US/IOA crowds in Jan...

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

We are going on a cruise out of Jacksonville 1st week of Jan. We decided to drive the 2 hours to Orlando and do 2-2.5 days at US/IOA. We'd be there on for possibly a half day on Thursday, full days Friday and Saturday (1/8-10). How are the crowds around that time? I have looked at crowd calendars who all say those are slow days, but wanted to check on here to see if anyone has actually been then?

 

[RMulieri]

They aren't bad at all, just keep in mind the LARGE tour groups hit the Uni and WDW parks beginning the 2nd week of Jan and pretty much are there throughout the month.We are going Jan 18-25 and I am pretty much bracing myself again.

 

[HM]

I was given advise that Jan was a busy month at US/IOA. So, don't go expecting low crowds.

(I was choosing between Dec 18-22 and early Jan 4-8 and was told December was better)

 

[macraven]

this past january, stayed onsite and hit the parks jan 8-12th.

lots of tour groups, lots of flags..........

many families in the park.

we had the express pass so ride waits were not bad for us.


weekend was crowded which usually happens when the weather is good.
more locals come to the parks at that time, depending on weather.

 

[bryana]

it is also marathon weekend at wdw that weekend so that could cause a small spike in attendence as well. we are doing 2 days at uni before moving over to wdw for the races, and i know quite a few other couples/families that are planning to do the same.

 

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

So, would you say our days are doable? I don't want to go if crowds are going to be like summer at WDW since we only have 2 days.

 

[steelersforlife24]

I will be there early Sunday Jan 11th through late Wed the 14th. Touring plans has the parks at a 2 or less for all the days. When I looked back at their historical wait times the previous 2 years the Express lines were all under 5 minutes and HP forbidden journey under 30 minutes. Of course there was no DA and Gringots to look up for comps.

Fingers crossed.

 

[steelersforlife24]

Apparently the first week of January leading up to Marathon weekend is when the notorious Tour Groups come to orlando. You can expect crowds of 5/10 Thursday, 6/10 Friday, and only 4/10 Saturday as the Tour groups go home. (According to Historical Crowds and wait times).

 

[RMulieri]

Apparently the first week of January leading up to Marathon weekend is when the notorious Tour Groups come to orlando. You can expect crowds of 5/10 Thursday, 6/10 Friday, and only 4/10 Saturday as the Tour groups go home. (According to Historical Crowds and wait times).

Tour groups are there almost the whole month.We went Jan 18-23rd 2012 and the amount of tour groups was staggering..tour group shirts and flags as far as the eye could see.Doing the 18th-25th this year and expecting the same

 

[macraven]

Tour groups are there almost the whole month.We went Jan 18-23rd 2012 and the amount of tour groups was staggering..tour group shirts and flags as far as the eye could see.Doing the 18th-25th this year and expecting the same