December in WDW: How Cold Are We Talking About?

[DaisyNY]

We too did Disney in 2010...spent a fortune on blankets for the five of us. Last year we brought those same blankets, gloves, etc. And did'nt even need a jacket at night and we're from NY as well!

 

[amylevan]

We swam Dec 2010 at 50 degrees. Water is heated, but the air is not. So once a body part got wet, you wanted to keep that body part under the water. I had long long hair at the time and it wasn't staying up and it made my head sooo cold to get even my hair wet.

And getting out is NO joke.

I'm not sure they allow it anymore, when it's that cold, though. When we were there last January for the marathon weekend again, it was that cold again, and the pools were all closed. It's just not really safe for people, and it's not good for the lifeguards.

I've swam in outdoor heated pools on ski vacations. That is fun when you get out.

Yes, Disney will occasionally pull the lifeguards and close the pools when it's abnormally cold. I always thought they left the quiet pools open, but maybe I'm wrong.

I'm not sure why you don't think it's safe for people, though?

 

[SparklePixie]

Add me to the list of Dec 2010 'survivors' who wore hat, gloves, scarves and blankets. I've also gone in January wearing nothing more than shorts and tshirts. Check the forecast and be prepared.

 

[fla4fun]

The coldest temperature I have recorded at my home in December (live 20 min from WDW) is 26 degrees. We normally don't get that cold until January or February, but sometimes it happens in December.

I go to WDW the beginning of December every year. I always take a light jacket, a hoodie, and a fleece jacket with scarf and gloves. These items can be layered in many different ways. In 2010 during that really cold snap, I layered the hoodie and fleece, and used the scarf and gloves. Last year, I didn't have to wear a jacket at all, even in the morning or evening. I usually don't take shorts, but I do pack my swimsuit, capris and jeans. I pack primarily short sleeve shirts, counting on the various jackets for longer sleeves if needed. December is a transitional time for us as far as temperatures go and it depends a lot on what is happening up north. Pack items that can be worn between 40-80 degrees, and you'll be fine.

 

[lovethattink]

We just had a cold front go through last night. These are the temps we are facing today. Layers are a good idea because by afternoon is time to shed.

 

[THEJOEL]

It doesn't matter where you're coming from. After the winter of 2010, I'll never be caught without the full complement of winter gear at Disney in December (January and probably February as well). Hopefully you won't need any of it. But nobody wants to budget coats, hats and gloves for a family at WDW prices.

You might be used to cold temps at home. But you probably don't head out and stay outdoors most of the day. So even if it's not as cold as it is at home, you'll feel it more.

We were there the first week of December in 2010. It was all over the news about record cold. I packed my Under Armour cold weather tops for some reason that year and it was a life saver. We did end up,buying our DD a Tinkerbell hoodie but we layered up and it worked. There are a few pictures of me with a red face because the wind really kicked up our last night but dealing with cold is much better than dealing with heat at the park.
I will say this, the final morning we were there it was 29 degrees when we got to MK. Between the cold and the low crowd count it seemed that there were less than 100 people in the park until noon. Main Street looked deserted when we walked in. We literally walked up to the Merida meet and greet (this was when it was new.), space mountain and Pooh with zero wait. It was amazing. We were sopposed to leave at noon to head home but didn't end up leaving until almost 6pm because the park was so dead. We didn't get home until after midnight.

 

[rajak73]

We were there early December last year, temps at night maybe mid-upper 40s some nights, mostly mid 50s though. We took layers, put coats in lockers for day and got them out at night. I does cool down quick when the sun goes down. Put on a base layer insulated underware for MVMCP on the night we went, talking temps in 50s with 10-15mph wind. You know us northeners, anytime in winter you talk wind we start to figure wind chill temps. We were everywhere from coats to shirt sleeves for the time we were there. Also with the pools, one night we went to beaches and cream for ice cream, laughed because the pool was right there, lifeguards had on parkas holding their floatation devices. Nobody was in pool.

 

[mom2rtk]

We were there the first week of December in 2010. It was all over the news about record cold. I packed my Under Armour cold weather tops for some reason that year and it was a life saver. We did end up,buying our DD a Tinkerbell hoodie but we layered up and it worked. There are a few pictures of me with a red face because the wind really kicked up our last night but dealing with cold is much better than dealing with heat at the park.
I will say this, the final morning we were there it was 29 degrees when we got to MK. Between the cold and the low crowd count it seemed that there were less than 100 people in the park until noon. Main Street looked deserted when we walked in. We literally walked up to the Merida meet and greet (this was when it was new.), space mountain and Pooh with zero wait. It was amazing. We were sopposed to leave at noon to head home but didn't end up leaving until almost 6pm because the park was so dead. We didn't get home until after midnight.

We were there the second week of December and had a similar experience. We also enjoyed what the temps did to the crowds. Did you go back in 2011? Weather was gorgeous, and crowds were down. My theory is that people were too afraid to try December again that next year.

We were there early December last year, temps at night maybe mid-upper 40s some nights, mostly mid 50s though. We took layers, put coats in lockers for day and got them out at night. I does cool down quick when the sun goes down. Put on a base layer insulated underware for MVMCP on the night we went, talking temps in 50s with 10-15mph wind. You know us northeners, anytime in winter you talk wind we start to figure wind chill temps. We were everywhere from coats to shirt sleeves for the time we were there. Also with the pools, one night we went to beaches and cream for ice cream, laughed because the pool was right there, lifeguards had on parkas holding their floatation devices. Nobody was in pool.

My daughter still swims in the bitter cold. The water is quite warm. It's the run back to the room after that gets you.

 

[THEJOEL]

We were there the second week of December and had a similar experience. We also enjoyed what the temps did to the crowds. Did you go back in 2011? Weather was gorgeous, and crowds were down. My theory is that people were too afraid to try December again that next year.




My daughter still swims in the bitter cold. The water is quite warm. It's the run back to the room after that gets you.

Yea we did but I can't remember what week we were there. It seemed pretty low that year too. This was before DD was in first grade so it was the last year we got to during a slow time. We definitely got spoiled those two years but it helped us plan and deal with the years we have gone since with higher crowd counts.
This year's trip is from 12/18-22 so we will see how we deal with predicted 9&10 crowd levels but we did get the FP+ and ADRs we wanted so hopefully that's a good omen.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I go next week. I'm not packing my clothes until this weekend and I'll be packing things that can be layered. I'll check the weather this weekend too. I was also a December 2010 person and remember being thankful that I'd checked the weather the day before I left. I was all packed with shorts and tank tops and had to pull all of that out of my suitcase and repack for the cold weather. I did bring one pair of shorts and one tank top that trip - the shorts stayed in the suitcase and the tank top I used for layering.

I can't imagine how miserable I'd have been if I hadn't checked the weather - I would've had to go offsite to find warm weather clothes for myself since I'm plus sized and Disney doesn't carry much for that size.

 

[rajak73]

We were there the second week of December and had a similar experience. We also enjoyed what the temps did to the crowds. Did you go back in 2011? Weather was gorgeous, and crowds were down. My theory is that people were too afraid to try December again that next year.




My daughter still swims in the bitter cold. The water is quite warm. It's the run back to the room after that gets you.

I know, we have a outdoor hot tub and boy does it feel great when you're in it in the winter, but the getting out and back to house is different story!

 

[SparklePixie]

I know, we have a outdoor hot tub and boy does it feel great when you're in it in the winter, but the getting out and back to house is different story!

Same here.

 

[AngiTN]

It's 11/22 and is still pretty hot, high 70s today. We are still wearing tank tops and shorts.

So funny. Did you look at the forecast for today before posting? Classic weather in the SE.
If you are traveling to FL any time of the year that isn't mid April to early Nov you better bring layers.

 

[KateP85]

When I got up this morning at 7am it was 48 degrees, so pretty chilly. Now I think it's about 55 (at 9.30am) and it should hit the mid 60s by this afternoon. So layering is the way to go!

 

[Dan Murphy]

50's - 80's

Haha, that would be great!!!

20's-80's generally.

 

[rlduvall]

I was also there in December of 2010 when it was so miserably cold - we all need t-shirts about it. It was honestly the worst trip I ever had, but whenever I started to feel sorry for myself I just thought about all those farmers who were losing their entire orchards and livelihood to the recording breaking cold. I got over myself real quick.

On the flip side, one December it was record breaking heat [which I loved] but I didn't bring any shorts with me. Now, as the majority above have already said, I pack for ANYTHING!!!

 

[amylevan]

Haha, that would be great!!!

20's-80's generally.

Yes, it's possible to be below freezing (and it can feel that way more often with wind chill.) But statistically speaking, there are approximately 3 days per year that temperatures go below 32 degrees in Orlando, and it's rarely in December. https://www.sercc.com/climateinfo/historical/mean32.html

 

[kangaand2roos]

I've had December days where we were in winter gear with hand and foot warmers in the am and were in shorts and tees by mid afternoon. For real, anything goes!

 

[ktlm]

We have been several times in December and there is no telling. It could be 80 for a high and you could be in shorts and T-shirts day and night, or it could be 50 for a high and in the 30s in the evening and you could be in a sweater, coat and gloves and still cold. Also it could be both during your trip- we've had that happen. Don't trust the weather forecast even the night before you leave because things change fast in Florida. Pack to be prepared for anything. That is always the worst park of a December trip for us. We have to pack more than usual because you never know what the weather is going to do when you get there!

 

[Tom P.]

FWIW, Typhoon Lagoon is closed today due to the cold temps.