Walt Disney World In January | Tips For Planning A Trip

Walt Disney World in January is popular for vacation goers! The weather is fantastic, and the International Festival of the Arts begins at EPCOT!

In this post, we discuss visiting Walt Disney World in January, covering everything from weather to events to crowd levels – plus personal tips and tricks we’ve learned over the years.

In recent years, January has become a super popular month for visiting Disney. With the tail end of holidays wrapping up, then the Walt Disney World Marathon taking place, and ending by kicking off EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts, a LOT is happening!

Another reason guests are drawn to vacation at Disney World in January is the historically low prices for hotels and park tickets. For example, one-day park tickets start at around $139 in January, compared to $164 in July. Check out our money-saving posts for more ways to save at Disney World.

Lastly, we can hardly keep up with Disney’s changes, but we try our best to update these posts. If we missed something, please comment, and we will fix it ASAP!

Weather At Walt Disney World In January

If you are looking for colder temperatures while visiting Disney World in January, this is the month to go! It can get downright chilly in January, with temperatures typically ranging from the low 40s to the high 70s.

One of our favorite things about this month’s weather is the lack of rain! With hurricane season officially over, rainy days decrease dramatically. Expect mostly sunny days, which are welcomed with January’s colder temperatures.

Our most recent vacation to Disney World was in January, and dressing in layers was vital! The bright Florida sun warmed us up during the day, but once it set, things got chilly. Being able to put on or take off a layer made sure we all stayed comfortable.

However, a word of caution: I remember having to wear gloves and a cardigan with my thick winter coat when working at Animal Kingdom in the early morning and evenings. Bearing this in mind, be sure to pack some winter gear just in case. And don’t wait to purchase these items when you are down in Orlando! Often, stores do not have a large winter wear selection. Plus, what little options are available in Disney World retail stores (think sweaters, thicker spirit jerseys, sweat pants), will sell out QUICK during a cold snap.

Disney Crowds in January

There is so much FUN at Walt Disney World in January. Because of this, expect crowd levels to range from moderate to heavy. The month begins with the holiday happenings…well, still happening! Christmas and the New Year are, without a doubt, Disney World’s busiest time of year, and vacationers linger into the first of January. Crowds will be merry but high. For those who don’t love longer wait times, you have been warned.
Shortly after all that, Disney kicks off a new year of marathons with the aptly named Walt Disney World Marathon! It is hard to say exactly what to expect. Some years, the crowd counts decrease, while last year, they actually increased.
Typically, crowds begin to trickle down in mid-January. However, this year may prove otherwise for various reasons.
- To start, several Dinoland attractions will be permanently closed on the 13th. This may bring in a slew of guests wanting to ride them one last time.
- Next, the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts begins on the 17th—and one thing about locals—they love an EPCOT festival. They will enjoy the festivities after work, when playing hooky, and on the weekends!
- Lastly, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a four-day weekend, with locals and out-of-town visitors celebrating in the parks. We’ve only been once and were shocked by the crowds!
With no holidays occurring and the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts two weeks in, the last week in January is predicted to be the least crowded. There may be some festivities for the Lunar New Year on January 29th, 2025, but they will be minimal compared to other holidays at Walt Disney World and won’t bring in large crowds. If you are considering a time to book and crowds are a concern, this should be your best bet!

Disney Trip Essentials
Disney Purse	Disney Suitcase	Adult Raincoat

Weekly Highlights For Disney In January

January 1 – January 4, 2025: Between Christmas and New Year’s, expect this week to be extremely popular. One plus, though, is that the beloved Disney Christmas decorations may still be up, as they are typically taken down sometime this week.
January 5 – January 11: This weekend, the Walt Disney World Marathon will take place. Seeing and celebrating the runners is always fun for those who plan to visit during this time!
January 12 – January 18: Normally, this would be considered a slower week…However, with many Dinoland attractions closing on the 13th, the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts kicking off on the 17th, and it being a long weekend because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, anticipate elevated crowd levels.
January 19 – January 25: MLK Day is on January 20, 2025, and this tends to be a very popular weekend for visitors, especially for locals.
January 26 – January 31: Our predicted least crowded time of the month!

Events At Disney World In January

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
Dates: January 8th to 12th, 2025
Celebrate Disney nostalgia with Mickey and his pals during the Walt Disney World Marathon weekend! Running events include a 5K, 10K, Half, and Full marathon races, plus Goofy and Dopey’s challenges.

EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
Dates: January 17th – February 24th, 2025
Art lovers rejoice! From Disney Broadway performances to art-themed culinary delights, guests will be immersed in all things art. This includes visual, musical, culinary, and more! Visitors can even partake in the artistry with a paint-by-numbers mural, Animation Academy drawing lessons, larger-than-life famous artwork photo-ops, and more!

Events at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports
Disney Girls Soccer Showcase (January 17th – 20th, 2025)
USA Field Hockey Sunshine Showcase (January 24 – 26th, 2025)

January Closures and Refurbishments At Walt Disney World

The following will be closed during January:

In The Parks

Magic Kingdom – Big Thunder Mountain (closing January 6th and returning in 2026)
EPCOT – Test Track (returning date TBD; sometime in 2025)
Animal Kingdom – work on Dinoland USA begins (retheming to Tropical Americas Pueblo Esperanza and opening in 2027)
Animal Kingdom – Kali River Rapids (no official announcement yet, but there is typically a seasonal refurbishment from January to March)
Typhoon Lagoon (returning Spring 2025)

At The Resorts

Yacht and Beach Club – Stormalong Bay (closed January – June 2025)

Miscellaneous

Disney World Sky Liner – no official announcement yet, but there is typically a 5-day-long annual refurbishment.

Tips For Visiting Walt Disney World In January

If you vacation at Disney World during the Walt Disney World Marathon, be mindful of possible early morning road delays. Races occur on various roads around Walt Disney World and theme park parking lots, resulting in altered bus times, road closures, and alternative routes. Our preferred advice is to sleep in on those days and have a slow morning. However, if you’re an early bird, you may want to give yourself some extra travel time.
Because the temperatures vary so much when visiting Disney World in January, check the extended weather forecast while packing continually. That will give you a better idea of what to bring. A chilly week on the lower side with 30-50 degrees temps? You will want to bring gloves, hats, scarves, and sweaters. It gets cold while walking around the parks in those temps!
If you were hoping to celebrate Lunar New Year when visiting Disney World in January, we suggest heading to Disneyland instead. The East Coast Park always throws such a special event with themed foods, characters, and merchandise!

I hope this is helpful, and we'd love to hear your favorite Disney tips! Please share in the comments below or tag me on Instagram, follow on Pinterest and Facebook, and join my email list so you don’t miss anything new. Thanks for being here, friends! 🙂