Packing Advice for October Please...

[WDWHarpua]

Hi all!

We're currently starting our packing for our trip at the end of this week, and I'm just hearing a podcast that says to be careful with packing because of weather in October.

My plan has been to bring shorts for each day and one pair of pants just in case we have a cool day. Should I split this more half and half?

As a New Englander, I'm used to wearing shorts into the high 60's, but I've heard that it can get down into the 50's at night in Orlando.

Our trip is the 13th - 20th, and I would hate to have the wrong stuff packed. What's the weather been like over the past week or so, for those who have been there, is it comfortable in shorts?

 

[Pakey]

This will be my 4th straight end of October trip. I'm from CA so I'm coming from 100 degrees. I only pack shorts plus a hooded sweatshirt for park attire. A few times for late EMH it's gotten a bit cool but I've never been cold enough to want to wear jeans. As long as my arms are covered and I don't have wind on the back of my neck, I'm fine in shorts.

 

[dansdad]

Our last 2 trips have been the last week of October. Both times we never wore anything but shorts and short sleeves during the day. One maybe 2 nights needed a sweatshirt during late EMHs, like 1 or 2 AM.

 

[tinker&belle]

I'm interested in this as well. We are going the week after you, and as it is getting colder (the girls have been wearing parkas and mittens to nursery school) I am getting nervous about getting cold in the morning and evening. Maybe layers?

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

We have been twice in October and one trip was quite a bit more humid than the other, but as far as actual temperature, both trips were warm. Like, shorts and tee shirts and we were hot! I am from Texas so, I am used to hot and humid, so it wasn't an adjustment for us...just more of the same...But at night I did bring a little pair of long pants and a light jacket when the kids were smaller~just because they were in the stroller and not moving around....you will be fine with one pair of jeans and a hoodie/sweatshirt for late at night!

 

[lindsroc]

We went the last week of Oct one year and during the day we wore shorts, except one day was cool enough for jeans and t-shirts. At night we always needed a sweatshirt and sometimes jeans. We are also from N.E., the thing with Florida is 50 down there is a lot cooler than 50 up here for some reason.

 

[ilovevacation]

I have been packed for a few weeks, since the high here is only 50 I have been there in Novemeber it was chilly/cold. I am packing tees/tanks and one swimsuit(hoping the sun gods smiles upon me) and all golf shirts and golf shorts for my husband. We are going to wear a pair of jeans down and I am taking a couple of tide pods with me, so if we need to repeat a couple of outfits, at least they will be clean.

Oh...if I need a sweatshirt, I guess I will have to buy that, what a shame

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

We went the last week of Oct one year and during the day we wore shorts, except one day was cool enough for jeans and t-shirts. At night we always needed a sweatshirt and sometimes jeans. We are also from N.E., the thing with Florida is 50 down there is a lot cooler than 50 up here for some reason.

probably because of our stinkin' humidity!! It's wet in the air!

 

[Mamu]

A few years ago we were there the 3 week of October. Days were in the high 80's low 90's and very humid. Whether this is the norm for October I don't know but I do check the extended weather a week before we left.

I took one pair of jeans and the rest short pants, one sweat shirt and the rest short sleeve shirts.

I did use the sweat shirt some nights especially after a long day in the heat but overall most nights were warm.

 

[Figment1990]

Whoever said it can be unpredictable is correct. I've been there three times in October. In Oct 6-16, 2002, it was SO hot, it was unreal. All of the CM's were saying it was unusually hot. It was like, August hot. So hot that people would take turns going into A/C shops while waiting along main street for the mid-day parade.

Last week of Oct 2007 was really cool. I was in pants or capris all week and often had a rain jacket on - it was right after or during a hurricane (I can't remember which one).

Sept 28-Oct 3, 2011 was right in between. Hot the first few days (definitely shorts and tanks), the last few days we were able to wear jeans at night if we wanted. This year, same weekend at the end of Sept/beginning of Oct was SO hot that the tower of terror runners were getting sick and ill from the humidity.

So. My usual October packing plan is to bring shorts and at least one pair of jeans, and a couple things you could layer if you wanted. I actually pack this way for March/April trips too, with slightly more cool weather items if we're there in early march.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

As of ten minutes ago, The Weather Channel dot com is predicting:

Date High Low
10/10 87 67
10/11 84 68
10/12 84 70
10/13 85 72
10/14 86 71
10/15 86 71
10/16 86 71
10/17 86 71
10/18 87 70

Thunderstorms are predicted for 10/15 with less than a 20% chance of showers for rest of the 10 day.

Note, when I was there in mid-January, I was the nut wearing shorts and a t shirt when it was in the high 50s/low 60s. But that was because Connecticut was in the 20s at that point!

I'll be there in 12 short days and I am also wearing pants down, packing a pair of jeans and relying on dress sorts or running shorts and short sleeve polos and tees while there. I will also make the purchase of a hoodie sacrifice while there!


Tom

 

[lindsroc]

Whoever said it can be unpredictable is correct. I've been there three times in October. In Oct 6-16, 2002, it was SO hot, it was unreal. All of the CM's were saying it was unusually hot. It was like, August hot. So hot that people would take turns going into A/C shops while waiting along main street for the mid-day parade.

Last week of Oct 2007 was really cool. I was in pants or capris all week and often had a rain jacket on - it was right after or during a hurricane (I can't remember which one).

Sept 28-Oct 3, 2011 was right in between. Hot the first few days (definitely shorts and tanks), the last few days we were able to wear jeans at night if we wanted. This year, same weekend at the end of Sept/beginning of Oct was SO hot that the tower of terror runners were getting sick and ill from the humidity.

So. My usual October packing plan is to bring shorts and at least one pair of jeans, and a couple things you could layer if you wanted. I actually pack this way for March/April trips too, with slightly more cool weather items if we're there in early march.

We were there the last week of Oct 2007 as well, I think we made it to the pool one day out of a week long trip.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

We are also going to be there October 13-20th. We were there last year the same week (October 15-22nd). There was an unpredicted cold snap late in the week...I ended up having to go to DTD to buy pants for my son! I was looking through the pictures from last year and it was pretty funny...the first few days we were in shorts and tees and were kinda...sweaty looking. The last few days, it was jeans and hoodies in the morning and evenings and we all looked cool and happy. LOL.

Anyway, we'll be wearing pants/jeans on the plane and hoodies, and then I'm taking an additional pair of pants for everyone. Other than that, it will be all shorts and tees. We're staying in a villa, so I'll do a couple of loads of laundry during the week and can rewash the jeans and hoodies if necessary. I definitely wouldn't do a 50/50 mix of warmer and cooler weather clothes...the weather is definitely on the hotter end of the spectrum.

 

[TDC Nala]

1 pair of jeans to wear on the plane (it is not so warm here and I take public transportation to the airport), 1 pair of dress pants for wine dinners, otherwise shorts and tee shirts. One fleece jacket, one rain jacket. Not planning on doing laundry.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Just check the 10 day forecast on any of the weather sites for Lake Buena Vista, FL right before you go.

 

[wishing4PA]

My plan has been to bring shorts for each day and one pair of pants just in case we have a cool day. Should I split this more half and half?

As a New Englander, I'm used to wearing shorts into the high 60's, but I've heard that it can get down into the 50's at night in Orlando.

Na, don't go half and half. Wear the pants and jacket for your flight, and if you have to re-wear you can. No reason you can't be "that guy" in shorts while the thin-blooded have their parkas on -- in the event of a cold snap. It'll probably be warm enough, seriously.

Oh, and yeah, like the PP said, just double-check the 10 or 15 day forecast.

 

[mouseketeermama]

I live 20 mins from the parks and it is HOT! Expect 70 in the early morning, with it heating up to sweltering by 10 am. We have been in the high 80-90s for the last month or so. There is no sign of a break in the heat happening anytime soon. I wouldn't even bother with pants unless you have a nice dinner planned.

 

[Chelley00]

We go in October almost every time. We are usually great with shorts and tshirts and take a hooded sweatshirt and a pair of jeans just in case the weather forecast calls for it one evening.

In 2008, there was a crazy cold snap and we were hunting for gloves and hats and wearing layers and layers of clothes. In 2010 there were a few days it was terribly hot.

 

[luvmikids]

I don't care about the weather, just hoping it doesn't RAIN!!!!! We are going the 22-31 and it looks like rain 5 out of the 8 days((( so sad. Any words of positive thinking disers?

 

[Chelley00]

I don't care about the weather, just hoping it doesn't RAIN!!!!! We are going the 22-31 and it looks like rain 5 out of the 8 days((( so sad. Any words of positive thinking disers?

It's WAY too early to be watching the weather, honestly. If you are using accuweather, they aren't usually that accurate this far out. You are better off looking at the local forecast and going from there.

Plus, FL calls for rain a lot, but that could mean a scattered shower here and there. One trip it called for rain every day, and we got misted on one morning out of a 9 day trip.