December weather

[Koz]

Hello all-

Just curious as to what your experiences have been with December weather. We're normally an October-visit family, but with a new arrival pending we won't be able to go until December.

We normally like to block a day or two just to hang by the pool, though during the last trip in Oct 11 it was pretty much on the cool side.

Hoping for shorts during the day, with a sweatshirt at most. Dreading having to lug winter jackets for 3 kids, taking them on and off as we enter each ride, etc. I've been to Orlando for business every year for the past 5 years, and remember one particular trip where frost set in, blankets were placed on the citrus trees, etc.

Any experiences you'd be willing to share?

 

[OLIVIA'S DADDY]

Last two years my daughter and i went in med december...75ish during the day, 50's at night....Not too hot during the day which i love, and not too cold at night...Perfect for us, not very long lines, and the christmas decorations bring it all together....Perfect time of year in my opinion... Hope this helps.

 

[Koz]

Last two years my daughter and i went in med december...75ish during the day, 50's at night....Not too hot during the day which i love, and not too cold at night...Perfect for us, not very long lines, and the christmas decorations bring it all together....Perfect time of year in my opinion... Hope this helps.

Thanks very much. October is great, and the Halloween time is awesome, but we've yet to experience Christmas in the parks. Very much looking forward to it this year. Hoping for it to be a bit warmer to the point where the kids can spend a good day or two in the pools, but alas, the weather is beyond our control!

 

[saskdw]

Most will come here and tell you its hit and miss. We have spent 3 of the last 4 Christmas at WDW. 2008, 2010, and 2011. We go for 14 nights which pretty much guarantees a couple of pool worthy days.

In 2008 we were there from Dec. 16th-25th. It was beautiful the entire trip except one day. Highs were 80-88, except the one day it was about 68 and overcast.

In 2010 it was cold! Apparently 2009 and 2010 were unusually cold winters in Florida. We were there from Dec. 14th-28th. The morning we left it was 26! However even during this cold winter there was one day it shot up to 85 while we were there and we went to Blizzard Beach that day. There were also 3 or 4 days that hit the 70s, but most of the time daytime highs were in the 50s.

In 2011 we were there again from Dec. 14th-28th. It was a repeat of 2008. Beautiful the entire trip. I don't think there was a single day where the highs were below 70 and most days were well into the 80s. So all in all we've had pretty good luck with the weather.

If you go long enough you should have a couple nice days for sure. If its a short 5 day trip or something like that, then its luck of the draw.

 

[Koz]

Most will come here and tell you its hit and miss. We have spent 3 of the last 4 Christmas at WDW. 2008, 2010, and 2011. We go for 14 nights which pretty much guarantees a couple of pool worthy days.

In 2008 we were there from Dec. 16th-25th. It was beautiful the entire trip except one day. Highs were 80-88, except the one day it was about 68 and overcast.

In 2010 it was cold! Apparently 2009 and 2010 were unusually cold winters in Florida. We were there from Dec. 14th-28th. The morning we left it was 26! However even during this cold winter there was one day it shot up to 85 while we were there and we went to Blizzard Beach that day. There were also 3 or 4 days that hit the 70s, but most of the time daytime highs were in the 50s.

In 2011 we were there again from Dec. 14th-28th. It was a repeat of 2008. Beautiful the entire trip. I don't think there was a single day where the highs were below 70 and most days were well into the 80s. So all in all we've had pretty good luck with the weather.

If you go long enough you should have a couple nice days for sure. If its a short 5 day trip or something like that, then its luck of the draw.

There's some inspiration right there. We're eyeing 9 days/8 nights so all I really need is 2 good "pool days." If we can work it so no jackets are needed during the day, even better!

 

[disneychic2]

DH and I went Dec 1 - 8 in 2010 and nearly froze! And we're from Ohio!! Twice it got to 32 degrees and set a record. We wore shorts one day - the day we arrived. Mind you, I checked the 10 day forecast the day before we left and it was saying 70s every day. Not even close! We only brought one pair of jeans and light jackets. I think that was unusual, but people say it's really unpredictable. Not sure the pool would be great once you got OUT! But you could have lovely weather as the pp had, so you never know. Good luck to you and I hope you get the shorts kind of weather you want.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We have been in Dec many times and have seen it as low as the 30's and as high as the 80's

 

[amym2]

In 2006, the week before Christmas was absolutely perfect- jeans in the am and shorts in the pm.

In 2010, the week after Christmas we FROZE. I mean, heavy jackets, gloves, and hats and we still froze (we live in Indiana). Good news was it kept the crowds down. One day I think it got into the 50's maybe 60, but otherwise it was cold. I think that was unusual, as others have said.

 

[magicalcouple]

Another freezer in 2010!!!
But otherwise, we've been every year at early to mid December since 2005 and it is typically shorts weather in the morning and jeans weather in the evenings! Perfecto. We will be there also this year in Dec and I have to believe the magic will keep the weather perfect again...

 

[momto2inKC]

Mid-Dec 2006- really nice, lots of evening rain the entire week
Mid-Dec 2011- excellent weather! Around 80 everyday, we did need hoodies/jeans most nights though. Still nice though!

 

[NancyIL]

Dec. 13, 2010 was a VERY cold day with temps dipping into the upper 20s at night. I was at WDW only 2 nights, after a 14-night Transatlantic cruise that ended in warm San Juan. I was at WDW Dec. 3-14, 2011, and as mentioned above - the weather was great. January 2012 was also the warmest January I've experienced at WDW, but then we had an unusually warm winter in Illinois, too.

 

[patty57]

December 11-17 2010. Freezing! In the 20s a couple of nights, and maybe a high of 55 or so during the day. A couple of days I think were in the 40s. We're from New England, so not cold weather wusses, but this was pretty nasty...especially for Florida! Other trips in December were not nearly this cold, but I don't remember the last time we swam in December. I hope you have better luck!

 

[sndral]

Christmas - New years 2000 - started out not too bad then turned freezing, a lot of plants bit the dust. Bus driver told people to wear their hotel blankets to the parks, bought a huge blanket poncho from Mexico to wear over my ski jacket.
Early December 2009 (9 days) started out ok, then became very cold.
Early December 2010 (10 days) cold became freezing, into the 20s - bought huge sweatshirts, jackets, gloves, hats, saw covers over delicate plants appear as the week progressed.
Early/mid Dec. 2011 - beautiful, one night of rain, even saw happy people swimming.
Irrespective of the weather, Christmas time is awesome (just not so much the week of Christmas.) Even if you can't do a pool day, have a backup plan to cruise arround and check out Christmas decorations at the deluxes - especially WL, GF, AKL, carousel in BC, BW, etc..

 

[Karabee]

Another December 2010 person! It was soooo cold. The day we left, December 13th, it was so cold we did nothing but lobby hop to enjoy all the decorations. We didn't want to be outside at all! Watching the news at night, even the newscasters were in shock at how cold it was. That being said, I checked the weather in 2011 and it seemed more "Florida" weather so we're heading back this year in early December - hope it's good!

 

[mickeynut1]

We've been in December twice for 7-8 days each trip and experienced different weather each time. The first time was in 2003 and we swam on our arrival day, but after that the pool was closed due to cold weather. We didn't pack for cold temps and ended up buying coats and gloves. On our trip in 2010 we were there right before Christmas and the weather was great. We were able to swim 2 or 3 days as temps were in the high 70s with one of the days hitting mid 80s, with the rest of the days being comfortable with shorts and a light jacket or sweatshirt. The evenings got a little chilly, but nothing unbearable. I do remember looking at the weather about a week or two before our trip and Florida got hit with a cold snap. But by the time we got down there, the weather had changed completely and it was nice and warm.

 

[DebbieB]

I've gone the beginning of December a few times and it's been a high of 50 to a high in the low 80's and everything in between. Anytime the daytime high is below 70 it gets cold as soon as the sun goes down. I've taken my winter coat and was glad to have it at night. On the other hand, I remember a trip where I wore shorts everyday and didn't need more than a light jacket at night.

 

[Sammie]

Everything from the 80s to 30s.