Tour groups at the end of January?

[Joy70]

We're planning a trip for 2016. Last time we went (2014) it was the end of February/1st week of March and it wasn't too busy. This time the pricing seems to better at the end of January/1st week of February. We're looking at Jan. 23 - Jan 30 or Jan. 30 - Feb. 6. I've heard the horror stories about Brazilian tour groups, and cheerleader groups, etc. Would these tour groups be there during this time or are most of them gone by the end of January? Would the parks be less busy than if we waited until the end of February and hoped discounts would be available by then?

Appreciate any advice I can get!

 

[chelseabun76]

The last week of January we ran into 4 tour groups minimum, along with 3 cheerleader groups. It was not fun.... however when they were going one direction, we tried to go in the opposite. lol

 

[ms tom morrow]

I went the last week of January this year. I heard all the same horror stories about tour groups and was prepared for the worst, but I really wasn't bothered at all. We only saw them a few times in the parks, and when we did it wasn't any more bothersome than the normal Disney crowd of people. Maybe I was pleasantly surprised because I was expecting the worst? That said, we stayed at GF so we didn't deal with any at our resort; I imagine it would be lots worse if you heard them in your room, dealt with them on the bus, etc.

 

[HopperFan]

Yes they are there. The BTG are all back in school around the last week of February. After some miserable late January stays with them I moved my onsite to the last week of Feb/first of March (with discount). It was night and day on our experience.

The values will be packed with them. We couldn't use the pool, buses, food court and gave up lots of sleep. There will be some but not many at moderates. If you can stay deluxe then you won't have to deal with them except at parks and other than your FP+ you just try to avoid them. You can't miss them they stay in huge packs.