Tips for early December

[natenapril]

I need some help as far as what type of clothing to pack. Capris and jeans or shorts? How's the weather?
What about crowds and wait times? We will be there December 10-16 We are from Alaska so we will be leaving COLD weather (-20- -50) so I am really confused on what to pack. It will be Me,DH, my Dad and 3 kiddos.
THanks!

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

December crowds are quite manageable until you get to the weekend before Christmas.

Winter weather in Orlando is completely unpredictable. You could have warm days (80s) with cool mornings, or you could have mornings near freezing with afternoons in the 40s or 50s. Or you could have a little of both, or something in between.

My advice is to pack a little of everything...well, except for the stuff you wear when it is minus-50!

 

[YoMickey]

Layers

 

[DISNEYNV]

We were there last December 7-16th and I brought along everything from swim wear and shorts to jeans and jackets and used them all. When we first arrived it was in the low fifties and when we left in the eighties! Crazy weather but crowds were not bad at the parks. We got fastpasses for the popular stuff and the rest only waited maybe twenty minutes tops. I would skip the Mickeys Very Merry party though. That was a mob scene and not worth the extreme cost involved. Have a great trip in December... It really is a magical time, but bring along the hand sanitized and cold medications just in case. We were there for the stomach bug outbreak and it was not pretty!

 

[WeLoveAriel0505]

Layers

Agreed..........we have 3 kids and always layer them so that we can accomodate whatever weather we meet. Same time frame and we've seen 60 highs to 84 highs.

 

[aubriee]

Layers

I agree. I was down there Dec '04, Dec '05, Dec 06, and Dec '07. 2004, 2006, and 2007 was very nice. It was a little cool in the mornings, but we could wear shorts and capris. We even got a little warm some days. However, Dec '05 we almost froze our tushies off. It was cold. I mean, coat, gloves, scarves, toboggan wearing, bone chilling code. I didn't know it could get that cold anywhere that far south. You never know what the weather is going to do in Florida, so check it before you leave at accuweather.com to get a 14 day forcast, but pack everything from bathing suits and shorts, to coats and gloves.

 

[Marquis de Disney]

This is great information as I have a trip set up for Dec 1st - 7th. It is certainly good to know that the crowds are manageable and shouldnt be too hard to get fast passes for what I need. Bringing a smattering of every aspect of my wardrobe from t-shirts to sweaters means a bit more luggage but definitely will be worth it!

 

[natenapril]

Well it sounds like the general concenses is to just LAYER UP! Works for me.Thanks for the advice.
We are going to try MVMCP though I am worried about the crowds. My 6 year old really wants to give it a try and I am not sure when we will make it back to WDW.

 

[cmiller2]

if you have any kind of under armor they always seem to do the trick under a sweatshirt and its not as bulky as having to bring a coat!!

 

[bawsmom]

we went early dec 06 and it was perfect. the weather was nice during the day... light sweater for me but DH could wear short sleeve shirt. he may have even wore shorts one day. they swam some... but at night it got chilly... coats... but for sure LAYERS!!

 

[almburr]

As your from Alaska your acclamated to colder weather. Im from NW Kansas and it gets rather cold and windy here -17. So when we have a warm day 30degrees above kids beg to wear shorts Ive been known to wear flip flops and capris on a warm 30degree day. High schoolers will wear shorts and flip flops on those days.

All that aside layer, layer. Everybody is diffrent. Sweatshirs, capris, maybe knit gloves. I dont think the parka will be in order except when you get off the return flight. That is the way we were coming into DIA shorts and tees, putting on our sweat shirts, heading out to the parking shuttle, and It was snowing out.

 

[Princess_Melanie]

Definately plan for a little of everything!! We were there the 1st 2 weeks of December 08 and wore everything from T-shirts and shorts to jeans and jumpers!! We were lucky and only had rain for one day but BOY did it RAIN!! Torrential and soooo windy....I had my poncho - I was happy!!

 

[natenapril]

Thanks for the replies everyone. It's a long way away but we are supe excited.