Coldest time in WDW?

[MikeyNS]

I was just wondering if anyone has an opinion on when it's generally the coldest at WDW?. I remember going in Feb 05 (2nd week?) and we could swim, but didn't really want to get out of the pool but it wasn't *that* bad.

Would it be better to go the end of January or the first of March temperature-wise compared to the first few weeks of Feb? I can't wait to find out for myself (which would mean multiple trips over the next few years), but always respect the opinion of seasoned DVC'ers!

 

[Thumper4me]

The coldest temperatures I have experienced at WDW were in December. However, it looks like your choices are the end of January and the beginning of March. The end of January is a toss up. Temperatures can sometimes range 20 degrees or more. For instance , I have been there and had 85 degrees and sun then the very next year it was 65 and windy.

March is MUCH nicer weather. It is generally much warmer. I hope I answered your question.

Kelly

 

[MikeyNS]

Thanks for the reply. You know how it is.. at work, dreaming of Disney. We're actually booked for the end of March this year, but am thinking about the 2010 trip and when the best time to go in the winter and still be able to swim comfortably. Maybe the first of March!

 

[hakepb]

I would certainly imagine that March would be more likely "swimmable"

I've gone around Valentines day (Feb) and since I expect Florida to be hot, I wound up feeling cold. FWIW the coldest I've experienced was November (Week before Thanksgiving week '06) when it got down to freezing at night and we never had a day over 70. The Weather channel officially reported real (not Disney made ) snow flurries one night in Orlando! But Winter time can be variable, because we went back in '07 and had (to me) perfect weather. Every day (except one night) was high of 80, low of 55-60!

 

[DisFlan]

It's very variable. We've been there in December just after it got down to 8 degrees and killed a lot of palm trees. We've been in January and the first half of February when it was both hot (nice swim weather) and quite chilly (enough to put ice on windshields). It's central Florida - which may often be close to "tropical" in its winter weather, but really isn't tropical. It's a toss up as to what it'll be like during those months.

We actually enjoy January's usual "sweater weather". Warm during the day and pleasantly cool at night. But not always warm enough to swim.

DisFlan

 

[drusba]

Late December to about mid-Feb are the times of biggest risk but then you can go during those times and get 70s all week too, or it can be 45 one day and 80 the next. You can get cold days in March, particularly in the first half. I had the honor of being there first week of January 2008, and, on the 3rd and 4th, the weatherman was proud to continuously remind us that those were the coldest days Orlando had had in 5 years -- the low at night went down into low 20s and daytime high only got to about 40. Of course, you really haven't experienced anything exciting until you do Test Track, Splash Mountain, Expedition Everest, and Kali River Papids when the outdoor temperature is 25 degrees.

 

[katmittens]

We were there for NYE 07 into Jan 08 and the weather was quite nice. We had days in the 80's and we did swim. During the first week of March of 08 we were there and it was cooler than in January. I guess it can go either way. The water is usually warm, it is just when you get out of the pool that it is cool.

 

[Mahusky]

I went to WDW in January once it was in the 60's for the 1st couple of days and I was complaining and one nice CM said " should have been here last week it was in the high 20's at 8:00 am and only reached the mid 40's during the day! YIKES!!!!!

 

[Lenc324]

I was there last Jan and temps were in the lower 70's, Just perfect.

 

[Chuck S]

We've been in early January when the temp was pleasant one day and extremely cold the next. When it gets cold, the air is still humid, which makes it feel VERY cold.

 

[Starr W.]

I would certainly imagine that March would be more likely "swimmable"

I've gone around Valentines day (Feb) and since I expect Florida to be hot, I wound up feeling cold. FWIW the coldest I've experienced was November (Week before Thanksgiving week '06) when it got down to freezing at night and we never had a day over 70. The Weather channel officially reported real (not Disney made ) snow flurries one night in Orlando! But Winter time can be variable, because we went back in '07 and had (to me) perfect weather. Every day (except one night) was high of 80, low of 55-60!

I have to agree with you about 2006, we were there Thanksgiving week. . I think it started to warm up on Black Friday when we went home.

 

[DonnaL]

We were there 1/07 and 1/08.......both years we had great temps.....although this past year a few days before we got there (our dates were 1/5 thru 1/12) as another poster said the temps were very low. Personally, we really like visiting in January.......lower crowd levels, very comfortable temps.....although maybe not swimming weather all days.....actually, this past year it was in the 60's at home in PA for a few of the days we were in FL.......practically UNHEARD of for PA in January!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have done numerous January and December trips to WDW, and the weather is variable. The warmest we had during those times was in the 90's and the coldest was about 50. Both of those temps occured the first week of January on different years. Our usual early December trips have yielded one coolish week and one really nice week. I really don't mind 60 degrees and sunny. It's a WHOLE lot better than where I live at that time of year! As long as it's dry, I can be happy. I will admit that 60 in Florida can be more chilling than 30 in Minnesota. It has to do with the humidity I guess. You know....dry cold here versus "damp" cold there.

We have had several March trips, and thought the weather was very nice except for the occational rain storm. Same goes for October. May was lovely as well, but a lot warmer than the other mentioned months.

That being said, our favorite times to go to the "world" are the first two weeks of December, any time in Jauary, and March and May come in closely along with October. HATED our August and September trips because of the heat and rain.

 

[bonnielynn]

I went in February and it was on the cool side, but then again I have been in December and it was in the 80's.. so I guess its a hit or miss..

 

[DebbieB]

It's really variable. I was there one time in early December where it was a high of 48 on our arrival date. Other times it was in the low 80's everyday.

Here is weather.com's site with averages:

http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/wxclimatology/monthly/USFL0372

According to this, mid-January has the coldest averages.

 

[gracelrm]

I was there in December of 04, the week before Christmas. We had to wear coats, gloves, hoods, etc.... one evening when we went in the park - it was very cold. However, we also went to MVMCP one evening on that trip and were fine with just sweatshirts - we packed a variety of clothes for that trip!

 

[photobob]

Weather in Florida in the winter is a crapshoot. I've been in early February with temperature in the low 80's which were near record highs. I was only there for a short three nighter but I only took one pair of shorts and ended up wearing them two days and had to swim in some gym shorts I had brought to sleep in. The weather was obviously warmer than expected. I think it is just luck of the draw next time I take a winter trip I'll bring enough clothes for any eventuality.

 

[tecodis]

I was just wondering if anyone has an opinion on when it's generally the coldest at WDW?. I remember going in Feb 05 (2nd week?) and we could swim, but didn't really want to get out of the pool but it wasn't *that* bad.

Would it be better to go the end of January or the first of March temperature-wise compared to the first few weeks of Feb? I can't wait to find out for myself (which would mean multiple trips over the next few years), but always respect the opinion of seasoned DVC'ers!

Over the years, I've been fortunate to drag winter cold fronts down with me on vacation ~ at least the last few times they have, darn it. So I've experienced highs in the 50's, with wind, in November, December and January. For Florida standard from my point of view, that is too cold for theme park enjoyment.

It's just potluck as to the weather down there during winter. Unlike up north when you can count on it being cold in those months. Of course, ther ewill be periods of beautiful weather (80's) too.

 

[GrandmaDeb]

We were at AKV last January, mid month. We had a couple of cold rainy days (by cold I mean low 60s) and definitely needed lightweight jackets at night. Most days were low 70s. We didn't get in the pool, but lots of people were. I wondered, at one point, if it was heated but never bothered to check. We like January, weather is fairly mild and the parks are not crowded.

 

[simzac]

We have made 4 trips to WDW during January and have been able to swim at least one day on each of the trips.