We’re heading into 2023 PUMPED UP and ready for the new year!

We’ve got a lot of excitement happening in Disney World in the next 12 months with the opening of TRON Lightcycle Run, Roundup Rodeo BBQ, Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana, and more! But before all that happens, we’ve got to make it through January. And there are 5 big things that you definitely don’t want to miss in Disney World this month!

Check Out the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

Let’s start out with the BIG event that’s happening in January — the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts! This festival kicks off on January 13th and runs through February 20th. We’ll be there on the opening day to try out all the eats and drinks, as well as check out the special offerings.

Typically, the Festival of the Arts comes with fun activities like photo ops, art displays, performers, and more. You can try your hand at painting with the Expression Section or enjoy the talents of Broadway singers with the Disney on Broadway Concert Series in the evenings. There’s so much to do, you definitely don’t want to miss out!

Click Here to Learn More About the Festival!

Shop the Grand Finale 50th Anniversary Merchandise

Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebrations officially end on March 31st, and while Disney hasn’t really made it clear what that means, we do know that they’re going out with a bang — there’s one more merchandise collection on the way before then! In January, be on the lookout for the Grand Finale Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary collection in gift shops and online.

The new collection will have shirts, ears, and other accessories to shop, all with completely new and unique designs that weren’t available before. We can’t wait to see it in person!

Click Here to Get a Sneak Peek at the Merchandise Collection!

Visit a Disney After Hours Event

Something exciting is returning in January to Walt Disney World — Disney After Hours events! These aren’t like the pared-down holiday parties that Disney World did in 2021, but they’re special hard-ticketed events that run from January-April after the parks close.

Tickets are on sale currently for After Hours events at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios on select nights. With your ticket, you’ll get to stay in the park after it closes to experience lower wait times, complimentary snacks and bottled beverages, and smaller crowd levels. If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, make sure to check for tickets online!

Click Here to Get More Details About the After Hours Events!

Participate in the Walt Disney World Marathon

If you’re a runner and a Disney fan, then you likely already know about the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend that takes place every January in Disney World. This year, it’s taking place from January 4th-8th, so be prepared to deal with heavier crowds in the parks on those days.

The races will mostly happen in the morning (registration is closed to those who didn’t already register), and they may impact early morning traffic patterns around the resort. However, they shouldn’t affect the daily operations of the parks outside of the crowd levels.

Click Here to See What Crowds Were Like During the Last runDisney Race!

Ride Splash Mountain Before Its Closure

And finally, we have to mention Splash Mountain! The Frontierland ride is closing down on January 23rd, 2023 to be transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. If you’re visiting before then, it’ll be your last chance to ride it in its current form.

The transformation should take over a year, as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is set to open before the end of 2024. We’ve already seen a lot of details about the new ride, and it has us excited to check it out!

Click Here to Learn More About Tiana’s Bayou Adventure!

So those are the top things you’ll want to check out at Disney World in January 2023! We can’t wait to see what this month (and the rest of the year) has in store, and we’ll be taking you along with us every step of the way. Let’s do this!

Hold up for a sec! Before you plan your next trip to Disney World, check out our DFB Guide Everything Bundle here. You will get ALL of our best-selling eBooks with details on Disney World Dining, EPCOT Festivals, the BEST snacks in each park, and soooooo many tips and tricks we’ve learned over decades of visiting our happy place.

Click Here to See the BIG Changes Coming to Disney World in 2023!

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Are you planning a trip to Disney World in January? Tell us in the comments!

The post The 5 Best Things to Do in Disney World in January first appeared on the disney food blog.