When to Go January or February 2026

[EllieJedi]

I was originally planning to visit the 1st week of February solo to activate my Incredipass and get a break from the Minnesota winters. I’ve been looking at multiple crowd calendars and they all seem to give different opinions about the week I originally picked as well as other weeks in January when I could potentially visit:

1. January 7-13. Disney Marathon is Jan 7-11, although when I’ve visited Marathon weekend in the past I didn’t think it was too bad other than that morning.
2. January 11-17
3. January 25-31. I know the Skyliner is down this week.
4. February 1-8

I can flex these dates since I’m traveling solo. I’m mostly trying to avoid New Year’s, MLK and President’s Day. Any opinions on which week might be best?

 

[CarolynFH]

Personally, I’d pick January 11-17. It’s sort of a sweet spot between Marathon Weekend and Martin Luther King weekend. My second choice would be February 1-8, simply because I like to ride the Skyliner!

Note: we prefer January because we’re DVC, and points costs are lower in January than in February. If I were paying cash, I’d take room rates into account when choosing my dates.

 

[Jonnnyap]

If you're interested in the EPCOT Festival of the Arts, that might factor into your decision of when to go. It typically starts sometime in mid January and ends ~ 3 weeks into February. I don't think specific 2026 dates have been announced yet, but you might have a good guess based upon the last few years' start/end dates.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[EllieJedi]

Personally, I’d pick January 11-17. It’s sort of a sweet spot between Marathon Weekend and Martin Luther King weekend. My second choice would be February 1-8, simply because I like to ride the Skyliner!

Note: we prefer January because we’re DVC, and points costs are lower in January than in February. If I were paying cash, I’d take room rates into account when choosing my dates.

I just happened to find a DVC confirmed reservation for rent for a Deluxe Studio at the Grand Floridian from the 11- 17. I’m pretty excited as I’ve always wanted to stay there. It says preferred view so I’m assuming that means at least a pool or monorail view hopefully.

If you're interested in the EPCOT Festival of the Arts, that might factor into your decision of when to go. It typically starts sometime in mid January and ends ~ 3 weeks into February. I don't think specific 2026 dates have been announced yet, but you might have a good guess based upon the last few years' start/end dates.

Hope you have a great trip!

It looks like the Festival of the Arts started on the 17th last year. If it’s about the same this year, I might need to extend my stay another night or do a split stay now that I’ve booked DVC for the Jan 11-17. Festival of the Arts is the only Epcot Festival I’ve never attended.

 

[CarolynFH]

For information about VGF, check out this thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/t...esort-spa-owners-lovers-group.3813125/page-76. It’s a beautiful resort!

 

[emilyann704]

I've only been in January once, this year, over Marathon week because I was running. I didn't find the crowds to be awful but they were a lot busier then when I usually go in mid-May. I was told by a friend who went to Magic Kingdom the Monday after the Marathon it was dead. That was definitely not the case for me a few days earlier.

I wouldn't avoid Marathon Week if it works the best for you but if you have a couple options I think the week after or first week of Feb is probably better.

 

[EllieJedi]

I've only been in January once, this year, over Marathon week because I was running. I didn't find the crowds to be awful but they were a lot busier then when I usually go in mid-May. I was told by a friend who went to Magic Kingdom the Monday after the Marathon it was dead. That was definitely not the case for me a few days earlier.

I wouldn't avoid Marathon Week if it works the best for you but if you have a couple options I think the week after or first week of Feb is probably better.

I’ve booked for the Jan 11th - 17th as I found a confirmed DVC rental at VGF and I’ve always wanted to stay there. I’m hoping since I’m planning my park days for that Monday through Friday it won’t be too bad but I’ll see.

 

[Pinnochio]

If you want better weather (warmer) then 1st week of February....

 

[Jim Libasci]

until it's safe again for international travels to come to Florida crowds will be lower than previous years. I'm expecting Covid years levels to start now and continue.

 

[EllieJedi]

If you want better weather (warmer) then 1st week of February....

I’m also partly trying to get away from some of the absolutely coldest weeks of the year at home so even if it’s not quite as warm in Orlando in January odds are that it will still be better weather than Minnesota.

 

[disneyseniors]

I’m also partly trying to get away from some of the absolutely coldest weeks of the year at home so even if it’s not quite as warm in Orlando in January odds are that it will still be better weather than Minnesota.

I'm from Minnesota too and I agree! We used to visit at the end of Feb and beginning of March and always had nice weather. I've never visited in January, but found Feb to be the best fit for us. Either way, you will be out of the cold, snowy Minnesota weather

 

[EllieJedi]

I'm from Minnesota too and I agree! We used to visit at the end of Feb and beginning of March and always had nice weather. I've never visited in January, but found Feb to be the best fit for us. Either way, you will be out of the cold, snowy Minnesota weather

That’s always a plus in my book.

 

[MichaelH]

I was originally planning to visit the 1st week of February solo to activate my Incredipass and get a break from the Minnesota winters. I’ve been looking at multiple crowd calendars and they all seem to give different opinions about the week I originally picked as well as other weeks in January when I could potentially visit:

1. January 7-13. Disney Marathon is Jan 7-11, although when I’ve visited Marathon weekend in the past I didn’t think it was too bad other than that morning.
2. January 11-17
3. January 25-31. I know the Skyliner is down this week.
4. February 1-8

I can flex these dates since I’m traveling solo. I’m mostly trying to avoid New Year’s, MLK and President’s Day. Any opinions on which week might be best?

I saw this on another thread and looked it up. This is something to keep in mind:

• • UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC):
    
    • • Dates: January 30–February 1, 2026 (DII), and February 6–8, 2026 (DI)
        
      • Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, FL

 

[EllieJedi]

I saw this on another thread and looked it up. This is something to keep in mind:

• • UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC):
    • • Dates: January 30–February 1, 2026 (DII), and February 6–8, 2026 (DI)
      • Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, FL

Luckily, I’ve booked now and I won’t be there those dates . I like kids but I wouldn’t want to be at a resort full of them.

 

[jimmymc]

Either Jan 25-31 or February 1-8. The Skyliner is great, but unless I'm staying at Caribbean Beach, it wouldn't make or break my trip.

 

[beccasmom]

We have visited in late January several times (last time was in 2020 though - right before the COVID closures) and it’s been fine crowd-wise, although the weather can be tricky. My birthday is in mid-January, but we have found that time to be too busy, so we usually avoid it (although birthdays spent in WDW are great fun and I did get to do so once several years back).

We have also visited in both early and late February and both were fine weather-wise, but that of course is never a given.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We find the time just after MLK holiday weekend up until just before the President's Day holiday weekend to be a pretty decent time to go crowd wise. The weather can be iffy some years, but some years it's been great. Most trips we get a couple days by the pool! It's also Festival of the Arts time at EPCOT - and that's easily become our favorite of all the festivals they run.

 

[toesmom]

I was originally planning to visit the 1st week of February solo to activate my Incredipass and get a break from the Minnesota winters. I’ve been looking at multiple crowd calendars and they all seem to give different opinions about the week I originally picked as well as other weeks in January when I could potentially visit:

1. January 7-13. Disney Marathon is Jan 7-11, although when I’ve visited Marathon weekend in the past I didn’t think it was too bad other than that morning.
2. January 11-17
3. January 25-31. I know the Skyliner is down this week.
4. February 1-8

I can flex these dates since I’m traveling solo. I’m mostly trying to avoid New Year’s, MLK and President’s Day. Any opinions on which week might be best?

I would choose January 11-17 and second option Feb 1-8, but would really base it on what ticket prices and resort costs are. January probably quieter if you want to save time in lines.

 

[Jim Libasci]

I was originally planning to visit the 1st week of February solo to activate my Incredipass and get a break from the Minnesota winters. I’ve been looking at multiple crowd calendars and they all seem to give different opinions about the week I originally picked as well as other weeks in January when I could potentially visit:

1. January 7-13. Disney Marathon is Jan 7-11, although when I’ve visited Marathon weekend in the past I didn’t think it was too bad other than that morning.
2. January 11-17
3. January 25-31. I know the Skyliner is down this week.
4. February 1-8

I can flex these dates since I’m traveling solo. I’m mostly trying to avoid New Year’s, MLK and President’s Day. Any opinions on which week might be best?

are we not allowed to talk about the other countries that aren't traveling to Florida and the US because of the tariff's and deportations?

 

[SL6827]

are we not allowed to talk about the other countries that aren't traveling to Florida and the US because of the tariff's and deportations?

Why couldn't that be mentioned?