Early January Question About This Page:

[bonnieg]

I know it's early but.....Now that the marathoners and other vacationers have returned I need to know. We are arriving in Disney the weekend of the marathon in 2006. How does this affect our first couple of days? Should we plan on staying away from certain areas on those days? We are reserved at the Poly from 1/7-1/14 so we're there a while. Just wondering though about the first 2 days and about the weather and anything else anyone has to offer. We usualy stay in October so I'm not familiar with what January is like. If anyone has some suggestions I'd appreciate it. (We will be with our 3yr old son and his grandparents-my inlaws)

[Happymommy]

We arrived Friday of the Marathon. We went right to MK that day, it was even EMH-- and it really wasn't bad. I'm sure there was more wait than usual, as there was much more of a wait than in September, but it really wasn't bad. We had a 20 minute wait for Stitch and a 30 minute wait for BTRM. We tried to use Fastpasses, and really it wasnt bad. I would say, that weekend, most of the waits were between 10 and 40 minutes-- never anything more than 40 minutes, but we used Fastpasses alot. I didn't think the crowds were bad at all, but my parents always took me in July (we've even been there on the 4th), so compared to that, Marathon weekend was nothing.

The lines Sunday weren't bad at all-- udually 10 minutes for RNRC and TOT. But, Friday and Saturday, the lines were mostly 20-30 minutes.

[Pris]

I seem to remember many posters recently saying stay out of MK on marathon day as the traffic trying to get in is horrible due to road closings for the marathon itself. I would think that as long as you head a different direction that day and perhaps take a later than usual start to the day it wouldn't be too bad. I would definitely let Disney do the driving that day, however I believe even their buses had problems.

[bonnieg]

thanks for the tips so far. I read one marathoners report and she said they started in Epcot and went to MK next. So my thinking was to stay away from them and perhaps go to AK first but, then I've heard the roads are backed up as well. Any other January tips? Keep them coming!! - I only have 11 more months to plan!

[kv3291]

We went to WDW the day before the marathon this year. The traffic the day of the marathon was bad. According to our bus driver, the buses couldn't get in or out of the MK. We were staying at the Swan and headed to AK, for us that was great, no traffic from Swan to AK. But, since you are at Poly, I don't think I would plan on using the buses the early part of the day. The buses were stopped and slow because of the road closures for the runners so you might find yourself stuck in traffic. Use the monorail that day for MK or Epcot, resort hop, use the pool, rent a boat, etc...just stay away from the buses until about 3 or 4 in the afternoon when things were back to normal. Everything was a little more crowded on Sunday compared to the rest of the week, but it wasn't bad at all.

[bonnieg]

Thanks! I'm really hoping we can get to one of the parks, I don't want to loose out on our admission if we prepay for a package. I had thought of staying at the hotel the first day as well, but, how is the weather? Is it too cold for the pool? Any info or suggestions gladly appreciated!

[bsblady01]

we where their during the marathon and the parks where very crouded the entire week but we had really good weather it was in the high 80's every day they said that it was very unusual for this time of year because it is usually only in the 50's

[kv3291]

The weather was unusually warm. We had highs of 80 - 84 everyday except our last day. We did go swimming several days, played at Donald's boat in toon town and my son enjoyed playing at Ariels grotto too. But, since then, there have been several days with highs only in the 50's. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

[DopeyGirl]

We were there from Jan 5th-10th . . . the crowds weren't bad at all until Saturday at MK, when a lot of marathoners and their families were there. Even then, the longest wait we encountered was about 30-45 minutes.

The day of the marathon we started out in Epcot then headed via monorail to the MK and it was much more manageable than taking the bus!!! Traffic to MK at certain times that day was just dreadful!!!

Do keep in mind though that next year, the half marathon is going to be on January 7th while the full will be the next day (Jan 8th). This will be the first year that they are done on separate days . . . so traffic might be a little slower on that Saturday morning as well. (Mostly the traffic to MK and Epcot, if I remember correctly)

I would allow LOTS and LOTS of travel time on those days!!!

As for the weather . . . we were there for 6 days and the coolest it got was about 72 one night!!! We had low to mid-80's during the day the whole time!!!

[Mariposa]

Those temps aren't normal, though.. Seriously. The fall and winter weather in Florida has been schizo this year.

[bonnieg]

Thank you all so much for the info!! I have heard on the news that Florida has had unusually warm weather this winter - it's better than when they get all the ice storms of previous years! I think I'm planning on heading for Epcot on that Saturday. Sunday- I'm not sure yet. I would like to see some of the marathon though,I'm not brave enough to partake in it! I'm sure we'll "run" into it at some point! After reading the wait times from some of you so far, 30-40 min. waits are not bad, about a usual wait when we go in October.

The one other thing I seem to remember from the one time we went in January(ages ago) was, that there were lots of those flags waving from all the tour groups. Is this still a hot tour season?

Thanks again for all your tips! I love these boards!