Late January visit

[Susan A]

Hi!
I'm toying with a late January 2016 visit. I haven't found any events listed fir that time period. Dies anyone know if there's anything going on the last week?

I'm willing to brave cooler temps for fewer crowds. October 2013 was crowded.

Any tips for this time of year are welcome!

Thank you.

[Strmchsr]

That last week isn't too bad, especially compared to October. You still have a lot of the South American tour groups around since that's their summer break, but overall crowds aren't bad at all that week.

[CarrieAllie]

We're going then! ...not that it matters ;p

Should be less crowded than most times, esp with the Osbourne closing messing up the end of this year.

[Susan A]

I had forgotten that winter is summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Makes sense.

What do you mean by the closing of the Osborne lights messing up the end if the year? Are more crowds expected over Christmas break?

[Strmchsr]

What do you mean by the closing of the Osborne lights messing up the end if the year? Are more crowds expected over Christmas break?

November and December are going to be insanely crowded this year. It's hard to find a room on property even in early December. With this being the last year of the Osborne Lights lots of people are taking a trip to see them one last time.

[faline]

November and December are going to be insanely crowded this year. It's hard to find a room on property even in early December. With this being the last year of the Osborne Lights lots of people are taking a trip to see them one last time.

It certainly seems that way!! There have been a number of posts from folks who have made a last-minute decision to go this year in order to see the lights!!

[Susan A]

So maybe winter visitors have changed their plans to go earlier.
I'm glad I saw the lights back in 2006!!!

[tjstrike]

I'm glad I already had my room reservation and ADRs made before they announced it !!

Secretly people are just making excuses to visit WDW 1 more time this year.

[LostBoys]

Susan,
We live in the same part of the world and late January is when we choose to go. Due to crowds that used to be smaller and getting away from the cold.

If possible stay away from the MLK Holiday as the parks are more crowded then. The first few days of January can be very crowded at the resort.

Marathon happens in early January. Some attractions will be down for maintenance (Splash Mountain was closed for 3 of our last 4 trips in January, this coming trip Space Mountain will be down).

There will be a fair amount of South American tour groups and there are some differences in culture and what some find acceptable.

January has worked well for us

Good luck.

[CarrieAllie]

So maybe winter visitors have changed their plans to go earlier.

I'm hoping that might happen! Would mean late January would be even less crowded than it would have been otherwise. But shouldn't be that busy anyway, so doesn't matter much.

[Brooklynos]

We will be going for the same week in January for the second time. Crowds are manageable and besides the big ticket items (think Anna and Elsa meet and greet) lines don't form too bad until afternoon. We used the fastpass+ kiosks after we used up our morning fastpasses and worked like a charm. Cool enough for a light jacket but warm enough during the day to be pleasant.

We will keep going in January for several years I'm sure. Plus, looks like only major thing closed for that time is Soarin and Buzz so you won't miss out on much either.

[The Hitchhiking Ghost]

We were there just this year, last week of January to first week of February. There were no special events and while the crowds were a bit higher than I had expected or remembered, they were very manageable. MK got pretty busy by mid afternoon on a weekend, but that's about par for the course anyhow.

We stayed on property (POR) and our kids swam several days of our trip. Shorts weather during the day, light jacket in the evening.

Downside might be that usually one of the waterparks is closed. Splash Mountain is historically closed in January and just in general I think there will be a lot of construction and possibly closures at DHS and AK.

As for Disney discounts, this traditionally isn't a free dining period, but usually there are discounts and I think Stay-Play-Dine is back again, which is what we booked under.