WDW in early January - have you been there?

[WDWorld2003]

The only time our family can all be together is early January (2nd - 9th) of 2009.

We just returned from a vacation out west and had a good time but we were rained out many days so we were somewhat disappointed that we could not do all we wanted to do. It got me thinking about our upcoming January vacation.

I have made reservations in a 2 bedroom at BWV but I'm concerned that we will be disappointed at that time of year because of short park hours, possibly less than ideal weather (we've always gone spring break to escape MN winters) and closed attractions for refurb.

Have any of you gone at this time of year? What are the pluses and minuses?

 

[lisah0711]

We have been to WDW in January three times. Like you, we go then to escape the winter weather. Even a rainy day at WDW beats a snowy, icy day at home!

With the EMH we always had plenty of time at the parks. Sometimes your favorite rides will be closed for rehab that time of year. A big plus is that it is not too hot and there aren't too many people, for the most part.

We just returned from a few days at DL -- we much prefer our off season trips even if it means a few things might be closed and we can't swim every day.

That's my 2 cents worth!

 

[desmar9]

We've been several times in early to mid January and we really like it. Less crowds, which is great. If you go very early in Jan., which you are, you can still see some of the Christmas decorations at the resorts and parks. And I have to say we've had a mix of weather during January. One year it was a little chilly - sweatshirts, even gloves a couple of nights. Another year I had to buy some short sleeve shirts there because it was pretty warm. (** and my husband doesn't understand why I overpack!)

 

[drusba]

Been first week of January six times. As far as WDW itself goes the first part of the week is very different from the second. For example, if you go Jan 2 to 9 next year, the first two days will still be very busy from the Christmas crowds and Christmas decorations will still be up, Country Bear will still have its Christmas Bear show rather than the regular show and you will still be able to see the Osbourne Lights at the Studios. The crowds will clear out quickly with Monday an in between day and Tuesday it will be very nice crowd wise. Decorations will come down quickly Monday and Tuesday and will all be gone by Wednesday. (In hotels, Christmas trees and decorations literally disappear overnight). As you go to shorter hours, there is still plenty to do; it is Disney World. They may shut down something for refurbishment but usually that does not occur before the end of that first week.

Weather is somewhat unpredictable. Three years ago, it was sunny and high 70s to low 80s all week. Two years ago, most of the days were sunny and warm (low to mid-70s) and a couple of brief showers. Then it turned cold (50) for a day and then warmed again to the mid-60s and sunny. Last year (meaning 2008), the first and second were nice (70) with some very brief showers. Then we got the two coldest days Orlando had had in five years with lows in the low 20s and highs barely to 40, thereafter it warmed to the mid-50s in one day and the mid-60s the next.

 

[simzac]

We love going in January and always plan to do so.

 

[moredisneyplease]

I agree that the first few days you'll see left over holiday crowd. However, no one has mentioned why most people are there the 2nd week of January......Marathon weekend!! The 1/2 marathon is on the 10th and the full is on the 11th. Even thouh you wont be there for those races, you'll be getting the race crowd. We tend to show up during the week, play around for a few days, hit the expo on Friday, then race the weekend away.

The weather has normally been nice and cool (jeans and sweatshirt) but Jan 07 was crazy hot and humid! I was regstered for both the half and the full, did the half on Saturday in the horrible heat and saw people collapsing and throwing up on the course. I decided Saturday night to skip the Sunday full marathon and ended up at Animal Kingdom playing for the day....of course we hit Kali a few times!

I had kiddo #2 last December so I missed this past January's race. Can anyone share how the weather was race week this year?

 

[mvc1997]

We've been several times in early to mid January and we really like it. Less crowds, which is great. If you go very early in Jan., which you are, you can still see some of the Christmas decorations at the resorts and parks. And I have to say we've had a mix of weather during January. One year it was a little chilly - sweatshirts, even gloves a couple of nights. Another year I had to buy some short sleeve shirts there because it was pretty warm. (** and my husband doesn't understand why I overpack!)

Exactly!!
Warm in the afternoon, cool evenings. We went at the same time you are going, and really enjoyed all the left over Christmas decorations. The parks may be closed early but what the heck, we were out of the snow and ice back home!! In fact it was one of our most relaxing trips. Managed to read two books, and we enjoyed DTD and the ice cream sundeas!!! All at cheaper points. ENJOY!!

 

[DVC Eric]

We have been to WDW in Jan a few times we had some very nice trips and some cold trips in the past.

 

[Mom B]

Hello, fellow Minnesotans! We prefer to travel in January, too, to escape the winter (and celebrate our anniversary since it is MUCH more fun in WDW than at home at 30 below). We have not gone every year, but we have always had pretty good luck with the weather. Sometimes it's unseasonably warm, sometimes it's pretty cool for Florida (like the time they stopped running the boat from OKW to downtown Disney/SSR because it got below 50 degrees in the evening) but it always feels pretty good to us. I admit, I did feel like I was freezing waiting for Illuminations to begin one year, but that was because it was cool AND raining...but it was still better weather than home and I didn't need a parka. I think it's the best time of the year for us to travel...we've been there in October and November and it was TOO HOT for us most of the time. Go and enjoy!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

The only time our family can all be together is early January (2nd - 9th) of 2009.

We just returned from a vacation out west and had a good time but we were rained out many days so we were somewhat disappointed that we could not do all we wanted to do. It got me thinking about our upcoming January vacation.

I have made reservations in a 2 bedroom at BWV but I'm concerned that we will be disappointed at that time of year because of short park hours, possibly less than ideal weather (we've always gone spring break to escape MN winters) and closed attractions for refurb.

Have any of you gone at this time of year? What are the pluses and minuses?

Well as another Minnesotan, let me just say that we LOVE the January WDW weather! No matter what it is, it is always better than home! WE have been many times in January, and it's usually quite a smorgusbord (how's that for a Minnesota word?) of weather. We usually find the early morning on the cool side (think Minnesota in October) and daytime temps are often in the low 70's. Now that's not to say we haven't been a bit chilly in January! If it is rainy (not ver common) it will be downright cold and you might need gloves and a jacket after dark. The temps can be a bit deceiving, since it is a lot damper than home is, and 70 might feel more like 60 sometimes. On the other hand, we have also enjoyed 90 degree days in January, so you really never know. Most of our January trips have been perfect weather for us though. It's quite a shock when you come back home to -20 though!

 

[WDWorld2003]

Thanks everyone... I think we'll keep our plans if I find decent airfare and if things work out with everyone's schedules. I do forget at that time of year how great even 50 degrees would feel! I also did not realize the holiday decorations may still be up for a few days - that would be a bonus since we've never been there during the Christmas season. I would love to see the Osbourne lights and the hotels decorated.

 

[Lexxiefern]

I had kiddo #2 last December so I missed this past January's race. Can anyone share how the weather was race week this year?

This past January it was perfect weather. I think race weekend it might have been in the 60's waiting for the race to start (at 5am!). But I think most of the week was in the low 70's. I do have a picture of me the day after the marathon (monday) wearing a sweatshirt and I think it was cooler that day - maybe low 60's?

We go every January and I love it! The weather usually cooperates and we get 1 o 2 swimming days in. The crowds are low which is nice. Splash mountain is usually closed which stinks, but I go at other times of the year and ride it then. The parks close earlier sometimes around 7pm, but there is EMH. If I could only go at one time per year, I would pick January.

Have a wonderful time! We will be checking in to BWV on Jan 8th so we'll see you there!

 

[PutnamDS]

Well as another Minnesotan, let me just say that we LOVE the January WDW weather! No matter what it is, it is always better than home!

My sentiments exactly! We've been three times in January and we simply love it. It makes me so very happy to leave the snow and ice behind and head to warmer weather. We've been lucky, as it has always been nice weather when we were there in January (70's). But even if it was 50's - I would love it....beats ZERO, which is what we have at home in January!

I also love to see the Christmas decoration. It's great and the lines are not long.

Deb

 

[Anal Annie]

We went over MLK weekend this past January which is more like mid-late January. We really loved getting away even for only 4 nights. Can't go this year as we're doing a ski weekend in January...would love to make it down every January but can only do one or the other... Perhaps we can make it an every other year event.

We had a wide range of weather when we went...some chilly windy 50's, one evening had a beeg thunderstorm complete with driving rain and lightening and one afternoon of low 70's. They were doing the Pirate & Princess Party one night while we were there so we did get one late night at MK... We can't complain about the weather TOO much tho as back home that weekend they had HIGHS in the 20's!! So windy 50's was a good trade! We wore winter coats with zip-out linings and of course had gloves with us since it was freezing cold at home. I packed a little bit of everything for us (1 bathing suit ea., jeans, zip off convertible pants for DH and DS...Tshirts...Sweatshirts...we wore layers...1 extra pr. of shoes each (which was lucky 'cuz of the rain that one night) and I STILL got all 3 of us packed into 1 large duffle bag for the 4 nights! That is probably the greatest packing job I have ever done! LOL!

 

[Muushka]

We have gone every December since 1992. As the years go by, we have watched a quiet time (first or second week) go to a moderately busy time. We really miss those quiet times. So this year (or should I say next year) we are going in Jan instead of Dec. We hope to experience a more peaceful time.

We also hope to witness the WL with Christmas decorations and then without, hoping to actually see the process.

We arrive on 1/3 thru 1/9. I am glad to read about that time frame. Wish us luck!

 

[DonnaL]

We also visit very early January for the past several years (we need to stick with the Penn State semester schedule.....DH is adjunct faculty and we've also had one of the kids at PSU for the past 9 years.....the baby is now a sophomore) and just love WDW at that time of year. Muushka: Our home resort is VWL and this past year my 19 year old stayed up until 4:00 a.m. in the lobby at the lodge watching the decorations coming down on the 4th........he said it was amazing.........there were probably 50 people there and everything is tagged, crated, and moved out.......I believe they started about midnight and were just about finished when he finally left the lobby and came back to our room.