Weather at Thanksgiving or Christmas?

[melbatoast]

From the historical weather reports it looks like the weather is pretty much the same at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Anyone have experience with this? You would think Nov. would be warmer/drier, but not sure that is the case. We don't want to freeze walking around the parks day or night! We could go either Thanksgiving week, or the week before Christmas.

 

[Sherry E]

From the historical weather reports it looks like the weather is pretty much the same at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Anyone have experience with this? You would think Nov. would be warmer/drier, but not sure that is the case. We don't want to freeze walking around the parks day or night! We could go either Thanksgiving week, or the week before Christmas.

You have had quite a few holiday season-weather-related questions on this forum in the past...and you're still undecided on when to go?!

You're from Illinois. It's not going to be Illinois-level cold in California. You won't freeze. Even if it, for some reason, drops down to 30 degrees in December, it's not going to feel like it feels in Illinois on a 30-degree day, I'm sure. The cold here would not be as bitter and biting for a Midwest resident. For SoCal natives, slightly cold is really cold.

Honestly, it's hard to say what the weather will be like. Not only have I lived in Southern California my entire life, but I've been to Disneyland in November and December over the years. Last year I was at DLR in November and it was in the upper 80's. And then I went back to DLR in December and on one of my days it was 90 degrees, while the other days were in the 80's.

But then again, there are other December trips I have made to DLR where it was 70 degrees in the daytime and 50 degrees at night, or 30 degrees at night and 45 degrees in the daytime...or raining. Sometimes it can rain in November too, and it can also be 80 or 90 degrees. I once did a Thanksgiving weekend trip to DLR and it was pouring heavy rain.

All you can really do is look at the historical weather patterns to get an idea of the averages, and it sounds like you have already done that.

I can tell you that I certainly did not expect 90-degree days during my December trip last year, so that was probably a bit of a fluke, but it could be warm, or it could be raining. I've seen it all!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I'm with Sherry. You never really know what you will get. Pick a time of year that's good for you and hope for the best.

I have been Thanksgiving week when the highs were in the low 80s and the upper 50s for different days of the same week. We've seen rain and sunshine at Thanksgiving too and had times when I desperately wanted hot cocoa and other times when an ice cream seemed like the only thing that would cool us down.

We visited on a rainy day in mid-December one year and a very rainy New Year's another year. There were other beautiful days during those same trips. I've been one year in August when it was 95 and humid, but most of our days for this year's August trip (last week) were upper 70s and low 80s. My brother picked last September because he anticipated low crowds and fantastic weather, but he hit larger than expected crowds due to the beginning of Halloween Time and a freaky heat wave (109 degrees!) that almost melted him and his family. Our family went one October when it was 80s or 90s and the whole place was blanketed in smoke from wildfires. Obviously we could never have predicted any of this when booking our trips 4-6 months before. We just made the best of whatever the situation was and figured out how to have a great time anyway.

 

[Malcon10t]

We go at Christmas every year. One year its 80s, next it is 50s. Daytime temps rarely go below 50 (if that low.) Night time temps can get in the low 40s. Our rule, LAYERs... Tee shirt, sweat shirt, jacket. Most days, we never use the jackets. New Years Evve, when we are out to 2am, we usually have the jackets, but not the rest of the trip.

It does rain during Christmas on occasion.

 

[jemilah]

I hope it is cold, really cold when we go and it could rain too, keeps the crowds low. Cold feels Christmasy!

 

[RallyMonkey]

You're from Illinois. It's not going to be Illinois-level cold in California. You won't freeze. Even if it, for some reason, drops down to 30 degrees in December, it's not going to feel like it feels in Illinois on a 30-degree day, I'm sure. The cold here would not be as bitter and biting for a Midwest resident. For SoCal natives, slightly cold is really cold.QUOTE]

Oddly enough, this made me think of something several family members said that moved from here to the mid west. They said that 50 degrees here(Disneyland area) felt colder then 30 degrees there! Go figure!

 

[melbatoast]

Ugh! We can't decide on what to do...Last year we were at WDW, and had days in the 80's, then a day that was in the 50's and I have to say, it was the coldest I had ever been! The wind was colder in Florida, than in Chicago I swear! My kids are really worried about it being too cold to do anything, but I keep telling them Florida is the same way - up and down. I thought Nov. would be better than Dec. in Cali, but it sounds like it is the same either way - all over the board! I will show these posts to the kids and see what they think. We REALLY want to see WOC, but I am not standing out there if it is 30 degrees! I stay inside when it's that cold - even in Chicago!!!

 

[Sherry E]

Ugh! We can't decide on what to do...Last year we were at WDW, and had days in the 80's, then a day that was in the 50's and I have to say, it was the coldest I had ever been! The wind was colder in Florida, than in Chicago I swear! My kids are really worried about it being too cold to do anything, but I keep telling them Florida is the same way - up and down. I thought Nov. would be better than Dec. in Cali, but it sounds like it is the same either way - all over the board! I will show these posts to the kids and see what they think. We REALLY want to see WOC, but I am not standing out there if it is 30 degrees! I stay inside when it's that cold - even in Chicago!!!

I know it's tough to decide. For me, I prefer colder weather. As jemilah said, cold feels Christmasy. In fact, I hate heat, so I wish it were 30 degrees all day long during my upcoming DLR trip but it's very unlikely that it will be. I was so annoyed when it was hot during my December trip last year, and very warm in November too.

Okay, so last year I got the super-warm temperatures in November and December, as I've said.

In 2009 (December), it was 75-ish degrees in the daytime and in the 50's at night. I was not cold. Other people might be cold. Sure, it was a little 'brisk', but I walked around in a t-shirt the whole time and never bothered with my coat. Even at 11 p.m., I had no coat on. It seemed like a comfortable chill, not a harsh type of cold.

But, in 2008 (December), I had on a light hoodie-type jacket. On the first day it was in the 50's. Second day, it was in the 60's in the daytime and in the low 40's at night. I will admit - even with my jacket on, and even with my love of colder weather - I was fuh-ree-zing when the sun went down!!! Brrrr! I mean, my teeth were chattering, my hands were numb, I was chilled to the bones...all I wanted was to get back to the room and get my coat, but it wasn't convenient to do it at that moment, so I shivered all night long. However, the next night I was prepared - I had a big, bulky coat, a wool neck scarf, mittens, the whole thing, and I was wearing a heavy sweater. And then on my last day it started raining so I had to drag out the umbrella.

2007 (December) was pretty cold at night too. It was probably in the low 70's in the daytime and in the 50's at night.


It was many years ago when I was at Disneyland over Thanksgiving weekend and it poured heavy rain. Heavy, like monsoonal, rain.

It was even longer ago than that when I was at DLR in December, and it was in the 40's in the daytime scared1 and in the low, low 30's at night - and it was cooooooold. I loved it! But it was cold. We actually had to seek out earmuffs because we couldn't get warm enough. We wore layers over layers, wool caps, gloves, the whole nine yards. At that rate, it may as well have been snowing!

Good luck! Let us know what you decide to do.

 

[melbatoast]

I absolutely hate to be cold! If I could watch the Christmas parade in a t-shirt and shorts I would be the happiest person on earth! But, I understand that people think it's more "Christmasy" if it is cooler. I just don't want to miss out on anything because it's too cold. It actually sounds like the same weather as Florida in Dec. If we go to Disneyland, we would go down to San Diego for a few days, as well as LA. I'm willing to take a chance on the weather, but of course my teenagers want to get a tan! So it would be nice to have some "warmer" temps too. It sounds like it doesn't really make a difference if we go Thanksgiving or Christmas as far as weather, so I think we will just decide which week works better for our schedule. Thanks for the input!

 

[halfmonkey]

Like everyone already said, our cold is def not like your cold. The thing you'll need to do is dress in layers. There have been times when we'll actually have heat waves during that time of year and you'll be wearing shorts and a t-shirt and then there will be times where it actually will be very cold and breezy (CA cold, not your cold) so good layering and maybe a windbreaker will help.

Always check the weather report and pack varying types of clothes. Generally speaking, if you wear jeans and a t-shirt with a light jacket in the day and then have a sweatshirt with a windbreaker at night, you'll be good.

Last year we went on Dec 27 and 28th and I wore a t-shirt with my Northface jacket and a beanie and I was good. We stayed late enough to catch the fireworks and we put the kids in 3 layers and a beanie too. GL with your decision.