WDW in January

[KyleRayner]

I was thinking of planning a weekend trip to WDW Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend next year. I've never been to WDW in January. I was just curious to know from people who have gone in January, what the weather was like.

 

[simzac]

This year we had highs in the 70's for 3 days, then highs in the 50's the next 3. You just never know what the weather will be like, whether your at WDW or your own home. JMO

 

[bobbiwoz]

We made it a 4 night MLKjr. weekend this year. It was very windy, and it was chilly, but the wind was troublesome. The friendship boats couldn't even dock at the Swan, and there was talk of having them cancelled and routing a bus from Epcot to the BWV and others.

It was on the Saturday that the winds were so especially bad. We had gone to Orange City to see the manatees in Blue Springs SP and the tour excursion boat on the St. John's River was cancelled in the PM due to winds.

We usually go to Florida that weekend, and it's usually been chilly. We've been to St. Augustine, needed sweatshirts and more, and the way the locals talked, it was unusually chilly. We've been told the very same line when we were in Marco Island for MLKjr weekend. However, don't believe them, it could be cold in Florida in January.

The parks were fine as far as the crowds go. We had great viewing for Wishes one night, and had dinner at Cindy's castle. There were walk ons for the Millionaire show in MGM and taping for the syndicated show, we were in the audience. We have plans to go to Orlando again this coming MLKjr weekend, we're staying off site, in a Marriott facility. We are too heavily borrowed pointwise.

I enjoy swimming and used the BWV villa pool, in the mornings. The air was chilly, but the water was fine for me.

Bobbi

 

[munchkin bunchkin]

We went in January of this year and it was nice . The daytime temp was in the 70's + and the nights were chilly . It beats freezing at that time of the year( here in NY)

 

[MrsNick]

We made it a 4 night MLKjr. weekend this year. It was very windy, and it was chilly, but the wind was troublesome. The friendship boats couldn't even dock at the Swan, and there was talk of having them cancelled and routing a bus from Epcot to the BWV and others.

It was on the Saturday that the winds were so especially bad. We had gone to Orange City to see the manatees in Blue Springs SP and the tour excursion boat on the St. John's River was cancelled in the PM due to winds.

We usually go to Florida that weekend, and it's usually been chilly. We've been to St. Augustine, needed sweatshirts and more, and the way the locals talked, it was unusually chilly. We've been told the very same line when we were in Marco Island for MLKjr weekend. However, don't believe them, it could be cold in Florida in January.

The parks were fine as far as the crowds go. We had great viewing for Wishes one night, and had dinner at Cindy's castle. There were walk ons for the Millionaire show in MGM and taping for the syndicated show, we were in the audience. We have plans to go to Orlando again this coming MLKjr weekend, we're staying off site, in a Marriott facility. We are too heavily borrowed pointwise.

I enjoy swimming and used the BWV villa pool, in the mornings. The air was chilly, but the water was fine for me.

Bobbi

Bobbi, how funny, DH and I were at WDW the same weekend this year! And yes, I remember how cold and windy that Saturday was. We arrived on Thursday evening, had beautiful weather all day Friday and woke up to BRRRR! on Saturday. We're from the NY Metro area and were surprised that it was so windy and cold. We went to see Wishes that night and the CM's were roping off a large perimeter around Cindy's Castle because they were afraid the fireworks would be blown that far off.

Anyhoo, sorry to the OP for hijacking the thread . The first two days we were there we had highs in the Upper 70's. Saturday I think was in the Lo 40's if not Upper 30's. Sunday was slightly warmer. Monday we left

 

[MonkeyPants]

warm enough to swim in the pools?

 

[yourgoingagain?]

It's one of the best times to go. Typically light jacket/sweat shirt weather during the day. Crowds are low (except MLK weekend). You do not feel quite as tired because the heat is not as bad as it gets here most of the year. It is already high 80's to low 90's down here.

I personally would not go swimming but plenty of people do as the pools at most of the resorts are heated.

 

[tink4ever]

We were also there that weekend and my DS's swam 2 out of the 4 days. The weather was nice for us being from CT but I remember seeing a lot of people in the parks with winter coats and hats and gloves. We couldn't believe it. But everyone is different. January is iffy so pack a little of winter and summer and you will be fine. Have a great vaca!! We will be there from 1/12-1/21. Can't wait.

 

[KyleRayner]

It sounds like it will be a crap shoot regarding the weather. How do you pack for the weather?

 

[1000th happy haunt]

It sounds like it will be a crap shoot regarding the weather. How do you pack for the weather?

I checked the forecast for Orlando before packing. We went for a weekend this past January (the Expedition Everest Sneak Peak), and the weather was great. DH and I walked around in t-shirts, while the locals wore heavy coats and gloves . We did take jackets to wear in the evening (I should say we had jackets with us because we needed them in Philly).

 

[bobbiwoz]

We probably brought 1 pair of shorts apiece, just because we were going to Florida, but DH and I are happy in jeans, and we each have a sweat shirt. We also have heavier things to wear because it's cold in Ohio and a long walk to the car from the terminal, but we don't generally wear those things in Florida.

You definitely can tell who the locals are though, they are the ones with gloves and scarves and heavy jackets.

Bobbi

 

[TinkGirl]

We've been in Jan. 3 times, and have had mostly great weather. The Florida sun feels great then! It seems that we usually are fine with wearing either pants or shorts with sweatshirts in the mornings and evenings and just taking them off during the warm part of the day. Sometimes we haven't even needed the sweatshirts--you never know. It is a little hard to pack. You just have to bring things you can layer. My kids swam in the resort pools every trip. I like it a little warmer. The best thing about Jan. is that you are not all drained from the heat and humidity. We usually stayed in the parks all day without needing a break.

 

[Barak's Disney]

We have made 3 trips in January. We have had pretty good luck with the weather. Our last trip it was in the high 60's for 2 days and low 70's for 2 days. The days seemed to start off pretty chilly, heat up, then end on a chilly note. My girls and I wore capri pants, short sleeved shirts and sweatshirts. We just removed or added the sweatshirts as needed. My husband wore jeans, t-shirt and a sweatshirt. In the early mornings, we threw a lap blanket over the girls in their rented double stroller. A couple of mornings during our last trip, I would have liked to have had a pair of lightweight gloves for the 1st hour or so in the parks. We were able to swim on all of our trips but we consider anything above 70 to be swimming weather (and dang it, if we are in Florida, we are swimming!) - I wouldn't consider January a good time to plan a water park trip or a day of lounging poolside though - it could happen, but I wouldn't count on it. Great time to tour the parks ... shorter hours, but you are able to do so much more with your time.

 

[MonkeyPants]

It sounds like it will be a crap shoot regarding the weather. How do you pack for the weather?

Jan will likely be the time I take my longer trips, I will just check weather.com for their 10 day forcasts and back occordingly...aka best guess

 

[Dina]

We love January, and have been making it an annual thing. In '05 we had very warm weather (definitely warm enough for swimming) in the mid '80s. This past January was cooler (people were swimming, but it was too cool for me) highs in the high '60s and low '70s. I wore jeans and long sleeve t-shirts during the day, and just brought a sweat shirt for night time. Packing for January can be tough, I think you need to bring alot more. I'd keep checking the forecast (I usually check the 10 day forecast before we leave) to see what it says. But, generally I bring a few pairs of shorts, a few pairs of jeans or khakis, a few t-shirts, a few long sleeve light shirts and a sweatshirt or two (plus my fleece in case it is really cold-- though I usually just wear that to the airport anyway). I bring a bathing suit (just in case) and some gloves too-- you never know (I did wear mine in the early morning).

 

[dianeschlicht]

We love January too, but usually travel earlier in the month. We have done more than 10 January trips, and find the weather to be very changeable. We have had a high of 90+ and a low below freezing. Most of the time it is somewhere inbetween though. I'd say we usually EXPECT around mid 60's-70. Mornings will be cooler, but being from Minnesota, we KNOW it will be better than home!

 

[tgj]

We had a bunch of cloudy, cool days with a bit of rain, but the parks were practically empty, especially in the mornings.

The biggest disadvantage, IMO, was the early closing times. I believe that AK closed at 4 or 5, MGM and MK were closed around 7 or. So unless you were at Epcot (closed at 9) or DTD, your day was over early. We were able to work around it, but something to be considered....

I think the advantages outweighed the disadvantages though...

 

[dianeschlicht]

We had a bunch of cloudy, cool days with a bit of rain, but the parks were practically empty, especially in the mornings.

The biggest disadvantage, IMO, was the early closing times. I believe that AK closed at 4 or 5, MGM and MK were closed around 7 or. So unless you were at Epcot (closed at 9) or DTD, your day was over early. We were able to work around it, but something to be considered....

I think the advantages outweighed the disadvantages though...

True, the early closing is something to manage, but we usually manage that by doing Epcot later in the day, because it will be open later. We never stick to one park a day anyway.

 

[cleopatra]

We go to WDW every year in January. Over the years we have experienced every type of weather from freezing to 80 degrees - no snow - yet. Last year we spent a day at Blizzard Beach and got sunburnt - the previous year saw us in MK at 8.00 am in thick coats, hats and scarves and we were still very, very cold. We have found the only thing you can predict is that the weather will be unpredictable and we pack both warm weather and cold weather clothes each time now just to be prepared.