***Official January 2025 Thread***

[ThereYouSeeHer]

It's time to start planning for 2025!

When you book, let us know when and where!

(Vacation packages starting January 1, 2025 opened for booking on February 27, 2024.)

Welcome all December, January, and February travelers who have some or all of their vacation in January!​

New Year Roll Call

December 28 to January 4: corn princess (AoA)
December 29 to January 5: d's do disney (AKL Jambo)
December 30 to January 5: ThereYouSeeHer (HHI, Pop, ASMo, then HHI again!)
December 30 to January 9: disneyfan123 (CCV, VGF)
January 7 to January 15: marij (Pop)
January 9 to January 12: DisneyAsh32 (BC)
January 9 to January 12: pinkxray (VGF)
January 12 to January 25: disneydreamer1980 (BRV)
January 14 to January 22: Frank4202 (ASMu)
January 16 to January 26: kanerf (BWV Boardwalk View, OKW, RIV)
January 17 to January 26: Tbiafore (AKL Jambo)
January 22 to January 26: FeliciaB23 (BWV)
January 25 to February 2: disneydad7281231 (PVB)
January 27 to February 10: zanzibar138 (BLT)
January 29 to February 6: Griffin11 (CBR)
January 30 to February 8: Gina (Pop)

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

What's New for 2025?

• Free water park! Registered Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel with a check-in date from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 will receive a complimentary one-day water park ticket valid for check-in day only.
• Cancellation policy changes! Beginning January 1, 2025, all Walt Disney World room-only reservations must be canceled eight days prior to the check-in date. Previously, guests could cancel within five days.
• Campsite capacity! Beginning January 1, 2025, campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground will be limited to a maximum of eight guests. Previously, campsites allowed up to ten guests.

What Changed in 2024?

• Park hopping! Effective January 9, 2024, Disney World guests no longer have to wait until after 2:00pm in order to hop between theme parks. As a result, park-to-park buses now begin operating at 10:00am each day.
• Park reservations! Effective January 9, 2024, date-based tickets (the standard ticket option) no longer require theme park reservations. Good-to-go days were also introduced, which are select days that do not require park reservations for Annual Passholders and Cast Members.
• Meal plans! For stays beginning January 9, 2024, Disney dining plans can be added to Disney Resort vacation packages.
• Dining reservation searches! Effective March 11, 2024, Disney World guests may now search dining availability for up to 10 days at a time.

Placeholder until new information is released...

Events from Mid-December 2024 through Mid-February 2025

Open through December 22: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Open through December 24: Disney Springs Santa Clause Meet & Greet
Open through December 30: Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll
Open through December 30: EPCOT Holiday Kitchens
Open through December 30: EPCOT Holiday Cookie Stroll
Open through December 30: EPCOT Candlelight Processional
Open through December 30: EPCOT Characters Holiday Costumes
Open through December 30: EPCOT Living with the Land Holiday Overlay
Open through December 30: EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
Open through December 30: EPCOT Figment Ride Christmas Sweater Overlay
Open through December 30: EPCOT American Adventure Gingerbread Display
Open through December 30: EPCOT Spaceship Earth Holiday Beacons of Magic
Open through December 30: EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Merchandise
Open through December 30: EPCOT Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind 'Holiday Remix' Overlay
Open through December 31: EPCOT Olaf's Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt
Open through December 31: Magic Kingdom Holiday Treats
Open through December 31: Blizzard Beach Holiday Treats and Experiences
Open through December 31: Disney Springs Gideon's Bakehouse Holiday Treats
Open through December 31: Animal Kingdom Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition
December 23 to December 29: Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
December 23 to December 31: Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show
December 23 to December 31: Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
December 23 to December 31: Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration Stage Show
December 30 to December 31: Magic Kingdom Fantasy in the Sky New Year's Eve Fireworks
December 31: EPCOT Cheers to the New Year: A Sparkling Celebration
Open through January 1: Animal Kingdom Holiday Treats
Open through January 1: Hollywood Studios Holiday Treats
Open through January 7: Magic Kingdom PhotoPass Holiday Magic Shots
Open through January 7: Animal Kingdom PhotoPass Holiday Magic Shots
Open through January 8: WDW Resorts Holiday Treats
Open through January 15: Disney Springs Holiday Treats
January 1 to January 31: Disney Springs Health & Wellness Month
January 5 to January 8: runDisney Virtual Marathon Weekend
January 8 to January 11: runDisney Health & Fitness Expo
January 8 to January 12: runDisney WDW Marathon Weekend
January 9 to January 12: runDisney Castaway Cay Challenge
January 13 to February 20: EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
January 13 to February 20: EPCOT Disney on Broadway Concert Series
January 13 to February 20: Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Food Crawl
January 13 to February 20: Figment's Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt


Refurbishments and Closings During January 2025

January through April: All Star Movies Resort Fantasia Pool
January through June: Yacht Club Resort Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool
January through June: Beach Club Resort Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool

Disclaimer: All events and dates are subject to change. Please plan your vacations accordingly!

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Placeholder until new information is released...

Installation of Christmas Decorations

October 25: Animal Kingdom Luminaries around Discovery Island
October 27: Hollywood Studios Stars down Sunset Boulevard
October 28: EPCOT Snowflakes in France Pavillion
October 31: Beach Club Resort Gingerbread Carousel
October 31: Grand Floridian Gingerbread House Construction Begins
November 1: Magic Kingdom Main Street U.S.A. Decorations--Christmas has Arrived!
November 2: Transportation and Ticket Center Holiday Decorations
November 2: Jingle Cruise Overlay Begins
November 4: Disney Springs World of Disney Decorations and Merchandise
November 9: Grand Floridian Gingerbread House Officially Open
November 11: Contemporary Resort Gingerbread Castle Officially Open
November 16: Pop Century Resort Christmas Decorations
November 17: BoardWalk Inn Gingerbread Deli
November 23: Animal Kingdom Lodge Gingerbread Giraffe and Zebra
November 25: EPCOT American Adventure Gingerbread Display

Removal of Christmas Decorations

Around January 4: Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort
Around January 4: WDW Christmas Background Music Loops
Around January 4: WDW Resort Hotels
Around January 8: WDW Theme Parks (Potentially through Marathon Weekend)

Remember, it's Christmas All Year Long at the Following Locations!

Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf
Disney Spring's Days of Christmas Store
Magic Kingdom Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe
EPCOT Die Weihnachts Ecke (The Christmas Corner)

Disney's Holiday Central Webpage

Official January 2023 Thread (for reference)

Disclaimer: All events and dates are subject to change. Please plan your vacations accordingly!

 

[disneyfan123]

We are booked from December 30 to January 9. Split stay between CCV and VGF.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Can't believe it's time to do this all over again!

Same as before, we are tentatively looking at the first week of January.

Excited for the new perk of a free water park on arrival day. Hopefully, the water parks will stay open, and it won't be too cold or rainy!

Welcome, everyone!

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

We are booked from December 30 to January 9. Split stay between CCV and VGF.

Yay! Welcome, you've been added!

 

[Tbiafore]

Thank you for starting this thread. It's much appreciated.

Jan 17-26: Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House)

 

[Tbiafore]

Your post above mentions that Splash Mountain is closed 23rd thru the 31st of Jan. Is that correct as its not going to be called Splash Mountain?

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Thank you for starting this thread. It's much appreciated.

Jan 17-26: Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House)

You're welcome! You've been added!

Your post above mentions that Splash Mountain is closed 23rd thru the 31st of Jan. Is that correct as its not going to be called Splash Mountain?

The current lists are copied from a previous year, so they are just placeholders right now. It will be a messy work in progress for a bit, so keep checking back for more up-to-date information!

 

[Griffin11]

I was hoping someone would start this thread soon, thank you!

We are travelling Jan 29 - Feb 6 (CBR).

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

I was hoping someone would start this thread soon, thank you!

We are travelling Jan 29 - Feb 6 (CBR).

You're welcome!

Yay, our first vacation stretching into February. You've been added!

 

[Tbiafore]

The only caveat for QS is that you won't be able to order more than 2 adult and 2 kid meals at a time. You don't have to only do mobile order for QS, we usually send just one person into the line to order if not using mobile order, and just one person places the order for the entire party.

The current lists are copied from a previous year, so they are just placeholders right now. It will be a messy work in progress for a bit, so keep checking back for more up-to-date information!

Ahh makes sense. Thanks!

 

[Frank4202]

We are booked at All Star Music for Jan 14-22. It will be my son's first trip, just before his 3rd Birthday.

My mother is a cast member so hoping in September, she can start to get us some discounts or upgrade our resort for a small fee.

 

[Frank4202]

I also noticed that the refurbishment of the pool at All Star Movies is not shown. I only found it by clicking the "Recreation" tab.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

We are booked at All Star Music for Jan 14-22. It will be my son's first trip, just before his 3rd Birthday.

My mother is a cast member so hoping in September, she can start to get us some discounts or upgrade our resort for a small fee.

Yay for first visits! You've been added!

I also noticed that the refurbishment of the pool at All Star Movies is not shown. I only found it by clicking the "Recreation" tab.

View attachment 841125

Ooh, thanks! This information has now been added to the refurb list!

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

FYI. Yacht and Beach Club's Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool will now be closed January 2025 through June 2025 (previously announced as January through May).

This has been added to the refurb list in the second post.

Stormalong Bay refurbishment to be longer than first thought at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resort

 

[kanerf]

Jan 16-19 BWV 1BDRM Boardwalk View
Jan 19-22 OKW 1BDRM
Jan 22-26 RIV SSV

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Jan 16-19 BWV 1BDRM Boardwalk View
Jan 19-22 OKW 1BDRM
Jan 22-26 RIV SSV

Welcome! You've been added!

 

[zanzibar138]

Yay, our happy dance thread is open

We'll be arriving on 27 January and departing on 10 February.
Have just booked BLT from 31 January to 7 February - will book the few nights either side in due course.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Yay, our happy dance thread is open

We'll be arriving on 27 January and departing on 10 February.
Have just booked BLT from 31 January to 7 February - will book the few nights either side in due course.

Yay, you've been added!

(Just let me know whenever you book the rest, and I'll get it updated!)