Weather/temperaure in January?

[JerseyBallerina]

What is the average temperature in Florida in January? Do you wear pants/sweatshirts? Are the water rides (Splash Mountain, Kali River Rapids) out of the question?
Thanks!

 

[caverill]

The answer is...it depends. You will have days that the weather allows for everything and other days when it might be too cool.

It also will depend on what you are use to. Being from MN, everything above 50 degrees seems warm in January.

The following web site will show the historical temps and rain for since 1974.

http://www.wunderground.com

Hope this helps!

 

[ironz]

Clark's right...the weather in January varies tremendously. In 2000, we were there for a week and wore shorts every day (t-shirts by day, sweatshirts at night). In 2003 and 2004, it got cold, and most days we wore jeans and sweatshirts, and even an extra jacket a couple of days. (by cold, I mean upper 30's/lower 40's)...windchill the morning of the marathon last year was 32 degrees.

I'd just watch the weather channel/wunderground websites and get the 10 day forecast a few days before you leave. Keep in mind, the 10 day forecasts are not so accurate the further out you are (i.e., don't check it 10 days before you leave).

 

[2ofUs]

We visited WDW both late/January and early/mid February - strongly suggest LAYERS. Mornings can be very chilly, mid-day can warm up to low 70's, and then drop back down again by early evening.

Hint: Fleece is light weight, a good air block, more water resistant (& dries faster) than other materials and doesn't wrinkle. I stuff a fleece jacket, scarf and gloves into my day bag. For good measure I also take a little battery operated fan for surprise HOT days. I never go without a hat for sunburn protection and shade - that Florida sun gets bright!

I wear loose fitting light weight slacks (cotton/spandex blends) that block wind and dry quickly. DH refuses to wear anything but jeans - and paid dearly a couple of times in rainy seasons. Jeans get cold and heavy when wet.

Also a variety of cotton/silk shells, button front blouses/shirts, pull over tee shirts, anything you can mix & match but also remove in public in case it really warms up. would be good.

Plan to do Splash Mtn/Kali Rapids later in the afternoon when the weather warms. We don't do Kali AT ALL because of the intentional 'dousing' by fellow guests at the end of the ride.

If you want to ride early and avoid wetness, take large trash bags with a slit in the bottom for your head but do not make armholes. When you get into the ride, quickly pull the bag over your head and hold your belongings (and shoes if you don't want THEM drenched) in your arms inside the bag. I know it looks silly, but it saved our whole day!

Splash Mtn is relatively easy - don't sit in the front of the car and you will avoid most splashing. Most of the wetness on this ride is waist down. You might take a trash there and wrap it around your legs - or put your feet into it (no slit for your head this time - you're working from the bottom up) and pull it up to your waist.

Okay, by now I can only imagine the mental picture you have of me - bundled head to foot in fleece gloves, scarf, jacket, layers of clothing, a large brim hat, sunglasses, sunblock, carrying an armload of plastic trash bags and holding a little battery operated fan.

Yikes! Really, it is not that bad. We take a small backpack that also has wheels so we can pull it along. Most of the time we rent a locker and leave it there AFTER the morning chill has left and we have striped down some.

DH hates to carry anything - including the camera/camcorder, so I have a small fanny pack for those items and my water bottle - well that just inhanced that mental image huh?

My momma always said "better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it" so that is my life motto. Pick and choose from the advice above - but whatever you do - HAVE FUN! If you clothes get wet, go on some indoor rides until they dry or go back to your room and change. WDW is a place of magic and dreams so ENJOY it all! :thewave:

 

[Joyciemc]

We went last January and the weather varied greatly during that week. The first few days were shorts and swimming weather (we went to Blizzard Beach our frst full day). Then it got cold. At night it was in the 40s, during the day up to about 60s. Which is fine if you're dressed for it. 60s in Jan sounded great to me, until I realized that I was going to be outside all day.

Be smarter than me!-I packed warm clothes, but seemed to miss the step of actually bringing them to the park. Layers are definitely the way to go. And gloves would've come in handy while watching Illuminations one night.

All of this just to say- check the forecast and bring lots of clothes!

 

[bjakmom]

We were there last year from the 10th - 19th. Like Joyciemc says, our weather was 40s in the PM and early AM and 60's (a couple of day in 70s) during the day. We did use the hot tubs, but not the pools - younger kids were swimming in the pools, though, they didn't seem to mind! It was warm enough the last weekend to sit out and sun at HRH pool in our suits. The one thing I didn't figure was the wind - most nights and mornings were quite windy and that made it feel much colder than it was - even the big kids were glad I had packed fleece headbands and stretchy gloves once the sun went down and the wind kicked up (and the plastic rain cover over the baby's stroller was a life saver, even though it never rained after the first night - kept her warm and snug from the wind)!

 

[alicenwonder99]

Don't worry...my dh predicts it will be hot and sunny for our January trip. I'm planning on packing hats, gloves, coats, etc. And every Disney vacation we'd every taken I always pack the WRONG clothes. It's like a running joke in our house! If I pack warm weather clothes, it's unusually cold. And if I bring cold weather clothes, it's unusually hot.

Mary