Clothes for May trip?

[LaurEm378]

Hi all! I'm heading down May 14th and I'm trying to plan wardrobes for myself and my 4 year old son.

I know it's warm in Orlando in May, but are we talking consistent tank tops and shorts weather?

I'm one of those people who is usually cold (my son is the opposite) unless it's well over 70 degrees.

I'm mainly worried about evenings. Should I plan on pants for dinners and nighttime touring, or do shorts with maybe an extra long sleeved layer on top suffice? We're flying, so I just don't want to bring more cardigans, jeans, pants, than I'll realistically need.

I know cold is subjective, but I'd appreciate any insight from anybody who's been there this time of year. Most of my past trips have been in July so there was no question (and definitely no pants! ).

 

[ToddyLu]

I tend to be on the "hot" side. For me, my May trip ( we have been several times in May) will consist of T-shirt dresses for warmer days in the parks, especially at AK, and sandals. I will take leggings to turn the dresses into long tunics at night and carry a thin denim jacket as an outer layer. The problem is the water. It can be chilly at night when watching Illuminations and riding the ferry across the water to get to different locations. I am not worried about 10-4:00 p.m. but after that I may need a few more layers to be comfy.

My MIL wears layers all the time until mid summer. I am sure she will ear a camisole, t-shirt, over shirt and jeans. She doesn't wear shorts. So at noon she may be able to take the overshirt off and then put it back on when the sun goes down. I am sure she will pack a light jacket also.

I live on the MS Gulf Coast and today it is cool and breezy. So that make me think that I will need a couple of layers for our trip 5/2-5/9...

 

[WDGPCFR]

We went down mid May a number of years ago. We were dying from the heat. We went from 60's at home to 80's there so not being acclimated made it feel much hotter.

 

[gigicnm]

We have been several times in May and the weather can be quite variable. For my family, we wear shorts (capris for me) and a t-shirt (no tank tops- I find you have to be extra vigilant with sunscreen on their shoulders and I'd rather not risk the burn). Shorts and a t-shirt is our every day attire in the parks. Then I carry a small backpack with thin fleece pullovers that I bought from Land's End. The fleece is lightweight and packs really small. My husband and I have wind breakers that pack into small bags. We generally need the fleece/winndbreakers early in the am and later at night.

i always bring something that packs small and light because I don't want to be a packmule. All four of our jackets fit into a very small backpack and we've never been cold.

 

[LaurEm378]

Thank you all for the insight! Sounds like I need to pack a couple more pairs of pants and sweaters than I'd planned. If it's super hot and I don't need them, oh well--but if I'm chilly, it'll really ruin my enjoyment. I hate being cold!

The problem is the water. It can be chilly at night when watching Illuminations and riding the ferry across the water to get to different locations. I am not worried about 10-4:00 p.m. but after that I may need a few more layers to be comfy.

ToddyLu, thank you for this, in particular. I hadn't even been thinking about the water. We'll be watching Illuminations at least 2 times, and boating to a couple rope drops in the early a.m.

Then I carry a small backpack with thin fleece pullovers that I bought from Land's End. The fleece is lightweight and packs really small. My husband and I have wind breakers that pack into small bags. We generally need the fleece/windbreakers early in the am and later at night.

gigicnm, I just looked and found something like that on landsend.com. Looks perfect for both of us. And they're having a sale! Thanks for this. I'm definitely trying to keep our load small, so something light and compact is just perfect.

I just keep remembering that blast of icy cold A/C that would hit me whenever I walked into a resort or an indoor queue--in July it was always welcome, but if they keep the indoors that cold when it's not sweltering outside, I'll be covered in goosebumps the whole week .

Thank you all for the info, and if anyone else wants to chime in, please feel free. I'll be perfecting my packing strategy for the next 23 days!

 

[GFShelley]

I live in Orlando. It's lovely in May! I recommend layers as mornings, evenings and indoors (the a/c is sooooo cold) get chilly.

 

[tina.tina]

On weather.com, the average temperatures on May 14 are 88 hi and 65 low- that is July weather in my hometown. I live in the mountains and it actually gets down to 60 at night in the summer here. I don't usually take a jacket to watch the fireworks here unless it's been raining or unseasonably cold and I usually wear shorts all summer when I'm not working.

We went to WDW in April a few years ago and I was surprised by the people who wore jackets at night at 67 degrees, but I just figured they were natives! We were at DTD until 11pm one evening and it was a little cooler. Nobody was cold though. None of us wore a jacket or pants the whole time we were there. I was out taking pictures when the sun came up, thinking I can't believe it's this warm already.

 

[feistygalkmc]

I have been several times in May and I have taken shorts, capri's and dresses. I have packed all capris for this trip. I have some jean capris, khaki type capris and some of the workout type capris that looked comfortable for walking. I just didn't like walking around in short, didn't like the dresses either for walking around but the capris were just right to me. Not too hot , not too cold.

 

[LaurEm378]

Hearing what you all wear in April/May is so helpful. Looks like I'll be picking up a few pairs of capris and leggings this week!

One more question--are sweatshirts/hoodies widely available for little kids (like size 5,6) at the parks and resorts? I might lighten our load a bit on the way down by just buying them there. I'm not into wearing Disney gear myself, but he's ALL for it.

Temps are barely pushing 60 here in NJ...who knows if the next few weeks will bring spring weather, but I'm hoping--as some of you have said--that the cold spring I'm having will make FL feel that much warmer!

 

[LSchrow]

we live on long island (so weather & temps are like you have). DD & i go to WDW every may.
i am one of those "always cold" people, and DD tends to be warmer (not as "always warm" as DH tho).
we are going next week (4/27-5/7). on the flight, i usually wear layers (yoga pants, tshirt, sneakers with socks, pull-over sweatshirt, and a hoodie).
i pack an additional (lightweight) zip sweatshirt, and at least one cardigan - all other tops are t's and tanks. we keep ponchos in our owner's locker.
most bottoms are shorts, with maybe 1 or 2 light capris.

i usually carry the lightweight sweatshirt only in the evenings - else i don't bother.
a few things i would suggest:
-the resort rooms can be very cold, so bring a lightweight robe or heavier PJs. socks/slippers are a must
-pack a sham-wow or chamois cloth - they fit in a ziplock, and are great after a surprise rainshower or water ride.
- bring footwear that can get wet, and at least 2 pairs of footwear total

pack EVERYTHING in ziplocks in preparation for the 4PM daily rain

and the shops sell lots of sweatshirts, etc (rather pricey though)

hth

 

[LaurEm378]

a few things i would suggest:
-the resort rooms can be very cold, so bring a lightweight robe or heavier PJs. socks/slippers are a must
-pack a sham-wow or chamois cloth - they fit in a ziplock, and are great after a surprise rainshower or water ride.
- bring footwear that can get wet, and at least 2 pairs of footwear total

pack EVERYTHING in ziplocks in preparation for the 4PM daily rain

and the shops sell lots of sweatshirts, etc (rather pricey though)

hth

Thank you very much, LSchrow!

Sounds like you run chilly like me, and your post makes me feel better that I can still get away with a mostly summer wardrobe at WDW!

I really appreciate the extra suggestions. I was thinking tank tops and shorts for my son and I for sleeping--now I know better. I'll pack warmer pjs. And I am bringing at least 4 pairs of footwear for myself so I've got that angle covered .

If anyone else has some tips or experiences, I'll still be following! I love all this clothes talk!

 

[North of Mouse]

It is already hot and humid in May in FL, as well as rest of deep south - I've never needed anything but summer clothes - we can also have the same type weather beginning in April - some variables, of course.

Is not yet end of April and already upper 80's in Orlando.

 

[omegsmom]

We've always gone in early May and will again this year. I'm wearing a pair of pants and sweatshirt down there and will have that if needed, but plan on shorts and t-shirts the rest of the time. Any chilly nights, I'll have the sweatshirt available for. I've never needed more than this.

 

[ancestry]

I've gone in May for several years and have never ever needed pants or a sweatshirt. It is often in the 80s and one year even in the mid-90s.

I too usually have a sweatshirt with me as I wear one on the plane but haven't needed to use it once in Florida.

 

[Tasmen]

The last couple times we've gone, we have gone around the same time that you are in May. We just bring layers with us. Usually a hoodie or some type of sweater is sufficient for when it does get cold. We found we really only needed those at night if we needed them at all.

 

[ZoZo]

One more question--are sweatshirts/hoodies widely available for little kids (like size 5,6) at the parks and resorts? I might lighten our load a bit on the way down by just buying them there. I'm not into wearing Disney gear myself, but he's ALL for it.

You'll definitely find tons of clothing options to pick from in all of the shops - but be aware that the prices can easily be triple what you'd pay for a similar item at a store like Target. Might be worth packing a couple of items from home, especially since kids that age might get their clothes dirty! ((And don't forget you can always do laundry if needed!)

For general packing strategy in May, I agree with the folks that suggest layering. On my trip in February, I wore long shorts or leggings with a lightweight fleece i the mornings, and stowed my fleece in my backpack in the afternoons. It was nice to have a long-sleeved layer in the air-conditioning, especially after it rained!

 

[Epcotfan64]

I live an hour east of WDW, and I can tell you that it's almost like nature throws a switch from 04/30 to 05/01. Days get hotter much earlier. Unless you're someone who is always cold, I don't recommend much more than comfortable shorts and short-sleeve shirt.