Weather in January

[Bryn]

I'm wondering what the weather will be like in late January.
I've checked out some historical weather websites which give temperatures but that doesn't help me. I've always found that temperatures are misleading. 18 degrees, cloudy and windy is colder than 15 degrees and sunny......you know what I mean? Also, by the time January rolls around, I'll be so fed up with snow and cold that I'll think 10 degrees is swimming weather!!
I'd like to know what it will "FEEL" like in late Jan!!! I'm sure that we'll need jackets for the evenings but will we need our winter jackets or fall jackets? During the day, will we be okay in short sleeves? Long sleeves but light-weight? Jackets? Any chance that we'll be able to take advantage of the water parks?

Thanks!!

 

[Timon]

Bryn,

We will be going to WDW January 19th and while we haven't been there before in January, I have been doing a lot of research. It seems January is very hit or miss with the weather. I have heard reports of extremely cold weather (around 5-10 degrees C) and people coming from Ontario needing to wear heavy jackets and pants the whole time. Then again, I have also read reports of the opposite. Sunny, and 25 degrees!

My brother was there last January and the first part of their trip was pretty cold. They were in heavy sweatshirts and pants and there was no way they would have gone to a waterpark. However, the last week of their trip was beautiful. It was about 25-30 degrees and were wearing shorts and tees and were very warm!

I guess that's not really much help for planning....we will be packing jeans and light jackets as well as shorts

We're hoping to wear the shorts for the most part

 

[Canadave]

We were in WDW for 9 days in January 2000. January is definitely hit and miss. When we arrived on the Sunday, it was 20 degrees. As the days went on, the temperature dropped gradually. By Wednesday, it was 3 degrees in the late morning! We were wearing our gloves, headbands and winter coats. (mind you, it was -20 in Toronto at the time) But as the week wore on, the temperatures rose again and on Sunday we spent the day at Typhoon Lagoon in 27 degree sunshine. Of course, Monday, our last day, it was about 23 and raining (so it seemed a little colder). So there you go. You have to expect anything and everything in January. (that being said, friends of ours went to WDW last January/ February, and there was no rain and was about 25 degrees for their whole trip
Were going again in January, so lets hope for the best.

Canadave

 

[CindyAnn]

We spent a week in WDW in mid-January a few years ago. I think you have to be prepared for anything! My favourite thing to take is a polar fleece cardigan/jacket and a waterproof rain jacket that's large enough to fit over the fleece. I find that gives you a lot of warmth and rain protection, without a lot of bulky items to pack.

When we went I don't think we had a drop of rain, and we were able to swim during the first five days. The high was probably around 22 or 23, and it was nice enough to swim between about 10:00 and 4:00. The 6th day was very cool, and the 7th was even colder. Mittens would definitely have been an asset on the final day, when it was only about 5 or so, and very windy. I think we wore long pants and sweatshirts every morning until about 9:30 or so, and in the evenings.

The crowds, or rather lack of them, were fantastic though, and I thought it was a great time to visit.