The crowds at Disney World in January start off busy with bustling holiday visitors and the excitement of the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, before transitioning into one of the quietest and most enjoyable times of the year.
Wondering which month has the lightest crowds? Take a look at our 2025 Disney World Crowd Calendar for a complete overview of crowd levels throughout the year and find the best time for your visit.
January 2025 Crowd Calendar Disney World
Start of the Month: New Year’s Crowds and Winter Festivities
The first week of January continues the holiday magic, with crowds spilling over from Christmas and New Year’s. Expect to see:
- Festive decorations still in place during the first few days.
- High crowd levels as families extend their vacations into the New Year holiday.
By January 7, crowds begin to taper off slightly, but another major event is right around the corner.
runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (January 8-12 2025)
One of the biggest events of the year, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, brings thousands of runners and their families to the parks. Here’s what to know:
- Race Dates:
- January 9: Walt Disney World 5K
- January 10: Walt Disney World 10K
- January 11: Walt Disney World Half Marathon
- January 12: Walt Disney World Full Marathon
- Challenges:
- Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge: Complete the Half and Full Marathons (Jan 11-12).
- Dopey Challenge: Participate in all four races (Jan 9-12).
- The Expo: Starting January 8, the Health & Fitness Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports is the hub for runners to:
- Pick up bibs and race packets.
- Shop exclusive runDisney merchandise.
- Fun for Runners and Spectators:
- Family and friends of runners often arrive before and stay after the races, adding to crowds.
- Post-race days are a treat, as runners proudly wear their medals in the parks for:
- Character meet-and-greets with medals.
- Ride photos while showing off their achievements.
