swimming in December

[madrymeg]

We have been to Disney nine times but we have never been there during Dec/Jan. One of our favorite routines is to go to the parks first thing in the morning , eat lunch in the parks and then come back to the pools for a swim and nap in the middle of the afternoon. We absolutely love the swim and the nap in the mid afternoon. We are planning to go in the middle of December and we are worried about the weather and being able to swim in the pools without freezing. Can I hear from people who have been in December and what their pool experience was like?

 

[metivier]

We went last December (first week though; not middle of December) and we had afternoon swim breaks in the pool (with our young children!) for 3 out of our 6 days there. It was great!

 

[marj70]

We there in December 03. My DS and DH did swim and said the water was very warm. The air outside wasn't warm enough for me to want to swim, but I did sit in the lounge chair with a beverage while they swam.

That December the weather was pretty mild. We were in jeans/long sleeve shirts the whole week and only needed a sweatshirt in the evenings. They want to swim again this year, but I did tell them it may not be as warm. We live only 3 hours away and last December was COLD!

 

[TammiMcMan]

It all comes down to what the weather conditions are when you stay. We've been a few times in December and it can be a mixed bag. One trip started with temps in the mid to upper 80's and within 2 days a cold front moved through that had us in jackets and mittens. This past December, the daytime temps were in the 70's and when the sun was out, it felt very warm on your skin, but the air temperature was actually quite cool. My kids did swim in the pool, but had to stay submerged most of the time. They each took one or two turns on the slide, but said it was too cool to be out of the water.

 

[whimsey]

Morning,
We were at WDW the last week of 2003 and the weather was incredible. High's were in the low to mid 80's everyday and sunny the entire week. Swimming was pleasant from mid morning until evening. My family watched the Electric Light Parade from the jacuzzi or pool most nights. It's really a tough call because I've read posts from people who were greeted by plenty of sunshine but much cooler than they were prepared for.

 

[Northstar]

Went last year 12/13 -12/18. It got downright chilly one night. Went swimming once. Steam was rising off the somewhat-heated pool. For my intrepid little Canadian and her dad, that was okay... they stayed in for over an hour, and there were some other families enjoying the pool as well. Me, well, I sat on the side in a sweatshirt, got my feet wet, and figured it was better than Halifax anyway. The next week we were at my mom's in Fort Myers and it was in the high 70s. As others have said, I hear there's just no telling whether it will be summerlike or not. Because the pools are heated, you can swim anyway if you don't plan on hanging around in a wet suit after you get out.

 

[Muushka]

We have gone to WDW for a week in December since 1992, so we have seen ALOT of December weather. Trust me, it may be very nice and then again it may be very cold. We have experienced the weather in the upper 80s to the upper 20s. What we have learned is to pack for winter/spring/summer/fall conditions. That way we are not dissapointed. Hope it is warm for you!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

We went in 1996, Christmas week, and stayed at FW cabins...that's when River Country was still there. They had River Country closed for the season, but the weather was so warm all week, in the mid 80's, that they opened up the li'l water park just for us! This wasn't announced to the general population, so we had River Country as our own special "pool" all week.
Still, from listening to everyone else, I'm packing some all-weather gear, just in case.

 

[jcriket]

We go every December before christmas and the water is nice,but the air is freezing! It really depends on if you can stand running back to your room in the freezing cold. And if its cold enough for a jacket then i'm not in the water haha. Almost every time we go its cold but that always depends on the weather here.

 

[Dislifer]

I was there last year 12/22 to 1/1 and no way would I go into the water!!! I'm from CT and its cold here in the winter, but let me tell you it was COLD in WDW!!! Who knows??? It might be different this year!

 

[fostrmom2mny]

My daughters and i went a couple of years during Dec. We dipped in the pool every evening. We are from Oklahoma where the winter months can be VERY cold, and we found even the evenings in the 60's in Florida, warm enough for us. We just made fast tracks back to our room.
Gerri

 

[JDietz40]

Echoing what many others have said here it will be hit or miss as to the weather but you should be able to swim at least a few times during your stay. We have been at WDW Thanksgiving week a number of times and although there have been some cool days we have had alot of hot weather as well.


John