What's the weather REALLY like in late January?

[EpcotNerd]

I've been stalking every weather statistic out there but still can't wrap my mind around what it would be like to visit in late January.

Are we talking long-sleeved shirts and jeans during the day? Do you ever get to wear shorts?

Is swimming out of the question?

Is it really uncomfortable to do something like Splash mountain and then walk around a little wet?

Would we be bundling up for the fireworks?

I keep telling myself it will be warmer than at home if the average high (71 for January) but if we're there and it's in the 50s during the day will that suck some of the fun out of it?

 

[alm99]

Our experience

Late January 2012 - Weather was fantastic. Sunny high 70s/low 80s everyday of our 7 days
Late January 2014 - Weather was up and down for the 7 days. 70s and sun some days and cold and rainy with highs in the 50s the other days


2012 was great, we packed one pair of pants each, never used them.
2014, when it was 50 and you were wet, you were cold because the previous day was mid 70 and sun.

You really need to be prepared for it all that time of year.

 

[DisneyEllie]

We have gone several times in late January (our kids have a school break then). The weather was okay. Warm but not hot. And I don't recall any rain, overcast but no rain. We definitely used the pools - even at night! My husband and kids wore shorts and t shirts. I wore jeans and a t shirt or shorts and a sweatshirt. The key is layers! ON sunny days I would just find a sunny spot and soak up the warmth of the sun! The weather was so much better than one trip we took the first week of December when it was rainy every day and freeze advisories...!

The low crowds trumped the weather for us! I would say the biggest negative, was that the times we went in January Splash was down for refurbishment, and this is our family's favorite ride. So that was the biggest bummer.

 

[CAS239]

It can vary. It can either feel good with low humidity and be in the mid 70's-80's. Or it can feel even better and be in the 50's-60's with cooler temps in the morning. Generally it's not until Jan-Feb when winter strikes here in Florida.

So basically, you won't get an answer until it's right around that time. It can be pool weather and shorts and shirts..or be freezing and be jacket and pants whether

 

[HopperFan]

Bring EVERYTHING! Jeans, shorts, tshirts, sweatshirts, bathing suit ... be prepared for anything to happen.

 

[ars0525]

January 2016 was cold. But I am now a FL girl so compared to the other visitors at WDW I am always bundled up!

Honestly you have to wait til about 3 days before your trip before you'll have a good idea of what the weather may be. It could be warm enough to swim during the day, you may have layers & jeans on at night? Who knows?

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

We packed everything for our late January trip this year. We did NOT get any swimming weather on this trip - 6 days. We had a couple of outfits with shorts which we did not wear. We definitely used our fleece jackets, gloves and hats along with a blanket over the little one in her stroller.

The weather the week before we went was significantly warmer and we would have worn shorts or swam. You really can NOT predict.

 

[rwdavis2]

Cold, warm and hot. We've experienced them all. From 30's at night to 80's during the day.

 

[AJA]

We went the last week of January this year and I wore my knit gloves to the parks a few days. We had to take twice the usual amount of clothes. It was in the 60's for a high most days but cool in the morning and by early evening (5pm ish). Also the rain made it feel cooler. And after getting rained on we we ready to head back to our hotel as opposed to warmer months when it's not such a big deal.

We did see a few kids swimming, but not many adults. And my husband wore shorts a few days but no way me or my daughter could. I wore jeans and t shirts layered with sweater wraps or hoodies and my daughter layered up with jogging sets.

What is cool to some might feel perfect for others. January was hard to pack for. We won't do Disney again in January.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We go in January for the races, but the parks can be very cold - and we are coming from the north. 45 degrees and cloudy with a 20MPH wind blowing is miserable when you are outside. Miserable. As long as you can accept that you may have a few days like this go and have fun, because the days that are not this cold can be pretty amazing.

As others have said, your suitcases are going to be heavy because you have to pack for 30-85 degree conditions.

 

[Praying Colonel]

We were there after MLK this year and it was cold--highs in the mid 50s, which is warmer than back home, but somehow it feels really cold. I wish I'd brought gloves and earmuffs. As others have said, prepare for anything and layer up.

 

[kayteekt]

As a frequent January go-er, it really just depends. But over all the weather is great in my opinion. We've only had one January trip where a cold front went through and made it unpleasant. Most trips have been perfect, mid 60s-70s, cooler in the mornings and evenings. We've swam every trip except that one frigid year. What to pack...that's the hard part. Luckily, we drive so we can afford to over pack. Really a little bit of everything, and of course I adjust looking at last minute forcasts...but for the most part it's jeans and t-shirt weather. I'll bring some long sleeve things/light jackets for mornings and evenings. Couple pair of shorts for hot afternoons. Also, if there's a chance a cold front will come through clothes that will layer well, some plain long sleeve t's to go under other shirts, vest, etc... My SIL and I were laughing at ourselves this past January as we had to pack everything from heavy coats and gloves to bathing suits and shorts (thank goodness we didn't need the winter gear!). Overall, January is a wonderful time of year to visit, lower crowds...note lower not low and very tolerable weather and it's a nice break from the winter if you're from somewhere any further north

 

[JimmyV]

I've been stalking every weather statistic out there but still can't wrap my mind around what it would be like to visit in late January. You've answered your own question. You can't wrap your mind around it because it is like nailing Jello to the wall. January is all over the place.

Are we talking long-sleeved shirts and jeans during the day? Yes. Do you ever get to wear shorts? ...and yes.

Is swimming out of the question? No. But then again, yes.

Is it really uncomfortable to do something like Splash mountain and then walk around a little wet? Yes. But then again, no.

Would we be bundling up for the fireworks? One day yes. Next day, no.

I keep telling myself it will be warmer than at home if the average high (71 for January) but if we're there and it's in the 50s during the day will that suck some of the fun out of it?

See above. You will have a better feel for it a few days before you leave, but you might notice a particular weather pattern just before you arrive. There might be a stationary cold front at which point you might be looking at highs in the mid 50's and lows in the 30's for the whole week. Or you might get lucky with a stationary warm front and have temps in the mid-70's with lows in the high 50's. Or you might straddle two different fronts and have some of both. And let's not get started on the rain! Could be bone dry every day. Could rain every day.

 

[pa. dad]

An "average" January day would be about high of 70 and low of 50.
Our weeklong trip this January we did not see any average days though- all the days were much hotter or quite a bit cooler.
A previous Jan trip was quite a bit cooler.
That leaves a wide range then. You have to take a wide range of clothes for that.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

agree with everyone else- you need to pack for all kinds of weather

one year we went - the week before ours was COLD with temps in the 30s - everyone was complaining about the cold and wearing jackets and gloves; fast forward to our week - we were in shorts and t-shirts - we lucked out!!

 

[Accident]

Is it really uncomfortable to do something like Splash mountain and then walk around a little wet?

Splash actually closes for a few weeks when overnight temps are below freezing to protect the ride (and get a little spruced up). I think it was 3-4 weeks starting in mid jan this year that it temporary closed for refurb. Water parks will also close for temp but I dont know how long they do it.

There's some videos from dis unplugged where everyone in the parks are bundled up (florida style with layers). In december I have a sweatshirt with me for when the sun goes down and it's chilly then too.

Let's not forget about the snow in dec 2010 and jan 2011, that was rather cold

you kind of need to be prepared for anything in dec and jan (and some of feb). evenings will most likely be chilly, overnights can be down to freezing.

 

[NeuroCindy]

Warmer than Chicago, Colder than the equator. Pack for it all

 

[Klinger13]

I'll echo the pack for it all! We went this past January, end of the month. Our first day was beautiful - sunny and 75 so we wore t-shirts & shorts and then added a light jacket at night. Day 2 was cooler, maybe low 60s and drizzle and rain much of the day. Day 3 poured all day! Day 4 sunny but breezy and cool - DH actually bought a hoodie at Epcot because it was so chilly. Day 5 started chilly & warmed up to about 75 again. It was tough to pack for and we definitely had to layer every day/carry a backpack/tie jackets around our waists, etc.

 

[Shanti]

I've been stalking every weather statistic out there but still can't wrap my mind around what it would be like to visit in late January.

Are we talking long-sleeved shirts and jeans during the day? Do you ever get to wear shorts?

Is swimming out of the question?

Is it really uncomfortable to do something like Splash mountain and then walk around a little wet?

Would we be bundling up for the fireworks?

I keep telling myself it will be warmer than at home if the average high (71 for January) but if we're there and it's in the 50s during the day will that suck some of the fun out of it?

When we went in late January 2009, the weather was cool but not really cold. Definitely jeans, long-sleeved shirt & light jacket weather. February 2014 was similar, but a bit warmer.

When we went for a weekend in late January 2016, it was literally freezing with the wind chill factored in. Absolutely miserable cold and wind. Bundled up in every layer we had, trying to cover faces during parades, etc. No swimming possible.

Winter temperatures in Florida are unpredictable, especially given the vagaries of El Nino and La Nina. No way to know several months in advance what the temps will be like the week of your trip.

 

[DOOM1001]

As others have said,you can get a high of 85 with a low around 68 or you can get a high of 50 with a low of 28,most likely somewhere in the middle which makes for pretty nice weather, a high of 72 with a low of 54 is pretty good in my opinion,not swimming weather but enjoyable to be at the parks.