WDW in January?

[dangler]

Just wondering if anyone has gone to Disney in January? Crowds would likely be low, but how is the weather??? Better than here thats for sure, but can you still go swimming?

 

[zenkatt]

went last january and am planning on going again this one. we were there the third week and have never seen lower crowds(even better than late nov early dec) we got that pay for 4 days at a resort get 3 free with the $200 gift card promo(hope disney does that again this year) waaaaaaayyyy too cold to go swimming. my first time at the parks where i had to wear a jacket as we were freezing. but didn't care as just about everything at disney and universal was a walk on.

 

[iluveeyore]

I was there in January 09 too, using the 4/3 deal as well - left my winter coat in the car at the airport and regretted it - I had to walk around in layers most mornings and evenings, then maybe get a t-shirt afternoon here and there. But they said it was a really unusual cold snap, so you might get lucky. It was actually 38 degrees F each morning - brrrr. But I could still see palm trees!!!!! Just pack for all seasons and you'll be fine. It's better to have too many clothes than to have to go buy something to wear at the parks!
To show the difference in temps: here's me watching Wishes (and it wasn't busy at all)

And here's me at the end of the week at Animal Kingdom:

So you really can dress for all seasons (one good tip - the $1 stretch gloves are a must for evenings if it's cool)

Enjoy - the parks weren't that busy and I had a wonderful time. I didn't miss the pool at all, and it was nice not to melt in the sun all day. Plus I left two feet of snow at home, so I was in Heaven!

 

[DutchsMommy]

Agree with iluveeyore - we have been 3 or 4 times in Jan/Feb and the weather is variable....definately bring warm jacket (not super duty winter one, but late fall one for sure) and we bring stretchy mini-gloves for everyone. Long pants, long sleeve shirts, shorts or capris and short sleeve shirts as well. Packing is actually a bit of a pain but the low crowds are worth it! We have been swimming but not last year as it was quite cold! Pack suits, prepare kids not to swim and if they end up being able to it is a bonus.

 

[BebopBaloo]

We really enjoyed visiting WDW in January earlier this year. The weather is cool, but not freezing. Usually we would start the day with jeans and jackets and take off the jackets by noon. T-shirts were fine for the afternoon and then jackets again after dark. However, our last day there...when all I had left to wear were black sweat type pants....it was really warm. Shorts would've been fine that day!

We didn't go swimming, but the pools were heated. At least they were at the Value resorts. We'd walk by every morning and there would be steam rising off the water from the temperature difference. The people swimming seemed to be enjoying themselves

 

[tribus121]

last January where able to go swimming the first night but by mid week night time temps dropped to almost freezing try to avoid the Martin Luther King Holiday as crowds where a little heavy .

 

[Oshawa]

We have been twice in January (2006 and 2008) for the marathon weekend. We have been pretty lucky with the weather. We would wear sweatshirts and shorts. T-shirts in the afternoon. We did go swimming everyday. We love going at that time of year because the crowds are low. We are going again this January coming up.

 

[SaskDisNut]

I attended a conference from January 18-23, 2009. The weather was very pleasant despite the cool mornings. On a couple of mornings it got close to freezing. But as I walked from the Beach Club to the conference at the Dolphin each morning, I couldn't help but think that it was about as cold as it ever gets there. And knowing it was about -30 at home, I didn't mind it at all. When I went to the parks in the evenings, I wore layers and dollar store gloves and was quite comfortable.

Here are a couple of shots I took while walking to the Dolphin.

 

[Oshawa]

I attended a conference from January 18-23, 2009. The weather was very pleasant despite the cool mornings. On a couple of mornings it got close to freezing. But as I walked from the Beach Club to the conference at the Dolphin each morning, I couldn't help but think that it was about as cold as it ever gets there. And knowing it was about -30 at home, I didn't mind it at all. When I went to the parks in the evenings, I wore layers and dollar store gloves and was quite comfortable.

Here are a couple of shots I took while walking to the Dolphin.

Beautiful pics!!

 

[aristocat65]

We were there for a week starting New Years Day in 2008 and the first few days it was FREEEEZING. It was so cold they were getting worried about the orange crops. They said it was below 20 degrees farenheit with the windchill. It was warmer back home on the Wet Coast

Luckily we were prepared and brought gloves, hats and ski jackets! And we wore them! (I always check accuweather before travelling). There were a lot of people walking around in "Mickey Fleece". Our hotel even left "helpful" messages on our room phone reminding us that we could purchase warm fleece items in the gift shop. It did warm up as the week went on though, and we ended up in t shirts and jeans by the end of it.

It really is a mixed bag and you can have anything at that time of year.

 

[dangler]

Thanks for the replies!

 

[aanderson5]

We are going in Jan also and are hoping for at least few warm enough to swim days. We are going for 12 days so fingers crossed. I have to say that we went at the begining of March this year and were very surprised that we had to wear our long sleeves and pants for the first 4 days. Thankfully we drove down and had 2 days worth of warm clothes (plus a washing machine).

 

[BizziBee]

We usually book our trips for mid to late October/early November or January. It can be a little cool. but we swim in the heated pools, Yes even POP is heated! Only once have we actually pulled out our winter jackets in FL. We'd driven down so we had them with us.

 

[tinkerbellmichelle]

we were there Jan. 3 - 8. The weather was amazing. We were in shorts/t-shirts/tank tops/sundresses EVERY DAY. We only had one day with bad weather. We went to ANimal kingdom and it started to POUR. But it didn't last long.

Friends of ours went a week later and FROZE. So I'm guessing it is hit and miss.

We were down south in Naples from the 24th of December and barely had a cloud in the sky the entire time. The ocean was warm and the sun was hot. We loved it.

We're hoping we get similar weather this time around!!!

 

[mariethecat]

We were at All Star Movies from January 9- 16, 2009 and we went swimming two afternoons. We stayed in and around the pool for hours. I think the temperature was in the low to mid 80s F on those days. Most days it was cool in the mornings but warm by noon and cooler in the evenings. The long range weather forecast was quite accurate so we knew what to expect for temperatures before we left cold and snowy Nova Scotia.