Is it warm enough to swim in December?

[Megan.nicole]

I'm trying to decide between planning our Disney trip the week before Christmas or the end of May next year (Memorial week). I know the weather is cooler in December, but is it comfortable enough to swim? My kids really love their pool time, but we also don't want to walk around in hot parks all day. Our last trip was in March which was perfect weather, but won't work for us this time.

 

[Shanti]

I'm trying to decide between planning our Disney trip the week before Christmas or the end of May next year (Memorial week). I know the weather is cooler in December, but is it comfortable enough to swim? My kids really love their pool time, but we also don't want to walk around in hot parks all day. Our last trip was in March which was perfect weather, but won't work for us this time.

It will be luck of the draw & no way of knowing until a week before if you go in December. When we visited in December last year, it was during a cold front and was quite cold (upper 30's mid-day with wind chill). But another week might have been just warm enough for swimming.

So the bottom line is that it's possible, but don't count on it.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Really just depends.
The average high for that time of year is 71.
It can easily stay in the low 60's or reach the low 80's.
You're not going to know until about a week out.
The pools are heated to 82.
I've run into a very cold spell in November and a warm spell in December you just don't know what you're gonna get unless you're going in the summer and then you know its gonna be hot hot hot!

 

[Jadyreen1282]

It was 40 degrees January 5th for us. We always plan long trips in the summer because we love the water parks.

 

[bumbershoot]

It’s often just fine. Sometimes it’s chilly. Sometimes it’s literally at freezing temperatures.

Bring all types of clothes, including longjohns and swimsuits, and see what weather(s) you get for your trip!

The water is heated over 80 degrees anyway. So as long as the pool is open (in the trips after our first trip I’ve noticed they tend to not open the pools if it’s below 40) the parts submersed in water are nice and warm. It’s getting out that’s hard.

 

[Summer2018]

I'm trying to decide between planning our Disney trip the week before Christmas or the end of May next year (Memorial week). I know the weather is cooler in December, but is it comfortable enough to swim? My kids really love their pool time, but we also don't want to walk around in hot parks all day. Our last trip was in March which was perfect weather, but won't work for us this time.

We were in WDW from 12-24-08 to 1-1-09. The average temperature was 87 degrees. We swam the entire time. As others have said, they have been in WDW in December when it was freezing. It's impossible to predict.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

We were in WDW from 12-24-08 to 1-1-09. The average temperature was 87 degrees. We swam the entire time. As others have said, they have been in WDW in December when it was freezing. It's impossible to predict.

Ha I was there 12-27-08 to 1-2/09 and yes I recall those temps!
That was the trip I was referring to in a PP.
I've been a few times in early/mid December and the temps were not that hot.

 

[NinaBella]

No

 

[Summer2018]

Ha I was there 12-27-08 to 1-2/09 and yes I recall those temps!
That was the trip I was referring to in a PP.
I've been a few times in early/mid December and the temps were not that hot.

I guess we got lucky!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We went Christmas week in 2015 and the week before Christmas in 2016 and 2017. The weather was gorgeous. Mid-70's every day and not a drop of rain. That being said, there is zero guarantee it will be that way this year or in years to come. The weather changes constantly. If you want more of a guarantee, I would go in May.

 

[mlayman7]

We have been 2nd week of December for the past 5 years. Twice has it been warm enough. Three trips we've actually went swimming. The pools are heated, it is just very cold getting out. Hoping this December will be little warmer than last year.

 

[jaceraden]

Swimming in December is lovely. Sometimes getting out is less unpleasant but the actual swimming is great! December is a funny beast in that you can get any range of weather. I can tell you that windy days in December are less pleasant for getting out after swimming.

 

[Sue M]

It depends! We were there last Dec and had many warm afternoons. We’ve also been many times in January, weather can be all over the map. We have had cold days with frost on the ground in the morning to warm mid to upper 70s. Sometimes in the same trip. We stay 10-14 days.

 

[MystikaFaith]

We found it warm enough, but we also live in Canada and are pretty accustomed to swimming in cooler temps. Whenww went in December, we always had the resort pools to ourselves so I assume others may have found it too cold. That or 8-9PM is just a really unpopular time to swim? One day we went to Blizzard Beach and the cast member said there was only 20 other people there that day. It was awesome and felt like we had the entire water park to ourselves! Admittedly, it was pretty chilly that day, but still not too cold to get in the water.

 

[Megan.nicole]

Thanks for the input everyone. Sounds like if we do December we should expect not to swim much, but be happily surprised if it's warm enough.

 

[CAS239]

You never know. Odds are in your favor that it will be warm. Last couple years Christmas day has been 80-90 degrees.

I also remember around christmas time years ago, think 2010, playing putt putt at Winterland course and it was 30 degrees at night.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It will be warm enough to swim. It may be too cool/cold to get out of the water.

 

[mickeynut1]

As others have said, weather that time of year is unpredictable. We've been twice the week before Christmas. On our first December trip the resort pool was actually closed most of the week due to very cold temps. The second trip we swam almost every day as temps were in the mid 80s most days. I would pack for all scenarios because weather can change from one day to the next and you really won't know what it'll be like until you get there. With that said, Disney in December is amazing even if you can't swim. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[KenHutch]

The only personal knowledge I have of this is in Feb. Our 2008 trip was in Feb. The thing that made me laugh was at check in half the staff were wearing heavy winter jackets. And while walking to our room we were behind 2 teens in bikini's walking to the pool. We found the weather (mid to high 70's) to be great for the pool.

 

[MrsDuck]

I'm a wimpy FL girl - the pools would be TOO cold to swim PERSONALLY. It's really going to be hit or miss - and it totally depends on where you're from/what you're comfortable with temperature wise. No matter the time of year, someone will be in the pool.