Which week in January?

[nboicepardee]

Hi all,
Just returned from WDW on 2/1, and I am thinking about which week in January we want to go next year. I think the most important thing to me at this point is low crowds. Which week would the DIS experts recommend?
1/3-1/10
1/10-1/17 or
1/17-1/24

Our annual pass expires 1/24.

Thank you!
Natalie

 

[mama03]

I think I remember reading on these boards that the week after new years was really slow.

 

[n2mm]

I would avoid MLK weekend week (1/17). We just returned and were there the last week of January and during the week there was no wait for anything. We walked right on buzz at 2:00PM, then we went on the cruise and returned on 2/3 and couldn't get near any ride without a 30+ wait. Wow, what a difference 4 days makes.

 

[nboicepardee]

I think we are leaning towards the 1/3-1/10 week. We were there the last week in January too, and we walked onto many rides as well. We walked onto Buzz twice. What a treat! The park that felt the busiest to me was Animal Kingdom both days we went.

 

[drusba]

Hi all,
Just returned from WDW on 2/1, and I am thinking about which week in January we want to go next year. I think the most important thing to me at this point is low crowds. Which week would the DIS experts recommend?
1/3-1/10
1/10-1/17 or
1/17-1/24
Our annual pass expires 1/24.
Thank you!
Natalie

1/3 to 1/10: Jan 3 will be very crwoded and Jan 4 less so as much of Christmas crowd is still moving out those two days. Rest of week is good but Marathon group comes in Jan 9 for the weekend --although that really does not add huge crowds to the parks

1/10 to 1/17: Marathon group at beginning, again somewhat larger but not huge increase to park crowds; Martin Luther King group, heavy crowds, starts moving in Friday the 16th.

1/17 to 1/24: Martin Luther King crowd for Sat to Tues (many are gone by that Tuesday but still somewhat heavier crowds). Rest of week is fine.

Of course, whatever you choose, be prepared for variety of weather, example, this year we were there Jan 1 to 8. When we arrived it was in the upper 60s. But then Jan 2 and 3 the highs in the day were in the low 40s and the night of the 2d and 3d, the low got down to 24 (riding Test Track and then Expedition Everest those nights was a whole new experience we had never previously had at WDW). Jan 5 warmed up to low 60s, and Jan 6 and 7 it was in the 70s.

 

[tink4ever]

There are also National College Cheer and Dance competitions the week of MLK every year.

 

[Disney_Daddy]

I realize your passes expire on the 24th, so this may not be feasible for you.

However, we were at SSR during the last week of January this year and it was glorious. The same dates for 2009 would be January 25 - 30.

The crowds were light and the weather was incredible (75 degrees). The lines at most rides were really short...5 minutes or less. The longest line of the day at the Magic Kingdom was 10 minutes for the Thunder Mountain Railroad.

We were even able to make last minute reservations at Whispering Canyon Cafe and Prime Time Cafe.

We have already decided to make this time of year an annual event!

Best of luck in your decision making process!