Hi Shirley!
Choosing the right date for a Walt Disney World vacation is tough since so many factors go into the choice. I think all of us dream of arriving to find each of the parks completely empty for us to enjoy but we also know that is not reality. If you are looking to avoid crowds then selecting a time such as January might be the best option.
There are two events in this month that will affect the park numbers. The first is the
Disney Marathon which will be held January 5-7. This is the 25th year to celebrate this so it will be bringing some pretty big crowds. Many families follow their running members and they head to the parks at this time. Some of the parks also have altered schedules to accommodate the races and traffic can be heavy on the roads due to detours. The other time to avoid is the long Martin Luther King weekend where crowds tend to pick up.
The holiday events at Walt Disney World are pretty special but if you don't love the crowds that go with them then it's not the time to go. The famous
Candlelight Processional in Epcot is my favorite event and the Magic Kingdom has holiday parades and fireworks which end at New Years as well. The beautiful Magic Kingdom castle will remain lit for a couple of days before that too is dismantled in January.
This is definitely a very personal decision about timing for a vacation. I love the holidays but I prefer to find a time when the parks are not at their maximum capacity to enjoy the events.