Thinking about January trip

[kevingg]

We are thinking about a January trip. We have only been to Disney between May and Sept. Never have we been down there during the winter. My DH would prefer this time of year but I am nervous about the weather. I know it tends to be a lot less crowded but I am afraid it is going to be too cold for pools, waterparks etc. To me this is part of what being in Disney is all about (since we are usually there for two weeks). I am from NH so I am sure even temps in the 50's in the middle of winter is going to feel warm to us.

Any input would be grarly appreciated

 

[PrincessAtHeart1215]

Hi there fellow NH member!!!

My husband and I have been to Disney in January twice. Once in 2006 and the weather was VERY pleasant in the high 60's to mid 70's. Comfortable enough to go in the pool once or twice...but I wouldn't spend the extra $ on the waterpark opition.

However, we spent our honeymoon at Disney this past January and we had two days where the temp was 40 and with the wind chill it was closer to 30! VERY COLD!!! Fountains actually had ICE forming on them! Once the two days passed the warm weather came right back!

My conclusion is...you never know what your going to get!!! As a New Englander we are used to the CRAZY weather!!!

Hope this helps!!!

-Amy

 

[vicki_c]

January is by far my favorite time to visit the World! The temps are usually wonderful. Even a cold day in January will feel great to you - just don't count on swimming much - that's sort of hit or miss - bring your suits and just play it by ear. We don't care about the waterparks, so that's not a concern to us, and we usually swim at our resort at least a few times in January. Crowds are lower too.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I went January of 2007 and the weather was perfect.
It felt so nice to walk around in a tee shirt without sweating!
The whole trip was fantastic!

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

We've gone the last two Januarys and loved it! This year we did it all, water parks, swimming, etc. The water wasn't as warm as it would be in summer (and according to the CM it was heated), but it was okay. We stayed at TL for about 4 hours because we didn't want to spend too much time in the cold air while wet. This next Jan I'd rather skip the waterparks and just swim in the resort pool a few times during the afternoons, DS was swimming almost every night after dark. DS was very sick on our way home and for the next 5 days. I don't know if it had anything to do with swimming or not, but as a mom, I have my suspicions I'm trying to convince DH and DS to go golfing, do a dinner show or visit the boardwalk instead of a waterpark. The weather is great, that's part of the reason we've started giong in Jan, and the crowds are lighter.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I gone to Disney many times in January, and honestly the cold is getting to me. This last January, I stayed 7 nights at WL. I only swam one day. Most of the trip, the high temps were in the mid or upper 60's, with lows in the 40's. One day the temp never got out of the 50's. On the trip, I had a balcony and I couldn't use it in the mornings or nights - just freezing out there. What a waste. The weather kept saying it would warm up, but it never did - just 60's at most, which is a bit too cool for me to swim.

My January trips may be done for now - I like a little heat in Florida! I can see how the cold dampens the entire trip.

 

[aladams2]

We are going in Jan. in 09 and am looking forward to the weather. We are coming from Wisconsin so 40 in Jan is tanks and shorts for us! I have been to DW in Nov. and wore tshirts as well and when we returned home it was snowing. As you could imagine I wasn't happy to be home!! I guess it all depends on where you live if you think the weather in Fl is great or not in Jan. I know my girls are going to want to swim, but we will limit it to the pools at the resort.

 

[ols386]

We've been to WDW the past 2 years in January. We love going at that time. This past January it was in the 70s a couple of days and in the low 80s a couple of days. Last year in January when we went, it was in the 60s a couple of days and in the 70s the other two days. Each day we were there is was mostly sunny, and no rain. The greatest part of going at that time of year, is the parks and resorts are not crowded. They are still busy....but not crowded.

 

[justplaingoofy]

I think its the luck of the draw...

we've been there quite a few times during that time period and have been to a water park, but we've also had to go buy jackets because it was so cold (and we live in the northeast!)

 

[jenb1023]

We just went 1/26 - 2/2/08. Weather was fine. Some days cooler than others but my DD was able to swim any time she wanted since the pools are heated. We did not do the waterparks so I don't have advice about those. We loved going in January!

 

[abish19]

We were there the first week of Feb. 2008. I know that's not "technically" Jan., but the weather was great! It was in the 80s during the day and comfortable (probably 70s) in the evenings. We were able to swim and were happy to enjoy air-conditioned rides, but not desperate for them.

This year we'll be going in Jan., hoping to hit slightly lower crowds. (Feb. was over Mardi Gras this year, and there were LOTS of LSU shirts in the parks!). Although the weather might not be great, it's a sight better than Michigan - snow, school closings, road closings, COLD!

Good luck with your trip!

 

[Pakey]

We have been 4 times in January and each vacation was completely different regarding the weather. The first time, it was so cold that everyone who could stand it, was in the parks in jackets, hats and cloves. It was almost freezing and it was that way for the entire 7 days we were there.

The second trip was warm on certain days and a trip to BB was made. Not all days of the trips were warm enough though, just a few.

Third trip we had nice weather everyday and probably could have swam but it still got very cool in the evenings.

This Jan (08), we were jackets most days, one was even cool enough to appreciate gloves. Only our last day was warm enough to try the pool and it was really a bit cool for that.

We'll continue to go some years in January because isn't the easiest time for me to leave work but I go with the attitude that getting to swim is a bonus but I certainly don't expect to be able to.

 

[Harambe]

Been twice in January. Once, beautiful 80 degree weather for the whole week. The next time 40s and 50s. Poly Luau was cancelled one night, we had to buy heavy sweatshirts another time, and we actually left Epcot without seeing Illuminations because the kids were freezing!

Now I can't say that I totally agree with him, but DH swears that Disney cuts way back on the help during the slower times, too. Fewer busses, fewer CMs working in the shops so longer lines at the registers, etc.

But the crowd levels are good - just don't plan anything near Martin Luther King weekend. This weekend has really turned into a high-crowds time at WDW.

 

[antmaril]

We have been to WDW in January three times and have been lucky each time. High temps in the 70's and sunny - just lovely. It does get cool in the evening and we aren't big pool people, but there have been people using the pools during our trips in January.

January is our favorite time to go. We like the second week of January after the Christmas rush is over and before the Martin Luther King holiday weekend. Low crowds and nice temps.

 

[ntsammy5]

However, we spent our honeymoon at Disney this past January and we had two days where the temp was 40 and with the wind chill it was closer to 30! VERY COLD!!!

It's variable! We were there for the marathon this year in January and it was very warm most of the time -- in fact the marathon day was warm and muggy! I was there in January 2005 and it was warm then too, but in 2003 when I was there it was very cold. Take your pick it can be warm or cold or both!