Calling all northerners who have gone to WDW in December

[pyrxtc]

is it really that cold? I'm from Nh, the mountians, and when I see that it gets to 50 degrees, I think still shorts weather. I'm seeing tons of pics of people with sweatshirts and hts, gloves and them saying it was too cold for swimming.?? is that right?? My boys really love the pool and i wouldn't want to miss out! I know 50 degrees up here is still shorts weather unless it has the winter cold winds backing it up but I don't see that happening in Florida. Tell the truth.. how cold was it for you!!???

 

[goofy4tink]

In '03, my dd and made a trip to WDW in mid-Dec. They were having a cold snap that was incredible. While we never went swimming, there were kids in the pools! The pools are heated but you do have to get out of the water at some point!! The CMs were wearing coats, mittens, hats and scarves!!! It was only the mid-40's to 50's in the early morning and then at night-time. We were never all that cold though.
What we do is to fly in our jeans, sweatshirts and windbreakers. Then, we can wear shorts and short sleeved shirts during the day and then layer at night if need be. The past two trips in late Nov/early Dec have been quite pleasant. Yes, a bit nippy at night but a sweatshirt is all that you'll need...you can even get away with shorts if you have the sweatshirt...that's what I did.

 

[cocowum]

We lived in Burlington, VT for 6 years and then we moved to upstate NY and we were cold.

We were in the world the second week of Dec 2005 and I wore a T-shirt and fleece during the day and added an anorak (wind breaker), Hat and gloves at night. We went to MVMCP on 12/11 and DH thought he'd be fine with just a sweatshirt. But luckily for him he has a wife who over packs. By the end of the night he was wearing my extra pair of red gloves and my spare 'Tink" sweatshirt ( under his shirt ). When the sun went down it definitely got cold.

We also had rain a few days. That didn't stop DD from swimming every afternoon. Thank goodness for those heated pools. I did pack a nice warm terrycloth robe for her to slip into for the trips to and from the pool.

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

We are from northeastern PA and DH sounds just like you, 50's is still shorts weather. We were at WDW the first week of Dec 05, and while the days were OK, DH wore jeans and a sweatshirt at night. The weather is really hit or miss. We went in the pool three out of 6 days. The pools are heated so it's only cold when you get out. We were at BC and Stormalong Bay was totally empty by 5 pm. A couple of days the high temps were only high 50's/low 60's, with a cool breeze, but one day was sunny and 78. Nights were low 50's. We didn't need winter coats or gloves but jeans and sweatshirts are comfortable. Even though the weather isn't typical Florida, seeing WDW decked out for xmas is really worth it.

 

[vicceja]

Hi!

We are from Connecticut and we visited Disney just this past December ....I have to say that I will take any weather at Disney instead of this 8 degree, windy, snowy, slushy weather here in Connecticut . My boys jumped in the pool and hot tub as long as it wasn't raining. Weather was not bad at all - the boys wore shorts and we carried around sweaters for the night time chill. Overall it was great!

 

[kjs1976]

We're from MN and when we went this Dec. 10-12 temps ranged in the upper 60s to the high 40s. When we arrived it was sunny and high 60s...we both donned t-shirts and shorts. I brought a light sweater because it would be cooler in shaded areas. That night I wore capri jeans and the light sweater over my t-shirt. The next day it was cooler high 50s-low 60s and no sun. I had on jeans, and a light jacket over a t-shirt. DH wore jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt. It rained for about 1/2 hr. and it felt colder. At night for MVMCP I put on a sweatshirt over my light jacket and had on light gloves. By midnight, I was pretty cold, but only probably because we were outside all day in colder weather.

Beware that the heat might not work right in your room! We turned it to 72 before we left and it only rose one degree to 66 in the 5 hours we were gone! It was a chilly sleep!

 

[Eponine1]

Hello,

I am from Mass and was at Disney this past Dec (3--11) and it was nice weather. (of course, anything is better than New Englad weather). However, in the evenings, a jacket was required.

I brought clothes that I could layer incase it go cold. It worked out well. So bring your jeans, sweatshirts, etc and you will be fine!

 

[java]

The coldest we ever got involved a night with jeans and sweatshirts. My dd did wear gloves but she is always cold(all skin and bones that one...but I digress..)We have only swam twice in all the years we have gone- just because it wasn't in our plans- not because it was too cold. But FL is generally hit or miss- just watch the weather channel before you go and see what the temps are planning on being. You will have your coats from leaving your home anyway- right. We usually end up in shorts, tees with sweatshirts- and then peel off the sweatshirts as the day goes by- then put them back on in the evening.

 

[taximomfor4]

Was there 12/21-12/24, a few weeks ago. Our first evening, went to Illuminations at Epcot. Was wearing pants, tshirt, sweatshirt. Ended up purchasing a big blanket. Was still very chilled. (43 degrees, I think, that night). Went back for Illuminations on 12/23, and wore tshirt, sweatshirt, pants, coat. Was still quite chilly, but not as bad (down to 47 that night I think was the prediction). The highest temp while I was there was 12/23, maybe 73. (12/24 was supposed to be a couple degrees warmer, but we left in the early morning.)

I saw a few people in the pool (AKL) but didn't even CONSIDER it. I was even chilly sitting by the fire for the folktales at AKL 12/22. In a coat. But the fire is a gas one, not much heat coming off of it.

We learned after that first evening to carry a coat in a backpack, tie a sweatshirt around our waist for the afternoon. The layers really helped in the evenings. I am from east of Cleveland...it was 5 degrees when I left Clevland for WDW.

 

[mickeyfan2]

We always wear shorts in December. Now at night I will put on a sweatshirt over my tee shirt, but that is enough for me.

 

[Robo]

Reading these kind of posts remind me of the old poem about several sightless men describing an elephant... by touching the elephant in one small area.

The descriptions are accurate, but ONLY FROM THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE of a small amount of observation.

We all see the posts that say, "The parks were not full at all during that week" followed by "The parks were PACKED all week".
Its because some folks experienced one park or TIMING of their adventure, and others were not as "synced" with the throngs.

I can tell you from several trips to WDW in the winter...
You can get LOTS OF VARIANCES in temperature!

Nobody can tell you that it WILL be "X degrees" at night or "Y degrees" in the mornings in December.

We have had MANY days when shorts and tees were perfect, nearly all day.

We have also had many days (especially early EMH) where a thick coat, zip-on gym warm-ups and earmuffs or stocking caps were a welcome outfit.

At night, I've spent a couple of evenings viewing IllumiNations in "gale-force winds" (well almost) and lower 40's... in the Florida humidity, THAT'S COLD.
(They don't even fire off all the perimeter fireworks when there are strong winds.)
On those kind of nights, we'll stop by the lockers, go into the restrooms, and slip on some thin thermal underwear... that'll keep you toasty!

So, yes, a Florida winter getaway is warmer than it generally is in the upper USA, but I've even been to WDW when it freezes low enough that WDW landscaping had to replace many of the outdoor plantings throughout the resort due to frost-damage.

Take the shorts, you'll need 'em, most-likely...
but when I go to WDW, I don't want to "stay indoors" when the cold winds howl... so we pack for the other extreme as well.
Its cheap "trip insurance".

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I'm from Boston and was at Disney last week. The weekend weather dropped into the 40's at night and was in the mid 60s with a very strong cold wind during the day. I was cold with long pants, long sleeved shirt and coat and anyone wearing shorts was freezing.

 

[NMAmy]

We went Christmas a year ago and it was cold. We're from Michigan and when we landed in Orlando, it was colder there than it had been at home. We only had a couple of warm days and the rest of the time it was COLD. Like 32 degrees which we can live with at home but we usually don't spend all day outside, either.

 

[phisigprincess]

In the evenings you definately need warm weather clothes (not in our traditional sense, but a sweatshirt, jacket, pants.... ) I was watching Fantasmic and would have paid anything for a pair of gloves.

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

We are from Wisconsin and visited from Dec13-21 of '05. We had a few days of lower 70's but mostly upper sixties. You could swim and our room over looked the pool at the BWV so we could see people swim everday. I do think there is a difference between '68 sunshine, humidity and a light warm breeze and '68 cool breeze, clouds and pop up showers. We had both. But, always wore shorts during the day and pants at night. It all depends on what you are used to. Good Luck

 

[salmoneous]

I was down from MA when it was sunny and 59. I went out to play golf in shorts and short sleeves. Felt good in the sun, a bit cool in the shade. The locals I played with were all in jackets and gloves and thought I was insane.

I went for a dip in the POP pool afterward. I was fine while submerged, but pretty darn cold anytime I was out for even a second. After about 15 minutes I realized this was dumb and got out.

 

[WantToGoNow]

We live in Ohio and went the first two weeks of December ’04. We arrived to rain and it felt chilly. The next few days were really warm – we swam every night, wore shorts and t-shirts through the day and put on sweatshirts and pants on the kids at night. It was actually warmer than I liked through the daylight hours. Then a cold front came through and it got downright cold. I can’t remember what the actual temperatures were but we were not prepared. I had brought one pair of pants and one sweatshirt for myself and each of my kids – we literally washed our clothes every night to re-wear the following day. My dh didn’t even have a jacket – he wore short sleeves every day and said he was fine – I didn’t believe him. We went to Typhoon Lagoon one day and there must have been a whopping 50 people in the park (there were 6 of us). It was deserted – I was talking to one of the lifeguards (who was wearing winter clothes) and he said they have people show up when the temperatures are in the 20’s – brrrr!!!! The water was wonderful but the time you spent walking from place to place was torture. We decided not to go to Blizzard Beach later in the week. I specifically remember the day we went to Universal Islands of Adventure. It seemed warm enough that morning so we wore shorts and took sweatshirts. It got cloudy and COLD – I thought I was going to freeze to death. We left well before the sun went down and turned the HEAT on in the car to warm up.

T.

 

[Safari Queen]

We always go in December and there are usually some lovely days in the high 60's-low 70's and then some pretty cool days. It's not the temperature so much as a factor of wind and moisture. We're from middle MA and were comfortable in 55-65 degree days wearing jeans and a tshirt. However, a brisk, humid wind made it MUCH colder and we brought zip-front sweatshirts tied around our waists, just in case. At night around the World Showcase or Downtown Disney, on the water, 45ish with a good wind drove us to at least two layers plus hats and a scarf. MK and MGM, with fewer open spaces, are a little warmer. Early morning at the resort was sometimes in the high 30's/low 40's and warmed up slowly. However, during a sunny day I wouldn't hesitate to go in the pool as long as you have something warm to jump into if the wind blows.

 

[Emmyfaye]

We're from Canada - so that qualifies as "north" - we've almost always visited WDW in mid to late December. We've experienced days where we really needed to wear turtleneck sweaters plus winter jackets (with gloves or mitts and hats for the kids)...we've also experienced days when a t-short and shorts were fine, and we've visited the water parks (albeit wrapped in large towels between "rides" down the water slides). One thing it has NEVER been is hot...warm, yes...cool, yes...and one memorable vacation, very, very cold (dipping down to about 33-34 degrees at night - ).

Having said that, in our family's opinion, December is the absolutely BESTEST time to visit WDW! The magic is made even more magical by the holiday (dare I say Christmas?) decorations, shows and all around feelings of the season. If we wanted hot, we'd go somewhere in the Caribbean for a vacation, or wait until the summer to go to WDW!

 

[ChefBilly]

We went in January a few years ago, and one night at Illuminations I was quite cold.
When the fire barge went up I was very happy!

And I'm certainly a hearty Granite Stater.