Remember that COLD December??

[ms.ojo]

For those of you who travelled to Disney in Dec. the year it was really really cold in early Dec....do you happen to recall if they were forecasting cold weather before you left??? Or was it all abig surprise cold front that moved in and caught everyone off guard?

I know, weathermen are notoriously wrong...and maybe I'm just really wanting to believe them....but looking at weather.com and accuweather.com, they are both stating that temps will be in the 70's with lows at night in the 50's during our planned stay. I have noticed their choice of possible rain days keeps changing...but the temps are staying pretty consistent. just wondering (ok hoping) if this means I can leave some of the heavier clothing at home.

Sorry to sound so anal. But we're going for 2 weeks and I'm really trying to cut back on the piles of clothing we're planning to bring. I have light coats for all, and a good sweatshirt for each, which can be combined.

Hope to hear from you. Packing for this trip is driving me batty!!!

 

[NancyIL]

For those of you who travelled to Disney in Dec. the year it was really really cold in early Dec....do you happen to recall if they were forecasting cold weather before you left??? Or was it all abig surprise cold front that moved in and caught everyone off guard?

I know, weathermen are notoriously wrong...and maybe I'm just really wanting to believe them....but looking at weather.com and accuweather.com, they are both stating that temps will be in the 70's with lows at night in the 50's during our planned stay. I have noticed their choice of possible rain days keeps changing...but the temps are staying pretty consistent. just wondering (ok hoping) if this means I can leave some of the heavier clothing at home.

Sorry to sound so anal. But we're going for 2 weeks and I'm really trying to cut back on the piles of clothing we're planning to bring. I have light coats for all, and a good sweatshirt for each, which can be combined.

Hope to hear from you. Packing for this trip is driving me batty!!!

I remember some cold days in December 2002, 2003, and 2004, and YES...I knew they were coming!

 

[goofy4tink]

I went in mid-Dec in '03...around the 12th or so. I had friends who were there right after Thanksgiving and got home about a week before I went. They told me it was frigid in Orlando. So, I checked out the weather sites and they did predict chilly weather. THey were pretty close, but it was only a week out. Last year, we were there for Thanksgiving and I was anal about checking for the weather, started checking 2 weeks out....the reports I saw were pretty close to what it turned out to be, but again, it was a prediction about a week out. Don't forget you can do laundry while you're there. Not a lot of fun but it can be very relaxing.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

Um, I'm not sure I know exactly which Dec you mean, but when I was there Dec of '00 it was cold! Like freeze warnings cold. I can't remember if they were forecasting it to be that cold way in advance or if it just suddenly changed.

Bring layers - that's the best thing I can tell you.

D4D

 

[ms.ojo]

Yes, I'm planning on doing laundry this trip. And I"ve picked up some good tips on that through these boards.

Your post is encouraging. I really want to believe the reports (9 days out at this point) that it will be mild temps. I'll keep watching over the next week... yes, I'm getting very anal about the weather this trip!!

 

[philaround]

ms.ojo

Day time in the 70's with sun is very pleastant BUT night time in the 50's, if you get just a slight breeze, will be quite chilly. I don't believe you will need full northern gear but a couple of warm sweaters or sweat shirts and some jeans would certainly be in order for the evenings.

 

[ms.ojo]

ms.ojo

Day time in the 70's with sun is very pleastant BUT night time in the 50's, if you get just a slight breeze, will be quite chilly. I don't believe you will need full northern gear but a couple of warm sweaters or sweat shirts and some jeans would certainly be in order for the evenings.

Yes. I plan on that. Was just thinking I'd leave the kids fleece jackets at home. Depending on the day/wind factor...I'll either bring a sweatshirt along for the evenings, or maybe a long sleeve shirt and a wind breaker. Some sweatshirts may feel cozy...but let the air through too easily. Then I thought well heck, I'll just bring their fleece coats, and dh thinks I'm insane.

But I remember very clearly as a child visiting WDW in Feb and wearing PJs (like long johns) under the one pant suit I had (60's child) with a sweater, a rain coat, mittens and a hat! It was freezing!!!!!!!!!

 

[jann1033]

keep on the look out for storm warnings... a nor'easter went through the day before our arrival, they called for cool temps ( 65-70) for a few days but it got down to 40 and with the wind bitter. the disney channel( in room) was still calling for 70 as of the morning we left for the park so we ended up having to go back and change when the temps dropped( instead of rose) by 11 am. i think if they are calling for storms( i'd check the last second and throw in or take out) i'd add an extra sweater. we drive so had our winter coats but were even cold in them 2 nights( first time in 6 winter trips we have ever needed to)

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

I keep checking the reports too. I am now questioning wheather we will be wearing shorts if the high is only 75! What is wrong with me- did I forget how warm the Florida sunshine is? I pcked for warm weather, cool weather and cooler weather. I also have our fans and squirt bottles in case a heat wave should strike. I think it;s easier to go in the summer- at least you know what to expect!

 

[outtonight]

Well, I live about four hours north of Orlando, and it hardly ever gets "really, really cold" around here. Long sleeves and a jacket should be fine, although during the daytime you may even be hot with the long sleeves on.
Generally, the Weather Channel is pretty accurate with temperatures (definitely not so much with predictions of rain) and 70s/50s sounds right for early December. I've lived down here for seventeen years and have never needed a heavy coat, so I think it's a pretty safe bet that you can leave those behind.

 

[mmcguire]

In Dec 2000, it hit freezing, but I can't recall if it was forecast, or if we just weren't aware of it. I do remember there was a record low on my 30th birthday (Dec 20) and it froze many of the poinsettias around the World. We saw gardners replacing them by the hundreds. That makes me think that maybe it caught people off guard, since Disney hadn't taken steps to protect the vegetation. At any rate, WE weren't prepared! None of us brought heavy coats; just sweatshirts and sweaters. We had to dress in layers of whatever we had at night. I also recall a lot of people in very inappropriate clothes -- shorts, capris, etc. Again, not sure if it was a bad forecast, or people (like us) who thought it never gets cold in FL. Weird thing was, when we arrived it was warm enough to swim. The cold snap happened mid-week, and by the day we left, we were able to go swimming again. It was quite cold on our 2003 trip also, but we were ready for it that time.

 

[MinnieM21]

I went in December 2004 and it was absolutely freeeezzzing! I checked the weather forecast before we left and don't recall seeing any temperatures that low. While we were there, a cold front came through and we weren't expecting it. But I had read on the DIS to expect any kind of weather in December so we packed everything we might need.

 

[ms.ojo]

I thank you all for posting in this thread. I have been trying on diff't sweatshirts and fleece things for the last hour. LOL

My ds really want to bring this hooded sweatshirt w/ him that has connecting pockets. Thing is it's cozy...but a stiff wind would blow right through it!

Day #1 we're doing MK (early closing for MVMCP). Plan is to grab a bite to eat after the parade and head over to MGM. Do a ride or 2 and wait until Fantasmic is about to start and go see the Osborne lights. Then we'll head back to POFQ before Fantasmic lets out. So it won't be a late night, but my guess is we'll want to be adding SOMETHING to our daytime attire for the later part of the day. This is where I just don't know. Probably will have to carry both a sweatshirt and lightweight jacket for the kids. DD I can carry a pair of pants and DS I'll have him wear shorts you can zip the legs onto and make into pants. Need to stuff in either a sweatshirt or fleece jacket for me...and probably just a light coat for dh who's never cold. But still, this backpack is going to be stuffed w/ clothes! We've never had to do that before.

Only 1 other day are we not planning on returning to the hotel in the afternoon. On the other days, we can always switch clothing at the hotel for the evening and be good to go.

I don't know, I'm usually very organized, a good packer, and don't fret...but this has me in a tizzy!! Right now it's 40's here and REALLY raw. Doesn't help matters.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Layers are wonderful! I think it was Dec. 2000 that I ended up going into the shop at MGM and buying 3 sweatshirts, cutting off the tags and passing them out! We were freezing!!!!! If you don't have a stroller to lug all the extra clothes in remember they have lockers at the front of each park.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Disneycrazymom,

That sounds familiar. When I was there in Febuary, I had to run into one of the shops and do the same thing one morning because it was cold. Of course I could have gone back to CBR and put a sweatshirt on, but who want's to go all the way back to the room and then back to MK when they are already there.

This is really good information for me since I'm planning an extended 17 night trip Dec 16, 2006 to Jan 2, 2007 to WDW.

 

[slimplaw]

We were also there in Dec. 2000 when it hit a low of 26 and one day it did not go above 40. I did not check the weather ahead of time to know what to expect, but if I recall, it was even a surprise for the locals. We have been other Decembers since and I always check now. It is usually pretty close.

 

[Eeyoreloverforever]

amount of time. WE leave exactly one week from today and will be there for 14 days.


I, like you, am hoping for nice weather. I am planning on bringing clothes for what fall is like here. Cool in the morning and evenings and hot during the afternoon. It is a pain to pack all those clothes, but I will suffer (dh really) for the sake of Disney!

 

[DebbieB]

I remember December 2000 too, we went earlier in the month and I don't think it went above low 60's. Days were OK but it got real cold after dark. You never know, last year it was in the low 80's, wore shorts most of the time.

 

[Poohbear123]

For MVMCP and it was COLD! However, I was prepared for it, I wore a long sleeve red shirt, and my fleece jacket WITH gloves, and I was pretty warm.

 

[tkldisney]

For us, it was the year 2000 and it got down into the 30's. No not really expecting it. The days stayed cold too as a matter of fact. Thank goodness for Mexico and their inexpensive blankets we used for the Candelight Processional. Being from OH, we did have our winter coats with us, just hoping to get away from cold. I have been to WDW every year in Dec. since 1998, and that is the only one I can remember being that cold.
During the day we could wear shorts & t's, and some nights we just had to add sweatshirt, but the year 2000 we needed our heavy stuff!
Hopefully, not this one!!!