What do you wear in December?

[sponica]

It's been a spell since I went late Dec/early January. I don't think I needed my cold weather New England gear, but I had a hoodie with me most days and wore shorts or pants most days.

That being said, I would pull up a local forecast in the days before you go. I went to New Orleans one January for a wedding and it didn't get above 32 the entire time I was there. It was a quick trip and my default attire is jeans/hoodie unless it's over 78, so I was well prepared.

 

[Ta.Ham1989]

Pack for hot and cold! LOL! You never know with Florida!

 

[ktlm]

Been there in December many times. Yep-- pack a little bit of everything. Learned that lesson our first December trip when I checked the weather from one station the day before our trip and it said low 70s all week, so I packed everyone thin long sleeved shirts, jeans, and then jackets in case we needed them morning and evenings. Our 2nd day they had a heat wave the weatherman did not predict and it was between 80 and 90 every day with I think some record highs. We were sweltering and had to all buy T-shirts.

In December we have had shorts weather all week, sweater weather all week, and one year we started the week in short sleeves and shorts day and night and spent the end of the week in sweaters with coats day and night with highs in the 50s.

Check all 3 local networks online the day before you go to see what the predictions are. Don't trust them entirely because things can change fast down there that time of year- so prepare for the predictions, but have a little bit of everything in case they are wrong.

 

[westie55]

I’ve been that time of year twice. Once we wore shorts and t shirts and could have swam because it was about 80 degrees. Another time we needed winter coats, sweaters, etc and it was cold all day long. Highs in the 50s. Check the weather before you go.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

We’ve never rented a locker before, but that is a great idea for the coats. You are confirming my feeling that we need a little bit of everything, which is going to be a challenge for me. I have an overpacking problem

Just check the forecast before you go to avoid this issue. You will know what you need but do keep in mind, if it's calling for for cooler temps sub 60, it will feel cooler since it's damp. I've met so many people from up north that think 55 FL degrees is colder than 55 northerner degrees.

 

[kanerf]

I used to live in Arizona and had to laugh when the locals started getting out their winter parkas once the daytime temps hit the 60s.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

As most have said it is important to bring multiple layers. We have gone over Christmas and thanksgiving many times since 2000. From 2000-2010 the weather tended to be cooler than normal. From 2011-2019 the weather was warmer. Even if it will be in 60s in the evening, you will need a light jacket at least depending on the breeze as all the water will make it feel colder.

We will be going first week of December and it will be a guess of what the weather will be.

 

[Her Dotness]

Don't pay that much attention to weather forecasts. Believe the Floridians above. That's what it can do--anything.

Weather was supposed to be gorgeous 80s for our week right after New Year's in 2010. Orlando set 3 record lows with snow on the ground at MCO for the first time in 30 years. We spent our last day in our room, ordering room service, beyond tired of freezing.

Yup, we were there for Christmas 7 years ago, too--record highs around 105. Even CMs were complaining it was NOT normal.

Anything, plan for anything with multiple layers.

 

[sponica]

Weather was supposed to be gorgeous 80s for our week right after New Year's in 2010. Orlando set 3 record lows with snow on the ground at MCO for the first time in 30 years. We spent our last day in our room, ordering room service, beyond tired of freezing.

This was the same time frame I went to NOLA and froze. Everybody's flights were delayed getting in because the southern airports don't have de-icers. My connection was far enough north that the airport did have de-icers so I wasn't delayed. Sadly it was warmer in NOLA than home...but little consolation that was to a bunch of northerners (NY/Chicago/Wisconsin) who thought they'd get refuge from the cold in the south...

 

[Rory607]

Don't pay that much attention to weather forecasts. Believe the Floridians above. That's what it can do--anything.

Weather was supposed to be gorgeous 80s for our week right after New Year's in 2010. Orlando set 3 record lows with snow on the ground at MCO for the first time in 30 years. We spent our last day in our room, ordering room service, beyond tired of freezing.

Yup, we were there for Christmas 7 years ago, too--record highs around 105. Even CMs were complaining it was NOT normal.

Anything, plan for anything with multiple layers.

Wow! I’m hoping we’re somewhere between those two extremes

 

[Her Dotness]

Wow! I’m hoping we’re somewhere between those two extremes

We've had windchills in the mid-20s more than one year for our usual third week of November.

The killer is that it'll do that for a few days, give you a gorgeous, sunny 80s one or two, and then smack you with chilly drizzle the next.

We're even fairly used to high humidity, living near the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Sometimes, humidity as high as Orlando's. Thing is, we don't tend to get humidity that high in winter.

I swear we bring nasty weather with us as many times as we've had it there.

Good luck.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

Wow! I’m hoping we’re somewhere between those two extremes

Based on the forecast of a La Niña the weather should be warmer and drier than usual, but it is always a toss up what weather you will have.

 

[LisaL]

We've been a few times at end of Nov or early Dec and it's so hard to predict. Dec 2019 was soooo cold the days we were there, but hot before we got there and hot the day we left (LOL). I've packed warm clothes and had to buy cooler clothes and vice versa. So now, we watch the forecast and pack a little of everything. You'll have fun no matter what!

We will be there at Christmas for the first time, too. I'm sure we'll see you there!