Heading to Walt Disney World in January? Here are some key tips for visiting Disney World in January, including what to wear, what to pack, what the weather will be like, the best week to go and more.
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I’ve been to Walt Disney World a plethora of times. In fact, it’s my husband’s goal to visit all of the Disneylands in the entire world. (We’re currently at 3/6 parks with No. 4 planned later this year.) And, I’ve been there in January a variety of times for high school national dance competitions and, more recently, family vacations.
Learn from my mistakes. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Disney in January!
Best Time To Go To Disney World In January
The best time to go to Disney World in January is week three and/or week four of the month. During the third and fourth weeks of January, kids are back in school and holiday travel slows to a halt. This means you’ll have some of the cheapest prices for park passes, flights and accommodations at the end of January, as well as shorter lines in the parks.
Many children and college students are still on winter break during the first couple of weeks of January, which means that demand for park passes, flights and accommodations will be higher (AKA more expensive), and the parks could still be extra crowded from the busy Christmas season. Although, if you can only visit Disney World at the beginning of January, the trip will certainly still be magical.
Crowds At Disney World In January
That being said, how busy is Disney World in January? Well, if I’m being honest, Disney World is always busy. There will always be crowds and long lines to wait in. It’s Disney World, after all. However, there are busy times in Disney World, and there are busier times in Disney World.
January is one of the least busy and least crowded times in Disney World, particularly toward the end of the month. Again, if you visit around the first week of January, you will likely still encounter heavy holiday crowds in Disney World, especially on New Years. Toward the end of the month, though, you’ll generally find shorter wait times and smaller crowds (still crowds, nonetheless) in comparison, as children and college students are back in school.
Weather For Disney World In January
January is one of the best months to visit Disney World for weather. Orlando averages temperatures from 50-71 degrees Fahrenheit in January (source: USA Climate Data), which is wildly more comfortable than the 100+ degree weather that you will face in Florida’s summer months. Trust me, my husband and I went to Disney World in September one year, and we had 95-105 degree weather — plus tropical humidity — every single day of our trip. Everyone was drenched in sweat.
On the contrary, weather in Walt Disney World in January is mild, pleasant, and sunny with a side of sweatshirts for chilly mornings and nights. January is also one of Orlando’s driest months of the year with an average of only 2.74 inches of rain compared to the 7+ inches on average in summer. So, your odds of sunshine are much higher in Disney World in January — without the overwhelming heat or humidity.
What To Wear At Disney World In January
Long Pants + Layers
Even though you’re in Orlando, Florida, don’t be fooled into wearing shorts and tank tops in January if your forecasted weather predicts temperatures between 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit. You’ll be chilly! Instead, wear layers. This way, you can be flexible, and accommodate to both warm afternoons and chilly mornings/nights. You’ll want to opt for long pants, comfortable walking shoes, and a tank top or T-shirt layered underneath a sweatshirt. Some nights, you may even want a light jacket over your sweatshirt.
Obviously, check the weather before you pack outfits for your trip because you may luck out with weather over 80 degrees. But, remember, mornings and nights can be very chilly, so come prepared. I personally love wearing athleisure in Disney World for maximum comfort. So, my daily Disney World outfits in January consisted of leggings, crew socks, my trusty Hoka Bondi 8 tennis shoes, a Disney crewneck, and a T-shirt or tank layered underneath in case the midday sun was warm.
Light Jacket For Mornings + Nights
Some nights were chillier than others, hovering around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. When we were casually walking in Disney Springs one night, I wore a light jacket over my sweatshirt and was very comfortable. However, I did not want to carry my jacket during the daytime in the parks, so for park days, I risked being cold with just my sweatshirt. Carrying a jacket around all day isn’t fun, so keep this in mind if you’re thinking about bringing one into the parks. If you want to bring a jacket but don’t want to carry it all day, rent a locker at the front of the park for just $10-15 USD.
Also, keep in mind that I am from the wintry tundra of Wisconsin. In the words of Queen Elsa, “The cold never bothered me anyway.” If you are coming from a warmer climate, 50-70 degrees will feel colder to you, and you may need to bring a thicker coat. Mittens or gloves may feel nice at night as well if you don’t have jacket pockets. Again, if you bring a coat, I recommend renting a locker so you don’t have to drag said coat through the parks all day long.
What To Pack For Disney World In January
In addition to your Disney World January outfits, there are a few other things I recommend packing for Walt Disney World in January. Watch me pack for one of my trips to Disney World in this packing vlog.
Park Bag
First, you’ll need a park bag. Pack light for the parks because you will have to carry it on you all day. I suggest using a small backpack or a belt bag as your park bag. I love my Beis Sport Sling. It makes the perfect park bag because it has credit card slots (which means I don’t have to bring my entire wallet), a variety of pockets and, my favorite feature, a collapsible water bottle pocket. I have to admit that the zippers are kind of cheap on this belt bag, but that’s a trade off I’m willing to make for the water bottle pocket. That way, I don’t have to physically carry a water bottle in my hands. You can get $20 off your first Beis purchase with this link.
Water Bottles
Speaking of water bottles, you still need to consciously hydrate in Disney World in January even though the temperatures are not breaking 90 degrees. You will be walking tens of thousands of steps every single day. This solicits extra water intake. Water bottles are super overpriced in the parks, so bring your own. Or, ask for a free water cup at any quick service restaurant pickup window. Read all about my favorite quick service meals and snacks here.
Hand Sanitizer + Hand Sanitizer Wipes
Next, I never travel to Disney World without hand sanitizer and hand sanitizer wipes. From ride lap bars to crumby tables, you come across a lot of high-touch surfaces and germs while in Disney. In particular, I love having a portable hand sanitizer that has a carrying case like these because I can attach it to my park bag and easily sanitize after every ride. Unfortunately, I still got sick after our last two trips despite having a traveler’s immune system. Worth it though.
Ponchos
Lastly, if you want to ride any of the water rides while in Disney World in January, such as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom or Kali River Rapids in Animal Kingdom, you’ll definitely want to pack ponchos. Otherwise, you risk be both wet and cold. Honestly, it’s not a bad idea to pack ponchos anyway because you never know when a surprise rain shower will hit tropical Orlando. Ponchos cost an arm and a leg inside the parks, so it’s worth it to buy a cheap poncho for around $1 USD before you go.
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