Water park in January?

[snowman]

Is it worth going? I would think the crowds would be far lower, but maybe not. I know it's usually only Typhoon Lagoon open during that time so maybe it gets crowded?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Cloudy]

I have not been in January but we have been several times over Christmas break. With temps usually around 70 degrees there has never been a crowd. Normally not much more than us Ohioans and a bunch of shivering lifeguards in coats and sweatpants.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Also note, they closed them down multiple days this January because of cold.

 

[marciemi]

Agree that I wouldn't count on it. I remember going a decade ago several times when it was in the upper 50's and lower 60's but noticed this winter especially that for sure if temps were forecast below 70's that the water park wasn't opening. Also, whether it's BB or TL that will be open seems to alternate by the year. This year in January only BB was open (after the first couple days).

 

[snowman]

Thanks all. I guess I will have to resort to doing the thing I hate most....playing it by ear.

 

[GEM]

We've gone in January every year for the last five years. We've always had at least one or two good water park days, even this year when it was, overall, much colder than usual on our trip.

 

[pa. dad]

i was there last few days of december and until the 4th of january this year.
First few days we were in town it was nice and hot well into the 80s. Then it got colder after a daylong rain and only made it into the 60s. And it stayed cooler for a while.

Disney only keeps one water park open then and if the weather is like that, they don;t bother to open the water park sometimes. When temps are in the low 60s as the high and it is still in the 40s in the morning, the waterpark is not the place many want to be. Unless you're from the Artic. I gotta think it takes the water a few days to warm up after a cool spell like that too. I think the "average" high that time of year is about 70 degrees.

 

[Shanti]

Is it worth going? I would think the crowds would be far lower, but maybe not. I know it's usually only Typhoon Lagoon open during that time so maybe it gets crowded?

Thanks for your help.

We went to Disney in late January this year, and although temps were officially in the mid-50's, strong winds put the felt temperature in the 30's. It can get quite cold at WDW in midwinter, & a water park would be sheer misery in such weather.

 

[rteetz]

It really varies with weather in January. The last two years I have gone in January during marathon weekend 2015 saw 30s-50s with one day at 70. 2016 saw 50s-70s but still not great water park weather. Also usually one of the water parks is closed for refurbishment in January. Now looking back at weather in January 2014 it was in the 80s so it's possible the weather could still be nice.

 

[jmkjr72]

We have done tl in January before and lover it
We have also been at resort pools in January when security came by and told us that the pools may be closing soon because of temps

It didn't phase us but then again we are from wisconsin and even cold January temps in fl are warm for us
Heck the January temps were warmer then the temps we had last memorial day for the opening of noahs ark

 

[ClareVoince]

We've done it in January/early Feb. before and were fine. Not too big of crowds, but you do have to keep your fingers crossed with the weather. I do think it's bearable!

 

[jmkjr72]

Remember the only pool not heated will be the swimming with the sharks pool

We did that last may and it was a cooler day the time in the shark pool want bad it was just cool when we got out. But we also did the supplied air snorkeling so we were in the pool for about a half hour

 

[marciemi]

We have done tl in January before and lover it
We have also been at resort pools in January when security came by and told us that the pools may be closing soon because of temps

It didn't phase us but then again we are from wisconsin and even cold January temps in fl are warm for us
Heck the January temps were warmer then the temps we had last memorial day for the opening of noahs ark

Yeah, that was the point I was trying to make. That it may be fine for you (we also lived in WI & N. MI for many years) but these days if it's not good for most people, they may not waste resources/pay the CM's to open the parks, unlike in the past.

So to the OP - if you plan to go sometime the week of say January 12th, most likely you'll be fine and have a fun day when it's comfortable to swim and not that crowded. But if your goal is to block in only to go on the 12th, you may well be disappointed.