Christmas weather and packing???

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi - I understand that the weather at Christmas can be somewhat variable!! and I was just wondering how you guys pack for this?

I was thinking of bringing the majority of summer type clothes (I only wear 3/4 length trousers & t-shirts for our summer here at home anyway - so it won't be vests and short shorts!!) and then a couple of wintery type outfits - such as jeans and jumpers or a tracksuit. We will be in our DVC for the first time so we will have access to laundry facilities & we don't want to pack too much, especially the heavier type clothes. I thought the boys could have roll up trousers/combats so that they can roll them up or down depending on the weather and long sleeved tees with a jumper to put over the top.

I will take our coats/hats/gloves but I am hoping they won't be needed!!

What do you guys do??

Many thanks for any info

 

[jockey]

Sounds good we always pack a few wintery things for that time of year ... The key is to layer! Do bring hats scarfs etc as they can be expensive in the parks

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Sounds good we always pack a few wintery things for that time of year ... The key is to layer! Do bring hats scarfs etc as they can be expensive in the parks

thanks Jockey - glad to know I am thinking the right way!!

 

[Ware Bears]

We went for Christmas last year when apparently it was colder than usual and I packed exactly the same as when we'd gone in March/April. I wore 3/4 length trousers and T-shirts with a zip-up hoodie (the hoodie normally came off by lunchtime and went back on again in the evening) although some days it was hot enough for shorts and a vest even into night-time. The only difference in my packing was I took an extra pair of long trousers which I did wear a couple of times when it was raining.

We reluctantly took coats, scarves and gloves but the only time the gloves came out of the hotel room was when we went to ICE and we didn't need to wear coats until our very last day at MK when it was bitterly cold at night.

Hopefully it will be warmer for you this year.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

We went for Christmas last year when apparently it was colder than usual and I packed exactly the same as when we'd gone in March/April. I wore 3/4 length trousers and T-shirts with a zip-up hoodie (the hoodie normally came off by lunchtime and went back on again in the evening) although some days it was hot enough for shorts and a vest even into night-time. The only difference in my packing was I took an extra pair of long trousers which I did wear a couple of times when it was raining.

We reluctantly took coats, scarves and gloves but the only time the gloves came out of the hotel room was when we went to ICE and we didn't need to wear coats until our very last day at MK when it was bitterly cold at night.

Hopefully it will be warmer for you this year.

thank you Elaine

We normally travel in May, but I do remember once we travelled in March and whilst we had great weather, I remember one day in Universal studios where we hunted for socks & a jumper as we were freezing - as we hadn't packed anything like that!! - I guess if I take my normal Florida type clothes, but also pack a tracksuit, we will travel in jeans and hoodies too so we should have at least a couple of warmer outfits then - especially for the MVMCP in the evening!!

 

[garethanders]

Me and my DW went last christmas for our honeymoon. While the weather then was mild and a few hot days, id suggest as others have, taking some layers.

The evenings were cold and jumpers were required.

Last year though 'so the locals were saying' was really cold for that time of year and with floridians walking round in scarfs and wooly hats and big coats. In fact the news reports were only commenting on two things the freakish weather and the tiger woods story.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Me and my DW went last christmas for our honeymoon. While the weather then was mild and a few hot days, id suggest as others have, taking some layers.

The evenings were cold and jumpers were required.

Last year though 'so the locals were saying' was really cold for that time of year and with floridians walking round in scarfs and wooly hats and big coats. In fact the news reports were only commenting on two things the freakish weather and the tiger woods story.

Thank you Gareth - thats great info - layers it will be!!

Did you take your winter coats?? If so, did you take them on the plane with you and carry them? - I am just concerned how much luggage space they would use, so will avoid taking them if I can!!!

 

[Lisash]

We've never found a need for winter coats. A thick jumper or fleece has always been enough for us. Anything heavier is a pain to carry around later in the day

 

[amystevekai&bump]

We've never found a need for winter coats. A thick jumper or fleece has always been enough for us. Anything heavier is a pain to carry around later in the day

thank you for posting - that was what I wanted to hear!! I HATE carrying around coats etc when I am out, I get as hot carrying them as wearing them sometimes!!!

I will pack hats and gloves and then make do with fleeces and hoodies I think - thats great - thanks

 

[aaronandterri]

We was there for a month last december and it was so cold, like you i only packed 3/4 and hoodies etc , shorts and normal clothes for Florida, having never been that time of year, and we froze the last week, we stayed in a villa the first 3 weeks then moved onto the boardwalk Inn and of course that was when it was coldest and we had no washing facilties, them last few days the kids had double hoodies and long sleeved tops on it was soo bitterly cold, we had no coats, my grandad was so cold he stayed back at the hotel, we was told it was unusually cold that year but id definatly pack a few warmer bits.

 

[Chilly]

It was very cold last December, I was in my coat, hat, scarf, gloves most days, however they did say that was not normal weather. We wore our coats on the plane, if you don't wear them while you are there then its no problem, however if it does turn cold you may end up spending a lot of money buying new ones for everyone.

 

[Ware Bears]

Did you take your winter coats?? If so, did you take them on the plane with you and carry them? - I am just concerned how much luggage space they would use, so will avoid taking them if I can!!!

I hadn't wanted to take ours but did in the end after asking the exact same question on here last year!!! and I was so glad that I took them. We carried them on to the plane on the way out, left them in our hotel room until our last night when it was soooooo cold that we would have needed to buy coats if we didn't have them (we came home before Chilly so luckily missed the worst of the cold weather in WDW) but we definitely needed them on the flight home where not only was it cold on the plane but we landed to snow and minus temperatures.

I certainly wouldn't pack them ~ just carry them on both flights and here's some that you won't need them over there.

 

[T16GEM]

We went in January and as many others have said the weather this year was a freak cold snap. We took coats and carried them on the plane, we had the buggies so they just all got squashed under there.

I think the idea of the roll up trousers is great, we always use these for the kids as they are so versatile. I wear 3/4 trousers and crops usually in the summer too so I took a load of these and then we had a fleece each. If you've got the laundry facilities you won't need to take much, we tend to wash through the fleeces at night and tumble dry them for the next day. It's so much easier when you can do this!

Gems

 

[fizz13]

doesn't look like I need to add anything here, all good advice. the december weather is crazy in a way, you start the day in jeans and hoodies/ fleeces, by midday you can be stripping off to shorts and t-shirts, even swimming if you're slightly mad like my kids lol, then wrapping up again late evening, I remember my kids going down the waterside at wilderness lodge all afternoon then our teeth chattering at mvmcp that night!
I did have to buy extra hoodies and long sleeves while I was there as got caught out in the parks in the evening a couple of times, you get on the bus thinking how warm it is and a couple of hours later you are cursing you didn't bring the fleece out with you.
layers and using a locker at the parks to store extra ones when you need it are the way to go.

having said all that, apparently Florida is in for a warmer winter this year, fingers crossed ;-)

 

[JonFozz]

We are in the same boat, so I spoke to one of my customers who is an ex-pat who lives in Florida. She basically said pack as if you are going on holiday to Northumberland in July. Could be 15 could be 30!

Not alot of help, but packing jeans, fleeces etc as well as shorts. 14 day pass says we have access to Blizzard Beach so if we have paid for it we are going swimming

Can't wait for 22/12 when we will be on our way!!

 

[Chilly]

layers and using a locker at the parks to store extra ones when you need it are the way to go.

Yep we got a locker as well to store the coats till we needed them on the day it was a bit warmer and we didn't need them in the day.