****January 2024 planning thread!!!

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Lol... of course after the half marathon weekend...

 

[klmcleod]

Lol... of course after the half marathon weekend...

Yup!! I got so excited I started calling the number only to realize that it's AFTER rundisney weekend!!!! Sadly I had to hang up.........

 

[LKing]

Not sure if you noticed the post on the main board. It looks like the alternating early entry will start on January 20.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/e...th-starts-at-disneyland-new-schedule.3935604/

 

[beachteachlv]

So what’s everyone doing in January with no parades and no entertainment? Anything special in the parks you make plans to do/see in lieu of that?

In the past we never cared because our kids were young so we were early to bed and our days weren’t as intense. This visit our kids will be 3&6 so we can do a bit more.

 

[Glynis4]

So what’s everyone doing in January with no parades and no entertainment? Anything special in the parks you make plans to do/see in lieu of that?

In the past we never cared because our kids were young so we were early to bed and our days weren’t as intense. This visit our kids will be 3&6 so we can do a bit more.

We were thinking of going bowling one evening at splitsville, but then I realized that it would be about $100 for us to bowl (3x the amount it would be at home!), plus food and drinks, and I don't really love bowling all that much, so now I'm not sure! Looking for ideas too! My kids are 8 and 11.

 

[DisneyBelle27]

Boyfriend and I will be there 1/12-1/16 for the half marathon, staying at the HoJo Anaheim. Only doing parks Sun 1/14 and Mon 1/16. After that we'll be hitting up San Diego and the LA area.

My 2nd time ever to DL (1st time was Tinker Bell Half in 2017) and my BF's 1st time! I am definitely bummed about the nighttime shows though, WoC was a highlight of my first trip.

 

[LKing]

Boyfriend and I will be there 1/12-1/16 for the half marathon, staying at the HoJo Anaheim. Only doing parks Sun 1/14 and Mon 1/16. After that we'll be hitting up San Diego and the LA area.

My 2nd time ever to DL (1st time was Tinker Bell Half in 2017) and my BF's 1st time! I am definitely bummed about the nighttime shows though, WoC was a highlight of my first trip.

View attachment 817339

You might look into hiking to the Hollywood sign.

Hollywood Sign Hiking

https://www.hollywoodsign.org/hiking

 

[BuzzlightHead]

So what’s everyone doing in January with no parades and no entertainment? Anything special in the parks you make plans to do/see in lieu of that?

In the past we never cared because our kids were young so we were early to bed and our days weren’t as intense. This visit our kids will be 3&6 so we can do a bit more.

There will be some entertainment if you're going towards the end of Jan. They start the Lunar New Year celebration, and I believe there is a small parade along with a mini-food and wine type event, (small pop-up stands for themed food and drinks). Weather permitting, there should also be fireworks on the weekend.

That being said... I'm definitely interested in seeing what other folks here think/are doing, because it definitely sucks WoC and Fantasmic! aren't running.

 

[beachteachlv]

There will be some entertainment if you're going towards the end of Jan. They start the Lunar New Year celebration, and I believe there is a small parade along with a mini-food and wine type event, (small pop-up stands for themed food and drinks). Weather permitting, there should also be fireworks on the weekend.

That being said... I'm definitely interested in seeing what other folks here think/are doing, because it definusucks WoC and Fantasmic! aren't running.

Yes we will be there the day Lunar New Year kicks off so that’ll be exciting! Last year we missed it by a few days.

 

[LKing]

Lunar Near does have themed food, drinks, shows and special character meet & greets.

This is what they offered in 2023. https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...foodie-guide-to-lunar-new-year-delights-2023/

 

[CastAStone]

Mickey’s Mix Magic was just announced to return Jan 8.

https://x.com/scottgustin/status/1737882786323689787

Magic Happens, infuriatingly, will not return until Feb 2.

 

[CastAStone]

Disneyland key in park entertainment in January

• World of Color - refurb
• Fantasmic - dragon caught fire
• Magic Happens - no reason just don’t feel like it
• Wondrous Journeys - Here’s a worse show just to mix it up

This honestly stinks

 

[starlite_]

Disneyland key in park entertainment in January

• Magic Happens - no reason just don’t feel like it
• Wondrous Journeys - Here’s a worse show just to mix it up

This honestly stinks

You do realize that there are real reasons for both of these right?

 

[CastAStone]

You do realize that there are real reasons for both of these right?

Then don’t do the WoC refurb right now, idk.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Then don’t do the WoC refurb right now, idk.

I agree... they should held back WoC refurb untill other things have come back esp since so many people are paying top dollar to come during Disney at this time (us rundisney people are paying holiday prices).

 

[Lorana]

We will be there Jan 4-9. Well, Universal Jan 4-6 (my kids want to go to Super Mario World) and Disneyland at the VGC Jan 6-9. We planned this at the 11 month mark, and don’t have flexibility to move.

I’m both excited - haven’t been to Disneyland before Covid - and disappointed at the amount of entertainment closures while we are there.

I’m trying to figure out what to squeeze in when before the 8th and what’s worth watching starting the 8th. I have the WOC Dessert Party for the 6th. Any thoughts?

 

[Glynis4]

When do they typically release info on the Lunar New Year entertainment and food? Especially the special food offerings

 

[Lisa24jks]

When do they typically release info on the Lunar New Year entertainment and food? Especially the special food offerings

Last year they posted it around January 10th, so I suspect it will be sometime in the same week. Right after the Holidays are officially over but at least 7 - 10 days before LNY actually starts at the parks.

 

[mom2rtk]

Disneyland key in park entertainment in January

• World of Color - refurb
• Fantasmic - dragon caught fire
• Magic Happens - no reason just don’t feel like it
• Wondrous Journeys - Here’s a worse show just to mix it up

This honestly stinks

It really does. We're definitely getting shafted in the entertainment department.

 

[RoseColored97]

Unpopular opinion, but we actually MUCH prefer MMM to Wonderous Journeys. We actually did a special trip this year (I can't recall when...maybe May?) to see Wonderous Journeys + Magic Happens since we would miss it for the Halloween and Christmas seasons but were not that impressed with WJ.

Magic Happens is spectacular, though so bummer on missing that. MMM is just so upbeat and fun, though. I think it also makes a difference where you are watching it. On Main Street, it's difficult to figure out where to look and feels almost like it's TOO much going on, but at the ROA there seemed to be a good balance of projections + fireworks.

All that to say....we're excited for January!