A question for regular WDW December goers

[Ware Bears]

I know this could be one of those 'how long is a piece of string?' question
but .......

Do you think we will be OK to take just fleeces/hoodies and waterproof jackets ie. Regatta/Trespass? Or do you regulars take your UK winter coats with you? I am so hoping you will all say no!!

 

[Pinky166]

Elaine I went last December and it was honestly much better than I expected, we didn't take any coats with us what so ever, just a couple of jumpers & cardigans and even then we only needed them early morning & very late at night, by about 10am it was t-shirt & shorts weather.

Have a fab time.

​

 

[wayneg]

We take everything, big winter coats, hats, gloves, scarves, shorts, Tshirts & swimwear.
Last Xmas we never used the winter wear until we landed back in Manchester. Other years 100% needed them, ice on car every morning etc. Not fun waiting for Fantasmic for 45 mins with temps not much above freezing.

 

[mackay_j]

I know this could be one of those 'how long is a piece of string?' question
but .......

Do you think we will be OK to take just fleeces/hoodies and waterproof jackets ie. Regatta/Trespass? Or do you regulars take your UK winter coats with you? I am so hoping you will all say no!!

All regulars will take not only jackets but hats gloves and scarfs!!!!!

With the wind chill it can stay below zero well into the day. Check the temps hist for end dec 2000 and early jan 2001 - It was baltic-one evening we dropred a drink of water out side of the door of our condo and in the morning it was frozen, we left early am and returned from parks very late, we did not see it turn from ice to water for 3 days!!! The temp recordings only give half the story, if they predict 41F then that may mean 29F real feal due to the wind chill.- and that is cold. A OK looking day of 64 may infact only be 45. Accuweather predict a real feal of 32 for the pm of the 16th- this is way in advance and may change but it does mean that they are expecting a very cold front at some piont in the next 3 weeks.


The strangest thing is it can drop from 80 to 40 over night. The good news is that when this happens what should be packed parks become ghostly quite early am and later in the day as the temps dip twords zero, you even get to stay on rides. This has happened to us on 2 diff Xmas/newyear visits, only the wise with coats hats & gloves will still be there-The locals will run for cover. We have used our hats/gloves on 2 out of 4 visits and our coats for a least 2 days on all so far (and we are scottish and used to the cold, we windsurf in the clyde even over winter!). The average for us over xmas is usually about

6 days T ****s/shorts day- jumper cardi evening
3 days Tshirts/ cardi/ 3/4 jeans in day and fleece evening
3 days jumpers all most of day (tshirt a few hrs midd day) jackets/gloves evening
2 days- jackets most of day, jumpers midday, gloves/hats/ scarfs by evening

Hope that helps,

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Check the temps hist for end dec 2000 and early jan 2001 - It was baltic

My wife & I were there that December with the intention of seeing in the new millenium at epcot (the real millenium).

Entered epcot late morning. It was cold but tolerable in the Florida Sunshine. People were reserving themselves places around the lake to see the fireworks by laying out blankets.
When the sun dropped below the horizon, the temperature plummeted too. I understand it went below zero. Everyone around the lake were now under their blankets. Mouse Gears sold out of Mickey Gloves and Mexico out of blankets. Got so cold my wife & I returned to our room at the Boardwalk by 11:30 pm. We were so cold in bed, even under our blankets, we didn't even get up to watch from our window.

Flew home the next day. Gatwick was warmer than Orlando.

Andrew

 

[wayneg]

00/01 was our 1st Xmas/NY, definetly the coldest we have experienced. We didn't take any winter clothes, cost us a small fortune buying long trousers, hats etc.

 

[mackay_j]

We were lucky one of the kids friends granparents live in orlando and they had phoned to warn us how cold it would be. We arrived on the 26th, the 27th was very hot about 80 then on the 29th the temps plumitted and stayed low for the whole week, I think that was the longest cold snap on recored. We were in discovery cove that year on one of the coldest days, my youngest was only 3 after about 2hrs we had to go she was turning blue!! It was so cold you could not stand on the sand without your feet freezing so they had put hardboard down to stand on. They put heaters up on the beach and were giving out hot drinks (before all inclusive time) and also had huge industrial dryers all around, but it was so so cold. We tried again in 2007 this time we moved from Jan 3rd to dec 31st to avoid a predicted cold snap, however, it rained (and I mean buckets) all day long. We are trying agian on jan 4th - so all if you are going to orlando - IT WILL freeze/rain/storm that day.

 

[T16GEM]

We take everything too! Coats, Hats and gloves - it was freezing in 07 for 3 or 4 days, with frost on the car in the morning, the little 'uns would have frozen had we not took our clobber with us!

Having said that - this past January we had record high temps so it's a case of packing for all weathers!

 

[barnaby1]

Not a December traveller but a January one.
We take sleeveless padded gillets, hats, scarves, gloves and thermals. Easier to put the small stuff into a bag when it warms up than carry a big coat around.

 

[Portugal1000]

Have been here since last Saturday and haven't warn a jacket or trousers yet. Son and husband have been in shorts the whole time. We have been to Blizzard Beach 3 times and swam in the hotel pool everyday. Weather is perfect park weather. Not baking hot but just fine. 4th year running I have been here in December and only ever had couple fo days where I have worn a jacket. Were here in August and the only thing nicer about the weather then is that you can swim at night and not get cold. Other than that, give me December weather any day.

 

[mackay_j]

looks as if its going to be cold- very cold from wed 16 until friday 18th (not know about beyond as dates not up yet) data from accuweather.com
wed 16th real feel high 14oC and low -3oC
Thurs 17 real feel high 13oC and low 0oc
Fri 18th real feel high 14 oC and low 6 oc

hope it heats back up quick before I get there!!

 

[Ware Bears]

looks as if its going to be cold- very cold from wed 16 until friday 18th (not know about beyond as dates not up yet) data from accuweather.com
wed 16th real feel high 14oC and low -3oC
Thurs 17 real feel high 13oC and low 0oc
Fri 18th real feel high 14 oC and low 6 oc

hope it heats back up quick before I get there!!

Yikes we arrive on the 16th and on the 18th we are going to MVMCP!!

Thank you everyone for your replies you've certainly convinced me that we need to take our winter coats, scarves and gloves!! I am going to cross everything in the hope that they will stay in our hotel room but at least we'll be prepared.

Merry Christmas to you all

 

[Chilly]

I want it to be hot on my wedding day - please can everyone pray for warm weather!

 

[wayneg]

Hopefully it will be warm enough for you on the 30th Claire.

 

[disneyholic family]

one year it was so warm, we actually went swimming every day..
another year it was so cold, they kids had to be bundled up in their snowsuits, mittens and balaclavas (those hats that go over your face - like armed robbers)...

i have a very cute picture of the kids all bundled up like that in their double stroller on the ferry to the magic kingdom....brrrrrrrrr.....

 

[Ware Bears]

I want it to be hot on my wedding day - please can everyone pray for warm weather!

I've started already Claire

 

[mackay_j]

one year it was so warm, we actually went swimming every day..
another year it was so cold, they kids had to be bundled up in their snowsuits, mittens and balaclavas (those hats that go over your face - like armed robbers)...

i have a very cute picture of the kids all bundled up like that in their double stroller on the ferry to the magic kingdom....brrrrrrrrr.....

One year, dressed like that (all 4 of us) one of the Cast members asked us if we were planning to visit mickey or mug him!!!

 

[disneyholic family]

One year, dressed like that (all 4 of us) one of the Cast members asked us if we were planning to visit mickey or mug him!!!

 

[stubb]

Hi
we have just got back, the first 2 days it poured with rain we had our winter coats on! Then we had the sun so were in aquatica in swim wear then we had overcast skies so were in light weight clothes so just take a selection and pray for the sun!!
Also the do have one or two shops in Florida!!! Any excuse for a wander round premium outlets
Michelle

 

[brightspark]

We've not been in December, but have worn hats gloves and scarves with our winter coats in Jan... Have great photos of hats and scarves on Splash Mountain LOL!

Claire - praying it's nice for your wedding x