Weather? Comparing CA to FL

[ddiva]

I've heard it is really hot in the summer, specifically at DL. I'll be there the second week of July. Is it hot? Most will probably say "yes," but I reside in Florida. It's not only hot, but it's also humid. I'm looking for a comparison of some type. I've been to WDW in the summer and vow to never do it again.....by the time you reach your first ride you're soaked in sweat...yuck. Will I have the same experience at DL and will I need a sweater in the evening? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[bumbershoot]

Have you seen HydroGuy's tips? http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

In there he has "Comparison of Weather For WDW and DLR". Might be just what you're looking for!


I grew up in CA and I lived for some college vacations in Miami (as well as in SC and WV), and the comparison between CA heat (can be blistering) and humid heat (am I breathing in liquid?) is a hard one. I remember living in Miami, I'd wake up in sweat, shower, then start sweating again as I dried off. I was just never dry except while in the car for longer than 20 minutes so the air conditioner could really start working. I never really experienced it like that in CA (but I haven't been to Disneyland in summertime yet), and yes, a key to CA weather is to prepare with layers, so I'd bring a sweatshirt for the evening, just in case.

 

[Pucka1378]

It will be hot but at least it is a dry heat no really it is and it will feel cooler then the same temps at WDW! The heat builds through out the day. So you will start off coolish. Not like FL where you are out the gate in the 80's. It will cool down at night high 60's usually.


Sometimes you do need a sweater at night.

 

[dleyel]

We do not have the humidity FL has here in Southern CA. But, it's rather unpredictable quite how hot it will be during your visit. Last week it was in the 100s here in Fullerton, which is adjacent to Anaheim. That was unseasonably hot for June. Today it has cooled down to the high 80s. July ranges from high 80s to low 100s. It always seems a bit hotter to me in the parks with all of the crowds. It usually stays pleasant in the evenings. I doubt you'll need a sweater, but you could bring one and keep it in a locker. If it's in the 90s during the day, it will probably still be in the 70s during the evening. I never take a sweater during the summer, even if I'm staying late, but I'm a hot person. Personally, I don't enjoy hot summer days at DL, so that's why we have the SoCal AP and avoid all of July. Although August and September are often even hotter than July. Since you are used to FL weather, you should be fine. Have a great trip!

 

[Tigger girl]

We do not have the humidity FL has here in Southern CA. But, it's rather unpredictable quite how hot it will be during your visit. Last week it was in the 100s here in Fullerton, which is adjacent to Anaheim. That was unseasonably hot for June. Today it has cooled down to the high 80s. July ranges from high 80s to low 100s. It always seems a bit hotter to me in the parks with all of the crowds. It usually stays pleasant in the evenings. I doubt you'll need a sweater, but you could bring one and keep it in a locker. If it's in the 90s during the day, it will probably still be in the 70s during the evening. I never take a sweater during the summer, even if I'm staying late, but I'm a hot person. Personally, I don't enjoy hot summer days at DL, so that's why we have the SoCal AP and avoid all of July. Although August and September are often even hotter than July. Since you are used to FL weather, you should be fine. Have a great trip!

I completely agree with dleyel

 

[Husker Mickey]

I agree with the previous posters. I, too have been to WDW in the summer. The temps were 95 and the humidity was 93%. I thought I was going to die! We are from a arid climate and I was not prepared for going outside of our hotel room and my glasses fogging up (even at 4:30am)! Drink plenty of liquids and enjoy the trip!

 

[Dobie]

Even when its hot (100*) it's really only bad in the afternoons. Go early, enjoy your morning, make PS's for an airconditioned lunch, go back to your hotel, rest/swim, have a nice dinner, and come back for an absolutely perfect evening.

 

[tofubeast]

I grew up in So Cal and now live in So Fl. I would pick dry heat any day over the humidity. I remember many hot days in L.A. and they are a walk in the park vs. the worst days here in Miami. I am going in August, and as I had no problem in WDW in July, I have no fear.

If concerned, just plan the afternoon for hotel pool breaks, shows, or other a/c activities . It won't be too bad in the morning and it will get cooler come the late afternoon. Chill off with a nice dole whip in the tiki room!

 

[Ride Junkie]

Even in the summer, it's usually cool and oversast in the morning, then it gets hot in the afternoon. It tends to get cool in the evening, so I always bring a sweatshirt.

The warm mornings is one of the things I LOVE about FL! Last time we went (August), we had a really early flight out, so I went to the front desk to check out around 3:00am, and it was still warm & beautiful outside! I wish we had more of that here.

 

[sugarplumfairy]

Should be a piece of cake for ya! I've been to WDW in June and though I admit I am a wimp, I was miserable! It will be hot, but certainly more bearable since there isn't the humidity factor! Have fun!

 

[ramkam]

No rain in SOCal

 

[disney-inspired]

Just chiming to say that I love CA heat compared to FL heat. I've only been to Florida once, for a week, and the heat + humidity was almost suffocating, but in CA (especially disneyland) it gets hot but you can escape it in the shade or A/C restaurant. There are no daily showers (which I'm ever so thankful for) and gets cooler around 5-6pm. It's actually pretty nice. The only thing is when the weather can't decide if it wants to be hot or cold, it feels a bit balmy and I'm doing the jacket dance.
"put your jacket on, take your jacket off, put it back on just to take it off again"

ala hokey pokey

 

[Ride Junkie]

No rain in SOCal

Except in March, when I went to DCA for the electrical parade. 10 minutes before it was supposed to start, it poured & parade was cancelled. But you're right, it doesn't rain in SoCal in summer the way it does in FL. I love the summer rains at WDW though.

 

[bumbershoot]

No rain in SOCal

Why do people say this? Is it a joke? Or do those who say it go out of town each time it's about to rain, so you don't know that it does?

No, there aren't daily, could set your watch by them, thunderstorms (like my brother experienced during high school in Miami, just as school got out), but it does indeed rain there!

That said, it's fabulous for the intrepid visitor, b/c everyone has believed the "no rain" myth and is unprepared, and as long as you avoid CA Screamin' (I hear it's like needles pelting your face, being on the take-off while it rains) and know that some rides shut down, you get an emptied out park for the duration!

 

[CalvaryMike]

From a born, raised and still living here in Southern Californian, it will not rain here in July. And as previous posters have said, expect anywhere 80-100 degrees of dry heat during the day. Unless we're having a heat wave (like last week), it will cool off in the evening to the mid 60's to mid 70's at night.

 

[ddiva]

Sounds as though I'll be fine in the heat. I think I'll take dry heat anyday over wet heat (humidity). I'll have to pack a light sweater as evenings in the 60's may be a little cool for me. Thanks for your responses.

 

[ramkam]

Why do people say it never rains in Southern California? First of all there is a famous song that says so. Anaheim averages 10 to 14 inches of rain per year. Last year we had about 3 to 4 inches for the whole year. This year we got to about 9 inches of rain and that seemed like a lot. Compared to 50 inches in Orlando per year Southern Califonia qualifies as no rain. It is a safe bet it will not rain at all in Anaheim from June through September. It probably will not rain from October through early December. Christmas Day and New Year's Day are usually great days to put on your bathing suit and spend some time in the spa. If it does rain between October and December it will be a light rain and will not last long. When it does rain it will be a few days in January or February. Maybe a few April and May showers and that is it. So it may rain a little on 10 or so days a year in SoCal, but the other 355 days are nice. That seems close enough to no rain.