Is it difficult to just eat on the fly?
There are quick service options, but the options are pretty limited right now in the current environment. You also are required to mobile order through the app before you can enter the QS establishment. The only time we found availability issues was during the 12pm hour at DHS, and the more popular QS locations had mobile order windows for an hour out. So we had to either wait an hour to eat lunch, or pick from one or two places that you could mobile order from instantaneously. So, its not necessarily difficult to eat on the fly, but you will have limited options.
I know DL is known for their great QS, but that is not the case at WDW. Table service meals are more prevalent and well worth the effort, time and money to try. Use TS meals as a break for lunch mid-day, or schedule one at the very end of your park day so you aren't wasting park time.
How are wait times...we are huge fans of FP at DL and rarely wait too long?
No fast passes currently, so wait times can vary. Park opening will have the lowest waits. January is a slower time of year, so if it was anything like when we were there two weeks ago, headliners are generally 45-60 minutes with most other rides being in the 10-30 minute range. We found it manageable.
Are there many things to do/see other than rides? Some of my favorites are always the shows and parades at DL.
As PPs mention, not in the current environment. IMO, its not an optimal time for first timers to visit WDW because you are not getting the full experience. The shows, parades, and fireworks are some of the most impressive and special/memorable parts of a WDW trip.
Just noticed hours seem really reduced for the week of Jan2 also. Is this normal for the time of year, or COVID?
Any chances of them changing? We are usually rope droppers with a nap and close down DL on an 8-midnight day! I know the nap break aren't really feasible at WDW staying off site but 5 or 6 pm closing seem really early!
January is a slow time of year. Also gets dark early. They typically always have shorter park hours during this timeframe, but the hours you're seeing have been pretty static since re-opening due to Covid. I would not expect them to be extended, although they have been extending on some weekend days when its projected to be busy. When we were there two weeks ago, we lacked for things to do in the evening with no park hopping and parks closing early. We visited Disney Springs several times, swam, had dinners at different resorts.
Speaking of Disney Springs, you'll be shocked at how significantly larger it is than DL's Downtown Disney. Definitely plan at least a night or two there.
Thank you all!! I will definitely check out some of the restaurants. With the shortened hours it makes it less appealing to spend valuable park time in a restaurant. Are the hotel restaurants open later?
Can you go to them even if staying off site?
Curious..what is the difference in the reservation buckets?
Hotel restaurants may be open later and you can go to them no matter where you are staying. You will still need a reservation. Some resort dining options are currently closed, so definitely try to make reservations as soon as you can. You can also book a dining reservation close to park closing so you're not wasting time during operating hours. As I mentioned above, we enjoyed TS lunches two weeks ago and used that as our break since there wasn't enough time to go back to our resort for a mid-day break.
The reservation buckets mentioned refer to the priority given to resort guests for the required park reservations. There seems to be a larger pool of availability for those staying onsite to draw from, making it easier to book Hollywood Studios which tends to be the first park to book up.
A couple other things I would add:
-Keep in mind that WDW property is the size of the city of San Francisco. It takes time to get places, there's traffic, there's construction. Plan accordingly. It drastically different to DL in terms of convenience and ease of getting around.
-I also vote to stay on-site if you can swing it. Both from an immersive theming perspective as well as just a convenience perspective. Easier, shorter commutes and avoids parking fees and hassles. We never rent a car on-site because an on-site reservation includes airport transportation. We did find the limited capacity on the buses to be an issue on our recent trip, so we just used Uber those times instead.
-January in Florida can be downright cold. Layering is a must. It can be in the 30s and 40s in the mornings and evenings, but in the 70s mid-day when the sun is out. The majority of the queues right now are outside in the elements so you will want to be prepared for the weather. If swimming is important to you, be flexible with your schedule. Some days may be warm enough, other days may not be.
