Who has been in Jan?

[Morgand]

Hi All

Wondering how families that have been to the parks in January have found the crowds and wait times for rides? We are booked for next Jan and would like to know what you have found at this time of year.

Thanks in advance

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

January historically has some of the smallest crowds of the year at WDW (once you get past the weekend after New Years).

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Disneyforus]

We went 1/20-1/27 and thought the crowds were low compared to April/May, and that was even with the 4/3 deal...we went to MK on the Tues we were leaving for a few hours and Buzz Lightyear and Space Mountain were walk on at 1:00 in the afternoon. ???

 

[Morgand]

This is very helpful, this is the exact time we are planning. Does anyone else have any feedback on wait times and crowds for Jan?

 

[Uno Mas]

We go over MLK weekend every year and even though it's a holiday weekend, we've had minimal crowds. Although this year it was COLD while we were there, which has never happened to us before, but that's the chance you take going in January!

 

[floridascgirl]

We have gone in Jan. the past 2 years and found the crowds to be pleasant and the lines fairly short. However, the weather was very cold and rainy. I'm from Florida so I know this isn't the norm, but be prepared!

 

[tink713]

We were there 1/24-2/1 this year and after going in September we were shocked by the large crowds. We read about how low the crowds were supposed to be but we found it pretty crowded. Some of the wait times were up to 60 minutes, Test Track, Soarin, even Spaceship Earth was up to 30 minutes one day! Plus, it was very cold some days. A few days it didn't get up past 56. We would definetly go in September next time rather than January.

 

[jensen]

We've been the past 4 of 5 years in January and LOVE it. The prices are good and the crowd levels are LOW. The weather is iffy, at best. We have to pack a ton because we take everything from bathing suits to gloves and hats... and use them all. But, we really love that time of year and would recommend it to anyone... of course, the only other time we've been there is March and that was just nuts...

 

[saratogadreamin09]

It depends on the week.

My family went the first week a couple years ago and the crowds wren't too bad. It wasnt as empty as May and October but it wasnt crowded. Most of the thrill rides had 40 -60 min waits and most of the others had 10-20 min waits.

WE also have been MLK week and this was horrible. A lot of people go this week because of the day off. The crowds werent the worse I've seen (i've been there Feb break) but they were far from the best. I remember waiting 2 hours for BTMR (it never broke down) and 3 hours for test track (it broke down once or twice but there was still crowd effects. I remember most of the thrill rides had a wait of 90 min and most other rides had 30 or 40 min waits.

 

[KSG'sDisneyMem]

I was going to comment that you will have to contend with much cooler weather than you may normally expect for Florida, however, I see you are from Canda so you know how to dress in layers and will be all set. I usually try to go in early January. You have to be prepared for cooler weather but crowds are a bit lower than you would see at other times of the year. Keep in mind that more and more people are thinking of going in January so crowds may begin to pick up a bit as the idea of going in January becomes more popular.

 

[Morgand]

Thanks for the input.
Anyone else want to comment on their Jan trips?

 

[Miffy]

We almost always go in January and it's usually very uncrowded. However, we went this January (2009, I mean) and we were unamused by the number of people in the parks--not at all the uncrowded atmosphere we're used to.

I was surprised to see a PP say that they were there Jan 20-27 and it wasn't crowded, since those are the exact dates we were there, and DH and I both found it far busier than any January we've ever been. Perhaps we were at the wrong place at the wrong time, but we had a day when we left AK because the crowds on the streets were just so dense that we weren't enjoying ourselves at all.

The EMH night we were at MK was also startlingly crowded. You needed FPs for many of the big attractions. There were hardly any restaurants open and it was impossible to wait in the long lines to get food at the places that were.

I don't know why it was like that this year. Possibly the 4/3 deal brought a lot more people to the resorts and parks than usual, but DH and I won't be going again during a period when WDW offers a huge general discount.

We took a quick trip to WDW at the end of May/beg of June 2008 and it was less crowded then--by far--than it was this January.

 

[Poppins2000]

We were there last month Jan 16 - 24, staying at the Wilderness Lodge Villas. First of all, it was very cold (3 nights below freezing and in the 40's during the day. We had two days with temps in the low 60's). I was VERY surprised at the crowds (mainly made up of tour groups from South America and lots of families with stroller aged children). We went to AK the Saturday of MLK weekend and arrived right after rope drop. We fast passed the Safari (had a two hour window to wait and come back) and stood in line for Mt. Everest, waited about 20 minutes and that was as good as it got. We ended up going back to the resort after lunch. It was like that all week - wait times were crazy, even with fast passes it was a 2.5 hour + return time. I wasn't expecting this in January, let alone a so called recession, hahaha! It was like that everyday with the exception of one. It had gotten down to 28 degrees the night before...we hit the Crytal Palace at MK the next morning for Breakfast. The park was EMPTY until after lunch - it was wonderful!!!

Still had an awesome time and we go often enough that we don't have to cram everything into one trip. Would I do January again? Maybe, if it was warmer, hahahaha!

 

[Pumba's Dad]

We went to the world as part of a 3 day land/4 day sea package and were shocked at the crowds too. There were several large tour groups from South America. Needless to say, we won't be back in January.

 

[Miffy]

I just wanted to add that we always see South American tour groups in January (it's their summer vacation), but their presence has never equaled a feeling of crowdedness to us. This time there were not only the tour groups but TONS of other people, particularly, as a PP noted, people with stroller-aged children. Our resort--AKL--was at 100% capacity.

 

[nikkers]

This is very helpful, this is the exact time we are planning. Does anyone else have any feedback on wait times and crowds for Jan?

We were there 1/21 - 1/29 this year. Almost all of the rides were walk on. It was great. I would definately go back in January. In Epcot, Soarin' and Test Track had longer wait times. At one point we saw Soarin' up to an 85 minute wait. We saw the Toy Story Ride in HS up to 60 minutes. Definately get fast passes. Also, all 3 of those rides ran out of fast passes. The other ride that always seemed to have a wait was Dumbo in MK. At one point that was up to a 45 minute wait. Our kids really liked Dumbo. So, the 2 days we spent at MK we made sure it was the first ride we went to. We only had a 10 minute wait each time.
We also went on the Kilamanjaro Safari ride at Animal Kingdom when we first got there. We only had a 20 minute wait. When we got off it was up to a 60 minute wait.

 

[Morgand]

It's weird how some people have good experiences in January, others not so good. I have to say I like the good experiences better since we are
already booked.
Keep your stories coming and any guesses why the stories vary so much.

Thanks everybody!!

 

[Miffy]

Here's my guess as to why the replies vary so much--and I may be wrong!

DH and I thought it was extremely crowded--this is based on comparing it to past January experiences. We never go when it's really crowded--Christmas, New Year's, 4th of July, anytime in the summer, etc.--so we were used to far less people than we experienced last month. It's possible that people who found it uncrowded have never been in January before and it still seemed less crowded to them than when they usually go.

Like I said, I may be completely wrong, but it's my guess.

 

[BLMCANALLY]

We Went Last January (2008) It Was Sooo Nice!!! Weather Was Very Nice! No Long Waits... Easy Dining Ressies...yall Will Have A Ball!!!!

 

[pbnanner]

Hi All

Wondering how families that have been to the parks in January have found the crowds and wait times for rides? We are booked for next Jan and would like to know what you have found at this time of year.

Thanks in advance

We went in Jan of 2005 and 2007. First trip coincided with MLK weekend- won't do that again. But beside that we love going in Jan! Value season and very low crowds. Weather is always iffy, but for us, being able to ride Buzz Lightyear and all of our favorites multiple times with very little wait time is a fair trade.....