WDW first week of January

[DHSsenior007]

Does anyone have any advice for going the first week of January? How are the crowds and the weather?

TIA!

 

[Judge Fudge]

I was there in the first week quite a few years ago. Unfortunately for us they had a bad freeze down there, and we needed jackets almost the whole time. Crowds were non-existant at pretty much any point.

 

[mousemom218]

We've gone that week many years. The crowd level is nice and low, and the weather is iffy. Usually we just wear jeans and long sleeve shirts, jackets only at night and in the a.m. Try it, you'll like it!

 

[kellymonster23]

My family and I were there this past January, actually December 30 - January 7. We thought that it would be a great time to go when the crowds would be low. We were very disappointed. The parks were very crowded and we waited very long for most rides. The weather was nice for the beginning of the week, shorts and t-shirts with sweatshirts/jackets at night but the end of the week got quite cold, mid 40's. Not sure if it was so crowded because of the Happiest Celebration on Earth or what. The Disney marathon was also on January 7th so that may have had something to do with it. Just a little info for you from this year. Either way, it's Disney and you'll have a great time!!!!! Enjoy your trip!!

 

[DHSsenior007]

Thanks! We've been several times, even twice during Christmas week, so I'm sure we'll be glad to get away from those kind of crowds. Does the relay cause any effects on the parks that weekend?

 

[Nancyg56]

My family and I were there this past January, actually December 30 - January 7. We thought that it would be a great time to go when the crowds would be low. We were very disappointed. The parks were very crowded and we waited very long for most rides. The weather was nice for the beginning of the week, shorts and t-shirts with sweatshirts/jackets at night but the end of the week got quite cold, mid 40's. Not sure if it was so crowded because of the Happiest Celebration on Earth or what. The Disney marathon was also on January 7th so that may have had something to do with it. Just a little info for you from this year. Either way, it's Disney and you'll have a great time!!!!! Enjoy your trip!!

We were there from the 1st thru the 8th. The crowds were higher than I had anticipated early in the week, and I was told that many schools did not return until Jan 9th. A friend was at Universal and had the same experience. The crowds were thinner on Friday. Restaurants were busy over the weekend because of the Marathon.

 

[dixiedizfan]

We were there also the first week of January '06. It was VERY crowded that week; in fact the most crowded of the several times we've been there. Main reason is more and more schools don't return from XMas break until the second week of January, and lot of people go there for the marathon at the end of the week. Although there seemed to be, from hearing the accents, TONS of foreigners there as well. The weather was really nice most of the week. We wore jackets on the way to the parks, then left them in a locker during the day, and put them on again in the evenings. It got pretty darn cold (freezing) by Friday, though.

 

[antmaril]

It definitely depends on when the kids go back to school. I think 2007 will be the same. Most kids will go back to school on January 8, 2007.

We arrived this year on January 9th (the Monday after the Marathon). Very low crowds and beautiful weather.

 

[tink1978]

We went the 1st week in January and had relatively short waits (30 minutes or less) on everything. I never really saw much crowding either. Maybe I just picked the least crowded park every day.

 

[dixiedizfan]

We went the 1st week in January and had relatively short waits (30 minutes or less) on everything. I never really saw much crowding either. Maybe I just picked the least crowded park every day.

Don't know what crowded is to you, but there were no least crowded parks the week we were there.

 

[MikeWD]

Haven't been the first week, but was there the 3rd week one January. It was great! Weather was nice -- jeans and t-shirt (light jacket for evening). Crowds were nonexistent. We were able to get off of a ride and immediately get right back on. My favorite time to go!

 

[Camif]

Just wanting to bump this...

We are thinking of trying for the 1-6 but don't know how crowded it will be. We did WDW in March during spring break and the longest wait we had was for Everest (45 min) will it be worse than that at this time of year??

We have bowl tickets so we will be in Olando anyway and wanted to surprise the kids.