Welcome back to planDisney, Michael!
January is a wonderful time to visit
Walt Disney World Resort. Depending on your arrival date, you might catch some holiday decorations before they're taken down, the weather is usually cool in the mornings and evenings but warm in the afternoons, and the crowds can be lighter as guests return to work and school after winter break.
Crowd levels at Disney World can vary. The busiest times are usually during Spring Break, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Weekends also tend to be busier due to local Florida residents visiting the parks. January is considered the off-season, so crowd levels are generally lower, even with the influx of runners for the
runDisney events. I've run during the runDisney Marathon Weekend twice and plan to visit, though not run, in 2025, so the crowds haven’t deterred me!
If this helps you feel more comfortable booking a vacation during the Marathon Weekend, and you haven’t yet booked your
Disney Resorts Collection hotel, consider one where you can walk to the parks or use other
complimentary transportation options (like the monorail, water taxi, or Disney Skyliner) to avoid road closures that might affect the bus system. For example, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort are all within walking distance of EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney’s Grand Floridian and Disney’s Contemporary Resort are within walking distance to the Magic Kingdom, and you can also use the monorail (Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is also connected by monorail). Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and Disney’s Pop Century Resort allow you to use the
Disney Skyliner to reach EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. So even if a runDisney event occurs during your stay, you have plenty of options to ensure you can still get to and from the parks with ease!
If you have any more questions, Michael,
feel free to ask. I’d be happy to provide additional recommendations and suggestions for enjoying your visit during a runDisney event!
Brent