we get some pixie dust from the pin gods ;0)

 

[vacation_junkie]

Just decided to take the plunge and do a mom and kids only trip in Jan 2014. So excited! I hope we get some pixie dust from the pin gods ;0)

I hope so too...any pins or free dining is welcome

 

[SingingMom]

Greetings! Please add us to the January list! We are returning to the Dolphin again 1/

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[SingingMom]

Oops. Dropped the iPad off my lap!

As I was saying.... Lol..... Me, DH, DD20 will be returning to the Dolphin 1/7-1/16. We normally visited in June, after school let out, but this past year decided on January, since DD has a long winter break in college. What a spectacular trip!!! I know we can't expect the same weather for this coming trip, but January 2013 we had an entire week of sunny weather in the 80's!!! Heavenly!!! Even used the pool twice, which we didn't really plan to, in January!!!

The lines moved so quickly that we were able to see everything we wanted, plus had time for multiple rides on all the favorites!! Because we didn't waste so much time on lines, we were finished with our park days earlier than most times, which left us time to have dinner with multiple CM friends and some relatives in the area. The entire trip was missing that "frantic" feeling you some times get to make sure you fit everything in! We felt relaxed and very happy.

A dear CM friend ran the marathon, so we watched for him in front of HS and got so caught up in the excitement that we stood there for 2 hours, cheering on the runners!

DD had a blast meeting at least 25 characters, chatting with them and having some great laughs. She is a theatre major and hopes to work for Disney in casting or production, so she had time to really pay attention to details.

So - for those who have never been in January - we found the weather wonderful (anything warmer than a NJ winter is fine with me!), the crowds small, the lines short, and most main attractions open. Except for not getting BOG dinner reservations, we did everything we wanted and more! Experienced Wishes Dessert Party and the Wild Africa Trek for the first time. Tremendous trip!

Decided we don't need Christmas gifts - this is our family gift to each other!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[ghtx]

At our 7-month window I switched dates and resorts: we're now going Jan 4 through 8th, staying at BLT (again)! I realized that since I've decided not to run the marathon, there's no point in being there on marathon weekend. I'm kind of second-guessing myself.

 

[SAT887]

At our 7-month window I switched dates and resorts: we're now going Jan 4 through 8th, staying at BLT (again)! I realized that since I've decided not to run the marathon, there's no point in being there on marathon weekend. I'm kind of second-guessing myself.

We are going to be at BLT at the same time hoping to finish the last 3 nights at BWV

 

[excited4disney2012]

We totally love visiting in January. That time of year fits our schedule best. And we love leaving the brutal Ohio winters behind.

In 2012 we arrived on the last day of the Marathon, 1/8 and stayed until 1/15. Other than having to find an alternate route to our hotel( we drive & there were many detours due to the Marathon, but I was able to call and turn by turn directions!), I felt like the place was deserted! There was no waiting in lines, the parks were not crowded, restaurants were not packed. We felt like we had the whole park to ourselves!

This year we visited from 1/26 to 2/3. And it was crowded! We waited in lines for rides (nothing too major, the longest was Soarin' for like 45 min.), the walkways in parks seemed more congested, and I saw a couple of the dreaded tour groups during our last couple of days.

What gives?

Is it because we traveled later in the month? We try to wait until school is back in session, but skip the Marathon dates and MLK weekend. Is it really better to travel at the beginning of the month?

I checked other sites crowd predictors and busiest weeks, etc, and the time we were there this year was predicted super low for crowds.

Any suggestions on the best time to go?

P.S. Sorry for the length, I tend to be wordy!

 

[SingingMom]

We totally love visiting in January. That time of year fits our schedule best. And we love leaving the brutal Ohio winters behind.

In 2012 we arrived on the last day of the Marathon, 1/8 and stayed until 1/15. Other than having to find an alternate route to our hotel( we drive & there were many detours due to the Marathon, but I was able to call and turn by turn directions!), I felt like the place was deserted! There was no waiting in lines, the parks were not crowded, restaurants were not packed. We felt like we had the whole park to ourselves!

This year we visited from 1/26 to 2/3. And it was crowded! We waited in lines for rides (nothing too major, the longest was Soarin' for like 45 min.), the walkways in parks seemed more congested, and I saw a couple of the dreaded tour groups during our last couple of days.

What gives?

Is it because we traveled later in the month? We try to wait until school is back in session, but skip the Marathon dates and MLK weekend. Is it really better to travel at the beginning of the month?

I checked other sites crowd predictors and busiest weeks, etc, and the time we were there this year was predicted super low for crowds.

Any suggestions on the best time to go?

P.S. Sorry for the length, I tend to be wordy!

Not an expert on January travel, having done it only once, but people I spoke to said as the month goes by, it starts getting busy. We saw it when we were there. Beginning of the trip was not crowded and some of the Christmas decorations were still up, which was unexpected and very exciting. The marathon didn't effect us at all since we were staying onsite. (Friendship Boats are the BEST!).

The day after marathon, people were walking around with their medals, and that was nice to see. As the week progressed, Christmas decorations disappeared and we noticed tour groups starting up. People we spoke to said closer to MLK weekend it starts getting crowded.

Now - I guess you have to define "crowded". Lol. We usually visit in June and stand in huge lines in the glaring sun. We miss certain rides if fast passes aren't available. We wait for transportation much longer and often stand on a bus. NONE of this happened in January. And... It rained once for an hour the entire 8 days. It wasnt like Florida summer, where you have a crazy downpour every afternoon.

We were never ones to pull our daughter out of school for vacation. She attended Catholic school, which ended earlier than the area public schools, so we still got there before the massive summer crowds and heat. Now that she is in college, she has a long winter break and we tried January. I don't think we'll ever bother with summer inDisney again!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[excited4disney2012]

Thanks singingmom! What is a Friendship Boat? I also enjoyed seeing Marathon participants proudly wearing their medals the few days following.

 

[SingingMom]

Thanks singingmom! What is a Friendship Boat? I also enjoyed seeing Marathon participants proudly wearing their medals the few days following.

The boats that leave from the Dolphin & Swan and takes guests to Yacht & Beach Club, Boardwalk, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios. No buses required!! ;-)

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[luvdumbo]

I'll be there for the Dopey Challenge! Who all else will be running the races?

 

[camandjacksmom]

I'll be there for the Dopey Challenge! Who all else will be running the races?

My husband and I will be doing the dopey challenge as well! We will be at either the Contemporary or Port Orleans riverside!!

 

[JLa01844]

Ok. I'm official now! Jan 24-27 Villas at Wilderness Lodge!

 

[luvdumbo]

My husband and I will be doing the dopey challenge as well! We will be at either the Contemporary or Port Orleans riverside!!

Woohoo! Glad to see more Dopey-ers! I have not decided on where I am staying yet but Riverside is on the list!

 

[Daisy07]

Ok. I'm official now! Jan 24-27 Villas at Wilderness Lodge!

Yay! That's the week we are planning to go as well. Really hope I can say the same as you that I'll be staying at the Villas at WL. Hoping to be able to rent points, just waiting for the magical 7 month mark.

 

[JLa01844]

Yay! That's the week we are planning to go as well. Really hope I can say the same as you that I'll be staying at the Villas at WL. Hoping to be able to rent points, just waiting for the magical 7 month mark.

Good Luck! I happened to see a dis member post points for rent in the DVC area and his home resort was VWL surprisingly so I'm happy I saw that. The thread is still active. It says "340 points..." He sent me my reservation confirmation the next day and I was able to load it up on my Disney experience as well.