December veterans

[dulluth]

I am going to WDW in December, and I have never been at that time of year before. Could anyone give me hints on how to pack? Should I expect to wear pants or shorts? Shorts with a sweatshirt to wear in the morning & evening? I usually overpack anyway, but in the past, I have usually packed only shorts with maybe one pair of pants ... will I need more in December?

 

[Daisy-J&D]

Same thing here. I'll be going to WDW in December this year and I have no idea what I'll need to pack/expect!

 

[lpbm4]

From what I've seen so far, it could be anywhere from the 40s to the 80s! So I'm curious to know too!

 

[mickeymousemommy]

I've been to WDW in December the past four years in a row. This is a hard thing, packing. One year we just about froze in sweatshirts and jackets. Another year we were great in shorts. You really have to watch the weather for the area up until right before you pack and leave. And then you still bring what you think you won't need! We usually go in jeans and short sleeves, unless it's colder, and bring jackets. Sometimes it's only warm in the middle of the day for a couple of hours. I'm from the south and it doesn't take much to make me cold!

 

[liamandcaili]

Unfortunately, it is one of those "pack everything" seasons. We were there the first week of December and ranged in dress from shorts and tank tops to winter coats, hats and mittens. Most days I wore light pants and T-shirts, with a hoodie sweatshirt until the day warmed up. Evenings were definitely cool...some were pretty cold. My family also went one year between Christmas and New Year's and there are pictures of us wearing winter coats, and there are pictures when we are wearing shorts. December is a packing nightmare.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Yep, you gotta pack everything! When we went in 2004 we were prepared for any weather, but somehow, amazingly it was 80-90 to the whole week!
It didn't even cool off at night, it was really something and our sweatshirts and long pants stayed in out suitcases.....BUT the day after we left it dropped to 55 during the day and a very chilly 40 at night.

 

[Claudia1]

Layers! Dress in layers!

Another essential to bring from home is gloves, especially for your little ones. One year, it was so cold that my cousins wore socks on their hands. Gloves are small and easy to pack.

You can also pack heavy hose or tights to wear under jeans for extra warmth and they don't take up too much room.

In over 6 December trips, I have never taken a winter coat or big jacket. I just dress the family in layers.

This would be a great trip in invest in those packing bags that collapsed and compact when the air is removed. We have used them successfully. Here is a link to these great packing bags.
Space Saver packing bags

ITA with checking the weather before you go. That can save you lots of stress!

 

[TAKitty]

This past December we wore shorts one day and pants the rest. It was so cold for MVMCP that I had on long johns, a long sleeve tee and a very thick sweater and was not too warm!

 

[handicap18]

Its a tough time of year. We went this past Dec and lucked out. Most days it was in the low/mid 70's. At night it got down into the high 50's. I'm a shorts wearing guy year round (I live in New England). Though I do work indoors so the cold doesn't really affect me much. But even on the single digit temp days I put my shorts on and head to the car and get to work. So that being said,,,,,, There was one night at MK that I wore pants. I knew the temp was going to be cooler and we would be mostly outside till midnight (MVMCP), but it was still comfortable with a light jacket. Another night I stayed for EMH at MGM and wore shorts with a light jacket and it was in the low/mid 60's.

It mostly depends on you. Are you normally a warm person or a cold person. Best think, like others said, dress in layers. If you know your going to be staying out late at the parks, bring a warmer jacket and pants. An additional small suitcase to carry some extra warmer clothes isn't going to hurt. Or you could just use the excuse that you really needed to buy the Mickey hooded Sweatshirt to keep you warm!!!

 

[Nikel]

What about swimsuits? Should we plan on packing them?

 

[luvdisneyworld]

Hello,
First time on the boards and also first time posting. We always travel to disney in december. We dress in warm up suits with t shirts and shorts on underneath. that way if its cold, we are somewhat warm and if its hot we can always take it off. We have found the parks get cool at night. you can always put your extra stuff in a locker. Just my two cents worth......

 

[angel's momma]

What about swimsuits? Should we plan on packing them?

Pack swimsuits - the pools are heated. Depending on how cold it is, it might be a little chilly going back to the room though.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I don't mean to hijack this thread , but we are going the week after Thanksgving. Historical averages say 77 or so for the high this time of year. Is that realistic or are we already into the crazy up and down season?
TIA!

 

[vsimeone]

Christmas week of 2004 there were wind chill advisories on 12/26 for wind chills in the 20s. Luckily we drove down and had all our winter coats, hats and gloves in the car. We wore them all and were still cold! 12/30, the kids were swimming at Blizzard Beach. I didn't put my swimsuit on - I still thought it was chilly for swimming - but 70 sure was a far cry from 30! Pack everything you can possibly manage to bring!

 

[Leash]

Ok I'm going to jump in. I will be making my first trip in early December. I am from Vegas so it has to get pretty hot to bother me but I am very sensitive to humidity so will it be really humid then. Normally I am fine in jeans and a tshirt up to about 80 degrees at home but I get cold when it gets below 70. So would I be ok packing jeans, tshirts and a sweatshirt jacket plus a pair of shorts just incase? Thanks.

 

[byoung]

Have sweat shirts etc. May be nippy. But it's a great time to go.

 

[KristaTX]

I've been the last 3 years during the first week or so of December. 2003 was freezing cold, but 2004 was warm. 2005 just depended on the day.

You really won't be able to know what to take until closer to your trip when you can look at a forecast. Layers is the best option because the evenings are typically pretty cool. Start looking for a packable jacket if you don't already have one.

It's kind of funny - in the cooler months you can always tell who is from the north and who is from the south based on what they have on. At 60 degrees northerners might be in t-shirts and shorts, but southerners (like me) will be bundled .