Hi there Briann, and welcome to planDisney!
Early January is hands down my favorite time of the year to visit Walt Disney World Resort, especially in contrast to
the hectic holiday season the month prior. My husband and I specifically chose it for our
Disney Wedding due to how comparatively calm it can typically be - with the biggest exception being that handful of days when thousands of
runDisney participants descend en masse with along with their supportive friends and family for
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. Now while you'll definitely get the best expertise about these events from my fellow planDisney Panelists who amaze me with how much they dedicate themselves to training for each one, I'm happy to provide you some insight on what to expect from a non-runner's perspective over the past few years:
- From observing the wait times fluctuating during these dates in person and on the My Disney Experience app, we found that the biggest trends seemed to occur with a significant spike of folks looking to celebrate by drinking and dining around EPCOT following their races across the weekend itself - especially after they'd had the opportunity to get refreshed or relax after their early mornings.
- We also noticed that Magic Kingdom Park was a very popular choice for everyone to come and have their photos taken with their medals and their colorful outfits in front of Cinderella Castle or with Character pals on the day following their race achievements, so you might just find it just as busy on the Monday immediately following the race weekend before everyone makes their way home. From my personal experience, I would recommend visiting EPCOT and Magic Kingdom Park on the weekdays at the very beginning and end of your trip, saving the middle for Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park or perhaps even one of the water parks for the weekend itself!
- Strategically I found that racers planned their itineraries around having enough rest prior to their early-morning events and downtime right afterward before jumping right into a big day at the theme parks, and that many would treat themselves to a great dining experience after all of their training. (Keep this in mind if you're aiming for any particularly special places to eat during that weekend!)
Come back again for any other strategies that can help you with your upcoming trip Briann, and we hope to
see you back with more questions here at planDisney soon!
Here's to starting off the new year at the Most Magical Place on Earth!
Prince