What to expect in January?

[isobar]

We are planning to visit Disney World the third week of January. What should we expect with park hours, room rates, crowds, etc. I know no one can predict the future but maybe someone that has been in the past could shed some light on it for me. By the way I am an annual pass holder so maybe someone knows the past room rates that time of the year, we plan to stay at the Contemporary.(our favorite resort) Thanks.

 

[anabella]

January is one of the lowest seasons, so the parks are not corewded at all! we always go in january, what you will need to do is dress like an onion cause it is really really cold in the mornings and for a T-shirt at lunch time, other than that is a very good season!
as for rooms rates I have no clue as we always rent a house or a townhouse in the area.
Hope this helps
Ana

 

[Tiffany]

We are planning to visit Disney World the third week of January. What should we expect with park hours, room rates, crowds, etc. I know no one can predict the future but maybe someone that has been in the past could shed some light on it for me. By the way I am an annual pass holder so maybe someone knows the past room rates that time of the year, we plan to stay at the Contemporary.(our favorite resort) Thanks.

Hi

We have been the third week of Jan the last two years and have airfare booked for Jan 2006. The park hours are short but there are no crowds so you are able to get everything done if not more then when the parks are open later. It is value season so the rates at the resorts are the lowest. We stayed at the AKL in a savanna view room with an AP rate of $151 plus tax a night this past Jan. A great rate compared to the $210 that is listed on Mousesavers for this upcoming Sept which is a value seasn also. We enjoy going in Jan. The only thing is the weather is all over the place so you need to keep an eye on the weather channel web site and pack accordingly. We are from Boston so when it was in the 40's this past Jan down in Orlando my mother has dealing with temps in the teens and snow so I will take the 40's any day. Go and enjoy.

 

[bicker]

We typically go during the fourth week in January, but we're going early this year, so will likely be there the same week as you. As others have indicated, the weather is variable: Sometimes it is downright cold, sometime pleasantly warm. The crowds are always non-existent.

The park hours are rarely extended past normal park hours, as would be the case during more crowded times of the year. Basically, the parks are all open 9am to 5pm, with AK sometimes open a little earlier, Epcot always open until 9pm, and D-MGM always open until Fantasmic starts (just after sundown).

 

[jordanyosh]

Keep an eye out for Cheerleaders as Jan/Feb is Championship Season. Check out www.varsity.com for the dates for 2006. They don't really impact the parks too, too much, but we hit MGM on a day they were all there. It was more crowded and definitely more noisy in lines....

Looking at my itinerary from last year. AK: 9-5pm; MGM:9-7pm; MK: 9-7pm/9-8pm a few days; Epcot FW: 9-7pm/Epcot WS 11-9pm. Depending on how evening EMH goes, the MK seems to be the least impacted because it has the most attractions open. We walked on all the attractions, even Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan.....

It is one of the slowest times of the year...very nice.

 

[sugermouse]

Small crowds, good food and lousy weather!

 

[AJKMOM]

Not sure when MLK Day is, but attendance peaks then.

 

[Bob P]

Hi Isobar,

Try this for a general idea of park hours the last few Januarys:http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/calendar/historical/archive/default.asp

Bob

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

Crowds should be light, and weather should be comfortable. The only thing I would worry about in January is that it seems like a lot of rides/attractions close for refurbishment in Januaury and there is usually more general park maintenance going on in plain sight.

 

[bicker]

I've been at WDW on MLK Day and never noticed any significant crowds -- it's not much different than any weekend day during the month.

 

[TinkerBellz33]

I agree with Bicker~we've been every January, and MLK doesn't really show a difference of crowd levels....if you're worried about it, I would maybe just aviod Magic Kingdom that day, that's the only park that may have an increase of people.

 

[1MegMeg]

We went the third weekend of January this year and plan to go again next. The crowds were comfortable, the weather was mild (and that's coming from a Floridian who thinks 50 degrees is cold ), and the room rates were the best. Since that time of year is value season we got Pop for $49/night.