How different is a winter vacation?

[DfromATX]

We have a trip booked for January too! Our kids are now grown so we used to only go in the summer and once during the Christmas holiday, but in February 2021, just my husband and I went and I don't think I will ever go in the summer again! The weather was absolutely beautiful! As for crowds, well, it was in the middle of the pandemic, but I'm not gonna lie... it was fantastic also, even with most restaurants closed. To my surprise, there were still lots of children there even though it was school time and I think most schools had reopened at that time. I won't expect it to be that low again, but we'll see. I'm hoping the past winter crowds that we've heard about was not the "new normal" (I really hate that phrase by the way lol.)

I think y'all will really enjoy it. Even if crowds are a bit higher, it will still be better than summer time. Hopefully Tron will be open!

 

[Goofyernmost]

I usually always went there in late February. I've been there when there was a light frost and even when they had to spray water on the citrus trees and encase them in ice to prevent the frost from damaging the oranges, etc. I never was sure why frost would damage them but ice was OK. I've been there when I had to scrape the frost off my car windshield in the morning and by 2pm I was running the AC. or when it started out warm and stayed that way. I guess you could say you just need to be prepared for anything. However, it was never uncomfortably hot.

There can still be crowds because a lot of the schools in the northeast had the last week of February off for mid-winter break so it was a good time to travel. I don't believe I have ever been there in January, but from what I understand a number of attractions are closed for sprucing up during that time but by the end of February almost all of them were open, Now for a disclaimer. I have not been there at that time of year for around 10 years now and I know a lot of things may have changed since then.

 

[JIMINYCR]

There are times I've gone all the way to FL, only to have temps that are minimally warmer than much farther north. (Prob still warmer than Canada or the Dakotas, so it depends on the point being compared.)

When it works out that FL is warmer, it is great, but often that has not been my experience that Orlando is all that much warmer, not enough to get excited.

Now driving/traveling a few hours south of WDW- to like Ft Lauderdale, Miami, or Naples/Ft Myers- they trend a bit more reliably warm in winter. OP, if warm is what you crave in winter, a split stay is a decent option.

We are in Maine and any winter trips weve taken to FL has always been a respite from the cold, snow and ice. Weve usually left in a snowstorm or one thats on its way thats building on a foot or more of snow and ice thats already on the ground. At that point even a 60 degree WDW day feels great when hours ago you were shivering in 20 degrees or lower temps.

 

[JoeCamel]

We are in Maine and any winter trips weve taken to FL has always been a respite from the cold, snow and ice. Weve usually left in a snowstorm or one thats on its way thats building on a foot or more of snow and ice thats already on the ground. At that point even a 60 degree WDW day feels great when hours ago you were shivering in 20 degrees or lower temps.

Flying from Chicago to Florida in winter the first time was amazing, when they opened the doors and we walked down the stairs at night it felt like a warm blanket was wrapped around you and so good.
After 20 years of living there? I can think of better places to vacation to.

 

[Wilbret]

We took our first trip to WDW in June, and while we absolutely loved it, the heat was terrible. Not enough that I regret going, but enough that I can't imagine I would ever pay to go back in the middle of summer lol.

I booked another weeklong stay in January, I'm hoping the weather makes for a better experience overall. I've heard that the parks have reduced hours, is their still enough time in the day to hit most of the rides? We do use a DAS for my autistic son, as standing in long lines usually has him melting down a bit, and even in a stroller its hard to keep him from distracting or annoying other guest. Usually he can handle anything 15 mins or under though (weve gotten decent at keeping him distracted).

Is their any other things I should keep in mind for a winter trip? Just looking for some input =)

We have been in every month, I think? I love the fall and winter.

Your kids may be willing to hop in a pool, but you may not be so eager. Some hotels have heated pools and the kids love it. ;-)

We've seen 40 degree nights in October and almost or maybe even freezing temps in the winter. It just means you need to pack prepared. For the long days, we keep a light fleece or something in a backpack for when the sun goes down.

Park hours haven't been a huge deal, but know that parties at MK really ramp up in August to January and you'll need to pay attention to avoid those days to maximize time in the park if MK is your destination.

 

[Djsfantasi]

January is my favorite time to visit WDW. BUT you have to check the WDW calendar of events. There usually is only one week without an event and no crowds. Around the third week, if I remember right.

If you miss, Marathon week is miserable. I did one trip. The buses to MK were rerouted to TTC, making getting to the park longer than usual. And the resort was packed.

One year, I had to wear a sweatshirt in the morning while waiting for a bus, but it came off late morning and went into my backpack. I didn’t pack shorts. The weather is mild enough so that jeans were comfortable.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

The only bummer I see with January trips is that you could go a whole week with the weather never getting warm enough to swim. If pool and water time is important to you, that could be a drawback. But the parks themselves are much more pleasant.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

January is my favorite time to visit WDW. BUT you have to check the WDW calendar of events. There usually is only one week without an event and no crowds. Around the third week, if I remember right.

Yes, the sweet spot is in between Marathon and MLK. Sometimes there's one week in there, other times there are two.

 

[Wilbret]

Are there really any sweet spots left, lol?

I remember the good ole days. We would go the week after Thanksgiving.
Or the week after school starts. Or in the dead spot of winter.

Everyone figured out all the tricks, dagnabbit.

My favorite trick, and don't tell anyone... is to wait for a hurricane and hope that everyone that flies in cancels. We have had some GLORIOUS October trips when a hurricane was bearing down. Just gotta have faith, and also, live close enough to drive, lol.

 

[mf1972]

i think it was back in 2006 when we were staying at disney when a hurricane hit. it didn’t last long, & they later opened MK in the afternoon for resort guests only. i don’t remember if they opened the other parks, but it was a fun experience with MK probably only being 1/4 full

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

We are in Maine and any winter trips weve taken to FL has always been a respite from the cold, snow and ice. Weve usually left in a snowstorm or one thats on its way thats building on a foot or more of snow and ice thats already on the ground. At that point even a 60 degree WDW day feels great when hours ago you were shivering in 20 degrees or lower temps.

Not to me. To me, it doesn't matter how cold it is where I came from. When I go to FL, I want afternoon high of 75 or higher.

If FL temps are only afternoon high 60's/PM low in the 40's, that is too low for my tastes. I mean, I'll tolerate it, but I am also disappointed.


One year, I was at the Epcot Flower Festival on the day it opened. It was so cold that day, the butterflies wouldn't fly. We walked through just after 9am, and the sun was out. It was clear they had just been released from their mesh box. They were perched on it, but some were flapping, moving a little. Then the sun went behind a cloud and they all stopped moving. The sun later came out, but the day didn't get any warmer. We stopped by again about 4pm, and the butterflies were still exactly in the same spots. They had not moved all day.

So that's become a running joke in our family.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Flying from Chicago to Florida in winter the first time was amazing, when they opened the doors and we walked down the stairs at night it felt like a warm blanket was wrapped around you and so good.
After 20 years of living there? I can think of better places to vacation to.

As they say... You want what you dont have and things always look better from the other side of the fence. DW and I have considered moving to Fl but decided the heat and humidity would be too much of a constant, so we will visit and not have to deal with that part 24/7. A trip down in the winter for a break will suffice.

 

[ppete1975]

Dont over think the weather. It could be 90 or 30. There are targets and walmarts all around so if you get there and its super cold buy a cheap coat you can donate on the way out, or buy a nice disney hoody. When i went in november i wore shorts and was hot. Yet i know people who have went in october and froze. So dont overpack trying to be ready for anything.
If you were going in november or december (maybe next time!! ) the parks are so fun with the christmas decorations and even though its fake... the snow at night is magical. Also though expensive the christmas parties are worth it, at least once in your life.

 

[ppete1975]

What I don't like about going between November and March is that the weather is unpredictable and you have to be prepared.
I've been in December when its high of 55F with a raw breeze and rained all day and the wind chill was 38F and I've been in February when it was 85F and sunny all day.
And it seems like the weather can shift back and forth like that quickly so maybe the first half of the trip its hot and sunny and the second half its freezing and raining meaning you need to pack shorts and pants, tanks and hoodies, sandals and sneakers, ponchos and parkas...
Nothing has made a trip less pleasant quite like shivering while waiting for the fireworks because dumb me thought it was going to be shorts weather and brought zero pants and only a light jacket and had to go buy a beach towel to wrap around me.

thats what walmart and target are for. My vacations to all parts of the us have gotten alot more enjoyable since i stopped overthinking clothes in packing, i just do the bare essentials and go from there.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

thats what walmart and target are for. My vacations to all parts of the us have gotten alot more enjoyable since i stopped overthinking clothes in packing, i just do the bare essentials and go from there.

But that means finding your way to a target or walmart and hoping they have what you need and in your size... Plus you're spending money for no reason because you could have just brought something you own.

 

[Lilofan]

Are there really any sweet spots left, lol?

I remember the good ole days. We would go the week after Thanksgiving.
Or the week after school starts. Or in the dead spot of winter.

Everyone figured out all the tricks, dagnabbit.

My favorite trick, and don't tell anyone... is to wait for a hurricane and hope that everyone that flies in cancels. We have had some GLORIOUS October trips when a hurricane was bearing down. Just gotta have faith, and also, live close enough to drive, lol.

One time hurricane beating down in Central FL , Coronado guests evacuated from rooms and slept on carpet in huge convention space with characters entertaining crowd. The stress of pre , ride out, post hurricane experience is not for the faint of heart. Good luck trying to find a gas station selling gas for one thing. Nothing is glorious during a hurricane coming your way.

 

[Goofyernmost]

We are in Maine and any winter trips weve taken to FL has always been a respite from the cold, snow and ice. Weve usually left in a snowstorm or one thats on its way thats building on a foot or more of snow and ice thats already on the ground. At that point even a 60 degree WDW day feels great when hours ago you were shivering in 20 degrees or lower temps.

I can't remember more than a handful of times when leaving Vermont in February when the temperature wasn't in the below Zero range or it snowed the night before and had to deal with icy roads until around NYC. But to arrive in Florida with the warm air, sunshine and palm trees was like arriving in heaven minus that judgement thing.

 

[Ayla]

thats what walmart and target are for. My vacations to all parts of the us have gotten alot more enjoyable since i stopped overthinking clothes in packing, i just do the bare essentials and go from there.

Why would I buy something there when I already have it at home and can bring it? Spending time at Walmart or Target is not my idea of vacation.

 

[tpoly88]

Not to me. To me, it doesn't matter how cold it is where I came from. When I go to FL, I want afternoon high of 75 or higher.

If FL temps are only afternoon high 60's/PM low in the 40's, that is too low for my tastes. I mean, I'll tolerate it, but I am also disappointed.


One year, I was at the Epcot Flower Festival on the day it opened. It was so cold that day, the butterflies wouldn't fly. We walked through just after 9am, and the sun was out. It was clear they had just been released from their mesh box. They were perched on it, but some were flapping, moving a little. Then the sun went behind a cloud and they all stopped moving. The sun later came out, but the day didn't get any warmer. We stopped by again about 4pm, and the butterflies were still exactly in the same spots. They had not moved all day.

So that's become a running joke in our family.

Living in Central Fl, we get spring, summer, fall and 5 days of winter. we have days where its 28 degrees at night, 40 during the day with 20 mph winds. thats raw and its usually January. Bring a pullover or a hoodie and don't think your pool hopping everyday. They now have the festival of the arts at Epcot and the parks are not as crowded but not like they used to be 10 years ago when NO ONE would be there. i could do every ride in DHS before noon and hop to Epcot and do everything there, then go to MK till it closed.
Someone asked on the Ice on the citrus, its sounds dumb but the Ice forms a barrier from the extra cold. when a freeze is forecast for a citrus farm, the farmers often spray the trees with water. When the temperature drops, this water freezes and releases heat to its environment, some of which is the still-ripening fruit. This heat is enough to preserve the fruit inside from freezing. So, paradoxically, causing ice to form on the fruit saves it from freezing.

 

[jonnyc]

When people say it can be cold in January - this is not a lie.

As a Brit, I thought this was a great exaggeration - it's Florida how can it ever be actually cold!?

More fool me, stood in a 70 minute line for Slinky Dog Dash in a pair of shorts when it was 2 degrees Celsius. I even found myself wearing my facemask in outdoor areas, just for the heat.

So do not make my mistake - bring clothes for the full range of temperatures. By the end of my trip it was back to standard Florida heat, so you do really need some clothing options.