What’s Disney Like in January 2023?
Are you looking to visit Walt Disney World during the off-season?
If so, you really only have two options these days. One is in September, while the other begins around January 4th.
Let’s talk about what Disney will be like in January 2023!
Let’s Talk about January Visits
Did your parent(s) teach you to come in from the cold? They or some other caring adult did, right?
For this reason, you know that cold weather is akin to suffering needlessly in a world chock-full of temperate climates.
The best among them is Central Florida, the home to Walt Disney World!
When you visit Florida during the winter, you’re effectively escaping terrible temperatures to, in the Jimmy Buffett vernacular, go where it’s warm.
Warm is better.
Even better, Disney slows down soon after New Year’s Day. The exact date depends on the configuration, but you’ll usually find emptier parks by January 5th.
You’ll enjoy a less hectic park experience throughout the remainder of January.
Even better, you won’t have to scrape the snow off your car while you’re there.
You’re exchanging weather forecasts and school closure announcements for the sun and fun of Walt Disney World. It’s glorious!
Let’s Talk about the Weather
You may wonder about the specifics of Central Florida weather in January. Unfortunately, like the rest of the country, the weather may prove mercurial.
Florida has even “suffered” through a handful of sub-50-degree days over the past five years. I’m saying that as a fact AND a joke.
When you can count the number of sub-50-degree January days on the one hand, you cannot complain about the weather. Ever.
In Orlando, WeatherSpark data indicates that daily high temperatures range from 59 to 81 degrees.
The overall average is 71 degrees, which we’ll all take, right?
For low temperatures, the range varies from 39 to 65 degrees. Overall, the expected low temperature averages around 52 degrees.
So, when you visit Orlando in January, you may safely expect low temperatures of 52 degrees and high temperatures of 71 degrees.
Do you know what people in most parts of the country call that? Late spring.
As for rainy weather, this part of Florida has earned its reputation for freak storms, the kind that seemingly come out of nowhere.
Seriously, as I type this, a full-blown weather event cropped up overnight in the Atlantic Ocean. It registered hurricane concerns, yet meteorologists missed it completely.
My point is that you should always pack an umbrella and/or rain slicker when you visit Orlando.
Recent historical records suggest about a 20 percent chance of rain during each day of your vacation.
Let’s Talk about Disney Events in January
There is only one, but it’s AMAZING!!!
I’m talking about the 2023 International Festival of the Arts, which celebrates all forms of art.
You’ll find illustrations, chalk art, live performances, and even the occasional mime here.
Actually, they’re technically moving works of art, but I barely understand the difference.
In 2017, Disney introduced this festival to fill out a slow spot on the annual calendar. EPCOT already hosted three festivals that ran from the spring through the holidays.
Initially, the Festival of the Arts operated as a weekend-only excursion. However, its instant popularity changed Disney’s thinking.
By 2020, the parks were earning record attendance, with the Festival of the Arts as the driving force.
The pandemic slowed down the event’s momentum for the next two years, but it’ll return to full strength in 2023.
That means we’ll witness the DISNEY ON BROADWAY concert series again, with many of the finest performers returning.
Many understandably proved reluctant to travel during the pandemic.
Now that the worst is presumably over, DISNEY ON BROADWAY will be back and better than ever!
My guess is that you’ve visited the other three EPCOT festivals over the years. But if you haven’t checked out the Festival of the Arts yet, it’s a must.
In my humble opinion, the artistically themed food and beverages available during this event surpass anything else at EPCOT for the rest of the year.
Let’s Talk about Central Florida Events in January
Orlando is always brimming with activity, even during the slower travel period of January.
While the NBA hasn’t announced its regular season schedule yet, we know that the Orlando Magic will play several home games in January.
You’ll enjoy a rare opportunity to say that you watched number one overall draft pick Paulo Banchero play as a rookie!
Like the Magic, Orlando City SC hasn’t announced its 2023 schedule yet. The team didn’t play any regular season matches until February last year, though.
As such, your best hope is a preseason matchup or some sort of exhibition.
Similarly, the University of Central Florida Knights of the Big 12 (?!) will have completed their regular season schedule by then.
However, the Citrus Bowl usually occurs in early January. So, that might be the reason why you’re visiting Orlando in 2023!
Meanwhile, Broadway fans can watch live performances of Hadestown from January 3rd through January 8th at Alexander W. Dreyfoos Concert Hall.
Similarly, Tina, the Tina Turner musical, will play at Walt Disney Theater from January 10th through the 15th.
Disney is also hosting Riverdance from January 20th through the 22nd. Be warned, though. Their legs flail about as if independent of their bodies.
https://youtu.be/-BAyxq0p-7g?t=60
Finally, from January 25th through the end of the month, you can catch a showing of Wicked. It’s a good Broadway month in Orlando.
Final Thoughts
Look, this one’s an easy sell. You know what your home will be like in January.
You’ll huddle for warmth while hoping that you don’t have to drive anywhere. When you do, your car will take 10 minutes for the heat to work.
You’ll also need to scrape the ice off your windshields and dress in layers ALL. THE. TIME.
Florida sounds better because it is better.
When you visit Walt Disney World in January, you leave all your problems at home and enjoy a bit of paradise.
For these reasons, you should be speaking to a MickeyTravels agent about a Walt Disney World vacation.
These Disney experts will find you the best deal possible on a January Disney trip, yet they won’t charge you a dime for their services!