People Down There/Just Getting Back: Weather

[PlutoTheDog89]

Ever since our Christmas trip in '09 (when it was freezing) I get a little crazy when it comes to packing. I'm well aware of how fast and often the weather can change. That's why I'm quick to discredit any Christmas week weather report right now.

But.. there's no denying that the forecasted temperatures have held pretty steady in the mid 80s. Now, I can check next week and it can be in the 60s, but for now, it's the 80s. It looks about the same as last year. It was in the 80s most days before dropping into the lower 70s/high 60s and raining.

Looking at the weather, it's been in the 80s most days. If you're down there or just returning, what did you wear and pack? Last year I packed too many layers rather than shorts and tees. I had to buy a t-shirt or two and was left wearing my mesh shorts I set aside for sleeping.

I'm from NY, so 85 is hot in December. When I went down to Disney for F&W last month, it was in the mid 90s and way too hot. I mention this, because obviously everyone is different. Someone from Alaska or Canada may thing the 80s is too hot.

I'm thinking of packing t-shirts with long-sleeve collared shirts for the evening. I'll switch between jeans and shorts depending on the temps, pack a few sweatshirts/sweaters if it gets cooler out and obviously a rain coat and I'll wear a warmer coat down if it gets too cold.

We're experiencing milder temperatures right now in NY. It's in the 60s. I was was a little warm but comfortable in sweatpants and a t-shirt yesterday.

Thanks in advance. Of course, I don't plan on packing until 12/22 - because I'm a procrastinator and the sudden weather changes.

 

[WL Fan]

It's gorgeous. We've been here 5 days and have worn shorts and tshirts every day and carried a long sleeved something for later on and in air conditioning. We're from Michigan, so anything above 70 is shorts weather!

 

[WEDWDW]

The above average temps at WDW are only supposed to hold steady for a few more days-ENJOY them-they are WONDERFUL!

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

The above average temps at WDW are only supposed to hold steady for a few more days-ENJOY them-they are WONDERFUL!

yeah - I saw they're supposed to drop into the 60s. Bummer. We head there Christmas Eve. I know it could change between now and then - the point of the thread was just to find out how "hot" 80 degrees feels.

 

[DebbieB]

I was there December 5 to 11, it was beautiful! I wore shorts most days, sometimes changed into jeans at night. I wore a jacket at MK on Wednesday night, I ended up carrying it. My last day was Friday, my bus was at 12:15pm. I got fastpasses for RnR at 9:15 and ToT at 10:35. I figured I would just wear jeans, I didn't want to have to change from shorts for the plane. I roasted, even that early I was hot.

I've many times in early December. My general rule is if the high is below 70, I don't wear shorts and plan for a jacket at night. If it's low 60's for a high, I bring a heavier jacket and gloves, it gets cold at night. I remember the first time I saw Wishes it was only in the high 40's and my teeth were chattering on Main Street.

 

[cluvsdisney]

We were there this past weekend where the temps ranged from 64-80ish (?) and were fine with summer clothes. I wore a t-shirt and capris one day and shorts with summer weight top the other. I didn't bother or need to change to something warmer for the evenings. DH wore shorts and t-shirts both days but added a short sleeve button down baseball style shirt in the evenings.

 

[AngiTN]

Without significant humidity 80's feels rather nice
but as mentioned, they are not going to hold out much longer.
We have the same temperature trends here that they have in FL. They just have a warmer baseline
We've been 15-20 degrees above normal for the past week and will have for another day or so.
Then we move towards more normal temps for us, which is mid-upper 60's, then a bit low for us which is lower 50s
We arrive on Thursday so I've been following and FL's trend is doing the same, above normal for a couple more days, then slightly above normal and come the weekend, slightly below normal.
The only thing I think will change, it does for us, is when the change will happen. Right now it's 5 days out but typically that will shift a day or two by the time we reach 48 hours out. I'm hoping that means the slightly below normal will hold off and move in early next week vs. the weekend.

 

[NH-to-FL]

Right now it is warm, low 80's, and partly cloudy. Some light showers went through last evening and overnight. Definitely above normal temperatures. I recall that most of my previous December trips included a few rather cold, glad I had my hoodie days. Not this year. The forecast talks about cooler, more normal temperatures over the weekend but than back up into the 80's for the following week.

Keep your eye on the forecasts but it looks like December 2015 is going to be a warm one. But I would pack one outfit for the extreme just in case.

Wishing you a magical trip!

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Right now it is warm, low 80's, and partly cloudy. Some light showers went through last evening and overnight. Definitely above normal temperatures. I recall that most of my previous December trips included a few rather cold, glad I had my hoodie days. Not this year. The forecast talks about cooler, more normal temperatures over the weekend but than back up into the 80's for the following week.

Keep your eye on the forecasts but it looks like December 2015 is going to be a warm one. But I would pack one outfit for the extreme just in case.

Wishing you a magical trip!

Yeah we had similar weather last year! It stayed in the 80s most days, but right around NYE it became chilly hoodie weather and it rained a little.

El nino has me worried a bit, too. Although - I wouldn't mind rain if it meant warmer temps. I'm always the last to pack over the fear of under or over packing.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

I was there December 5 to 11, it was beautiful! I wore shorts most days, sometimes changed into jeans at night. I wore a jacket at MK on Wednesday night, I ended up carrying it. My last day was Friday, my bus was at 12:15pm. I got fastpasses for RnR at 9:15 and ToT at 10:35. I figured I would just wear jeans, I didn't want to have to change from shorts for the plane. I roasted, even that early I was hot.

I've many times in early December. My general rule is if the high is below 70, I don't wear shorts and plan for a jacket at night. If it's low 60's for a high, I bring a heavier jacket and gloves, it gets cold at night. I remember the first time I saw Wishes it was only in the high 40's and my teeth were chattering on Main Street.

Ah, that's smart. I have a similar rule of thumb - I use the sun/temp as my guide. Usually if it's low 70s and cloudy out, it'll be a chillier night (even if it touched the mid 70s that day.) If it's below 70 and cloudy, it'll really be cold! Thanks for the response!

 

[WDWAurora]

Last week, we were fine in shorts and tees. My oldest took a jacket one day, but it was off by 9 I think.

 

[Feralpeg]

Highs around 80 now. By Saturday, a front will pass through dropping temps. Forecast high for Saturday is 64.

 

[Doug M]

We went Dec 1 to 7 and the forcast a week out showed high 70s to mid 50s in the evenings, then under a week out all temps were higher. We still packed long sleeves and brought jackets. Only once did i regret not putting jeans in the backpack and that was at Fantasmic where the 62 degree temps combined with the mist from the show made it chilly. I wore shorts daily and a tee shirt. Brought jeans and a coat the first 2 days with expecting to change in the evenings, decided the extra weight was a waste. Only brought jackets after that.

Now we live in Nebraska. On most nights one could EASILY spot locals as 65 was cold for them, all in jeans and jackets or more. We have local friends and they were even in jackets and jeans on a 70 degree night.

 

[DisneyAddictinFLA]

I live in Florida and they said this has been the warmest year in Florida history. We are looking at maybe getting into the mid 50s at night towards the end of the week. When you nice Northern folk come down can you bring some of that cold weather. Its December 14th and it was 87 degrees today lol. Really shouldn't be sweating in December

 

[Colleen27]

I live in Florida and they said this has been the warmest year in Florida history. We are looking at maybe getting into the mid 50s at night towards the end of the week. When you nice Northern folk come down can you bring some of that cold weather. Its December 14th and it was 87 degrees today lol. Really shouldn't be sweating in December

Not sure we have any cold weather to bring. It was in the 60s here in Detroit today, and I was a little too warm in a sweater and dress pants. I'm so glad I left my sandals out for the trip because I've been wearing them here at home for the last week!

 

[locashaina]

I would love it if this thread could continue for the rest of December! I'll be flying out the 28th

 

[Doriso Warner]

I don't wear shorts and plan for a jacket at night.

 

[MsThumper]

I live in Florida and they said this has been the warmest year in Florida history. We are looking at maybe getting into the mid 50s at night towards the end of the week. When you nice Northern folk come down can you bring some of that cold weather. Its December 14th and it was 87 degrees today lol. Really shouldn't be sweating in December

Totally agree with this!!!!!!

 

[amylevan]

Our local weather people (here in Pa) just put this photo out of the latest temperature anomaly forecast for Christmas morning from the GFS ensemble mean (GEFS). ie It's going to be 10-15 degrees (Celcius) ABOVE averages for the whole eastern half of the country. I know things can, and do, change, but I would be prepared for warm temperatures in Fl.

 

[jettgrrlaust]

I head over to orlando on 19th feb and i am SOOO hoping the weather has settled and cooled down a lot! Im from australia and we are in our gross hot summer right now, i really wanted to holiday in a cooler temp (one of the reasons we choose mid jan), do they usually drop after christmas??? Fingers crossed!