Please help us pick a date!!

[elizablake]

This will be our first trip to Disney World. We would like to go in January or February of 2009. We would like to arrive on a Friday and leave after 8 nights (Saturday). Which week will have the least crowds:

Jan 2- Jan 10- Right after New Years!
Jan 9- 17
Jan 16-24-Week of MLK Holiday!
Jan 23-31-Week before Superbowl in Tampa (Feb 1st)!
Jan 30-Feb 7- Week of Superbowl!
Feb 6-Feb 14-Week before President's Day and week of Valentine's Day!

Any advice would be helpful. TIA.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

This will be our first trip to Disney World. We would like to go in January or February of 2009. We would like to arrive on a Friday and leave after 8 nights (Saturday). Which week will have the least crowds:

Jan 2- Jan 10- Right after New Years!
Jan 9- 17
Jan 16-24-Week of MLK Holiday!
Jan 23-31-Week before Superbowl in Tampa (Feb 1st)!
Jan 30-Feb 7- Week of Superbowl!
Feb 6-Feb 14-Week before President's Day and week of Valentine's Day!

Any advice would be helpful. TIA.

Well, for the obvious reasons you have in your post, I would pick Jan. 9 - 17. The UG crowd calender has that week with the most consistant low crowds. No matter what, I would avoid the week of the Superbowl - it will be jam packed. Just an FYI if you are booking any of your dates before January 25, then your ADRs (advance dining reservations) window has already opened up and the ADRs will be filling fast. So if you are picking any of those dates between Jan 2 and 25 I would go ahead and call and make ADRs as soon as possible, so you can get some good restaurants and decent seating times. But, if you are arriving past January 25 you will not be able to make your ADRs until October (all of this is due to the new dining reservations system), so that would give you a little longer to make choices about your ADRs.

Personally, if it was me, I would pick the Jan 9 - 17 dates because we like to avoid the crowds. Whatever week ya'll pick I hope you have a magical vacation! Hope this info helps.

 

[wilde_oscar]

yup, 9-17 is the best bet

 

[Big Vic]

WDW Marathon weekend - 8 - 11 Jan 09.

 

[elizablake]

Thank you everyone.

Yeah...I was afraid we might need to cross Super Bowl week off the list. Should we avoid the week before the Super Bowl just for good measure?

Big Vic-Will the Marathon bring much larger crowds?

PrincessTiffany-Will we have trouble getting reservations at all or just the peak dinning times?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Thank you everyone.

Yeah...I was afraid we might need to cross Super Bowl week off the list. Should we avoid the week before the Super Bowl just for good measure?

Big Vic-Will the Marathon bring much larger crowds?

PrincessTiffany-Will we have trouble getting reservations at all or just the peak dinning times?

I think, at this point, if you decide to go in early January you can still get some pretty good dining reservations. Chef Mickey, Cinderella's Royal Table and LeCellier may not be available, but you can still get some nice places at this point. But, the clock is ticking. If you decide go book your trip Jan 1 - 25, then I would get on the phone ASAP and make your ADRS.

Hope ya'll have a great vacation!

 

[GiGi30]

We're heading down Jan.7-14th!

 

[kmk1180]

This will be our first trip to Disney World. We would like to go in January or February of 2009. We would like to arrive on a Friday and leave after 8 nights (Saturday). Which week will have the least crowds:

Jan 2- Jan 10- Right after New Years!
Jan 9- 17
Jan 16-24-Week of MLK Holiday!
Jan 23-31-Week before Superbowl in Tampa (Feb 1st)!
Jan 30-Feb 7- Week of Superbowl!
Feb 6-Feb 14-Week before President's Day and week of Valentine's Day!

Any advice would be helpful. TIA.

I DEFINATELY would say go in Feb.
Here's why. Splash Mountain. If this is your first trip to WDW, that is a must do attraction. And Splash is ALWAYS closed for refurbishment from Jan 1-mid feb.
If you go week of Feb 6th you should be able to ride it. Just try planning on being that at least a day or two After Feb 14th just to be on the safe side.
For a first timer, you won't notice any crowd difference since you have have no reference. And either month is pretty slow.

 

[Big Vic]

Big Vic-Will the Marathon bring much larger crowds?

The crowds are manageable during that time (Sat and Sun). The big thing is getting around the morning of the races. The 1/2 marathon starts at 0600 on Saturday, running from Epcot to MK and back. There is a 3:30 time limit for the race. The full marathon starts at 0600 on Sunday, running from Epcot, to MK, to AK, to HS, back to Epcot. It's time limit is 7:00 hours.

If you plan accordingly you shouldn't have any problems.

Have fun!