How to pack for December weather in the parks

[AuntieKels]

We are heading to Disneyland next week and I’m struggling with how to pack. We living the the great rainy north so we have been in sweaters and jackets for months. I’ve read that many people bring a range from shorts to mittens but as a family of 4 including a baby I don’t know if my luggage can manage that.

I don’t see any rain next week so would Patagonia fleeces work for the evening?
Anyone have any super parent tips for us?

Thanks!

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

I think everyone is different in how warm or cold they get. That said, the parks always feel a lot warmer to me with all the people and concrete. It’s crazy because we went last December and it was chilly but we were warm to us. It was like walking into an air conditioned room as soon as we left the gates. I dress in layers. Short sleeves during the day and a hoodie for night. I think a fleece would be plenty warm enough. I wouldn’t bring mittens. We don’t sit around very long to eat or wait for parades, so that may make you cooler, not sure. I would bring warmer clothes and blankets for the baby at night. Hope that helps

 

[tink89]

We always take a sweater and/ beanie that is warm enough for mornings and light enough that we can carry it around or throw in a backpack. It seems no matter what time we go the mornings and nights are cold but the day can get warm quickly.

 

[Niltiac]

It really depends what you're doing. During the day pants and a tshirt are fine. I don't see the point in packing shorts in December because while it might be warm enough to wear them in the middle of the day, I can't see it being warm enough that you would be too hot in long pants. You'll need the pants for nighttime, so just wear them all day. At night, when we were walking, moving, going on rides, etc. we were comfortable with a hoodie or sometimes even a tshirt. But when we were standing still watching candlelight processional, I had to put on every article of clothing I had (leggings under jeans, two hoodies, hat, gloves) and I was still chilly. So if you have plans for a lengthy outdoor meal or staking out spots for nighttime entertainment, plan accordingly.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Do check the weather right before you leave. Beyond 5 days weather reports can be unreliable out here. The weather I see Mon-Fri right now is lows in the 50s during park time and high in the high 70s. To me that is shorts & t-shirts during the day with a light jacket for mornings and jeans and t-shirts with a sweatshirt & maybe scarf &/or hat depending on how late the night will be and if I'lol be standing in one place or moving around. (I'm from CA and used to a warm climate.)

 

[Mickeybell]

Let me just start by saying we am from Arizona so we are kinda wimps when it comes to the cold. The last time we where there during December was I think about 6 years ago. It was really cold to us at night. During the day was beautiful. At night we wore beanies, sweaters, hoodies, gloves, (we even wore long underwear). But again we are wimps. Lol So I guess it all depends on how well you handle the cold.
We will also be there next week and so far the weather looks like it wont be too cold. I am going to pack jeans and t-shirts for the daytime but also layers for the evening.

 

[DL_Forever]

Last year we went in December and it was cold at night but warm enough for my kids to wear shorts during the day. Like other posts have said it really depends on how well you deal with cold.

 

[Jaina]

From AZ here too. We went the last week of November last year, and there was a cold day or two. The younger kids were completely fine, though they wore long sleeves under their short sleeved (matching, haha) shirts probably 75% of the time, and jackets in early morning/night. The baby was only 4 months old, and trickier. We did a lot of baby wearing and made sure to have socks that would stay on, and some extra lightweight blankets (think Aden & Anais) to layer when needed.

 

[geergirl]

We are from the great white north and still froze our butts off two years ago in January because we didn't pack enough warm clothes. First, it was cooler most days that forecast so that bit us. And even though we were coming from -20C we still got chilled at night. We all get cold easier when we're tired and busy days will leave you tired. Also, it was more humid than we were used to and a bit breezy so that left us chilled. I was smart enough to pack little stretchy gloves and crocheted toques for the kids. Those really helped at night. Normally anything above freezing feels downright balmy in January but it didn't really work that way for us.

 

[Susie63]

I agree with this^^^. We are from Alberta and are used to the winter cold. We pack stretchy mitts, sweatshirts with hoods and take a small packable blanket for sitting on. The concrete can get very cold waiting for parades or fireworks. A windbreaker is easy to pack and provides another layer. We have never been during the winter when it was too hot for pants so we pack one pair of capris for the girls.

 

[bumbershoot]

For our times in December, I’d say to being clothwa for 80 degrees.

Except that mornings can be misty and cold, and once the sun goes down it can get cold again.

So...layer. I grew up in northern CA and layering was key. I find it to be no different in Anaheim.

DS would have his pajamas pants on under his clothes in the morning (wr are not a family who has him wear pjs obviously in public) then once the mist left he would take those off. We had sweatshirts etc for the morning and warm weather clothes once the sun was up.

Our first December trip was way hotter than our first September trip!

 

[BayouQueen]

We live in So Cal and go most every December. We always have beanies, gloves and a fleece on hand for nighttime in the park. Temps can really drop in the evening in December, although rain is rare. (Our rainiest month is February.)

We were unprepared for cold one year and won't repeat that mistake.

 

[squeezle]

We'll be there next week, too! For the mornings/days I am planning on wearing jeans with a long sleeve tee, a short sleeve-tee, and a hooded fleece so that I can have varying levels of warmth. I am also planning on taking a rain trench for added warmth in the evenings. I will also have a vest just in case, and now after reading this I might throw in some gloves just be be safe.

 

[AuntieKels]

Thanks for all the feedback! Looks like I’ll be packing layers.

When we went to WDW many years ago it was unseasonably cold and wet. We found the restaurants and stores to be unbearably cold due to the AC blasting as if it was 90 degrees outside. Does that happen at Disneyland? Do they warm up the stores after the sun goes down? I sure hope so!

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Thanks for all the feedback! Looks like I’ll be packing layers.

When we went to WDW many years ago it was unseasonably cold and wet. We found the restaurants and stores to be unbearably cold due to the AC blasting as if it was 90 degrees outside. Does that happen at Disneyland? Do they warm up the stores after the sun goes down? I sure hope so!

No, that doesn't happen in DL other than some rides where the AC is always on (IASW and Little Mermaid come to mind). Inside places should be warm if it's cold outside.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I get really cold as soon as the sun goes down. Here's the forecast for next week: https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/ca/anaheim/92801?cm_ven=localwx_10day

 

[Niltiac]

I posted above about my previous experience in December. We're also going next week and I just looked at the forecast and compared it to the historical temps from our previous December trip a couple years ago. The temperatures seem to be pretty spot on to last time, and we didn't wear shorts last time, so I reiterate that I really don't think they're necessary unless you want to carry around a bunch of extra clothes every day. I wouldn't suggest wearing any long sleeved shirts unless you layer them, because I do remember wearing a long-sleeved tshirt one day and regretting it mid-morning when it was toasty, although I survived just fine. So I think my plan will be jeans and t-shirt during the day, with a long-sleeved pullover shirt for the morning, and a thick hoodie for night. Last time we were really only cold when we were sitting around doing nothing. I purposefully didn't plan any outdoor sit down dinners or nighttime shows except for WoC because I really want to see the holiday version. So for the WoC night, I will probably bring an extra jacket to layer with the hoodie, long underwear, and gloves (basically all the cold weather clothing I own without getting into snow gear). I don't think I'll bother lugging all that around on the other days.

 

[Susie63]

I will admit to packing our down coats, but we use them when travelling from Alberta to the US. We stuff them in a locker each day just in case.

 

[agamble]

I agree with the people who said wear pants not shorts. It's not going to be so hot you'll be miserable in pants, but at night and in the morning it will be too cold for shorts. Especially at night. Even in warmer times of year it gets chilly when the sun goes down. Our temps for this weekend are looking like 49* cold to 73* warm. 50 degree weather without sun is a bit chilly and that is what I would expect in the mornings and evenings. Our kids will be wearing jeans and long sleeve T's all day. We will be bringing jackets and probably the kids stretch gloves to wear in the evening, maybe beanies too. I won't bring coats because they're too heavy to carry around and it's a short trip for us, so no hotel break.

 

[cmwade77]

Honestly, it varies, some days will get close to 100 and others won't get above 70, we never know from one day to the next and in general do NOT expect weather apps to be accurate more than about 3 days out and even then they can be dead wrong.