Packing stress

[deno2]

37 days until I will be in Disney and I have no idea how to pack. I have been going to Disney since 1971 and have visited no less than 40 times BUT never in February. I have always gone in either May, September or December and am having packing anxiety. I am a life long over packer but know I'll be limited with the cooler night time temps. HELP fellow Disers!!

 

[MsThumper]

Sorry to say, but there is no point in thinking about it until you have checked the weather forecast a few days before. I'm not trying to be unhelpful but we live in Florida, and have lived here for over 30 years. We will be at WDW the first week of February and I have no clue what the weather will be like. It could be anywhere from the high 80's to below 20 degrees. The longer your stay, the more likely the weather could go from one extreme to the other.

 

[brinkley07]

Just figure you will need all extremes, but check the weather before you go. I always figure I can buy whatever I need while I'm there....it is Disney World and they have everything!! LOL

 

[han22735]

I agree with the PP we leave in 6 days and its our first time going outside summer, sept, Nov and the packing is tough. I put out a mix of jeans/shorts and tees/long sleeves. Coming from the northeast i'll have my winter stuff on for the plane ride. I'll also be packing light gloves and a winter hat just in case.

 

[buzznina]

Sorry to say, but there is no point in thinking about it until you have checked the weather forecast a few days before. I'm not trying to be unhelpful but we live in Florida, and have lived here for over 30 years. We will be at WDW the first week of February and I have no clue what the weather will be like. It could be anywhere from the high 80's to below 20 degrees. The longer your stay, the more likely the weather could go from one extreme to the other.

Also a transplant Floridian and I could not have said it better. From November thru February we do not even think of starting to pack clothes (other then our DDs princess dresses) until 7 days before and then we will adjust if needed when we check again 1-2 days before leaving.

 

[Disneytam]

On our visit in 2014 the first week of Feb. we got off the plane to humid and record 86 degree temps. Just as my poor Upstate NY body started enjoying it the temps. dropped to mid 60's for highs and upper 40's for a low. For someone who see's below zero temps at home that 40 degrees was down right nippy! We will be leaving in 49 days and I keep staring at the luggage wishing it would pack itself. Even home temps. have been crazy with 70 for Christmas eve day but last night was below zero and today is struggling to hit 20! As everyone says bring layers and hope for the best,(and maybe buy a nice warm sweatshirt as a Disney souvenir).

 

[buzznina]

Disneytam brought up a good point that I forgot to mention, Florida cold is very moist and feels colder then the temperature.

 

[soniam]

Layers.

 

[disnut8]

37 days until I will be in Disney and I have no idea how to pack. I have been going to Disney since 1971 and have visited no less than 40 times BUT never in February. I have always gone in either May, September or December and am having packing anxiety. I am a life long over packer but know I'll be limited with the cooler night time temps. HELP fellow Disers!!

Simple thing - layers. Short sleeve shirts, long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, and a jacket. Take twice as many pairs of socks so you can double up if needed. Also - and this is critical to stomp down on overpacking. Unless you want a photo of you every different day, you can take two sweatshirts to last for the entire trip. And one or two jackets. And who cares about the second pair of socks? Just take one to put over the other one for the entire trip. You don't need them after a while? Take them off, stuff them away and since they never touched your feet, use them the next morning.

I would pack a backpack for the extras you can be shedding during the day (each person should have their own) and lots of Ziploc type bags to store the extras if you want. Oh - and our dollar stores have thin gloves that work very well for the cooler early morning and late evening temps and you can stuff those into a pocket in your jeans.

 

[Babsy]

I always pack for both hot and cold temps in Jan, especially if staying more than 3-4 days. We have needed everything from swimsuits/shorts/tanks to winter coat cap and mittens.

I don't trust forecasts. I have been mislead by these in the past, so I come armed for it all!

 

[deno2]

Thank you for all of the input. We will be there for 10 and staying at OKW and will have a washer and dryer. I hate the thought of having to take a winter coat, (but could just wear it on the plane). It was -14 here yesterday and even 40 degrees will feel good! Guess I will prepare for anything and watch the extended forecast.
Thanks again - deno

 

[si-am]

Thank you for all of the input. We will be there for 10 and staying at OKW and will have a washer and dryer. I hate the thought of having to take a winter coat, (but could just wear it on the plane). It was -14 here yesterday and even 40 degrees will feel good! Guess I will prepare for anything and watch the extended forecast.
Thanks again - deno

One of the better investments for cold-weather trips I've made is a lightweight packable down coat. They usually come with little pouches for easy travel and are pretty warm! Might be an option if you don't want to pack some huge thing... And I bet there are sales on them now. (Got mine at Macys but Lands End has good ones, too).

 

[AWalks]

One of the better investments for cold-weather trips I've made is a lightweight packable down coat. They usually come with little pouches for easy travel and are pretty warm! Might be an option if you don't want to pack some huge thing... And I bet there are sales on them now. (Got mine at Macys but Lands End has good ones, too).

My MIL was showing me her new packable down jacket on our trip to DL last month, and I think she said she got hers a Costco for maybe $50?

Also agree with the posters who said to pack layers. We stayed in a 1 bedroom at BWV for a week in late Jan/early Feb 2014 and the weather was all over the place. I remember it being overcast but fairly warm and humid when we arrived, and it was like that for a couple of days. Then it was cool and light rain/drizzly for a few days. On the rainy days I would wear jeans, a tank top, a long sleeve tee, a fleece pullover, and an LL Bean coat that is a fleece jacket that zips into a rainproof shell, PLUS a hat and gloves, and I was freezing. I think the actual temp was in the low 40s those days and DH didn't feel quite as cold as I did, and I admittedly get cold pretty easily, but it was definitely on the cooler side and I would have been pretty miserable if I hadn't brought some cold-weather clothes and a heavier jacket. Then the last day or two before we returned home, it got warm enough during the day that I wore jeans and a tank-top, and I probably would have worn shorts if I had brought them. Oh, and we only packed outfits for about half the trip and did a few loads of laundry during the week, so being able to do laundry helps with the overpacking issue.

I wouldn't worry about packing until a week or even a few days out from your trip, and then see what the forecast looks like - and probably still take some alternates in case it ends up being much warmer or cooler than expected.

 

[klmall]

It may sound repetitive but layers are definitely the way to go for trips in December, January and February. We have done several December trips and I did a solo one in late January/early February. And as an experienced winter camper with outdoor skills training I also suggest layers with light, non-cotton as your top layer.

A short sleeve t-shirt or a thin turtleneck under a long sleeved thin sweater with a synthetic vest topped by a water/wind repellent hooded jacket will get you through almost any conditions. Add a pair or two of those $store one size fits all stretch gloves for each family member and a thin knit cap and you can keep your head warm as well. IF you tend to chill easily throw in some tights or leggings and you're set.

I never travel in these months without at least one vest that I can dress up a little plus the vest adds pockets for those gloves and kleenex. A waterproof windbreaker that's a bit longer than hip length helps for sitting on cold benches and waiting for busses at WDW.

You do not have to travel with a winter coat, especially a bulky one if you plan your layers. Even when leaving home in snow I left my coat in the car at the airport and relied on all the items above.

Have fun! Travelling in Disney's cooler seasons is absolutely our favorite time of year to be there!

 

[fla4fun]

I live here, and I'm going to WDW for ten days later this month. I agree with layers. I bring short sleeve shirts, a nylon rain poncho, and a lightweight jacket, a hoodie, and a fleece jacket. I can layer the hoodie and fleece jacket if it's gets really cold. I also bring a scarf and gloves. On the other end of the spectrum, I pack both capris and jeans, and I bring a swimsuit. That way, I'm prepared for just about anything. If it's really cold and windy, I've been known to layer the rain poncho on top of the layered jackets, especially if I'm out at night. For the most part, you probably won't need a jacket during the day, but mornings and evenings are a different story.

 

[Lynne M]

Here's the packable jacket my mom has - I just ordered one for myself, since they're on sale.

http://www.landsend.com/products/womens-packable-primaloft-jacket/id_288466?sku_0=::N6X

She loves it; it's very warm but very lightweight, and it packs down into one of the pockets. Hardly takes up any room at all in a suitcase.

I agree with the others, layers are absolutely essential in FL this time of year. No matter what the forecast says, take some short sleeved shirts, some long sleeved shirts, and a warm jacket.

 

[Mynamewastaken]

We are going the same time as you and have gone in Feb the last two trips. Last year it was crazy weather. One day it was 75 and then the next was 40 and I am not talking MA 40 with windows down I am talking a freezing 40 which was so strange. I waited to pack the week before so I could see the forecast. Needless to say we had a little of everything packed because we needed it with temps bouncing around. One of the cooler trips we've had. I am hoping it will be warmer this time. The kids only swam one our of 7 days because it was just too cool.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I always pack for both hot and cold temps in Jan, especially if staying more than 3-4 days. We have needed everything from swimsuits/shorts/tanks to winter coat cap and mittens.

I don't trust forecasts. I have been mislead by these in the past, so I come armed for it all!

I agree. I think the weather forecast is always misleading. making you think it will be warmer than it is. I've learned to pack for a little bit colder temps than forecast. The nights are usually cold no matter what the day brings.

 

[disnut8]

Thank you for all of the input. We will be there for 10 and staying at OKW and will have a washer and dryer. I hate the thought of having to take a winter coat, (but could just wear it on the plane). It was -14 here yesterday and even 40 degrees will feel good! Guess I will prepare for anything and watch the extended forecast.
Thanks again - deno

How long will you be outside before and after the trip? Getting into the car before you drive to the airport? Will you get dropped off at the airport? Are you taking a shuttle? Do you really need that winter coat at all?

 

[KonaKaiTom]

I've been there 5 years in a row the first week in February....I've had highs in the upper 80s and lows in the lower 40s.....once during the same trip. Really need to have multiple options ready and plan on final packing 24 hours before you go....and as PP said layers.

Tom