January 2016 Trip

[Jae99]

I am in the initial stages of planning my next trip. I visited last during the week of Christmas 2014 and want to go at a quieter time this time around, but still want to see the Castle lit up. How long after the New Year do they keep it lit?

Touring Plans crowd calendar shows the first full week of January to have crowd levels to be at a 3 early in the week and then raising to 6 later in the week. Is this accurate?

I realize the Marathon weekend falls at the end of that first week. Is Touring Plans estimate accurate? Or will it get Christmas week crazy?

Looking for some observations from people that have been during the same period before.

Thanks for your help.

 

[TFIN44]

We were there the first full week of January this year and the crowd calendars were spot on. The castle was still lit the entire time (Jan 3-10) we were there. The marathon weekend buses and parks got pretty crowded but not too bad. Definitely not Christmas week crazy.

 

[Jae99]

Thanks for the response @TFIN44. I saw some pictures people posted of this past January and the parks looked empty compared to our trip a week earlier. It would be nice to be in WDW during a semi quiet time.

 

[SDisney90]

We were there the first full week of January this year and the crowd calendars were spot on. The castle was still lit the entire time (Jan 3-10) we were there. The marathon weekend buses and parks got pretty crowded but not too bad. Definitely not Christmas week crazy.

I agree, due to my jobs I am only able to visit the world in January at the moment. Usually go Jan 7-15th the only issue we've had honestly was just last year with the final biggest WDW marathon race. We had planned to go to Epcot that day and every road was basically closed and the resort buses had to drive around in a HUGE circle to get us to the TTC, to take the monorail to Epcot. Not to mention the traffic during race times made it even worse this was the first year we've ever experienced this. Wasn't too happy because I like to be at rope drop for the parks but you win and you lose some. My only advice is if your planning for days off during your vacation, plan one for the big marathon race..it'll be worth it. Possibly staying away from the parks until the race is over is another option as well.

Other than that and a few closures (1 water park annually and splash mountain) its a great time with low crowds!