how to pack for december trip

[northshoremama]

so this is our 1st trip to DL in december. it'll be a quick trip...we'll be there thursday morning 12/11 thru saturday night 12/13.

we're from seattle...so i'm used to the cold weather and rain...but i also know that it's much colder here in seattle than it is there in anaheim. i'm going to have sweatshirts and long-sleeved shirts, and jeans/pants for me, DH, and the girls (DH will probably be in shorts the whole time though...hehe)...but i was just wondering if you all think ponchos are a necessity...

how about little mittens/gloves for the little ones? or is that going overboard?

...also for those of you with tandem double strollers that have been to DL while it was raining, did you put anything over your stroller to keep the little ones from getting wet? any advice?

TIA!

 

[lisah0711]

Hello! Another NW person who will be there next week. I am doing jeans, capris, sweatshirt, windbreaker (rainproof) and mittens, just in case. Layers seem to work with the changing Anaheim weather -- it changes like the Seattle weather!

Although it is colder up here now than it will be in Anaheim next week it does feel colder at night in Anaheim sometimes, especially when the wind blows (you will see the cast members really bundled up!). Mittens won't take much room in your suitcase.

Have one kid so can't help on the stroller issue -- I would at least have a dollar parka to drape over them (preferably clear so they could see) in case the rain is more than a drizzle.

Have a great time and I will looking for your LGMH!

 

[LavenderPeach]

I would maybe pack at least one short sleeved shirt too. It might cool down more by next week for your trip but right now it's still warm during the day. Like the PP said, layers are a good idea. Also, keep in mind that the temp in the park is usually higher than it is in the rest of anaheim. It does get chilly once the sun goes down though so even if it is warm during the day you'll want to bundle up some at night and in the morning too if you're going to the parks early.

 

[godalejunior]

We usually go in January but this will be the first time in December. We also live in WA State and have always gotten away with bringing a sweatshirt only ( we do bring shorts, a pair of jeans, capris etc but have not had to bring mittens, gloves, scarves). With rain in the forecast, a windbreaker is a good idea. I also pick up the cheap dollar store ponchos and have those in my bag as we have had to use them before on our trips.

 

[spacemouseneer]

We are from Vancouver BC, and were there last December. For the most part, a sweatshirt or light jacket was OK, but there was one morning where it was actually cold. We had to bite the bullet and buy toques and mittens for our kids. So I would pack the mittens. What could it hurt? They won't take a lot of room, and it's better than having to shell out $30-35 for something to keep you comfortable.


Spacemouseneer

 

[Krissy Marissy]

When I went to DL for christmas a few years ago it got cold...really cold. Which is unusual but it happens. For our tandem I have a rain/weather cover and that works well. Kinda annoying to get them in and out if you are doing it constantly but it keeps them warm and dry during our rainy walks (I'm down in portland, oregon). So maybe use that for your walk back to your room? I would pack mittens and hats for the kiddies so in case you do need them it's one less thing to have buy at the park. For you I would bring jeans and a sweatshirt but also a tshirt or something...then just put the sweatshirt on later. If might feel decently warm for you during the day but probably not shorts weather. Have a great trip!!

 

[bumbershoot]

it's better than having to shell out $30-35 for something to keep you comfortable.

Truer words have never been spoken.


We were there last early December (same as this year!) and I got to buy a sweatshirt AND a fuzzy blanket to keep me warm while walking and to keep DS warmer while in his stroller. While they are lovely souvenirs, that was about 60 bucks we might have preferred to spend in other ways.

Using the concept that pictures are better than words, these are the extremes we encountered.

December 6th, morning.

December 7th, afternoonish. That's just a windbreaker, no lining.

December 8th, earlier in the day.

Not too long afterwards...

And during breakfast outside at Cafe Orleans (I hear they don't have b'fast anymore, sniffle), he was absolutely freezing.

He had his mittens too, but he wanted more. I went in search of a scarf, but couldn't find one in the NOS area other than nightmare before xmas stuff, and he doesn't like those things (well, he didn't then).



Hope that helps! We're leaving on Friday, and we're packing everything. Short sleeves, shorts, long sleeves, coats, mittens, scarves, pants...

And our ponchos, purchased at DLR last year, of course, because DS is yearning to go on Grizzly and since that's one of our favorite rides at DL/DCA we're happy to do it! And, of course, if it rains.

Oh, and if you want to, bring an umbrella. We were caught by surprise in '05 with a big rainstorm on our day trip to DLR, and got to buy an expensive DLR umbrella as well, so it comes along with us on every trip.


About the stroller, we have a rain cover with our volo, so we just bring that. I would definitely bring *something*, because even if your kids aren't in it when it rains, if it rains all over the stroller while you guys are on a ride, those kids are going to have some WET behinds if you don't cover it up.


Lastly, once the sun goes down in Anaheim, or at least at DLR, it gets cold. I've been out of CA since I left at the age of 17, and I've lived in colder places since then. In WA, 50 degrees is shorts weather, right? But at DLR once the sun goes down, even in summer, the temps drop quite a bit. So it's best to have something along with you (clothing or money, ha ha) in case you need it.

 

[shamrockshake]

bring an extea pair of shoes in case it rains. nothing worse than walking around in wet shoes that never dry! We will be there 13th - 15th!

 

[PCHoffman]

I'm from Alberta, where the winters are almost as cold as Saskatchewan winters (not too many trees or hills to confuse the wind). Alas, shorts and t-shirt all the way!

 

[fairykin]

Just wanted to wish each of you safe travel and a very merry disney vacation... we will also be there during that time.

Make lots of happy memories!

 

[mad hatter fan]

We leave in 8 days! We have been there in Dec or Jan 4 times now and we had the weather ranged from being comfortable in a t-shirt in the middle of the day to being quite cold even in the middle of the day. We come from Minnesota so we need warm coats to and from the airport. We use a heavy fall jacket for to and from the airport and just pack them along as well. We have had quite a few nights watching fireworks or fantasmic and been sooo glad we had them and the little stretchy gloves we always bring. We always bring a pair of shorts as well. One of our Dec trips had one day that I was sooo hot I wished I had shorts on mid day.
Now I'm off to see how to fit all of this variety of clothing into the suitcases. LOL!

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

We go every year in December and it is usually chilly in the morning and evening but during the day it warms up. I would definately bring several short sleeved shirts. I've been watching the weather closely and for our trip (12/7-12/12) it is supposed to be in the 70's every day. To us that is short sleeves weather, especially if you are in the sun.

 

[pixiewings71]

We went last December and our experience was very much like Molly's. I wore a tube top, jeans and a light jacket one day. But when the sun was gone it was cooooold so I also had heavier sweatshirts to wear. It did not rain on us while we were there in Dec. It DID rain on us in Jan. It POURED on us actually so I got a poncho which will be going back with me next month. (4 wks and 2 days!!!!) I also take extra shoes, extra sweatshirts and extra jeans, we will also have an umbrella with us. I always have extra socks to wear when we get back to the room too, keeping my feet warm and dry is important for my health.

 

[bumbershoot]

To us that is short sleeves weather, especially if you are in the sun.

70s, nice!

The sunshine thing was part of the problem. There are lots of shadows at DLR! The sunshine out on the walkway in NOS was lovely, but we were in shadow at Cafe Orleans and it was very very cold. That pic taken with Frozone, he was wearing light clothes b/c everywhere else it was sunny and warmer, but in that Hollywood street it's FREEZING b/c it was so shadowy!

I bought my purple sweatshirt b/c I had the heavier coat for getting to and from the Seattle airport but wasn't bringing it into the parks, and suddenly I was just flat out cold. (and didn't want to walk back to hojo)

 

[pixiewings71]

Molly, E is so cute!!!!!! Those pics of him are adorable!! And I agree, there is a lot of shade in DL/DCA, in the summer it's great but in the winter it's cooooold!!!!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks Pixie/Kerri. The shadows are lovely when it's hot, but ack! when it's colder.

 

[Jperiod]

Ditto, pack a little bit of everything. It's annoying, but it's been all over the place over the years we've gone. Downpour, windy, and cold - got stuck on IASW in the boats last year in the middle of the rain (not a good idea afterall!). We've also been in high 80s and dying in short sleeves/shorts! But that was once. Mostly it's nice enough during the day for short sleeves/pants, but you'll want something heavier after the sun goes down around 5.

 

[bdtracey]

I'm from Alberta, where the winters are almost as cold as Saskatchewan winters (not too many trees or hills to confuse the wind). Alas, shorts and t-shirt all the way!

AGREED!!!

 

[lisah0711]

Just checked and it looks like it will be in the mid 70's later in the week. So you may want a couple of tshirts and a pair of shorts. It can still be surprisingly cool in the evenings in Anaheim so have some layers to add.

DS is excited because he might get to swim!

Enjoy your visit!

 

[ter-moo]

We were just there Nov. 30-Dec. 3. Monday the 1st was sunny and 80 degrees in the afternoon, but foggy and coolish in the morning. We wore capris, sandals and short sleeved shirts with a light jacket that we used for the morning.

HOWEVER, Tuesday the 2nd was very chilly and the sun never came out! We had to go back to the hotel and change into jeans and sweatshirts.

Other times that I've gone in Dec/Jan, there have been some light showers, so you might want ponchos. I always bring good ones and then a few cheap ones for Splash Mtn., which can be thrown away or given away when we're done with the ride. You can always go into any shop and get a shopping bag to put wet ponchos in so you can carry them around easily. Rain doesn't tend to last very long.

All that said, I'd bring a little of everything, and dress in layers. You can rent a locker for $6-7 to put heavier jackets in for the evenings.