Trying to avoid the crowds - even in January....

[mcque]

We are planning to go to WDW in January. We are really wide open as far as when we can go, since we'll be taking dd out of school no matter what. However, we want to avoid ALL POSSIBLE crowds. Two years ago we ran into the Maraton weekend, which was really chaotic at the resorts. This year we're looking at January 20-29. Does anyone know if there is anything big going on down there that week? THanks!

 

[EjandMD]

Don't know about that week but I know I went the right after new years, like Jan 3- 13 one year and it was awesome!!!! Nobody was there but...it was only warm on some days otherwise it was sweatshirt weather. It's like the whole resort is nursing a hangover from X-mas so it was super quiet. Had aweful snow storm on return flight and was delayed landing about an hour but other than that it was great....good luck!

ps I would avoid MLK weekend.

 

[addicted2disney]

mcque...
I think those are the EXACT dates we are going in January. There wont be anything big then. Martin Luther King weekend will be the weekend before the 20th. This will be a great time to go. We go this time every year. Such low crowds. IT wont get crowded again until Presidents Day weekend in mid February!

 

[kelleigh1]

ps I would avoid MLK weekend.

Can I ask why?

 

[addicted2disney]

Martin Luther King gets pretty crowded!!! I made the mistake of being there that weekend and when you are used to NO crowds in January, this was bad. Magic Kingdom was awful, lines that you just dont see any other time in January ( besides new years). So if you want to avoid crowds in January, dont go over MLK weekend!!

 

[kelleigh1]

Thanks.

The only other time I've gone is June, so I think anything would be an improvement over those crowds.

 

[mainewmn]

Does anyone know what day does MLK fall in 2006?

 

[JanetShilli]

MLK holiday falls on Monday, January 16, 2006.

 

[clori]

I'm going Jan 7-14. We wont be doing parks on arrival/departure day. We plan on going to animal kingdom then mgm on Sunday of Marathon weekend or just mgm. Are those crowded with the marathon? Is Monday slow or still busy from the marathon? We have been twice the first week of February and walked on just about everything and never used a fastpass.

 

[mainewmn]

Well so what sort of crowds are we into now that our vacation is already booked for 1/11-19?

 

[mcque]

Most of the crowds we ran into with the Marathon were at the resorts, not at the parks. The night before the Marathon we were eating at the POP Century food court and it was a nightmare. I understand that the crowds don't really end up in the parks as much, just at the resorts.

 

[tickledtink]

We went that exact week this year. Crowds were really small and we had a wonderful time. The only time we even used the fastpass was on the Safari Ride in AK the last Sunday we were there. We will sure go back on that week again in 2007.

 

[magical4us4]

I booked the week of Jan 13-17. This is during MLK weekend. Oh no, please don't tell me it will be crowded. We always go in January, but this is our first going MLK weekend because my children have off from school Monday and Tuesday. I love to go in January because of extremely low crowds, but this might be a dissapointment!

 

[jcemom]

I think THE absolute WORST dates you could possibly choose in January would be the 22nd through the 30th.



(Well...not really, but that's when I'm going and I'd like to have the place to myself.)

 

[jcemom]

I booked the week of Jan 13-17. This is during MLK weekend. Oh no, please don't tell me it will be crowded. We always go in January, but this is our first going MLK weekend because my children have off from school Monday and Tuesday. I love to go in January because of extremely low crowds, but this might be a dissapointment!

From what I understand, it will be crowded...because everyone's kids have days off from school.

 

[unixadm]

We are planning to go to WDW in January. We are really wide open as far as when we can go, since we'll be taking dd out of school no matter what. However, we want to avoid ALL POSSIBLE crowds. Two years ago we ran into the Maraton weekend, which was really chaotic at the resorts. This year we're looking at January 20-29. Does anyone know if there is anything big going on down there that week? THanks!

I would highly recommend signing up at www.TourGuideMike.com

I just signed up for our September trip.....and wished I had done it sooner. He gives SO much useful info on what days to hit what parks, which rides to hit first, etc to AVOID CROWDS and lines. The good thing is that he explains why he recommends what he does so you have a full understanding of how to tour the parks intelligently. He also has info on things going on during the days you plan on being there. I haven't tested his strategies yet since we will be going in September, but his info really makes sense, and I've read lots of stuff here that confirms that it really works.

 

[scoutsmom99]

I was in WDW this past January (19-26) and like others have said after new years and avoid MLK weekend and you should be fine.

 

[have2getaway]

I know this week will be over marathon weekend, but if we just go to the parks during the week (Mon. - Fri.) will we be ok? Has anyone gone the week after marathon week. We can always pick another week. Please tell me if it will be busy, we'll reschedule!

 

[kimlooman]

The time after MLK holiday weekend is the best. We have been there several times in past years. The only thing I know going on this coming January 22-26, 2006 is Lotusphere which is a big computer convention which my husband attends. They have meetings at the Swan, Dolphin and Yacht Club. So there are lots of computer geeks walking around with their lap tops and cell phones. But the parks are generally quite empty especially the week days and we love it because we can walk right on the rides. The weather can be a bit ify though, usually sunny, but some times we have had it hot near 90 and other times in the 50's during the day. So that really varies. Just pack a little of everything for clothes and do layers and that works well. Some Januarys have been warm for swimming and others have been too cool, just depends. But the parks are very comfortable and the lowest crowds we have seen. We have gone in Sept, Nov., Dec. and Jan. This fall we are trying Oct. and possibly January again. Good luck on planning.

 

[FSUMARCHIEF]

We're going for our longest trip ever - 12 days - the 18 - 29 of January in 2006. We can't wait. We have ressies at the POP but might have talked ourselves into the WL if we can swing it financially. Even if we're at the POP - who cares! We're at Disney!

God bless!
Mark