How to pack for beginning of October

[IBLarsen]

Ok, I have looked at the weather averages, and it looks like the days will be plenty warm enough, without being too hot. However, I have heard that it can get chilly in the evenings. So does that mean the mornings will be chilly as well, and we will need to dress warmer at opening to the parks? And when people say 'chilly' does that mean we will need long pants and light jackets, or are shorts ok with a light jacket or sweatshirt on the arms? Do people find it too hot to wear pants/jeans during the days in Oct? Is rain usually a problem the first week of October?

 

[Sherry E]

Ok, I have looked at the weather averages, and it looks like the days will be plenty warm enough, without being too hot. However, I have heard that it can get chilly in the evenings. So does that mean the mornings will be chilly as well, and we will need to dress warmer at opening to the parks? And when people say 'chilly' does that mean we will need long pants and light jackets, or are shorts ok with a light jacket or sweatshirt on the arms? Do people find it too hot to wear pants/jeans during the days in Oct? Is rain usually a problem the first week of October?

Hey, you are going first week of October? I will be there October 3-5, staying at PPH!

Anyway, I was just saying on another thread that October is sort of an unpredictable month for SoCal. I have lived here my whole life and October always amazes me. Sometimes it can be very warm - like summertime warm in the 90's - AND windy, so it is very dry. Other times, it might be raining and chilly. I get hot when it is in the 70's outside. It can't get cool enough for me, but I usally don't bring out the cold weather gear until it is pouring rain or it's December. Of course, keep checking the weather as it gets closer to October, but I think you can get away with shorts and light sweathsirt and/or jacket for most nights. Keep some pants and a bigger jacket in your hotel or in a locker, just in case. It may be too uncomfortable in the daytime to wear jackets. I see tourists out here all the time who are wearing shorts in the middle of December (when it is 30 degrees outside) because they think that is what you are supposed to do in California. But I am miserable from the heat most of the time, so I look forward to being able to bundle up in warm clothes and ENJOY it just once during the year!

 

[IBLarsen]

Thanks for the info Sherry,
We will be there Sept 30th leaving Oct 4th, staying at the Fairfield Inn. I'm trying to decide if we/kids need any more summer clothes for our trip, before all of the summer clothes are off the shelves. Also need to buy new lightweight jackets for the kids for the trip. I'm finding it hard to figure out how to prepare for that time of year!

 

[CalvaryMike]

The La Nina conditions that existed are now gone. There is a very warm and growing sea surface tempature anomaly (SSTA) at the date line...and a minor SSTA at 140 West. If this pattern persists into the Fall and the anomalies strengthen, there may be a strong Santa Ana Fall season (Oct/Nov). Not good for the So Cal area!
We've had a mild summer so far, but...

 

[JadeDarkstar]

im hoping it wont be to hot but not to cold to lol but i will have pants shorts and half pants and jacket

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks for the info Sherry,
We will be there Sept 30th leaving Oct 4th, staying at the Fairfield Inn. I'm trying to decide if we/kids need any more summer clothes for our trip, before all of the summer clothes are off the shelves. Also need to buy new lightweight jackets for the kids for the trip. I'm finding it hard to figure out how to prepare for that time of year!

Yes, it really is a weird time of year. Often times, September is no different than summer, temperature-wise, but last year, we went on the next to last weekend in September and it POURED rain. Like so much rain that it was hard to see in front of us. Then, it would dry up and become HOT. Then it would pour again! I was so mad because I was getting soaked and sunburnt all in the same day! But October can go either way - it could be very warm or more fall-like. There is almost always wind in October, though, but usually later in the month. I think you can still get away with wearing some summer things, but bring back-up just in case. By the way, I love that time of year. I hate going to DL in summer when it is super hot now. I used to do it in my younger days, but now I am all about going in Fall and Winter. Besides, in Fall and Winter, you get the Halloween stuff and the Christmas stuff, so it is a bonus. You guys will love it!

 

[Sherry E]

The La Nina conditions that existed are now gone. There is a very warm and growing sea surface tempature anomaly (SSTA) at the date line...and a minor SSTA at 140 West. If this pattern persists into the Fall and the anomalies strengthen, there may be a strong Santa Ana Fall season (Oct/Nov). Not good for the So Cal area!
We've had a mild summer so far, but...

Yes, Mike is correct. Strong Santa Ana conditions (winds + dry, warm weather) are very bad for SoCal, indeed, especially if you live anywhere near hills or brush! It was already stated earlier this year on the news that this was expected to be the worst fire season in I don't know how many years, which is hard to fathom given the terrible fires that have occurred in the last few years.

I didn't think this summer is necessarily mild. Last year was more mild, in my opinion. This one has been pretty toasty for me - but, as stated earlier, I hate strong heat. I can't wait for Fall and Winter so we can drop down to the 60's!

Hey, Mike - did anyone ever end up taking you up on your kind offer for transportation?

 

[CalvaryMike]

I didn't think this summer is necessarily mild. Last year was more mild, in my opinion. This one has been pretty toasty for me - but, as stated earlier, I hate strong heat. I can't wait for Fall and Winter so we can drop down to the 60's!

Hey, Mike - did anyone ever end up taking you up on your kind offer for transportation?

My friend and BIL are both in the HVAC business and they both say business is slow this year because of the mild summer. I really hadn't notice it being mild myself. But after talking to them, they reminded me of the 100+ temperatures a few years ago. They both said their phones were ringing off the hook.

No. No one took me up on the offer, but working on another plan right now to 'pay it forward'. Thanks for asking.

 

[Sherry E]

My friend and BIL are both in the HVAC business and they both say business is slow this year because of the mild summer. I really hadn't notice it being mild myself. But after talking to them, they reminded me of the 100+ temperatures a few years ago. They both said their phones were ringing off the hook.

No. No one took me up on the offer, but working on another plan right now to 'pay it forward'. Thanks for asking.

You are putting good vibes out there into the universe! I can imagine that HVAC workers are under a lot of stress suring the hot summer months, when AC's break down and grumpy, sweaty people are calling them in desperation, so your friend and BIL are probably relieved! I hate heat, but I don't even turn on my AC half of the time because it is too expensive. So I suffer and drink a lot of water until it just starts getting TOO hot. I wonder if the decrease in business for them has to do with the terrible economy. People are finding ways to deal with things now that they hadn't before because there is just no money for anything. It is really scary out there. I had no idea I would be out of work (meaning an 'office job') for six months, but here I am, still out of work! I am assuming, obviously, this has to be the reason for why Disneyland's attendance is down this summer. No one has money to go. So, they were on the right track when they started offering hotel rooms at good discount rates. But then they made the miskate of raising the darn ticket prices again, and the 2-day Park Hoppers jumped like $11 bucks or so. I wish they hadn't raised the prices in this struggling economy. Disney is such a strong economic force in California, and a major contributor to the economy and tourism of our state, but when we are just about in a recession nationwide, it doesn't make sense to raise the prices so much. They are not going bankrupt. They can afford to wait a while before raising them. I think their attendance will be down even more next year, unfortunately.

 

[CrazyDuck]

I think t-shirts will be fine durring the day... Try to wear red ones... Bright red t-shirts, to show off your Disney Pride!!!

 

[cseca]

I think t-shirts will be fine durring the day... Try to wear red ones... Bright red t-shirts, to show off your Disney Pride!!!

Hi IBLarsen,
Hope you are aware that Oct 3-5 is gay day weekend.
There will be lots of red shirts that weekend.

And I'll be there at the same time you guys are...
DH will join me later on.
Maybe we'll bump into each other!

 

[dizneekrazee]

We were there last October, the 15-19. No rain. Was very nice out. I wore tanks and capris each day. There was one morning that was kinda chilly, so I just wore a sweatshirt with I already had on. Evenings were not that bad, even the night we stayed later for the halloween event I dont remember having my sweater on. Actually, I have pix of me still in a tank and capris.

 

[IBLarsen]

Hi IBLarsen,
Hope you are aware that Oct 3-5 is gay day weekend.
There will be lots of red shirts that weekend.

And I'll be there at the same time you guys are...
DH will join me later on.
Maybe we'll bump into each other!

[/QUOTE]*********************************************************************************
I am aware of the gay days, I wasn't when I booked the trip, it's fine with me though.

What's with the Red T-shirts though? Is it a gay days thing? Am I just Gay-Tarded?

 

[cseca]

*********************************************************************************
I am aware of the gay days, I wasn't when I booked the trip, it's fine with me though.

What's with the Red T-shirts though? Is it a gay days thing? Am I just Gay-Tarded?

[/QUOTE]

Yep, red is their official tshirt color

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

I'm hoping it RAINS in october, hahahaha. It's so unnerving to me that October is unprectable weather in SoCal.