December weather - is it safe to assume...

[Princess_K]

...that we could wear tank tops and shorts? I've heard such varying stories about people's december trips. We are supposed to take a set of warm weather clothes and a set of cold weather clothes from what I've read. Do people wear jeans during the day or is it mostly shorts/capris. I want to make sure I stock up on the things I will need while they are still in stores! Thanks for your help

 

[bellazachmom]

For December, the best thing I can advise is to dress in layers. I was pretty much in capris and tanks with a long sleeve shirt or cardigan over it. I usually needed to long sleeve in the morning and evening and put it away during the day. There certainly were people in shorts, Hubby spent the week we were there in shorts and a sweatshirt.

As for the weather year-round I don't think that it is ever safe to assume anything!

 

[2dogmom]

Last December, we were in shorts the whole time, but the year before we wore pants and sweatshirts. You can never really guess in December.

 

[golden1]

In 2006 it was 60-75 during the day and even cooler at night. I wore pants and T-shirts with the occasional sweatshirt. Don;t count on tank top weather - but you never knwo. Check the weather the week before.

 

[marciemouse]

In December of 2004, we spent our days at WDW in jeans and sweatshirts. (and jackets at night) Later in the trip, over at Cocoa Beach, we wore shorts and tank tops. It's really unpredictable.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Last December a friend of mine, packed all blue jeans, and she was miserable, she was able to buy a pair of shorts (wasn't easy to find at a resonable price) and she wore those for the rest of the trip.

Capris are a good option, I can't wear them because I have cankles (my calves go all the way down to my ankles) so capris are not a good look for me. I plan to wear bermuda length shorts with a short sleve polo and a light jacket that I can tie around my waist when it heats up. I plan on bringing a pair of jeans for the evenings.

 

[PrincessV]

In a word... no. No assumptions when it comes to winter in FL. It might be 80, or it might be 20. Check the wether a few days ahead to get a general idea and bring a bit of both warm and cold weather gear so you can adjust to any drastic changes we may have.

 

[bigmoonmullen]

Hi Princess_K:

We were there from 11/29 - 12/8/2008. The weather basically was great. I wore shorts the entire week with T-shirts... Now we brought warm clothes just in case and will do so again this year. My wife & sister did wear a light jacket in the morning but every day we would eventually drop them off in the lockers.

Have a Great Trip,

Mark

...that we could wear tank tops and shorts? I've heard such varying stories about people's december trips. We are supposed to take a set of warm weather clothes and a set of cold weather clothes from what I've read. Do people wear jeans during the day or is it mostly shorts/capris. I want to make sure I stock up on the things I will need while they are still in stores! Thanks for your help

 

[jaurban]

We went first week of December 2006 and were warm on the first few days, with some pool time, but then we were in jeans/shirts/light jackets most of the rest of the time, too cold for the pool, and had to buy fleeces at AK and a blanket for DD4 in the stroller as it was cold!

 

[DebbieB]

I've gone the first week of December many times (7 years straight from 1998 to 2004, 2007). You cannot assume anything. Sometimes I wore shorts everyday, sometimes I never wore them the whole time. Sometimes I was comfortable with a light jacket at night, sometimes I had a winter coat with gloves. One trip it was a high of 48 the day we arrived, never got higher than 60's the whole time. Other trips it was low 80's everyday. Sometimes a mix. You really have to prepare for both and see what the forecast says before you leave.

 

[AnnetteF]

Beware of December. We were there from Dec 15 -23 in 1996. At the beginning of the trip, there was a freak cold spell and for several days, it was in the 40's and 30's and it was cloudy and grey all day! Everyone was walking around in winter coats and I actually even wore my gloves. The only warm clothing I had was what I had worn on the way down (we had driven from CT). By the end of that trip it was back in the low 70's during the day, but then it was time for us to leave. It's one thing when it gets that cold at home, but when you are walking around in the parks all day outside, it can be miserable. A few times, we just could not get warm for the longest time.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Dec 15 - 25, 2006 - we were in jeans and t-shirts most of the time (capris and shorts at AK). We brought sweatshirts to the parks for the first few days and left them in lockers in case we needed them at night. We never ended up taking them out until we were ready to leave so we just started leaving them in the car. The day we were leaving (12/25), there was a rainstorm and much cooler weather was being forecast for the rest of the month. The key is to pack a variety of clothing and wear layers.

 

[helenk]

Last year was the best weather I've ever had at WDW in December. I wore shorts and tee shirts the whole time, even in the evening. The only night I even needed long sleeves was the night I stayed for MVMCP. In all my trips that is the first time I've been able to do that.
I generally pack my shorts and tee shirts, a few pairs of jeans and then I take a hoodie and some long sleeve shirts. I have found that the mornings are chilly so I wear my hoodie until it warms up and then roll it up in my back pack. When the sun goes down I get it back out. But there have been times after dinner when I've gone back to the resort to put on long pants as well.
In 2002 my son and I were actually wearing our winter coats, and gloves a few nights, it go that cold, especially sitting by the water.

 

[properlywarnedyebe]

I'm glad I'm not the only one freaking out about shopping and packing for December weather. Thanks for posting this! It's been very helpful!

 

[Golf4food]

Go to www.wunderground.com, find the weather station for Orlando, then you can enter your travel dates and it will give you the last ten years' historic weather - temps, rain, cloudcover, etc. That will give you an idea of the drastic differences you can find in Florida in December.

 

[wdwgirl03]

No, it is not safe to assume you can wear shorts and tank tops. I'm not saying it's not possible...we've been there a couple times in December right after Christmas and were able to wear shorts, but on our trip last December it was FREEZING. OK, actually I think that was technically January, but we had to wear jeans, sweatshirts, jackets, even gloves/mittens. I would be sure to take along some warmer clothes too so you can dress in layers like others have said.

 

[LilGMom]

Don't assume anything with weather in December at WDW. One year it was pretty cool (50-60s) the week before we left and the week we were there I had to end up buying some short sleeved shirts and capris because it was back up in the 80s. And there have been times when we've busted out the sweatshirts and hat (50s). My advice is to watch the weather leading up to the time that you leave and plan on taking some clothes for all seasons and, like a pp said, dress in layers. Some mornings might require you to have on a pullover, mid-day wear the pullover around your waist and enjoy your short sleeved shirt, evening bust out the pullover again.

 

[Bev J.]

Right before we leave for our trip I check the weather forcaste for the next 10 days and go with that. Since were are comming from a cold climate we will have jeans/jackets with us anyway. Otherwise we pack capris and shorts.
When you come from freezing anything above 65 is warm...LOL

Bev

 

[luckytobeme88]

Having been in WDW in Dec. 2007, I would definitely do layering (plus a handy back-sac) In the morning, it started off very nice then warmed up in the afternoon. But as the sun went down, so did the temperature too.

 

[HayGan]

...that we could wear tank tops and shorts? I've heard such varying stories about people's december trips. We are supposed to take a set of warm weather clothes and a set of cold weather clothes from what I've read. Do people wear jeans during the day or is it mostly shorts/capris. I want to make sure I stock up on the things I will need while they are still in stores! Thanks for your help

As a veteran of early December trips to WDW, I would not recommend going with tanks and shorts most days. It will be too cool (and that is coming from a Northern girl.) I highly recommend capris/jeans and a few pairs of shorts, a couple t-shirts and few lighterweight long sleve shirts and a lightweight jacket.