January Temps

[Lost in Neverland]

We will traveling in the second week of January to WDW. We have never been that time of year. What should we expect temperature wise? Should we plan on really cool nights and long pants for the daytime or should we be ok with shorts. i just do not want to pack both Summer and Winter clothes if at all possible. Thanks.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Anything and everything! We often go in January, and we have had everything from 90+ to 32! Just be sure to bring layers that you can peel. We often go with a pair of jeans, a pair of shorts, and something inbetween. We also make sure we have a sweatshirt AND a light jacket. Oh, and I always take a light pair of gloves for those evenings that we sit out to watch the fireworks.

I would say most often it is highs in the 70's and lows in the 50's, but there are often extremes either direction too. The good thing is that it almost never rains that time of year. It really is one of our favorite times to go, because the crowds are very low!

 

[Tikihula]

I have to agree with Diane. The weather in January is quite variable, from almost freezing to a balmy 70+ degrees. It can be quite chilly in the morning, then warm up in the afternoon. There are lockers you can rent near the entrance to the parks where you can store your jackets. If you're at the parks all day, you may need those jackets again as the sun goes down.

You probably won't need tank tops, but you may indeed be comfortable in shorts and t-shirts. You just never know, but be sure and check the weather forecast before you go.

 

[rkwier]

Agree with both Diane and Tikihula. It can vary greatly during the time you are there. We were there January 21 - 24 this year. When we arrived, they were having record breaking freezing temperatures in Orlando. It was so cold, that the next morning the local news stations had people in the orange groves slicing off the tops of oranges and scraping the ice from the INSIDE of the orange! The day we left, it was 75 degress, sunny and gorgeous. Bring layers, lots of layers. I also had a light scarf and gloves with me which ended up being priceless.

 

[Debbie Jean]

Agree with both Diane and Tikihula. It can vary greatly during the time you are there. We were there January 21 - 24 this year. When we arrived, they were having record breaking freezing temperatures in Orlando. It was so cold, that the next morning the local news stations had people in the orange groves slicing off the tops of oranges and scraping the ice from the INSIDE of the orange! The day we left, it was 75 degress, sunny and gorgeous. Bring layers, lots of layers. I also had a light scarf and gloves with me which ended up being priceless.

We were there in January the week before you. In the morning you could see your breath and we actually had on our heavy winter coats, which we had brought with us from up north. On the other hand we've never seen it this cold when we've been in January before, so it was definitely an extreme.
Agree with bringing layers... you will find it chilly in the morning but with any luck warming as the day progresses...

 

[Kdisney]

I spend a lot of time in FL both in Orlando and Tampa during the winter due to my parents living there.I think Jan is really variable, last year I did not bring enough shorts, short sleeves, etc. I get really hot when it's humid, less humid in Jan but that part of FL is still humid. I would bring a couple of pairs of shorts, a couple of pairs of long pants and t-shirts. Bring a caridgan or a polar fleece to wear in the mornings. And bring a heavier jacket just in case. Layering, like others have said, it best. Have fun and enjoy that glorious sunshine!

 

[n2mm]

We were there this January and used those heated seats in our rental car many mornings. We always go during this time and it is the hardest time to pack. At little bit of everything and lots of layers. No swimming for us, but hot tub time is a must. Don't forget your gloves and hat.

 

[Starr W.]

We've been down the last two years in January(MLK weekend). Kids have managed to swim both years without turning blue.

First keep an eye on accuweather and weather.com's forecasts, to give you an idea of what to pack. When you get about 5 days out, you can start a prelim. packing list. I finalize it just before we go(I don't pack for the 4 of us until the day before we leave).

I always have the poly long underwear at the ready, we all have 3 in 1 coats that are not too bulky. We've needed those when we've gotten back to Detroit, as it's been really cold(like below zero) the last 2 yrs.

We also go at Thanksgiving, which can be I think trickier than mid-January for packing.

 

[#1SonofMIannie]

Plan for the worst and if I can offer one word of advice.......pack for dressing in layers. Was down Jan 17-24 this past year and temps were down to 26f for lows and 50's during the day. For us it was nice because we left Michigan with single digits so it was bearable, but still wore a down vest and stocking cap in the late afternoon/evening. Expect the unexpected!!

 

[edk35]

We have been 4 times towards the end of Jan. and you do have fluctuating temps. We bring jackets.....not too heavy of course and mainly jeans with a couple of shorts. We always bring gloves too. I love Jan. trips. We have been in Nov. and it was colder than in Jan. You just never know.

 

[christa112]

Good to know. So it would be safe to say a light fleece jacket would be pretty safe to bring for an end of January trip?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Good to know. So it would be safe to say a light fleece jacket would be pretty safe to bring for an end of January trip?

Yes, but be sure you have a long sleeved shirt and T shirt to layer under it if you need to. We have also found a January cold snap in Florida is a great excuse to buy a new Disney sweatshirt!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Sometimes Disney stores run out of sweatshirts to sell in January!

Bobbi

 

[Debbie Jean]

Sometimes Disney stores run out of sweatshirts to sell in January!

Bobbi

And gloves!

 

[DeeCee735]

We were there the second week of January and we're going to be there same time this January!

We packed hoodies, and jackets. I took my scarf. I need a scarf more than gloves, but that's just me.

During the day we were in short sleeves, jeans or capri's and flipflops or sneakers. At night we put the hoodies and jackets over that and we were fine.

I prefer the colder months over the hotter months. It's so much more pleasant to tour the parks, but again, that's just us, I know alot of people like the hotter weather!

It's a great time of year to go, lower crowds and easier to get dining reservations. Only downer is the parks close early. Even the EMH end earlier.

Have a great time!

 

[sskem96]

We were there for the record lows this past January. We had to sit in the rental car and blast the defroster for 10 minutes before we could go anywhere. FYI-rental cars in FL don't come with ice scrapers!

It didn't bother us that it was so cold since it was -20 at home. We wore or winter coats and gloves. We let the kids swim the first day since we knew the cold snap was coming. Luckily we didn't have a water park day planned. We didn't have too many winter clothes with us, but that's the advantage of having a washer and dryer in the villa!

 

[Mom B]

We were there Jan 2009 and it was chilly! AND damp! But a few years ago we were there in Jan and it was 85 and fabulous! Hopefully it will be on the sunnier side this year cuz we're taking all the kids and grandkids. I am definitely planning on taking my fleece lined windbreaker and my new Disney hoodie (Mickey and Minnie, great deals on fleece at the Disneystore website right now, got 'em for the whole gang!) to layer, along with a pair of gloves and a scarf (don't forget the warm socks either!). My hubby, of course, is never cold so he thought it was okay this year but it was a little too cool for me at night. I've had a couple of near-frozen experiences watching Illuminations but I just won't give up and go 'home'! Hope I don't need my parka for our Wanyama Safari night! (By the way, if it's below 50 they shut down the boats to DTD, etc., so you may have to be flexible in your transportation plans if the weather doesn't cooperate!) But look at the bright side, it keeps the crowds down!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Add me to the list that has seen Dec through Feb and even into early March,be either very cold or very warm or somewhere in between. Just check several different weather sources about 24-48 hours before you leave to tweak your wardrobe choices.

We were in WDW the first week of Feb this year and it was FREEZING. So cold in fact, that disney was covering plants and vegetation with plastic. We had the most awesome location/view at SSR and would have loved to have been able to sit out on the chairs on our patio in the morning with coffee or evening with wine----but way too cold to enjoy. Felt like our awesome view of DD went to waste that trip. This was Feb 5-11. But I've also been in WDW during these months when shorts were a must ! We, personally, choose Dec through March to visit in order to escape cold.....so we always hold out and wish for at least temps in the 70's if not warmer.

Sometimes we get lucky....other times not so much. One year---think it was 2007 ? But could have been 2006 ? We were there Feb 9-14 and it was so cold---the gusty winds made it much worse---that all the shops had scarves and gloves laid out on the front counters. It was very uncomfortable to the skin to even be out. We had scarves pulled up over our face. Of course, we left snow/ice behind in PA so it was a bit better ?


Maria