Most Accurate Weather? And do you search for Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista, or Orlando?

[DisneyO]

What do you think is the most accurate weather app (or website) for Walt Disney World? And do you search for weather in Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista, or Orlando?

I've heard countless folks say that weather forecasts are highly unreliable until about 6-12 hours out. Would you agree?

We'll be there next week, and coworkers have told me to pack everything from a bathing suit to gloves/hats/scarfs.

Thanks for any feedback!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Yes I agree and yes your co-workers are correct.

 

[WICKEDW3NCH]

I just usually search Disneyworld in my weather app. But yes pack everything. Last time I went to Disney World I only packed pants because it was January and the first few days that was fine but then it ended up being 80+ degrees towards the end of the trip and I was in a scramble to buy summer clothes in the gift shop. Prepare for anything.

 

[AngiTN]

What do you think is the most accurate weather app (or website) for Walt Disney World? And do you search for weather in Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista, or Orlando?

I've heard countless folks say that weather forecasts are highly unreliable until about 6-12 hours out. Would you agree?

We'll be there next week, and coworkers have told me to pack everything from a bathing suit to gloves/hats/scarfs.

Thanks for any feedback!

They are right about everything but how far out they can predict the weather. It's more like 24-36 hours. Anything before that is highly inaccurate

I search Lake Buena Vista on the app I use. The one I use is put out by one of our local weather stations but it's not something they devised, they just put their call letters on it. I like it because it includes Google Earth views so I can see exactly where in WDW a storm cloud may be. I also find their forecast to be the most accurate most of the time.

I actually do not like apps or forecast done by national forecast centers. I just don't think they know local trends like local folks do.

 

[kerplop]

I would agree and we never take weather seriously until at least 24 hours out, sometimes less. I find that locally here at home Accuweather is the most accurate and it has worked well for us at WDW in the past. I like that it tells me when it will start/stop raining and it seems to be right most the time!

 

[LSUfan4444]

What you want to look for is fronts and weather patterns more than the actual forecast.

See, we arrive next Wednesday and this is what the weather tells me. Some time next week a cool front will come through and will be preceeded by some rain. Sometime about a week after that another front looks to be moving through and may bring some more rain but should aloso bring warmer temps.

The highs and lows are pretty consistent with historical averages with no crazy warm or cold front that would cause any reason to deviate from plan of packing and dressing in layers.


As for whose forecast is best, I usually look at AccuWeather and Weather Underground.

 

[xlxo]

I use accuweather for long term forecasting. Then switch to Intellicast for the doppler.

Skymotion for even finer predictions.

 

[itsthatdisneygirl]

I constantly use the map feature on http://weather.com/

as you can search for Walt Disney World as a location and it had a future map that shows you the weather could look like an hour away and they are usually very accurate.

But YES pack EVERYTHING for example tomorrow the high is 54 and its creeping its way back up to 80 by Saturday

 

[PEC]

In the summer it is almost hour to hour. The Afternoon T-Storms pop up and they may go over where you are with heavy rain and lightening or they may not. They can literally be at one park and not the other. Outside of that the one given is there is no need for Winter clothes from June to August. This time of year a little more predicatable about a day or two out. It could get as low in the upper 30s to on up in the 80s in the day.

 

[Me!Thatswho]

A few years back we traveled during New Years. It literally went from mid 70s down to near freezing (fyi: it was one of those years with the rare winter frosts). We made the mistake, and learned the hard way - had to "winter-up" because we left our winter jackets in the car at the airport. So, for our quick pre-Turkey Day trip (Sat-Wed), we are prepared for weather ranging from 40s-80s. Plus, we packed a few throw-away dollar store rain ponchos. As others have said, you just never know.

 

[DisneyO]

Thanks, everyone! I just downloaded the Accuweather App and I love it!

 

[Grumpy92]

Yesterday it was rainy. Today temps in the 50s then dropping into the 30s tonight. accuweather.com Lake Buena Vista is pretty close.

 

[Brewersprts]

I find aviation weather forecasts to be the most accurate. It won't give you two weeks out but they're usually pretty accurate when you get closer.

 

[disneymore2]

The 10-15 day weather predictions are pointless. I have been checking the forecast for our trip next week and for example on Sunday the 23rd- the forecast from accuweather has changed from 80% chance of rain to 25% currently. And I am sure it is bound to change again!!! We are packing for any type of weather.

 

[Otter49]

This time yesterday, the forecast high for orlando was 58 degrees. It's now midafternoon and 48 degrees with a mist. Unlikely that we'll even see 50 today.

That's a near 20% miss 24 hours out - not too good. As others have said, multi-day forecasts can be pretty useless, at least until May rolls around.

 

[LSUfan4444]

The 10-15 day weather predictions are pointless. I have been checking the forecast for our trip next week and for example on Sunday the 23rd- the forecast from accuweather has changed from 80% chance of rain to 25% currently. And I am sure it is bound to change again!!! We are packing for any type of weather.

They are not pointless at all. BUT you cannot count on them for something they shouldn't be used as.

Do not look to any extended forecast to correctly predict an actual temperature or rain on a specific day or time of day 7+ days in advance.

Rather, familiarize yourself with the extended forecast to understand any upcoming fronts and/or weather patterns to know how to pack. Check the forecasts or watch the weather each day and decide how you need to dress and what to bring with you each day.

Do not try to decide on the Friday before you leave how you want to dress the following Wednesday. Instead pack accordingly and remain flexible.

 

[puffkin]

We are going next week and have gone quite a few times in the Dec-March time frame, but never November. I have learned to pack in 2's for these trips. 2 jeans, 2 shorts, 2 capris, etc. We layer and do laundry as needed. We wear our winter coats down and I pack light gloves/hats right next to our swim suits and tanks. Most trips we need at least 3/4 of it, sometimes all. You really just never know.

 

[disneymore2]

They are not pointless at all. BUT you cannot count on them for something they shouldn't be used as. Do not look to any extended forecast to correctly predict an actual temperature or rain on a specific day or time of day 7+ days in advance. Rather, familiarize yourself with the extended forecast to understand any upcoming fronts and/or weather patterns to know how to pack. Check the forecasts or watch the weather each day and decide how you need to dress and what to bring with you each day. Do not try to decide on the Friday before you leave how you want to dress the following Wednesday. Instead pack accordingly and remain flexible.

Tomatoes tomoatos! The forecast 10-15 days is not a realistic expectation of the weather. You can familiarize yourself with the weather fronts all you want. This time of year the weather in central florida is expected to change frequently. A few days ago most of thanksgiving week was fairly warm. Now the forecast is showing that a cold front will arrive around Wednesday. Had you packed based on the predictions- a cold front was not expected during the week, until yesterday.

My point was that you should be prepared for the possibility of both- because the weather ( including fronts and patterns) cannot be predicted in advance. Although as a Floridian I can tell you it is going to be hot and rainy in July!!

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Yeah, unfortunately it's like weather roulette down there..

Our first trip we all thought "Christmas in Florida! An escape from the cold weather!!"

Well that was in December 2009 and it was FREEZING. We were not prepared whatsoever. Now we pack everything from shorts and t-shirts to winter coats, scarfs and gloves!

 

[zilp]

We are going next week and have gone quite a few times in the Dec-March time frame, but never November. I have learned to pack in 2's for these trips. 2 jeans, 2 shorts, 2 capris, etc. We layer and do laundry as needed. We wear our winter coats down and I pack light gloves/hats right next to our swim suits and tanks. Most trips we need at least 3/4 of it, sometimes all. You really just never know.

This is great advice. We are headed down in a few weeks, and are preparing for the varying temps. Thanks for mentioning the gloves! We forgot those one year and were very sorry not to have them.