Packing for the first week of December

[fanofdisney]

What should I bring? One of everything? I plan on bringing a swimsuit each, a few t-shirts, a couple pairs of jeans, a couple pairs of shorts, a few long sleeved t-shirts, a sweatshirt, a lightweight jacket, the good old Mickey ponchos, sandals and tennis shoes. And of course the usual undies and toiletries. Any other suggestions for weather that time of year?

 

[Robo]

We're from the midwest and have learned to EXPECT ANYTHING as the weather goes in off-season Orlando.
We always pack winter and summer-wear.
In Dec/Jan/Feb we have even worn LONG THERMAL UNDERWEAR (after sundown)... we now pack it for any off-season trip.

Typical day:

Cool outside at 7am.
Wear shorts and Tee's.
Over that add a thin nylon wind-breaker
We put our "chilly-wear" and RAIN ponchos in a back-pack.
(Rain ponchos are REALLY cheap in hunting section of discount retailers.
You can buy BIG THICK ones to allow covering large jackets... more later.)

"Chilly-wear" is a nylon cotton-lined warm-up suit with zipper legs and a cotton-lined windbreaker.
We buy OVER-sized in these so they can easily be put on OVER other clothing.
After standing in the sometimes chilly "early-entry" lines we can usually take off the wind-breakers.
We always rent a locker at the park(s) and leave our "chilly-wear" in the locker 'til sun-down.
If it looks like rain (in Florida? Who'da thunk?) we take the Ponchos.

Much later, if its a warm night, we're just fine in the shorts.
If it turns windy/cool... we can visit the locker and choose which level of "chilly" OVER-WEAR to add to our clothing.

If it turns really COLD (windy 30's-40's not unheard-of at certain times of the year) we can make a restroom trip and slide-on the long underwear... OR... we can even add the final outer-layer of the RAIN ponchos (with their HOODS)... OVER everything else.
That trick (along with ear-muffs and gloves) has allowed us to "comfortably" stay and enjoy Fantasmic! or IllumiNations when others (less-prepared) have been "frozen-out."

 

[fanofdisney]

Thanks for the suggestions! I was just looking at accuweather, and I can't find the forecast. I thought some website had the forecast going out a few months?? I still may be too early.

 

[TinaLala]

We're going the first week of December too and I figured I'd pack for a New England fall day. Some shorts, some pants, some short sleeves, some long sleeves. Definately sweaters, but also a wind breaker. We've been in January it was jeans and a t-shirt during the day and we only needed sweaters at night. We did have one night that it was so cold that we had to break out our winter jackets, hats and gloves.

However I've heard that it can be cold and it can be hot. I'm also bringing our bathingsuits because some of the pools are heated.

Whatever you don't bring you can always buy - last year we bought fleece sweatshirts and they were fine.

 

[bleeps]

Great overview, Robo! I'm definitely going to use your locker method for our MVMCP day/night, since we plan to hit MK in the morning and stay through the party.

I agree 100% that the two secret ingredients are hats and gloves. Our other secret for that time of year is micro-fleece -- just as warm as sweatshirts, but MUCH lighter and easier to pack and to bring along to the parks.

 

[pyrxtc]

We're going the first week of December too and I figured I'd pack for a New England fall day. Some shorts, some pants, some short sleeves, some long sleeves. Definately sweaters, but also a wind breaker. We've been in January it was jeans and a t-shirt during the day and we only needed sweaters at night. We did have one night that it was so cold that we had to break out our winter jackets, hats and gloves.

However I've heard that it can be cold and it can be hot. I'm also bringing our bathingsuits because some of the pools are heated.

Whatever you don't bring you can always buy - last year we bought fleece sweatshirts and they were fine.

I am packing for the same thing! I am bringing jeans and t-shirts/tank tops and a zip up hoodie. We will also be bringing bathing suits since after all.... the pools are heated and we have kids who will want to swim.

I will have sandals on my feet though at all times!!

 

[tkd lisa]

I'll second the gloves recommendation. It can get downright nippy in the evenings, and gloves really help keep you warm.

I'd say to bring some of the disposable ponchos as opposed to the full sized ones. It usually doesn't rain much in December, and the disposable ones are much smaller.

 

[phisigprincess]

layer, layer, layer!!! I third the gloves thing. I remember one specific evening I would have paid anything for a pair of gloves!!!

 

[Robo]

I will have sandals on my feet though at all times!!

I see you're from NH.
Maybe you just have "warm feet"... but for other lurking here...

Remember that walking for hours outside at WDW is not like the few minutes you may be outside at home.

If you "pick a spot" and hold it for a period of time before a parade and/or fireworks, you could be standing in (sometimes) bitter damp winds for 45 minutes to an hour.

Sandals?

Maybe with thick socks.

 

[raven69david]

The OP pretty much covered it all. For the exception of my last trip, the MVMCP has usually been lows in the 60's and high's in the upper 70's/lower 80's. Last year was the exception where it was in the 40's at night, early morning was 50's and afternoon was upper 60's/lower 70's.

 

[madgem]

This thread has been really useful thanks

Gem

 

[720L]

Fleece jackets are perfect for Disney in December. Much easier than carrying a heavy coat.

 

[MinnieM21]

Here's the forecast from weatherunderground from Dec. 2005 (scroll down and there's a calendar and chart): http://www.weatherunderground.com/history/airport/KORL/2005/12/1/MonthlyHistory.html
You can go through and look at other years as well on the calendar.


I went in Dec 2004 and I thought I was going to freeze to death, especially during MVMCP. It was warm and then it got pretty cold. I couldn't believe some people were wearing shorts! I was freezing in my jeans, sweater, my winter coat, and scarf.
I remember when we were waiting for the monorail and this family in shorts turns to a CM and says, "I didn't know it got cold in Florida." I felt so bad for them.

I don't know why but for some reason it feels colder in Florida during the winter than it does in Oregon. (where I live) At least to me it does. Just be prepared for anything, warm weather and really cold weather.
I'm packing almost everything in my closet for my December trip. (kidding!...actually it feels like I am! )

 

[missymagic]

I agree with everyone a little of everything. I always make sure the things I pack can be layered. You can always take off and it can be pretty expensive if you have to purchase sweatshirts etc. Have hit rain in December have the pics to prive it. You just never know. MVMCP everytime I have gone looking at the pics is usually a long sleeve shirt or sweatshirt.

Remember there is always a washer and dryer so you dont have to take too many long sleeves and sweatshirts.

 

[goofy4tink]

When I fly out of Boston, anytime after late Oct, I always fly in jeans, turtleneck with a fleece pullover on top of that. Then, I carry my flannel lined windbreaker with me. On my feet are a pair of heavyish socks (Ragg type) and my Crocs. As soon as I get to my resort, I start peeling off clothing. However, I have my jeans, turtleneck and fleece pullover/windbreaker for those chilly evenings and I haven't used up a lot of valuable space in my bags. I pack a few more socks, a sweatshirt, short sleeved tees, and some shorts.
The short sleeve tee's and shorts are usually fine for the daytime. It can get chily at night, so I always have the sweatshirt or windbreaker with me. I have also brought those funny little expandable mitten/gloves that you can pick up for a couple bucks.

 

[Terk-1]

Coming from New England, I have the mind set of better safe than sorry.

I'll wear jeans, a short sleeved shirt and a sweatshirt on the plane. This way it's less bulk in the suitcase. I'll pack a couple of short sleeved shorts, couple pairs of shorts, swimsuit, and of course socks & underware. I will usually throw in a pair of those flat stretchy gloves too. They don't take any room and are much cheaper than spending $10 for the same gloves at WDW.

Went in November/December 2002 and they had a cold snap. It was chilly. Saw many people freezing waiting for a monorail in t-shirts and shorts, then running in to the stores at the parks and paying some serious $$$ for sweatshirts, sweatpants, etc. Swam once that entire trip.

Went in November/December 2003 and it was really nice. It was cool in the am, then it warmed up late am through the afternoon, then got a little cool in the evening. Swam alot on that trip.

 

[jbird327]

I have almost always traveled in January and never found the weather to be too bad (I live in PA), however on my trip last Dec (16-23) it was not too warm at all. We all had our hats/gloves/coats because we take the Autotrain and usually leave that stuff in the car. For us it was no shorts/no swimming the entire trip. On the morning of our train tour in the MK, it was in the upper 30s. We left the MVMCP on the 20th because it got too cold and we did not feel like walking around all bundled up.

 

[TinaLala]

I'm from NE too and I have to say I find it hysterical when I see cast members bundled up in coats, hats and scarfs and it's only in the 50s or 60s.

One year we went in January and there was a CM in a long down jacket, ear muffs, hat, wool gloves and scarf. We were walking around in jeans and a light fleece jacket - it was a beautiful fall day. It just kills me!!

 

[jaysmom4285]

Your best, IMHO, is to check the ten day weather forecast a few days before you leave. It won't be accurate in every detail of the upcoming week, but it will give you a good idea of the trends, like whether temps are predicted to be above or below normal and whether there is a lot of inclement weather in store. We'e always done this and packed accordingly. When we went in early December 2004, the weather forecast predicted (accurately) that temps would be in the 80's for most of the week and would be very mild at night, so we took very little cool weather gear. Someone going the next week would have learned that temps going to take at least a 20 degree dive and would have packed much warmer clothing. Trying to pack enough for all temperature contingencies will just strain your luggage and your back, and you'll wind up not wearing half of what you brought. So let the extended forecast direct your packing.

 

[MermaidMommy]

Your best, IMHO, is to check the ten day weather forecast a few days before you leave. It won't be accurate in every detail of the upcoming week, but it will give you a good idea of the trends, like whether temps are predicted to be above or below normal and whether there is a lot of inclement weather in store. We'e always done this and packed accordingly. When we went in early December 2004, the weather forecast predicted (accurately) that temps would be in the 80's for most of the week and would be very mild at night, so we took very little cool weather gear. Someone going the next week would have learned that temps going to take at least a 20 degree dive and would have packed much warmer clothing. Trying to pack enough for all temperature contingencies will just strain your luggage and your back, and you'll wind up not wearing half of what you brought. So let the extended forecast direct your packing.

The problem with relying on the extended forecast is that the weather can change. We went the beginning of December two years ago, and had temperatures in the 80s for the first five days we were there. By the sixth day, an unexpected (when we left home) cold front came through, and by our last night, the temperature at MVMCP was near freezing. Fortuantely, we had each brought one sweater/sweatshirt, hats/gloves, and we wore our winter coats on the plane. We were able to layer these items over our t-shirts, turtlenects, tights/hose -- wishing we had long underwear -- socks, and lightweight jackets, just to stay warm. If we had packed based on the forecast we wouldn't have had cold-weather clothes, and if we hadn't had cold-weather clothes, we would have missed out on our last day there. I think the space a few winter-weather items take up in the suitcase is more than worth the peace of mind in being prepared for an unpredicatble time of year.