How 'cold' is it really in december?

[DisMama5]

Planning a trip for the first two weeks of December. I have been told the weather cools off a lot. I have also heard of the few 'off' years where it dropped to 30s-40s but from what I understand that is very rare?

How cold is it really? or shall I say 'cool'. We are from New England so 50s-70s in December would be beautiful. Is it ever close to 80s? I know it's unpredictable but just curious to get some input from some frequent December goers

 

[AmyB2006]

Well, unfortunately the answers to your questions are all yes. LOL

It can be in the 80s, but it can also be in the 30s and 40s at night. Not on the same day usually.

It all depends on cold fronts, and you won't know until the few days before you're ready to leave probably.

But if there is no cold front, it can typically be high 70s to 80s in the day and 60s at night. If a cold front has gone through, it can be 50s to 60s during the day and 40s and yes possibly even 30s at night.

I wouldn't say the colder temps are rare, it's just that once a front goes through, you have a few days of really cold weather, then it starts to get warmer as the days go on, until another front goes through.

 

[prescea]

I have been twice in December, both times near the beginning of the month, and are planning a trip for the first week of December this year. On one trip we were bundled in scarves and gloves, and I believe the highs were in the 40's. The second trip, I wore shorts and a long-sleeve shirt everyday, and the weather was beautiful with highs in the upper 60's. So, it can go either way! For our trip this year, I will most likely pack a mix of clothes, but definitely more summer-type. I would just plan on checking the weather right before you go, and then cross your fingers. I hope that helps!

 

[CinderElsa]

I spent a day at the MK in mid-December last year and it was HOT! Things cooled down in the evening, but not very much.

Unfortunately, I think winter weather in FL works much the same as winter weather in the Northeast...

 

[Ryansdad0727]

In December 2010 we were there and it was lows in the 30's at night and mid 50's during the day. In December 2011 we went back and it was lows in the mid 50's at night and highs in the upper 70's during the day. The 50's and 70's are more common and I believe pretty close to the norm for that time of year but you never know.

 

[rpk1951]

First answer was the best. Yes. We go often in early Dec. We take shorts, jeans, t shirts, sweat shirts, gloves. It can change day by day

 

[csmith041177]

We have been in December 5 of the last 7 years. The short answer is, it can be perfect weather, or it can be terrible. It makes packing very challenging, because you can be dealing with 80s in the middle of the day and 40s or lower at night. It really just depends on luck for that year. We went a few years ago and it was record lows for Orlando for that time of year, and we were bundled up with jackets and sweaters. Just keep an eye on the weather as you get closer.

 

[kaybird]

"When it is good, it is very, very good, and when it is bad it is HORRID!"

Same as PPs, we have been swimming in December, and we have been bundled up in December and still cold. The thing to remember about the cold, is its a little hard to be out having fun in it if you are not prepared. Lots of packing to be sure, but you may well need both shorts and parkas! The gloves are what probably saved us.

 

[DisMama5]

Is there any difference in the temperature say mid November like right before thanksgiving instead to the first two weeks of December? Or are they about the same?

I'm weary about the chance of such cold weather, for us it would definitely effect our time to enjoy the parks, our kids range from 4 up so the little ones won't want to last long if it's like the weather up here, cold and bitter. but we are really eager to try the Holiday season to see the Christmas stuff... So torn!

thanks for all the responses so quickly you guys are awesome!

 

[HM]

The year I went in early December it was hot. Shorts and tshirts weather.
I've also been later in December and needed a winter coat and gloves.
You have to be prepared for anything.

 

[Mkrop]

We have gone in Dec many times and have worn every type of clothing imaginable.

 

[mom2rtk]

December in FL is "kitchen sink" weather. That means you need to pack everything, including the kitchen sink. We have been uncomfortably hot at Disney in December. We have been frozen solid in December (as in 20's and windy in the AM). And the forecast is usually not reliable enough for the tail end of a week's vacation to trust it. So just pack it all.

Do know that usually it's awesome sweatshirt weather though.

 

[JennyDrake]

In December 2010 we were there and it was lows in the 30's at night and mid 50's during the day. In December 2011 we went back and it was lows in the mid 50's at night and highs in the upper 70's during the day. The 50's and 70's are more common and I believe pretty close to the norm for that time of year but you never know.

I was there as well in 2010. I'm a thin blooded Southerner who thinks anything below 72 is arctic. I was meeting friends there from Illinois. I packed long underwear, wool sweaters and they LAUGHED at me. Well, they didn't laugh long! WDW cold is a damp cold, much more so than where I live.

 

[GWhitten98]

We went the week before xmas last year and the weather was really nice. I have heard the same stories you have. We definately brought long sleeve shirts to go under all of our short sleeve ones, legging/jeans and shorts for each outfit as well as coats, gloves and hats just in case.

Some morning we started out in jackets but most days was in the upper 60 and 70 by around 10 am. The Friday before we left it got into the 80s and was warm enough for the kids to play in pool for the afternoon.

 

[Kebby]

We were at wdw this past December from the 4-12 and it was 80s every day and we did not have one drop of rain. We were in shorts and tank tops even in the evenings. We swam every day and did BLizzard Beach which was EMPTY. One of the best trips there we ever had!

 

[skier_pete]

Yup, you can get pretty much anything from 70s to 30s (80s are pretty rare, but do happen.) I think most common would be high 60s low 70s and very comfortable. The most likely is to expect some wild swings. (Think late September/October in New England as a good analogy.) Longer bouts of cold are rare, you are more likely to get a day or two of it than the whole vacation.

The other thing is that cold down there feels colder than up here because of the high humidity level in the air. Up here when it's cold its also usually very dry.

 

[TigersLions]

wE WENT in December a couple years ago around the same time period as you. I'd say the temps ranged from 50 to 70 like you said. You will definitely need to bring a sweatshirt. I did miss being able to use the pools at night and I didn't love that the sun went down so early... But, we still had a blast!!!

 

[chapie1968]

Unfortunately, There is no straight answer for December.

We've been there when it was absolutely freezing, jackets all the time, ABSOLUTELY NO THOUGHT OF GETTING NEAR, LET ALONE IN A POOL.

We have also been there when it felt like late Spring or early fall where we were sweating and couldn't wait to get back from the park and hop in the pool.

 

[Redwitch]

The other thing is that cold down there feels colder than up here because of the high humidity level in the air. Up here when it's cold its also usually very dry.

I totally agree! I am from the North East and I find 30 degrees in WDW much more uncomfortable then 30 degrees in PA. The humidity makes for a bone chilling cold. We visited one year when they had record lows three days of our trip. We didn't venture out until the temperature hit 40. (We do have some amusing pictures from the photopass with winter coats and fairy wings.)

Given that, I have made three trips in December and would love to go again. The decorations and festivities are so much fun!

 

[hakepb]

Is there any difference in the temperature say mid November like right before thanksgiving instead to the first two weeks of December? Or are they about the same?

I'm weary about the chance of such cold weather, for us it would definitely effect our time to enjoy the parks, our kids range from 4 up so the little ones won't want to last long if it's like the weather up here, cold and bitter. but we are really eager to try the Holiday season to see the Christmas stuff... So torn!

thanks for all the responses so quickly you guys are awesome!

I've experienced an unusually cold week vefore Thanksgiving week:
http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KORL/2008/11/19/WeeklyHistory.html

And then next year was unusually warm:
http://www.wunderground.com/history...tml?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA

November cold temps are a bit less likely...but Christmas decorations are lots of fun!

While a low of 39 isn't bad compared to up north, its really, really cold when you are standing in it for hours and hours (try setting your house thermostat at 40 or even 50 and tell me how comfortable it is)