Packing for January - What to Wear?

[itchin2go]

We went last two Jan. We had our winter coats on one day and was swimming the next. Bring hats, gloves, scarves and your bathing suit. Its crazy. Last year they covered all the flowers to protect from frost but it was during the polar vortex.

Exactly our experience, and we've done it a couple of times.

Once, it was snowing when we arrived, and we were swimming 2 days later.

For me, I would do layers - long pants, tshirt and substantial weight jacket, depending on the morning temp. Then you can come out of the jacket if it gets warmer in the day time.

If it helps, Disney will always be marketing weather appropriate gear for you to purchase. On our first trip, we bought sweatshirts for one night, and my husband bought shorts the next day!

 

[sunshine girl]

I think you have to wait and see. Check the weather before you go, and then pack!

I used to live in Florida. I have been in Disney World in January many times. I've experienced sleet/snow (yes snow), and also 85 degrees and sunny. I have photos of myself in January 2010 wearing jeans, a warm jacket, gloves and wool hat, and also photos from January 2013 in which I wore shorts and tanks, and never needed long pants or a jacket, even at night.

Honestly, it's too early to tell. Check the weather in the days before your trip and pack once you have a general idea of what is predicted! I will be there in January too. Let's hope for good weather!

 

[Brook1099]

I am packing two jeans, two capris and two denim shorts.. tanks, a couple long sleeve shirts, hooded sweatshirts, vest to go over sweatshirt if needed not a fan of coats) gloves ,scarves, my Uggs .and of course a bathing suits and a pair of stretchy yoga's for when my jeans get tight from two weeks of eating at Disney

 

[Scrap4me]

I swear that looks like Tony C. (using initial only) in the picture with the horse! Works for a company that has a terminal in Haines City, Fl. and other locations. Small world if it is!

I myself am going the last week of January this go around. In a normal year I am there right now. But yep....Layers baby Layers!

 

[KB'sMom]

I'll be there for 2 weeks - January 19-February 2. Layers is what I'm thinking too. Windbreaker jacket, hoodie, jeans, t-shirts... Even if it freezes at night, it can't be as bad as two feet snow storm or -20 Celsius up here.

We are there almost the exact same time. This will be our 3rd January trip. Florida cold is still tropical to me coming from the frozen north. When you are leaving -40 temps even something just below freezing is warm!

We usually take fleece jackets and a waterproof shell for over top in case it gets cold. The kids have hoods on their jackets to keep their heads warm. We usually take a couple of pairs of jeans and a couple of pairs of shorts. Short sleeve shirts and tank tops - maybe 1 long sleeve top. I plan on doing laundry at least twice during our 2 week trip. A couple of times on our last trip my DD wore a sundress with jeans underneath. As the day got warmer she took the jeans off and had them to put on if it got cold. My son doesn't feel the cold as much so he is fine in shorts even on a cold morning.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I swear that looks like Tony C. (using initial only) in the picture with the horse! Works for a company that has a terminal in Haines City, Fl. and other locations. Small world if it is!

I myself am going the last week of January this go around. In a normal year I am there right now. But yep....Layers baby Layers!

not sure who Tony C is but not him in the picture, that's my husband Fred. They say everyone has a twin, too funny.

Ah someone mentioned winter 2010 that was bad that poor horse's water bucket was frozen solid every single morning I went out there. I'm talking solid like a brick, not just an inch or two down.

Don't hate me but I think we're due for a very cold one again.

 

[EagleFlyer]

We'll be there the last week of January and I found this great source for looking up historical weather information. You can look back in time by day, week, or month and see what the temperatures have been. As has been mentioned here by mostly everyone, it's very variable from year to year and day to day. For example, the high was 80 on Jan 26th last year and two days later the high was only 51.

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KORL/2014/1/28/WeeklyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA

 

[Kimosabe]

This!

I have participated with the Disney Marathon 3x. First year was almost as warm as late spring (and humid)--I was fine in shorts and a tank at 4am before any marathoning was taking place. 2nd year was cold as all get out (20s for our 3am wake up call). 3rd time 2008--was not hot or too cold that I recall. All these take place the 2nd weekend of January, so it really can and does vary.

Be mindful of The forecast and be prepared for both extremes. Or you may find yourself with some Disney souvenirs in the form of sweat shirts, hats, and gloves.

Marathon weekend in 2010 was also about 20 degrees as we lined up early in the morning. The charity recipients of "throw away" clothes that year probably got a gold mine in clothes! The half-marathoners on the day before got sleet at the start of their race, so at least I didn't have to deal with that. However, I can tell you that when it's sleeting at the Magic Kingdom, you've pretty much got the park to yourself! My wife and daughter rode the "old" Dumbo three times without having to get off (which was unheard of at the time), while my other daughter and I used what we deemed to be a bit more common sense and went indoors (Snow White's Scary Adventures - R.I.P.).

As noted above, it's way too easy to go unprepared for cold and end up buying sweatshirts, jackets, etc., when someone conveniently forgot to pack something like that. We were prepared for that weekend, but have been another time in January where we thought we were prepared, but it was still a little too cool for comfort. Just watch the forecast the week before you go, and it should be pretty easy to know what to pack.

 

[elaine amj]

We went last two Jan. We had our winter coats on one day and was swimming the next. Bring hats, gloves, scarves and your bathing suit. Its crazy. Last year they covered all the flowers to protect from frost but it was during the polar vortex.

Yep

We like to pack toques, scarves, and gloves (not the superwarm Canada winterproof ones, just the cheap knit stuff that packs away tiny - I get them from the dollar store). Next defense is warm hoodies. Then softshells because they are warm and pack away well. We carry drawstring bags for each of us so we can wear our warm layers in the freezing cold RD mornings and peel off and toss in the bags as the day warms up. (we each carry our own stuff so that none of the bags get too heavy)

I found Epcot to be the absolute coldest park. One day we were in ALL our layers and just about froze as we walked around World Showcase. The breeze off the lake is killer.

Going for Christmas week this year - we just bought packable down winter jackets from Costco. Super lightweight and incredibly packable - debating using those instead of our softshells as they will actually be lighter and pack smaller (not sure if I will feel a little silly in a puffy coat in Florida).

 

[wdwloverz]

Hi! We are going down in two weeks also, I was just looking at the 10 day forecast (so thru jan 8th) and the HIGHS range from 68 to 85!! We go down every January and have spent time sweating it out and have also spent days huddled up in jackets. I think it is a total crap shoot!
As an aside, I would like to tell you that I came upon this thread when I was looking for your trip & food reviews (you inspired me to get a tiara a few years ago) and now as I am considering a bariatric procedure I remembered your reviews and how you still seemed to really enjoy your wdw dining despite having a tiny tummy! So you have been an inspiration to me once again, thank you!!