visiting in January?

[Ds4angels]

We typically visit WDW begining of Feb. We haven't been to US/IoA in 17 years. The by 2 get 3 free deal seems pretty good and the rate of Cabana Bay is easonable as well. We used to go in January years ago, but have stayed away from that month do to the groups from South America. (we had some bad run-ins with larges groups of rude teens, cutting line and being very loud. I know American teens can do the same thing, but they don't descend on the parks in January. My thinking is there will be no international tour groups this year due to covid?
We are from PA, so we don't mind a chill in the air. And I understand the pools are heated, so my kids could still use the pool if the weather is in the 70s.
We are not HP fans, so is it a big deal if we don't get the park to park pass and miss the train?
I'm thinking with 5 days, we'll have plenty of time to just stroll around the parks? Do I really need a plan of attack? And if so is there a good site to plan like touring plans is for WDW?Is the early admission for only HP or is the whole park open?
Thanks

 

[hhoope01]

Given the current state of flux, all any of us can do is "guess".

With that, based on how the fall has been going, I'd guess the week days shouldn't have horrible crowds/lines, but the weekends might (depends on if US decides to throw another big discount offer to Florida locals for early next year.) As for the pools, I have to admit I've not tried to swim in January, but yes, I do believe the pools are heated. Now I do like a good jacuzzi during the winter months, but so far, all the hotels have closed their jacuzzi/hot tubs right now. I wouldn't count on them being open come January, but I guess it could be possible.

As for park hopping and the Hogwarts Express, if you really don't care for HP, then you might not miss it. But it is a nice ride (different each way too) and it can be a quick way to get from one park to the other (if the lines aren't long.) And 5 days should be great. If any of those 5 days includes weekend days, I'd suggest getting the rides you want most hit during the week days and leave Citywalk exploring and other non-ride activities for the weekends (just in case the crowds are bigger.)

 

[Ds4angels]

Looking Monday through Friday, figured less locals that way?
And yes, It's all a guess right now.

 

[cschaaf]

I'm not an HP fan, either, but I can still enjoy the theming of the areas and rides. The train is really well themed. As @hhoope01 said, it's a nice way to get from one park to the other - and to and from the back of both of those parks.

For some reason, I get claustrophobic on that ride, but I'll suffer through it to save a few hundred steps.

Even if you don't want/need to ride the Hogwarts Express, it's still worth considering park-to-park passes, IMO... particularly with a longer stay. It's so easy to park hop at Uni. If lines are longer at one park, just hop to the other. If you get a Hagrid's VQ for late in the day, start over in the Studios park, then hop to IOA to make you VQ time.

I know it adds a chunk of money to the trip, but the convenience is worth it for us.

ETA - a few other answers...

I'm thinking with 5 days, we'll have plenty of time to just stroll around the parks? IMO, that's plenty of time.
Do I really need a plan of attack? And if so is there a good site to plan like touring plans is for WDW? No, you don't need much of a plan at Universal. Nothing compared to Disney. Download the app and use it to check wait times. Some rides are now using virtual queues when it's busy, you can use that app to book a return time. Orlando Informer has a lot of great info on Universal. They may have some pre-built touring plans, but I don't think they are necessary.

Is the early admission for only HP or is the whole park open? Always subject to change, but currently, if USF has EPA, Gringotts and Despicable Me are open (according to the site). They have, at times, swapped Mummy for Minions. If IOA has EPA, Hippogriff, Forbidden Journey, Hagrid's, and Hulk are open.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Even for a longer stay, I'm a fan of park-to-park. We bought those tickets before the Hogwart's Express, because we need to be able to access all the non-thrill rides (one of our boys is ASD). It's so easy to go back and forth, even if you walk it instead of taking the train. In June, it's wonderful to get in the A/C on the train, and I imagine it might be nice to be warm on the train in January.

We're also going in late Jan 2021; it will be our first off season Universal trip. Last Jan, we did our first WDW off season trip; the South American groups weren't awful, but kind of looking forward to not having them this year, esp the one day we plan to go to MK.

 

[Laura353741]

We were there in January of this year and OMG i cannot describe the cold.... Most days we were ok but one of the days when we had to get up and out super early It was BITTER cold. Surprising for Florida.. It was like a wet cold. It was that fluke week where the weather made the national news and the lizards were freezing and falling out of the trees. But I see you are from PA so you may not be as traumatized as I was- HAHA! But for sure the pool was NOT an option for us. I do remember the tour groups and yes they were intrusive and loud and not really caring about people that needed to get by or through their huge crowd. Despite that, the crowds and lines were not bad. We had express passes so everything was manageable.

Unlike WDW you don't really need a plan of attack. If you're not interested in the train and you have so many days then I think single park tickets would work. And yes 5 days is plenty to explore everything, IMO.

 

[Ds4angels]

We were there in January of this year and OMG i cannot describe the cold.... Most days we were ok but one of the days when we had to get up and out super early It was BITTER cold. Surprising for Florida.. It was like a wet cold. It was that fluke week where the weather made the national news and the lizards were freezing and falling out of the trees. But I see you are from PA so you may not be as traumatized as I was- HAHA! But for sure the pool was NOT an option for us. I do remember the tour groups and yes they were intrusive and loud and not really caring about people that needed to get by or through their huge crowd. Despite that, the crowds and lines were not bad. We had express passes so everything was manageable.

Unlike WDW you don't really need a plan of attack. If you're not interested in the train and you have so many days then I think single park tickets would work. And yes 5 days is plenty to explore everything, IMO.

2 visits ago we had a night that it was 48 degrees in MK, it was the least busy we had seen it in years. You could tell people who weren't used to cold, winter jackets, gloves, hats, we had hoodies and went on Splash lol ( all water effects were off, we sat in the back to not get wet on this drop)

 

[CyndiLooWho]

We were there in January of this year and OMG i cannot describe the cold.... Most days we were ok but one of the days when we had to get up and out super early It was BITTER cold. Surprising for Florida.. It was like a wet cold. It was that fluke week where the weather made the national news and the lizards were freezing and falling out of the trees. But I see you are from PA so you may not be as traumatized as I was- HAHA! But for sure the pool was NOT an option for us. I do remember the tour groups and yes they were intrusive and loud and not really caring about people that needed to get by or through their huge crowd. Despite that, the crowds and lines were not bad. We had express passes so everything was manageable.

We did WDW the last week of Jan 2020. I think it was the week after the falling / flying lizards, LOL. Only one day that was really cold (of course, the morning we rope dropped HS at 6am in the dark). The rest of the days were pleasant. I actually had to go buy camisoles at Target, because going after the lizard week, I only took long sleeve under layers and got too hot in the afternoons. We only needed our jackets the one day at HS, though I wore lightweight long sleeves and jeggings the whole trip. DH wore t-shirts most of the week and was fine. We did have hoodies and heavy socks, since it was in the 30s when we left KY, but the weather was a delight. Of course, for us, the pools were a no-go.

This year, I'm packing for 80s and 50s, just to be safe. That's going to be a real trick, since we're flying and I will have to pack a smaller bag...

 

[Laura353741]

We did WDW the last week of Jan 2020. I think it was the week after the falling / flying lizards, LOL. Only one day that was really cold (of course, the morning we rope dropped HS at 6am in the dark). The rest of the days were pleasant. I actually had to go buy camisoles at Target, because going after the lizard week, I only took long sleeve under layers and got too hot in the afternoons. We only needed our jackets the one day at HS, though I wore lightweight long sleeves and jeggings the whole trip. DH wore t-shirts most of the week and was fine. We did have hoodies and heavy socks, since it was in the 30s when we left KY, but the weather was a delight. Of course, for us, the pools were a no-go.

This year, I'm packing for 80s and 50s, just to be safe. That's going to be a real trick, since we're flying and I will have to pack a smaller bag...

HA Flying Lizard week! That's exactly the week we were there!! The worst day of all was the day that we were in line at HS at 6am. Of course all I had was t-shirts and one thin zip up hoodie. It really was awful. Everytime I think about going back to HS I think of that bitter cold and have to remind myself that it won't be that way this time.... I promise I am really not a wuss but that was absolutely terrible. It was wet cold so you know how Florida always has moisture in the air, as in humid as hell? Turn that moisture into freezing cold moisture. See, I am traumatized.

 

[cfoxga]

Don't forget about the Seasonal Passes and the APH rates at the onsite hotels, as well as the park-to-park benefit. I don't know what your 2+3 tickets cost, but the Seasonal Pass is only $305. You only need one AP for the hotel discount. If you decide that you might make a second trip before the APs expire, you could upgrade your other tickets to APs at the end of the trip.

We tend to go to both parks each day. We'll go to one park in the morning, back to the hotel after lunch, and then go to the other park in the afternoon/evening. We do enjoy riding HE, as well are HP fans.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

HA Flying Lizard week! That's exactly the week we were there!! The worst day of all was the day that we were in line at HS at 6am. Of course all I had was t-shirts and one thin zip up hoodie. It really was awful. Everytime I think about going back to HS I think of that bitter cold and have to remind myself that it won't be that way this time.... I promise I am really not a wuss but that was absolutely terrible. It was wet cold so you know how Florida always has moisture in the air, as in humid as hell? Turn that moisture into freezing cold moisture. See, I am traumatized.

Awesome excuse to pick up the Knight Bus hoodie! I actually bought mine during an August trip, but so perfect for cool days...

 

[Laura353741]

Awesome excuse to pick up the Knight Bus hoodie! I actually bought mine during an August trip, but so perfect for cool days...

What is this?? I will have to research this! We were in Universal that week too!

 

[CyndiLooWho]

What is this?? I will have to research this! We were in Universal that week too!

https://shop.universalorlando.com/shop/knight-bus-adult-hooded-sweatshirt
LOVE mine. The color is kind of aged, the weight is not too thick and not thin at all, the fit is a little big - I went down one size. I suck at selfies or I'd post a pic of me wearing it. It is amazing with purple hair.

They also sell this as a tshirt. The tee has writing on the back - ALL DESTINATIONS (Nothing Underwater) - in white, just like the back of the Knight Bus.

@Laura353741