January 2012 at Walt Disney World
OVERVIEW: JANUARY 2012 AT DISNEY WORLD
This page reviews January 2012 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, operating hours, adds a few other notes, and ends with week by week summaries.
JANUARY 2012 CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
January (after the New Year’s weekend) is one of the least crowded periods at Walt Disney World. The marathon weekend (1/5 through 1/8) and Martin Luther King holiday weekend (1/14-1/16) will be the busiest times.
See this for more on 2012 crowds at Walt Disney World.
JANUARY 2012 PRICES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
In general, Walt Disney World resort hotel prices in January are as low as they get all year. They pop up a little over the Marathon (1/5-1/8) and Martin Luther King day weekends.
Click the image to see a Pop Century Resort example of Disney World resort pricing. (When open, click again to enlarge.)
See this for more on 2012 prices at Walt Disney World.
JANUARY 2012 DEALS AND DISCOUNTS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Deals are available for January 2012. For the details, click here.
JANUARY 2012 WEATHER AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
January weather is cooler and variable. Cold, rainy days—not uncommon—are great for first time visitors, as they reduce the crowds in the parks and make the parks easier to see with low waits. Returning visitors looking for good days to lounge around the pool should not count on many.
Click the image, or go to Weather and When to Go to Disney World, for more on temperatures.
(When open, click again to enlarge.)
JANUARY 2012 OPERATING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Park operating hours vary by the day, and sometimes change without notice. It is rare for hours to be shorter than Disney has publicized, but Disney may lengthen them in response to unanticipated crowds.
The best way to keep up with operating hours is to check Disney’s official calendars, usually available six months in advance.
These calendars can be found by clicking the following links:
The calendars can be tricky to use–see this for hints on how to work with Walt Disney World’s online calendars.
OTHER NOTES AND COMMENTS ON JANUARY 2012 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
As I write this, Disney’s calendars are inconsistent, but Fantasmic is not scheduled from January 5 to January 26. This may be an error, with shows to be added later, or Fantasmic may be down in this period for refurbishment.
January and, to a lesser extent, February are the most common periods for rides to be closed for refurbishment.
This makes these months less good for first time visitors who do not know if they will return—why go when the chances of missing something great are high?
The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is 1/5 through 1/8/2012. This can add congestion to the parks, and unusual traffic patterns to the roads around them.
WEEK BY WEEK COMMENTS FOR JANUARY 2012 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD BY ARRIVAL DATE
The week rankings that follow below are from 2012 weeks to visit, ranked in order, and are designed for first-time visitors who do not know whether or not they will return.
Click the image for a calendar view of 2012 weeks (when open, keep clicking to enlarge.)
12/31/2011 End of New Years week; prices and crowds start high, but both drop starting Tuesday. Crowds and prices build again for Marathon weekend. Routine ride closures for rehab and maintenance. Week ranking=53. Use the Autumn-Winter-Spring Itinerary but see this for required changes
1/7 Prices and crowds drop to low levels after weekend; weather remains cooler and variable, and routine ride closures for rehab and maintenance continue. Marathon at beginning of week. Week ranking=52. Use the Autumn-Winter-Spring Itinerary but see this for possible changes
1/14 Prices and crowds kick up for the Martin Luther King holiday weekend, then drop to low levels; weather remains cooler and variable, and ride closures for rehab and maintenance continue. Week ranking=50. Use the Autumn-Winter-Spring Itinerary but see this for possible changes
1/21 Prices and crowds are as low as they are all year, weather remains cooler and variable, and routine ride closures for rehab and maintenance continue. Week ranking=48. Use the Autumn-Winter-Spring Itinerary, but see this for possible changes
1/28/2012 Lowest prices and crowds of the year. Weather remains cooler and variable. Routine ride closures for rehab and maintenance. Week ranking=47. Use the Autumn-Winter-Spring Itinerary but see this for possible changes
MORE ON WHEN TO GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD
- For when to go to Walt Disney World, see this
- For the next best dates, see this
- For the best and worst times to visit, see this
- For 2012 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
- For the 2012 Week Picker, see this
- For 2013 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
- For forecasting crowds at Walt Disney World, see this
- For the 2012 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For the 2013 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For seasonal pricing at Walt Disney World, see this
- For 2012 price seasons, see this
- For 2013 price seasons, click here
- For weather at Walt Disney World, see this
4 comments
During MLK weekend how busy is it. We have been to disney 15+ times. We are going during MLK weekend. Is it as busy as June or July . I have to admit I hate it when it takes hours to get through lines. Thanks for your help
Hi Robin–it won’t be as busy as July, but will be as busy as June…
We are planning on visiting WDW January 27 thru Feb 7 or so. In normal years we can book a standard room at one of the moderate hotels on grounds without problem for this time frame. This year we can’t find a single standard room to book and we are afraid there are going to be much larger crowds than the usual forecasts predict. Are you seeing anything that might “buck the trend” for this typically sparse period? WDW agents are not forthcoming at all when it comes to crowd predictions. Cheers and many many many Thanks for your valuable website!
Hey Greg, there’s a cheerleading championship on Feb 4 and 5 that is likely filling up the hotels. Full hotels does NOT mean full parks, as Disney targets these group bookings during slow periods. I expect the crowds will be just fine!
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