What about January?

[arkansasdisneyfan]

We just got back from WDW a few weeks ago and are already planning the next trip. My daughter wants to go on her birthday, which is in the second week of January. Are the parks still decorated for Christmas the first week of the month? What is the weather like there at this time? Also, what will the crowds be like during this time? I need some input here. I would have to pull her out of school to do this. She is a straight A student so I don't worry about her getting too behind but I do need to know if it would be worth the hassle of taking her out of school and week in order to go at this time?

May 1984-Off site
May 2004-Port Orleans Riverside
???? 2005-Port Orleans Riverside

 

[chyam]

I think most of the decorations are still up the first week in January and the crowds have usually thinned out by then..actually I think the parks are pretty quiet. But the weather sometimes can be iffy, most of the time it is not swimming weather even if you are a northerner! I think it would be worth pulling her out of school for...........you are only young once!

 

[aprilgail2]

We went one January and did nOT pack right for the trip...we packed shorts and light shirts and we froze! We had to buy sweatshirts and sweatpants there...no way could we swim...brrr....

 

[MrsJ Henry]

My understanding is that they start taking the decorations down right after the 1st but I could be wrong.

 

[danny1649]

Christmas decorations 2nd of January with all the decorations gone by 6th or 7th at the latest.Crowds will be low, great for touring the parks.Bring clothes you can layer because weather can be cold to warm at this time of year.Park hours will be shorter but wiyh low crowds you should be able to see and do all you want.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Well, according to CMs I've talked to in my several "first week of January trips", Christmas decorations at the resorts sometimes stay up until the CMs have time to take them down. One year, I was checking out on January 8 and the Christmas decorations at both POR and POFQ were still up because CMs hadn't had time yet. However, I agree overall-I wouldn't expect anything to be up the second week of January.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

The 2nd week of January is our favorite time of the year to visit. We have seen very few decorations left up by then. Crowds are at the lowest and rates are lower too. WE have never had too bad of weather. It has been colder in December when we have gone. We have taken DS out of school through 5th grade and never had a problem or regret. Out of trips in March, July, DEcember and January, we like Januray the best.


Jordans' mom

 

[Jillpie]

Its funny you should ask. We JUST finished our most recent trip this past January 9-18th. We have three boys, ages 15, 11 and 12. We LOVED this trip. We stayed at the BCV's for the first time. The Xmas trees were up when we arrived on the 9th at the resorts. They were down by the middle of the following week. Its weird though, I didn't like seeing Xmas decorations when I was there. Xmas was over in my mind and I just don't equate DW to that holiday. Anyway, I can't tell you how wonderful it was. The marathon was going on that weekend and it didn't affect the parks in any way. The crowds were just not there the entire week, walked on every ride every single day. The weather was chilly in the mornings (needed sweatshirts). Swam every afternoon (a little chilly coming out, but didn't bother us, had the whole pool to ourselves many times) and the evenings were sweatshirts again. I would highly recommend it if walking on to rides is important to you. It was just great.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Originally posted by Jillpie
Its weird though, I didn't like seeing Xmas decorations when I was there. Xmas was over in my mind you.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one! In January the Christmas music bothered me. I was so sad when I was walking in to Epcot and they were playing Christmas music, not the typical Epcot "bush music" (well, "so sad" is an exageration-I WAS at Epcot!) However, last year I finally got to go to WDW a couple weeks before Christmas, and I just loved all the Christmas music. But after December, it should be over!