Disneyland in January

petals · Oct 6, 2015

Few questions: What is Disneyland like in January, it is quiet/busy?
Is the weather horrible?

Is there alot of ride closures that time of year usually?

Also what does half board entail for the Disney hotels?

Which is better Santa Fe or Cheyenne
and how far in advance can you celebrate a birthday?

micksn · Oct 6, 2015

I haven't been in January but understand it's fairly quiet. You might get some school groups as it's also the cheapest time to go. This year there is a lot of refurbishment work going on at DLP as part of the experience enhancement programme. The railway is currently closed and I understand Big Thunder Mountain will be closed. Peter Pan closes at some point in January and It's a Small world opens at some point in January.
Half board entitles you to one meal per night of your stay in the class of hotel you are staying at. So for Santa Fe that would be Plaza Garden, Agrabah and buffets in the Santa Fe or Cheyenne. You can use your vouchers at face value and pay the difference in other restaurants.
The Santa Fe is recently refurbished in a Cars theme and has 2 double beds in it's rooms. The Cheyenne rooms are older and have a double bed plus bunk beds, but the cowboy theme is very cosy and welcoming. Both have the same standard of breakfast and an equal walk to the parks. So it really depends on which one suits you best.

BadPinkTink · Oct 6, 2015

January February are the coldest times of the year. Expect temperatures below 0c with rain or snow. The parks will closes around 7pm each day. Many restaurants will close early or not even be open. Check here for restaurant closures http://www.dlpguide.com/calendar/closures-refurbishments/restaurants/

DLP is currently going through a major refurb programme so there will be alot of closures in the park.

Currently the closures list for January is
Its A Small World
Big Thunder Mountain
Peter Pans Flight
La Cabane des Robinson
Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing
Rivers of The Far West drained so expect to see large green hoardings in this whole area

Crowd levels will be low, so rides will have very short lines or be walk ons. The hotels will be cheaper, so you can get a great deal.

Anemone · Oct 6, 2015

and how far in advance can you celebrate a birthday?

It is strictly forbidden to celebrate a birthday more than 12 months before or after the actual date. :rotfl2:

Seriously though, nobody will ask you for proof of a birthday. :thumbsup2

petals · Oct 7, 2015

BadPinkTink said:
January February are the coldest times of the year. Expect temperatures below 0c with rain or snow. The parks will closes around 7pm each day. Many restaurants will close early or not even be open. Check here for restaurant closures http://www.dlpguide.com/calendar/closures-refurbishments/restaurants/

I'm hoping we get lucky with Small World and Peter Pan dates...

Can the meal vouchers be used in the likes of Cafe Mickey, presuming it'll be open in January?

Jonjo · Oct 8, 2015

The parks are very quiet in January we have been a few times at this time of year and apart for it being very cold we had a great time, all the rides are walk-ons I think the longest we ever waited was 10 mins for Buzz one afternoon. Make sure you know which restaurants are open when you go as a lot are closed or close early at that time of year.

Florida2012 · Oct 11, 2015

We went last January and the temperature was very moderate. It's really variable though. (But like here)

One of the best things about January (apart from the lack of crowds) was that they usually do a mass reduction of stock and we got some ABSOLUTE BARGAINS!!

petals · Oct 12, 2015

Florida2012 said:
One of the best things about January (apart from the lack of crowds) was that they usually do a mass reduction of stock and we got some ABSOLUTE BARGAINS!!

I like the sound of that

cherrymarzipan · Oct 12, 2015

I was going to mention the sales too! We went last January to get the last of the Christmas season but without the crowds (only Santa stops after Christmas itself) and the weather wasn't too bad at all but I have been there in January before when it was so cold my face hurt unless I kept a scarf wound all round leaving just a slit for eyes and it was impossible to take any photos because of the thick layers of gloves and mittens on hands. I don't think the last three years have been so cold IMHE but you never know.

petals · Oct 12, 2015

cherrymarzipan said:
I was going to mention the sales too! We went last January to get the last of the Christmas season but without the crowds (only Santa stops after Christmas itself) and the weather wasn't too bad at all but I have been there in January before when it was so cold my face hurt unless I kept a scarf wound all round leaving just a slit for eyes and it was impossible to take any photos because of the thick layers of gloves and mittens on hands. I don't think the last three years have been so cold IMHE but you never know.

We don't mind cold. We've been in February twice years ago and the first year it was snowing and the next year the weather was cold but dry.

Few more questions for people. Photopass can you pre book it and if not where do you book it, how much and are there many photopass photographers around the parks?

I booked the offer they have with the free half board thing. Can I use those vouchers in Cafe Mickey and then pay the extra? It says if I pre-book cafe mickey it'll cost 40 euro? We ate there before and it was like 20 but we didn't eat off the set menu.

Do they still have the decent of the stairs in the Disneyland Hotel or has that stopped now?

dogdangling · Oct 13, 2015

I've been in January before, it's cold but if you wrap up warm your fine. The lines are also not bad at all.

Anemone · Oct 14, 2015

petals said:
Photopass can you pre book it and if not where do you book it, how much and are there many photopass photographers around the parks?

If you booked through Disney you can add it to your package for £33. You need to ring them and you will get a voucher when you check in to redeem at one of the shops. There are photopass photographers at most (but not all) character M&Gs but no photographers at iconic spots like in the US parks.

petals said:
I booked the offer they have with the free half board thing. Can I use those vouchers in Cafe Mickey and then pay the extra? It says if I pre-book cafe mickey it'll cost 40 euro? We ate there before and it was like 20 but we didn't eat off the set menu.

Yes. Plus vouchers cover the 3 course meal in Café Mickey but if you have standard you can top them up. it's set menus only since last November so you can no longer order pizzas to share or just a main course.

petals said:
Do they still have the decent of the stairs in the Disneyland Hotel or has that stopped now?

Yes, sadly Descent of the stairs stopped last November.

aj2703 · Oct 18, 2015

BadPinkTink said:
Big Thunder Mountain

You know I read the other day that this is closed over the Christmas period. Gutted as i'm over there Christmas day :-(

Disneyland in January

petals

Irish Princess because Cinderella said so!

micksn

DIS Veteran

BadPinkTink

Republic of Ireland is not part of UK

Anemone

DIS Veteran

petals

Irish Princess because Cinderella said so!

Jonjo

Mouseketeer

Florida2012

If you can dream it, you can do it

petals

Irish Princess because Cinderella said so!

cherrymarzipan

DIS Veteran

petals

Irish Princess because Cinderella said so!

dogdangling

Mouseketeer

Anemone

DIS Veteran

aj2703

Addicted To Disney

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