Disney World in January 2020 looks like a rainbow of colors.  When you look at the WDW Crowd Calendar estimates Blue = Medium Crowds predictions and Dark Green = Moderate Crowds.  If avoiding crowds is your main goal in January 2020 you are going to need to stick to the weekdays. 

The cooler weather in Orlando makes January a really nice time to go on a Walt Disney World vacation.  January 12 – 17 also is a great week because most kids are back in school and the holidays have wrapped up. 

Starting the New Year at Walt Disney World isn’t a bad way to ring it in either.

Avoiding Disney January Crowds

January is a mixed bag of crowd levels.  Around New Years and a few days after you will find heaver crowd levels, but Monday – Thursday most of the month crowd levels are Medium which is fantastic.  When you go in January to Walt Disney World it is key to work with a Disney Travel Planner so they can help plan your park days and Disney Dining.   Ideally you would do a Disney Resort Pool day on a Weekend and Disney Springs shopping.  Then use the lighter crowd level days for the Disney parks.

Disney World January Events

Disney January crowds are mostly light and that is why you will find some special events happening at Walt Disney World in January to try and bring more guests to the Disney resorts and parks.  The main January event is the Walt Disney World Marathon.  The Disney Marathon is a very popular event and different races take place all year long.  The January Disney World Marathon happens the second week of January 8-12, 2020.

The great thing about the Walt Disney World Marathon is that is really does not impact park attendance numbers that much.  Most runners are at Disney World to participate in the races that happen very early in the morning and they don’t really spend time in the parks.   So I would not move a Disney Vacation that happens during a Disney World Marathon.  Just be aware some Disney Resort roads will be closed if you are one to head out for a drive very early in the morning.

The Disney Marathons are popular if you want to participate you need to register as soon as these are released.  You can get Disney Marathon Tickets (Bibs) here.   The 5K is a nice way to ease into the Disney Marathon if this is new for you.