Thoughts mid January vs. spring break

[kathy884]

I'm going to do a mini trip with my 20 year old son just three nights / two days. We're going to stay at the Holiday Inn Downtown Disney -- fly down on a Monday, Tuesday do the Keys to the Kingdom tour from 9 to 2 and then hit our favorite MK attractions, and Wednesday spend the day at SeaWorld. Thursday we'll fly home again.

In the past -- going all the way back to the 70s, spring break has been a favorite time to go due to the glorious weather. But it seems like it's more crowded than ever. I looked at a customized touring plan in touringplans.com for my MK day. Even if I get a few good fast passes, it looks like on my MK day I'd have way longer lines than I like for attractions given that we are doing the tour rather than rope drop and won't start attractions till 2:15 p.m.-- crowd level is an 8. If I go in January (DS doesn't have college classes start until after the MLK holiday and we'd go the week before that -- it is Disney Marathon time -- but our crowd level projection for the MK for touringplans.com is a 1, and even with no fastpasses at all we'd be able to get in all eight things we'd like to do after the tour with short waits with one exception 7DMT -- which is a wait projection of about 50 minutes. That sounds great.

What would you do? Should I pack a parka and go for January? That's what I'm leaning towards. Average high is 71 and average low is 47. I don't have a problem with those averages, but I know weather is unpredictable and it could be way colder than that.

I think either time would be fine for SeaWorld crowd wise, but with spring break, of course, we'd have to get to any shows we want to see earlier.

I'd love to hear from other who have traveled in this timeframe. I've done about five Christmas trips, so know that weather can be all over the place in December and figure January is probably similar.

 

[JennyDrake]

January will be the lowest crowds by far.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

100% January. It's all around more comfortable.

 

[dekraut]

After going mostly in Summer (when the kids and I are out of school) I decided for the first time to go in January 2016. After doing tons of reading, it seems that the crowds are at their lowest at this time of year. September used to be great, but with the Halloween and Food & Wine starting earlier each year it seems that even September is picking up considerably.

Being from the mid-atlantic, and preferring the cooler temps anyway (we hated the June/July heat in Orlando), we think it will be very pleasant, even if we need a coat!

Good luck and have fun.

Edited to add - my wife suggested we go during Spring Break and I emphatically said I had no interest due to the crowds. I've read that SB and Christmas week are the busiest, and while I don't hate people, I do hate lines, so the shorter January lines are a huge draw compared to SB.

 

[kathy884]

Thanks so much for your replies. You've convinced me on January. I'll keep my fingers crossed that weather won't be to bad. I talked to DS too, and he thinks going for then and the lower crowds sounds great.

 

[kayteekt]

Not even close, go in January! We've been several times then and by far our fave time to travel. crowd levels are great. Wait times good except for your expected headliners and thrill rides. Weather can be all over but i certainly don't mind if one day I'm in shorts and the next jeans and a hoodie. It's not like winter in other parts of the country, well normally there's always a chance i guess. But we've experienced great weather during our jan trips, so nice to enjoy high 50s to 80s in the middle of Jan. We love it, have another trip planned for last week of jan this coming year.
Oh on marathon weekend it does pick up a little but not bad, we mostly noticed in our resort with influx of marathoners checking in. However, if you go through the week like you mentioned for spring break, it should be perfect,I'm sure some come in ahead but most come on the weekend.

Don't think you'll be disappointed if you give it a shot. Especially if you're used to coming over spring break, it will be like a whole new world

 

[kayteekt]

January will be the lowest crowds by far.

I just have to say I love your tag, in your trips where you've got AoA listed as "only resort where once was enough"

I can totally relate, that was about the best way to put it...stayed there last Jan at my sisters request. I thought it would be fine since it was new and everyone was raving about it, but we did not enjoy at all.

Your quote gave me a good laugh this morning

 

[FantasiaMagic]

I went this past spring break with my friends, and yes it was very busy. We took full advantage of Fp+ and RD which made things a lot better. I found the future world of EPCOT to be the most crazy during the trip (even at RD), then probably HS.