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Orlando in January is cool, mostly dry and, once New Year’s weekend is over, a lot calmer than the holidays. Average highs sit in the low 70s, nights drop to around 50°F, and the month still packs in the Citrus Bowl, Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend and the opening of the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts.
It’s a good month for the theme parks if you pack layers and pick your dates carefully. This guide uses NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for Orlando International Airport and the official 2027 dates published so far (checked October 8, 2026). Events, park hours and hotel policies change, so confirm on the official pages before you book.
Quick answer: Expect average highs near 72°F, lows near 50°F and about 2.5 inches of rain spread over roughly seven days. January 1–5 still feels like the holidays, January 6–10 is Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, and the Festival of the Arts opens January 15, the day before the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend (January 16–18). For calmer parks, aim for the weekdays after MLK Day. Pack layers, and pick a hotel with a heated pool if swimming matters.
Here’s the month in detail: weather, crowds week by week, 2027 events, swimming, hotels and packing.
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Orlando weather in January
January is Orlando’s coolest month. At Orlando International Airport, NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals put the average high at 71.8°F and the average low at 49.5°F. The daily normals barely change: the coolest nights, around 49°F, come in mid-January, and the average high creeps up to almost 73°F by January 31.
Averages hide the swings. On average 4.7 January nights fall to 40°F or below, and about one night (1.1) reaches freezing at the airport, so check the forecast a few days before you fly and pack for both mild and cold days.
| Measure | January normal | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Average high | 71.8°F | T-shirt afternoons on many days |
| Average low | 49.5°F | A jacket for mornings and nights |
| Rainfall | 2.48 in | Under a third of June’s 8.05 in |
| Days with rain | 7.0 | Measurable rain about 1 day in 4 or 5 |
| Nights at 40°F or below | 4.7 | Cold snaps are short but real |
| Snowfall | 0.0 in | Normal snowfall is zero |
Rain is rarely a trip-wrecker in January. The daily normals give each January day only about a 22% chance of measurable rain, while June through August average 16 to 17 rainy days a month. Days are short, though: the US Naval Observatory puts sunset in Orlando at 5:40 p.m. on January 1, 2027, 5:51 p.m. on January 15 and 6:04 p.m. on January 31, with sunrise around 7:15 a.m. all month. Evenings cool off fast once the sun goes down, right when the nighttime shows start.
For how January compares with the rest of the year, see our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Orlando.
Orlando crowds in January, week by week
January 1–5: the tail end of the holidays
The first days of 2027 are still holiday season. New Year’s Day is a Friday, holiday events at Universal, SeaWorld and Gaylord Palms run through January 3 or 4, and Disney’s holiday season lasts through January 6. The Citrus Bowl on Saturday, January 2 adds a stadium crowd downtown.
Plan these days like a holiday week: buy park tickets and make dining reservations early, and book your hotel well ahead. If you’re arriving for the countdown, our New Year’s Eve in Orlando guide covers the parties and fireworks.
January 6–10: Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
runDisney‘s 2027 Marathon Weekend runs January 6–10: the 5K on Thursday, January 7, the 10K on Friday, the half marathon on Saturday and the marathon on Sunday, January 10, which starts at 4:30 a.m. ET. Every race, including Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge and the Dopey Challenge, was listed as sold out at the time of writing. Runners must pick up bibs at the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo, open January 6–9.
Even if you’re not running, you’ll share Disney property with runners and their families, so book Disney-area hotels early.
January 11–18: mid-month and MLK weekend
Once race weekend wraps up, the holiday and race-weekend traffic fades. The next bump is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday on Monday, January 18, 2027, which makes January 16–18 a three-day weekend. The Festival of the Arts opens the day before, Friday, January 15, so expect EPCOT to be lively that weekend.
January 19–31: the late-January window
After MLK Day, the federal calendar has no holiday until Presidents’ Day on February 15, and Universal Mardi Gras doesn’t begin until February 6. That makes the last week and a half of January a good window for quieter park days. Theme park ticket prices vary by date, so when you compare dates, the cheaper days are a useful hint of lower expected demand.
Events in Orlando in January 2027
These are the dates published on official pages at the time of writing.
| Dates | Event | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Through Jan 3 | Holidays at Universal Orlando | Grinchmas, holiday parade |
| Through Jan 3 | Christmas at Gaylord Palms | ICE! needs a ticket |
| Sat, Jan 2 | Citrus Bowl | Camping World Stadium, noon ET |
| Jan 3 and 5 | Disney Jollywood Nights | Hollywood Studios, separate ticket |
| Through Jan 4 | SeaWorld Christmas Celebration | Select dates |
| Through Jan 6 | Holidays at Walt Disney World | Seasonal events and entertainment |
| Jan 6–10 | Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend | All races sold out |
| Jan 15 – Mar 1 | EPCOT Festival of the Arts | Included with EPCOT admission |
| Jan 16–18 | MLK Day weekend | Federal holiday Monday |
| January | SeaWorld Three Kings Celebration, Ocean Discovery Days | Exact dates not yet announced |
Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium
The 81st Citrus Bowl, matching teams from the SEC and the Big Ten, is set for Saturday, January 2, 2027 at noon ET, with a national broadcast on ABC. According to the stadium, the game will be played at reduced capacity while Camping World Stadium goes through a $400 million renovation due to finish in 2027. Tickets were listed as “on sale TBA” at the time of writing, and the date and time can change.
The stadium sits just west of downtown Orlando, about 17 to 20 miles by road from the Disney resort area. If the game is the reason for your trip, our guide to hotels near Camping World Stadium compares walking distances, the free event shuttle and parking. The Pop-Tarts Bowl is played at the same stadium on Tuesday, December 29, 2026, if you want to pair two games.
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
Disney lists the 2027 festival, presented by Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game, from January 15 through March 1, 2027. The festival is included with valid EPCOT admission, though Disney notes that a park reservation may be required depending on your ticket type. Disney hasn’t published the 2027 lineup yet. The 2026 edition included Food Studios with small plates, chalk-art galleries, kids’ chalk art, live painting, daily music at CommuniCore Plaza and an exhibit on Disney on Broadway.
The festival suits January: walking World Showcase is far more pleasant at 70°F than at 90°F. Disney says offerings may change for 2027 and suggests checking back this winter.
Holiday events that run into January
Disney Jollywood Nights, a separately ticketed, five-hour evening event at Hollywood Studios, has two January dates: January 3 and 5. Disney lists tickets from $169 to $199 plus tax depending on the date, with $10 off for kids 3 to 9, and ticket holders can enter from 5:30 p.m. without a regular park ticket. Universal’s holiday season (Grinchmas, the Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s and Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter) and Christmas at Gaylord Palms, with its ICE! attraction, both end January 3.
What is not in January
A few events people expect in January fall later in 2027. Universal Mardi Gras runs February 6 to March 27, SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival is listed for February to May, and the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend is February 25 to March 1. Monster Jam’s 2027 show at Camping World Stadium is scheduled for Saturday, March 27.
Can you swim in Orlando in January?
Yes, as long as the water is heated. With afternoon highs in the low 70s, an unheated pool feels cold, and getting out after sunset at 50°F is chilly even in a heated one. Bring a sweatshirt or cover-up for the walk back.
- Disney’s Blizzard Beach: Disney says the pool and water areas are heated to about 81°F, and Melt-Away Bay is a heated, one-acre wave pool. Typhoon Lagoon is temporarily closed, and Disney recommends Blizzard Beach in the meantime.
- Disney water park weather rules: Disney says at least one of its water parks is open every day except in bad weather. Full-day closures appear on the park calendar at least a day ahead, but same-day closures can happen with little notice.
- Universal Volcano Bay: closed for scheduled maintenance from October 26, 2026, with reopening now expected on or before April 1, 2027. It won’t be an option in January.
- Hotel pools: only trust a hotel’s own statement. The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando, for example, says its Springs Pools and the zero-entry pool at its Surfari Water Park are kept at 83°F year-round. If a hotel’s website doesn’t say, ask before you book.
If you want a pool that works on the coldest days, see our list of Orlando hotels with indoor pools. For seasons, heating and tickets at every park, see the Orlando water parks guide.
Where to stay in Orlando in January
The best base depends on why you’re going; our guide to the best areas to stay in Orlando compares them all. For January:
- Festival of the Arts or race weekend: stay on or right next to Disney property, ideally within walking distance of EPCOT.
- Citrus Bowl: downtown Orlando puts you closest to the stadium and to its free downtown shuttle, which the stadium says isn’t offered for every event.
- Pool time on cooler days: pick a resort that states its pools are heated, or one with an indoor pool.
Walt Disney World Dolphin: walk to EPCOT for the festival
The Dolphin sits inside Walt Disney World and, unlike Disney’s own hotels, is sold on Booking.com; the resort calls itself the only Disney resort where you earn Marriott Bonvoy points. By our route, EPCOT’s International Gateway entrance is about 0.7 mile away on foot, roughly a 15-minute walk, ideal for evening festival visits. The resort says water taxis run to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios about every 20 to 25 minutes, starting an hour before the parks open, and buses serve Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs.
According to the resort, guests get Early Theme Park Entry (30 minutes) at all four parks, Extended Evening Hours on select nights, Lightning Lane purchases from 7 days before the stay, and free standard parking at the theme parks. The Swan and Dolphin share six pools, including a grotto pool with a waterslide and two lap pools; the pool page doesn’t say whether they’re heated, so ask if that matters.
- Good to know: at the time of writing, the resort’s FAQ listed a mandatory resort service package of $50 plus tax per day and self-parking at $40 plus tax per day. Rates vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book.
Check your January dates for the Walt Disney World Dolphin on Booking.com
The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando: heated pools and suites
The Grove, at 14501 Grove Resort Avenue in Winter Garden, calls itself an all-suite resort: its family suites have two or three bedrooms, full kitchens and washer-dryers, while the adult-oriented Terraces section has studios and one- and two-bedroom suites. The two-bedroom condos sleep six in 1,266 square feet. Its FAQ says the Springs Pools and the zero-entry pool at Surfari Water Park stay at 83°F year-round. Surfari also has a FlowRider Double surf simulator, two slides with a 48-inch minimum and a 695-foot lazy river.
By road, The Grove is about 7.5 miles from Animal Kingdom’s guest parking, 10.4 miles from EPCOT’s main lot and 11 miles from Magic Kingdom’s Transportation and Ticket Center. Universal is about 20 miles away. The resort says it’s a Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel, which is not the same as Early Theme Park Entry.
- Good to know: the FAQ lists a $49 nightly resort fee plus tax, covering Surfari entry and daily transportation to Walt Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld (shuttle seats must be reserved ahead), and parking at $35 plus tax per vehicle per night. At the time of writing, Surfari opened 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday and until 7 p.m. on Saturdays, weather permitting; hours change seasonally. More in our full review of The Grove Resort.
See available suites at The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando
What to pack for Orlando in January
- Layers and long pants: a T-shirt, a long-sleeve top and a light jacket or fleece cover a 50°F morning and a 72°F afternoon; long pants help at nighttime shows.
- A rain layer: a light rain jacket or poncho for the roughly seven rainy days in a typical January.
- Comfortable closed shoes: cool mornings and long park days are easier in sneakers than sandals.
- Swimsuit and cover-up: for heated pools, plus something warm for the walk back to your room.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen: January afternoons can still be bright, especially at water parks.
To plan a budget, use our Orlando vacation cost worksheet; hotel rates vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book.
Going a month later? see our guide to Orlando in February for weather, crowds and 2027 events.
Swimming in January? see Orlando hotels with heated pools.
Coming at the end of the year instead? see Orlando in November and Orlando in December.
Frequently asked questions
Is January a good time to visit Orlando?
Yes, for most travelers. January is Orlando’s coolest and one of its drier months, with average highs near 72°F and about seven days with measurable rain. The first week still carries holiday crowds and January 6–10 is Marathon Weekend, but the weekdays after MLK Day (January 18, 2027) are a good window for calmer parks.
How cold does Orlando get in January?
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for Orlando International Airport put the average January low at 49.5°F and the average high at 71.8°F. Cold snaps happen: on average 4.7 January nights fall to 40°F or below and about one night reaches freezing. Normal snowfall is zero, but pack a warm layer either way.
Can you swim in Orlando in January?
Yes, in heated pools. Disney says Blizzard Beach’s pools are heated to about 81°F, and The Grove Resort says its main pools stay at 83°F year-round. Typhoon Lagoon is temporarily closed, and Universal’s Volcano Bay is closed for maintenance, with reopening expected on or before April 1, 2027. Ask your hotel whether its pools are heated before you book.
Is Disney World crowded in January?
It depends on the week. January 1–6 is still Disney’s holiday season, and Marathon Weekend (January 6–10) brings runners and their families to Disney property. MLK weekend (January 16–18) coincides with the opening of the Festival of the Arts. The weekdays from January 19 to month’s end have no holidays, so they’re your best bet.
What events are in Orlando in January 2027?
The Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium on January 2, Disney Jollywood Nights on January 3 and 5, Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend January 6–10, and the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts from January 15 to March 1. Holiday events at Universal and Gaylord Palms run through January 3, and SeaWorld lists a Three Kings Celebration and Ocean Discovery Days, with dates not yet announced.
What should I pack for Orlando in January?
Pack layers: T-shirts for afternoons in the low 70s, plus a long-sleeve top, a light jacket or fleece and long pants for mornings and evenings near 50°F. Add a light rain jacket or poncho, comfortable closed shoes, sunscreen and a swimsuit for heated pools. Runners should bring a warm layer for the pre-dawn start.
Bottom line
Orlando in January rewards a little planning: mild afternoons, cool nights, little rain and a good chance of calmer parks once the holidays and Marathon Weekend are over. Aim for mid-to-late January, especially the weekdays after MLK Day, pack layers, and book a hotel with a heated pool or an easy walk to EPCOT if the Festival of the Arts is on your list.
Compare rates for the Walt Disney World Dolphin for your January dates
Sources checked in October 2026: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 climate normals, Orlando International Airport, runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, Disney: EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, Camping World Stadium: Citrus Bowl, The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando FAQ