Weather and crowds late January

[DISFANSHAN]

Thinking of putting together a 4 night trip for the last weekend in January.
Anyone have any first-hand knowledge on crowds and weather then? I know it will be on the chilly side but do you need a coat or will a sweatshirt and jeans do?
Also, I know historically it is a low-crowd time to go, but are weekends crowded w/locals? How long are wait times for the most popular attractions?
Any info would be appreciated!

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

We were there in Jan., two years ago. We didn't need a PS for most restaurants (if we had to wait more than 10 minutes we would go elsewhere). I don't remember specific days of the weeks but the lines we very low, even on the weekends (we avoid MK on weekends).

I remember being in shorts and a t-shirt during the day and putting a light jacket on in the evenings. DW wore pants during the day and was comfortable. We went swimming also with no problem.

I hope this helps a little.

 

[aec]

We're going 1/20 - 1/25 so I am interested too!

A friend of mine went this same time last year and she said she wore cotton capries and SS shirts during the day and added a sweater or sweatshirt at night. It was nice but not exactlty swimming weather. She also indicated that the crowd were low.

Anyone out there with first hand experience? WHen do the "crowds clear out from the MLK holiday weekend. Does it ever get hot during late January such that shorts are necessary or will capris be OK.

 

[aec]

Thanks pooh and piglet - didn't see your post when I poseted my reply!

 

[blanq]

I have been to WDW in January three times: last year we went the week of MLK; our other Jan trips fell the last week of Jan.

Last year, the MLK crowd cleared out substantially by Wed of the holiday week and the weather was sunny except for one day where we had some drizzle. The daytime temps hovered in the high 60's/low 70's the entire week. Evenings and mornings were very chilly (like 40). Tuesday at AK was quite crowded and we left by lunchtime. The parks the rest of the week were great, with no or little wait times. We rarely used fastpass the remainder of the week.

Our trips falling the last week in January were great as far as crowds go, with little or no wait times (except for a Saturday at the MK that fell on Superbowl weekend when the game was in Tampa...that was just plain nuts). In later January we have had warmer temps (mid 70's) although experienced more clouds. Really, the weather in Jan. is such a crap shoot!

 

[aec]

Thanks blanq. That's what I was hoping to hear about the crowds. We arrive on the Thursday after the MLK holiday. I will definately bring warm clothes for the a.m and evening. I can't stand getting a chill!

 

[Sandyincanada]

Yep, I agree...a big crap shoot. Every year, its different, actually everyday can be very different. In a one week trip, we've gone to Typhoon Lagoon (80F's) to spring jackets the next day. I like wind suits I can wear shorts and a T-shirt under and peel off as the day goes on. Its also relative to what you are used to as well. We'd be in shorts (coming from cold Manitoba) and see others in jackets and we'd all look at each other like the other was crazy .

Crowds were pretty good, although we don't do the parks on a Sat, use it as a travel or an "off" day. Most of the big attractions had a 10-15 min wait the times we were there excluding first thing in the morning when it was almost a walk-on.

 

[talicskai]

We were there on Jan 24/03 and it snowed while we walked down Main Street! We drove from Ontario so we had winter coats, hats and mitts in our trunk and boy did we use them! There was zero line-ups but DD5 froze her hands on the Carousel! When we got back to Vistana later that night all the news reports were about this snow and how excited the local school kids were....BTW it was warm at home in Canada that same week! Go figure.......

 

[jay-nee]

We were there the week of 01/18/03 thru 01/25/03 and it was COLD! We woke up to 20 degree mornings and we didn't bring our jackets! We bought hats and wore two sweatshirts a piece and we were still cold!

We are from Maine! Yes, we've always lived here (someone else asked this before).

My suggestion...be prepared for anything! We were told by the CMS that they always get a cold snap so, you just never know...

We had one nice day (my DD's Bday!) and we went swimming briefly. Within an hour, it was cold again.

We're trying it again this year (same week) and hoping for WARM weather and LOW crowds!

We're bringing jackets, hats, mittens, long pants, and summer stuff too! Hoping to just use the summer stuf!!!

 

[jmclester]

Hmmm....Low crowds, no hurricanes, no heat, 50/50 shot a moderate weather. I think I feel a trip planning session brewing!!

 

[gymmom]

We will be there that last week of January, also. It's scary to think of all the luggage we are going to have to bring with us on the plane!!! I only planned to bring enough clothes for half the trip and do laundry, but winter coats, hats, gloves, scarves will take up at least one BIG suitcase! We will probably need 2 carts at the airport! I guess I need to make sure we rent a big enough car to get all this stuff to and from the airport. Thinking about it, I'm a little sorry we decided to stay off-site for the first night. I had planned to put all toiletries, medications, other essentials, and a change of clothes in one or two bags so that we would only have to unpack some of our stuff that night, but this mayh make packing logistics a real headache! DH is "The Master Packer". I think I'll get everything ready and let him deal with it.

Lisa

 

[Geoff_M]

We've been twice during that time-frame and it's probably are favorite time to go to WDW for all the reasons mentioned above. The weather is a real crapshoot. The threat of rain is pretty small compared to summer, but the temperature can be all over the map. We had lows in the high 30's and highs in the 50's one day, and then warm and 80 the next!

 

[crazywig]

We were there the week of 01/18/03 thru 01/25/03 and it was COLD! We woke up to 20 degree mornings and we didn't bring our jackets! We bought hats and wore two sweatshirts a piece and we were still cold!

we were there that same week! it was crazy, we wore shorts on some days, and hats and gloves the next. we are from massachusetts and it was -1 at our house when we left so we weren't complaining about 30 degree weather in orlando

we going this january as well, the 22-28th...can't beat the low crowds!

 

[goofydad621]

We were there the week of 01/18/03 thru 01/25/03 and it was COLD! We woke up to 20 degree mornings and we didn't bring our jackets! We bought hats and wore two sweatshirts a piece and we were still cold!

We are from Maine! Yes, we've always lived here (someone else asked this before).

Hi Jay-nee

I hope you were not offended when I asked if you had always lived in Maine, like I said allot of people from away live in Southern Maine and New Hampshire now....lol

We are going in January also, 20th - 29th and are hoping for anything about 60° after this mornings snow 60 will seem like summer.

Jay-nee where are you staying? WL for us

thanks all for the info

 

[melindaandrob]

I'll take Florida's coldest day over chipping ice off the windshield, trudging through 3 ft. of snow, shovelling snow, slipping on ice.....

 

[QuickGold]

You can find historical crowd sizes at http://www.mgmstudios.org/wait.html

 

[DISFANSHAN]

Thanks guys for all the info. We are now offically booked! (although I think no matter what kind of info I got from this thread, I was still going to book it!)

 

[Carrieberry]

Yeah! We will be there January 21-28 and it is our first time going in Jan. We have done the last 2 trips in the beginning of Dec and it sounds like the weather is similar or maybe a tad cooler. We already had planned on bringing oour heavy coats and gloves and hats so nothing changed there. We live in AZ so really anything below 50 is freezing to us!

 

[Sandyincanada]

We've been 3 times in Jan and have not had to wear anymore than a spring jacket a few days. I'm really hoping thats the norm and not the 2003 temps as we go in early Feb. 2003 temps were just freaky, I think...we were in Cuba at that time and the weather wasn't all that great there either. If I recall, both places had temps that were below normal last year so I'm really really hoping we'll have the same weather we had on our previous trips

 

[jay-nee]

No, not offended, I just figured I'd clarify this time.

I keep just hoping that the weather cooperates this time. Plus, we want LOW crowds! Really, really low! LOL We were so disappointed that it was so busy after Jeanne in late Sept/early Oct. We were there for 16 days and the day before and the day after Jeanne it was great, then it was madness. We are willing to put up with heat, but with so many people, yuck! We are hoping that this Sept's trip is much quieter!

Now, about our Jan trip... we are staying at POR, hoping for the mansions, as it has been years since we've stayed in the mansions! I tried to get the family to go to CSR, WL, or AKL but they wanted POR. Maybe in Sept, we will try one of those.

I did try to get the AP rate for WL or AKL and it was taken anyway, so it wasn't meant to be for us this time...

I thought a room with bunkbeds would be cool!

Today it is rainy after sleeting ALL night. Crazy Maine weather! Monday we are supposed to get more winter weather... I just hope when we drive down and back to Fl in Jan that the weather cooperates then! We are going to Boma the 1st night for DD's 11th Bday! Can't wait! Only 40 days!!!!!