When is best weather and crowd wise - end of Jan or end of Feb?

[DVC Gma]

We used to go the week after MLK. We typically wore shorts, but one year I wore two fleeces p (and someone who didn’t layer ended up buying a second sweatshirt). If the temperature in Florida gets below freezing, it’s a big deal, and there are freeze warnings (orange trees can’t survive a freeze). The crowds were reasonable, but Disney decreases staffing during low crowd times. So they would only run one side of a ride (or load half the cars on People Mover), making waits longer. Check the event calendars to avoid the RunDisney and ProBowl and Wide World of Sports crowds. (We were once at All Stars with 1000 cheerleaders who were all practicing outside.

I personally (as an upstate-NYer, who understands cold) have had to wear winter coats in FL in both mid-Jan and mid-Feb before (it dipped into the 30s both trips). It's really a toss up both months. That said, those were fluke days and most of the rest of both trips were very very comfortable! I'd focus on crowds/events over weather personally.

Late to this party subject, but being from Michigan we would have to wear a winter coat to the airport I think, esp the kids.
We need to reschedule our trip that should be right now, due to Hurricane Helene. So thanks for the Mid Jan to Mid Feb experience. We are looking at this time frame. We will have a 5 yr old and 2 yr old & normally I travel in May w/o kids.

We went in January one year and I had to Amazon warmer clothes to POP - we thought coming from WI, Disney World temps would feel like paradise, but that was not the case. LOL

weird question, did the Disney shops have like short sleeves/shorts? Thinking easier to bring warmer clothes and just get hotter weather if needed at parks? Trying to decide to reschedule in Mid Jan or Feb.

 

[bdrex28]

Not only do we have a trip planned late January but also late October into Nov. I was hopeful it might be in the 70s at least, but we'll see.

 

[DVC Gma]

Scheduling around the marathons and now the pro-bowl is tough LOL. But I am hoping for 60’s at this point. That will still be way warmer than at home in Mich. But planes won’t fly during the hurricane (which is why we need to reschedule) but at this point I bet a blizzard will happen when we need to fly out!

 

[elvispursley]

Just to point out my experience to OPs question about going when “refurbs” are complete…
In my experience in all the years I’ve gone, there is ALWAYS something undergoing a refurb. I’d look ahead in the calendar for scheduled closures.

 

[pixiedust2u]

We were in Orlando Jan 30-Feb 2, and again Feb 29-Mar 3 last year.

Jan- Feb, we had low crowds, sun, no rain other than a brief shower one night, it was warm enough to sit poolside, most of the days. Some nights we were fine in tshirts, other nights we needed light layers. Festival of Arts was lovely as Epcot (we caught end of it!) and Mardi Gras was going on at Universal which was fun!


Feb-March- we got in just before March crowds came in, had a couple pool days, one overcast day. Mostly dry other than one thunderstorm. Overall was warmer than January consistently, morning- evening. Also, caught very beginning of Flower & Garden at Epcot which is my favorite!

I’d say pretty similar weather, late February more likely to be warmer esp, in the evenings. But still plan on layers. If you’re going to Epcot also consider which festival you might be more interested in!

 

[brockash]

We are just in the process of planning a long awaited trip at WDW. I have only ever been at spring break, May (pretty hot!), mid Oct and late Nov after Thanksgiving. We are quite flexible with our dates. Right now, we are looking at the end of Jan or else going somewhere around Feb 23 to Mar 6 or 7. We we staying about ten days. We are coming from a cold climate so we would like something reasonably warm where we don’t have to wear winter coats, we would like lower crowds (I know, impossible nowadays), and we would like to come when most refurbishments are completed for the spring. I would love all of your opinions and insights. TIA
I have not been since 2017 and there are so many changes. we had to cancel our last trip for Covid. This is likely our last trip due to our health, so we’d like to make it a good one.

I'd go end of Feb. Honestly the crowds will probably be a lil lighter the end of Jan., however you have a better chance of warmer weather and less refurbishments end of Feb./beginning of March, plus you'll probably catch the beginning of Flower and Garden which is our favorite Epcot festival.

We lived in upstate NY for a few years and had Feb break over Presidents day week and we had some WONDERFUL weather especially coming from the north. You just cannot understand the appreciation for warm sunny weather until you come from darl, gloomy, snowy and cloudy for months and enter the warm sunshine state.