Value Season Jan. 1

[melindaandrob]

Can anyone tell me if value season starts Jan. 1 and I make a room reservation for that night am I in value season? Are the parks crowded Jan. 1 and the few days following? We are trying to decide on dates and dd's birthday is Jan. 1, ds is Jan 7 and dh is Jan 6. I would love to make plans to have some birthdays celebrated while we were at WDW!

 

[eeyore0062]

This year value season started on January 1st... it could vary year to year, though.

 

[EpcotBill]

Whatever day value season starts, if you check in that day or later you are in value season and will be charged value season rates. If you check in the day before value season you will not get the value season rate. Of course you'll probably have an AP, DC, AAA, or code discount anyway, right.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just to verify, this year I checked in on January 1 and it was value season. Gone right after New Years for the last 3 years and crowds were never much. Biggest surprise was 3 years ago, right after the big Millenium celebration, within a few days, it was incredibly quiet.

 

[SuzyQue]

Value Season for the beginning of the year in 2002 was 1/1-2/13 and in 2001 was 1/1-2/14. ~~

 

[melindaandrob]

Thank you for your help!

 

[Luv2Roam]

We have stayed a week on-site the last two Januarys due to the WDW marathon.
The *crowds* were low in January '01, They were non-existant this past January. Even the Fast Pass machines were covered up. The CM's at RnRC were even saying they wanted to go out and drag guests in! Everything , except the Great Movie Ride, was a walk on. ToT, RnRC, Kali River Rapids, HM (maybe a five minute wait a few times). At KRR, our ride vehicle (?) was only half full and when it stopped, the CM asked if we wanted to ride agian without getting off! We figured we would never have that opportunity again at WDW, so we did!
The downside: the parks were so slow not all the counter service areas were open.
But it sure was great at parade time!

 

[melindaandrob]

@Luv2Roam when were you at WDW Jan. 02? We were there Jan. 11-19, and except for Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday weekend the crowds were small. I'm trying to figure out if the crowds thin right out Jan. 1 or if I should wait and go the week after.

 

[BCV23]

We were there Jan. 1-9 this year. It was very quiet...so easy to do everything. As far back as I can remember, value season always has started on 1/1.

 

[maroney495]

I just made a reservation today for ASMU for Jan 1-4 and was told the syetem said $99 per night. This would be regular season rate for 2002. The CM however said they did not guarantee that rate as 2003 rates were not out yet and they rate may change when they come out. Hope that could mean that the rate could drop and not raise. She also did state that there could be some specials come out before that day and there could be some discounts that you never know.

 

[Luv2Roam]

We arrived on January 5 and left January 12.
The room rates for the value season may well not be published until November.
For January stays, I always book the summer before the trip, paying the one night's deposit, and then call back when the discounts are out.
For January, I got the AP rate as ASMo for $55 a night with tax.
DH already registered for the 2003 marathon. We are arriving the Friday before, instead the day before. This last January we ran around too much, he didn't drink water like he should and got sick half way through the marathon. (He finished, but walked the last half.)

 

[Luv2Roam]

One thing that was QUITE different this year was the Osbourne Lights crowd.
In January '01, we went the second to the last night (Saturday) and it was wall to wall people. No one could have fallen down because there was no room. I just hung on to DH's belt loops and we shuffled through.
January '02, we went on the last night (Sunday). NO ONE was there! We saw just a handful of others. It was like having a special display just for us.
So from here on out -- we go to Osbourne Lights on the last night.

 

[SuzyQue]

No matter what month you book for 2003, they will quote you a 2002 Regular season rack rate price for that resort. This happened to us in March of 2001 when we booked for Feb. 2002. Then when the new rates came out they notified us and adjusted it (although we ended up changing it twice after that when new discounts came out!). ~~

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

We just booked 2 nights at the WL for JAN 30,31 before we go on the Disney Cruise. They could only give me the standard rate of $229 but the CM said my Disney Club discount has not even kicked in yet. By fall the discounts will apply and any others that come along I can call and have them applied. With DC I only had to put $100 down and atleast I have a room held where we want to stay. Believe me I will keep checking for discount!!! I will not pay $229 per night in value season.

 

[homebrew]

Since it is obvious several of you have stayed aroung 1/1 what can family and I expect? We will be there 5 nights including a weekend and will they have the fireworks, parades, etc. I have read so many things about not having this or that, that I can not remember it all. Thanks in advance for helping out a slow braincelled individual.

hb

 

[Luv2Roam]

For January, the park hours are shorter. but it really isn't that big of a deal since *the crowds* really aren't there. It would be nice if Future World stayed open longer.
Spectro Magic is only on the weekends, so that makes MK busy on the days it is on.
The days can be pleasantly warm to COLD. We take summer and winter clothes and wear both. Even winter jackets are not out of the question. I bought a pair of Mickey (lightweight) gloves and wore them quite a bit.
Each January we have been at WDW, there has been at least one day where it was colder in WDW than here in Nebraska! Bbbbrrrrrr.......