Outerwear suggestions for a Jan. trip

[kittythepoohbear]

My sister and I are going to WDW Jan. 20-23 and I am having a hard time figuring out what outerwear to bring. We are from NYC where a heavy winter coat is a necessity and family in Orlando say that it has been rather chilly lately. We know we have to bring something a bit warmer than a sweater for nightime dips in tempurature, but what?

For those that go to the parks in winter, what outerwear works for you? An extra sweater, a spring weight jacket, a winter coat? My sis doesn't like coats and is usually ok with just a heavy sweater, even in NYC cold, but I freeze easily. We don't want to be encumbered with heavy coats on rides but we don't want to trek back to the lockers if it gets too cold either, which my regular winter coat would require. I am in dire need of suggestions!

Thanks!

Kat

 

[SpectroMagic*o*]

I'd also like to know the answer to this, I'm from a NYC suburb and also going to Disney in late January and have no idea what to pack!

ug:

 

[mic_key_mouse]

Take them all. I have had to wear a winter coat a few times during winter trips. We usually pack everything but the kitchen sink since some days it may be warm enough to swim, and other days it could be quite cold, and other days somewhere in the middle.

 

[becka]

We tried to layer when we went in January and found ourselves with some really cold temps. Mornings in the upper 30's and highs in the lower 50s. We would wear a t-shirt with a sweatshirt over it and then we used our hats, scarves and gloves. Usually once we got moving that was enough to keep us warm and as the day went on we just peeled off the layers. I think we even took off the sweatshirt one day. As the temps fell in the evening again we put the sweatshirts, hat, gloves, etc.. back on. We had our winter coats but they were so bulky and I didn't want to bring them in the parks.

 

[frayedend]

I would check weather.com for the 10 day forecast just to have an idea of what the temps will be. I think those of us from the Northeast (I'm from MA) won't need winter hats and gloves for 50 degree temps. Right now it looks like low 70s in the day and low 50s at night. We are going Jan 14th and we will wear our winter coats to the airport, so we will have them with us just in case, but I think a sweathshirt, sweaters, or perhaps a spring type windbreakers will be enough.

 

[mic_key_mouse]

I would check weather.com for the 10 day forecast just to have an idea of what the temps will be. I think those of us from the Northeast (I'm from MA) won't need winter hats and gloves for 50 degree temps. Right now it looks like low 70s in the day and low 50s at night. We are going Jan 14th and we will wear our winter coats to the airport, so we will have them with us just in case, but I think a sweathshirt, sweaters, or perhaps a spring type windbreakers will be enough.

I am glad you have so much faith in weather forecasts that far into the future. Having lived in Orlando a couple of years, I don't share that confidence. Enjoy your trip

 

[ajwolfe]

Thanks for asking this, we are getting ready to go in a couple weeks and was wondering too. Being from the midwest, we are used to cool temps, so I was unsure. We plan on taking our winter coats, but hope to not need them, due to the bulkiness issue.

 

[Pig Pen]

We had the same experience as Becka...we are from Vermont and I can tell you that 40 degrees with wind in Florida is STILL cold!

I brought some gray fleece PJs with me and ended up wearing the pants to the park one day as I didn't have anything warmer! I saw one girl wearing Mickey oven mitts as gloves....that was clever.

 

[TinkHappy]

We have gone in Dec and the weather was coooold...burrrr! It got down to 25* I was not expecting that. We did bring the girls winter jackets, but we didn't bring ours. I wore a sweatshirt (purchased a couple more) with a t-shirt under it. I bought gloves and DDs needed hats (cold ears). I was fine, even at night, in a sweatshirt and jeans. I always say, I would rather be a little cold (in Dec., Jan. & Feb.) then be REALLY hot (in Jun., July & Aug.)

 

[Kala]

We always layer as well. Depending on how cold it is in the morning, either a T shirt or a lightweight turtleneck shirt, followed by a sweatshirt, followed by a jacket or heaver sweatshirt. We have never taken heavy coats, but a couple of times kinda wished we had. As the previous poster said, we then unlayer as the day goes on, then in the evening we do the opposite. We start our with only the lighterweight layers, then add as necessary. I usually just tie what I'm not wearing around my waist for ease of travel. It can get pretty cold out at night, especially if you're sitting waiting for a parade or fireworks show!!

 

[HueyDewey&LouiesMom]

We all have fleece or micofleece coats we plan to bring. They will also be great for getting to the airport in Boston so we can leave the big coats in the car. The fleece is warm and we can add a poncho for rain or even wind. I bring hats and mittens as well...cold is cold no matter where it is...especially if you are stting watching a show!

 

[outtonight]

I live a few hours north of Orlando and the heaviest outerwear I own is a peacoat and some hoodies - and I'm not use to cold, NYC weather at all. Around here, a good heavy sweater or hoodie is pretty much all anyone ever wears in the winter. I can't imagine you needing your regular winter coat, especially since you're more use to colder temperatures.

 

[ZoZo]

Layers!

One thing I recommend is making sure one of your layers is wind-proof. I live in the Seattle area. We don't get super-cold weather here, and I often just wear a polarfleece jacket. But the wind really tends to cut through polarfleece, unless it has a wind-block feature.

Be sure to bring gloves and hats - they don't take up much room, but it would be a shame not to have them if you need them.

I like to bring a little of everything - you can always do laundry mid-trip, and you know you'll be covered for all eventualities.

 

[antsss]

ZoZo: Thanks for the mention about the wind-proof layer. We'll be at WDW in Jan 2007 and of course I'm already thinking about what to bring. The kids will be 7, 5 and 3 and I want to make sure we all have the approriate outerwear!