Parks in December- what do you wear?

[Westcoastwild]

I may or may not have asked this earlier. But this is a more general question (I think).

I really want to see Disney Christmas decorations. I also want to do NYC for the seasonal stuff there. How much "crossover" should I expect in terms of clothing? is it jeans and sweatshirt weather generally in Orlando that time of year? Is it shorts weather? Am I essentially going to need two different wardrobes? Gloves/hats/scarves?

This all matters because one of the reasons I want to see WDW rather than DL is fort wilderness. I love the idea of camping that time of year. So checked luggage will probably be all camping gear. Clothing in my carryon only.

Feel free to show me your pics of your December adventures! Has anyone done a similar trip?

 

[2goofycampers]

We have worn t-shirts and shorts. We have worn thermals, jeans, turtle neck, sweat shirt with jackets, gloves, scarves and hats. You just never know.

 

[North of Mouse]

I may or may not have asked this earlier. But this is a more general question (I think).

I really want to see Disney Christmas decorations. I also want to do NYC for the seasonal stuff there. How much "crossover" should I expect in terms of clothing? is it jeans and sweatshirt weather generally in Orlando that time of year? Is it shorts weather? Am I essentially going to need two different wardrobes? Gloves/hats/scarves?

This all matters because one of the reasons I want to see WDW rather than DL is fort wilderness. I love the idea of camping that time of year. So checked luggage will probably be all camping gear. Clothing in my carryon only.

Feel free to show me your pics of your December adventures! Has anyone done a similar trip?

As pp said, you need to be prepared for 'any' weather from 28* - 85* - wet or dry!! Yes, we have experienced both!!

 

[FtW Mike]

We have worn t-shirts and shorts. We have worn thermals, jeans, turtle neck, sweat shirt with jackets, gloves, scarves and hats. You just never know.

Denise about says it all. I normally wear jeans an either denim or flannel shirts so for me basics wardrobe wise are simple. We carry along a selection of sweatshirts and some winter coats if for no other reason we will need them on departure and arrive home day most likely (we live in Delaware). My DW wondered why I told her to pack more than the coat she was going to wear on departure day and then I told her how a former neighbor of mine one year went down to Orlando at Christmas to visit his son and it was so cold (mid to low 30s) that heat in his motel broke and he never took his jacket off couldn't wait to get home to Long Island and be warmer

 

[jknezek]

The 2 week weather forecast is usually pretty good for temps, if less accurate for precipitation. We were there in early Dec last year and wore shorts and t-shirts during the day. Early morning and late night needed warmer clothes, especially taking the early boat to MK or the Contemporary!, but by checking the long term forecast in the days before we left we were well prepared.

 

[Mal6586]

We went this past December, and it was definitely a layers game. Most days we would go to the park in long pants and a t-shirt, but took a tote bag with light to medium jackets and rented a locker for it so that when the sun went down, we could layer up. During most of our days that was a solid game plan, but we did still have 1 day where I wished I had shorts at the beginning of the week, and then 2 days at the end of the week where a long sleeve was needed even during the day and a relatively hefty jacket in the evening. It can really run the gambit on "seasons" that time of year!

 

[North of Mouse]

The 2 week weather forecast is usually pretty good for temps, ------ but by checking the long term forecast in the days before we left we were well prepared.

Obviously, you were not there Dec '10!!!!! Not anywhere near the forecast !!! 28* and ice slippery docks at MK!

 

[jknezek]

Obviously, you were not there Dec '10!!!!! Not anywhere near the forecast !!! 28* and ice slippery docks at MK!

That would have been unpleasant! I lived in S FL for half a decade in the mid '00s. I remember one time it got down that cold and the place just shut down. Froze all my father in law's palm trees out by the Big Lake.

 

[tltay2005]

Unfortunately there is no one answer. I have lived in central Fl all my life and every winter is different. My best advise is to go online to an Orlando news station and check the weather no more than 5 days out. We keep all types of clothes available from Nov thru Feb. Jackets, jeans, sweaters, shorts, long sleeve and short sleeve shirts and even bathing suits (Dec 2015 we could go swimming almost all month). Some evenings, even a hat and gloves may be needed. Some days you may even wear all at least once!

 

[peg110]

As others have said, the weather can vary quite a bit. I will add only that it can vary quite a bit in a SINGLE DAY. I have been there where we were swimming in the pool at the Fort (granted it's heated and it was still a bit cooler than I personally would have liked but not the DD), and in the evening we were looking for our sweatshirts and heaviest coats.

 

[TXWAC]

We went in January 6 years or so ago and had a freak freeze. There was ice on the boat dock. We wore everything we had.