January 2015 Disney World Crowd Calendar, Fastpass+ Booking and Dining Windows and Best Times to Visit Disney World
Updated 8/11/2014
January is typically a pretty calm month at Walt Disney World. The weather is cold and the crowds are low except for the first few days, Marathon weekend and MLK Weekend. There’s no special parties or great events, so many rides go down for refurbishment. Those refurbishments are typically listed a few months before hand. Water rides are typically closed most or all of January.
Rumors have been circulating that The American Idol Experience and possibly Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular may close permanently at the beginning of January. We should know better in a few months.
While the final week of Christmas vacation is insanely busy, you can manage them with good touring plans and Fastpass+ usage. If you are staying at a Walt Disney World resort, rise early on your Magic Kingdom day and take advantage of the early opening of the Magic Kingdom. When visiting the parks, I recommend that you avoid the Extra Magic Hour parks as they will draw in more guests.
With lower hours than normal early in the month, it may be best to spend a day in the parks and spend an evening the Fort Wilderness Campfire. The Magic Kingdom will only offer the Main Street Electrical Parade on select nights each week. Those park days tend to be more busy than others. If the evening spectaculars are important, chose the day with the lowest hours or park hop into the Magic Kingdom at night.
Avoid the trap of visiting a park on its longest hours day. More people will be there and the wait times can be 30% to 100% higher than other days. The BEST day to visit the Magic Kingdom in terms of lines is a Christmas Party day. Many attractions are walk-on.
If you are planning to use Extra Magic Hours, use the morning ones, they are a great benefit, if you leave after lunch or parade time. Avoid the parks that offer evening Extra Magic Hours because they have large crowds at night and many rides have long lines. If you choose a Late Extra Magic Hour park, you should plan to sleep in the next day.
What will the weather be like during your January trip?
| Month | Avg. High |
Avg. Low |
Mean | Avg. Precip |
Record High |
Record Low |
| Jan | 71°F | 47°F | 59°F | 2.91 in. | 89°F (2006) | 18°F (1985) |
January is the coldest month of the year in Orlando and oddly enough we still get a decent amount of rain too. Be sure to dress for both warmer days and colder nights with a nice jacket and cap.
Should I use Extra Magic Hours privilege?
Avoid the trap of visiting a park on its longest hours day. More people will be there and the wait times can be 30% to 100% higher than other days.
If you are planning to use Extra Magic Hours, use the morning ones, they are a great benefit, if you leave after lunch or parade time. Avoid the parks that offer evening Extra Magic Hours because they have large crowds at night and many rides have long lines (Hollywood Studios and Epcot). The exception would be the Magic Kingdom late at night because most guests won’t stay up from 1am to 3am in the morning. If you choose a Late Extra Magic Hour park, you should plan to sleep in the next day.
What attractions are actually open for Extra Magic Hours at Disney World?
What are the hours for Disney Quest and Cirque du Soleil?
- Disney Quest – 11:30am to 10pm Daily
- Cirque du Soleil – 6:00pm & 9:00pm Tuesday-Saturdays
What attractions will be CLOSED for refurbishment during your January trip?
Do you need to know what activities will take place at your Disney World during your January trip?
Updated at the first of each month!
Special January Events at Walt Disney World
- Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 7-11
- Martin Luther King Weekend – January 16-19
Do you need a great map that includes attractions, restaurants, Fastpass kiosks and characters?
Typical Best Days to Go
| Magic Kingdom: | Tuesdays and Fridays |
| Epcot: | Mondays and Thursdays |
| Hollywood Studios: | Tuesday, Thursday & Friday |
| Animal Kingdom: | Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday |
| To read the crowd aspect, follow the DATE at the top! |
| Lowest Crowds |
| Low Crowds / Best Park |
| Moderate Crowds |
| Busy Crowds |
| Insane Crowds / Worst Park |
