Weather and dress in December

sydneymorganmom

Active Member
I usually go to WDW in mid-January and the weather is all over the place. Last year it was 85/65 all week and the year prior it was 60/30. What is your experience with beginning/mid-December temps? I assume it's pretty much the same and I'll need to pack for every extreme for warmer during the day and chilly at night. Just looking for some past experience. TIA!
 

crosswagon

Member
I usually go to WDW in mid-January and the weather is all over the place. Last year it was 85/65 all week and the year prior it was 60/30. What is your experience with beginning/mid-December temps? I assume it's pretty much the same and I'll need to pack for every extreme for warmer during the day and chilly at night. Just looking for some past experience. TIA!

Last year, December 15th-23rd was perfect weather everyday! Daytime-Upper 70's and 80's, nights-60's. Shorts, capris and t-shirts for days and a long sleeve tee or sweatshirt for nights. The 17th was the coldest at night but we getting free hot chocolate at the xmas party so we managed just fine. I love going that time of year but you do have to pack a little more just in case.
 
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wiigirl

Well-Known Member
I suggest layers and plan for a range.

I have been a couple times in December and its just unpredicable in my opinion.
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ratherbeinwdw

Well-Known Member
We went the first weekend of December last year. It was nice during the day, but I had to wear long pants and a light jacket in the evenings. I had checked yahoo weather the week before we went, so I knew what to expect, so I was prepared. My daughter insisted she would only need a hoodie. She ended up borrowing one of my little jackets.
I find that yahoo weather is the most accurate.
 
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dreamfinder

Well-Known Member
Layers, layers, layers. With the temp swings and possible variations from day to day multiple thin packable layers are your best bet. Being able to stuff a layer in a backpack along with the rest of your stuff is so much easier than having to wear/carry a heavy jacket all day.
 
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luv

Well-Known Member
Like many places, we had a warm winter last year. Yay. But it can get chilly, even cold.

I come from a place where 0 degrees is part of winter. People complain about it, but nobody is surprised or shocked when it drops from 12 to 0. And they delight on the rare occasion there is a heat wave and it goes up to 38 or 45. Forty degrees - Woo Hoo. It's why I moved to Florida, lol.

So, when I say it can get cold, I'm not talking 58 or 60, like many people would define it. It can honestly get cold. On rare occasions, it will dip to freezing overnight. But freezing is about as low as we go, ever. We do not get the bitter, "suck the breath out of you" cold that some places have. If it dropped to zero in Orlando, they'd talk about it for fifty years. If it gets low enough to turn on the heat, it becomes a topic of conversation. :)

And even if it is cold in the morning or evening/night, it can still be quite warm at two in the afternoon.

Pack for warm. Pack a little for cold. If you wear warm clothes down and pack one other warm outfit, you will likely be well prepared. Even if it is uncharacteristically cold, you would still have enough to get you through, with a little laundry.

And if you're willing to shell out for a sweatshirt, you're good to go. Disney sells a lot of crappy clothes, but if you're willing to pay Disney prices, you can still get sweatshirts that will last for years and years, making them a bargain, long-term. At least last year, they were still selling good some quality sweatshirts.
 
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Mukta

Well-Known Member
I was in WDW for the cold snap in December of 2010. It was ridiculously cold and I was not prepared for the weather.

This year I will be taking layers, lightweight tshirts/pants as well as mittens and warm socks. I do not want to be that uncomfortable again, and if I only take heavy clothes, I guarantee the weather will be over 90 degrees.
 
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MissM

Well-Known Member
It's really almost impossible to know. Some years, we're in shorts sweating at Christmas. Other years, we're in sweaters. This past year was miserable because we really did NOT have winter at all. I'm hoping this year we get a break and get some colder weather. But it's really all over the place. Our cold fronts can come in very suddenly too. It can be 85 one day, then the temp drops to a high of 45 the next day. Right before you leave, check out the weather. Anything further out then a few days is pure guess work.

I'd plan in general for a little bit of everything, with a mix of lighter clothes for warm weather, some lightweight jackets and then if there's a cold snap in the forecast, possibly even more then that.
 
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HouCuseChickie

Well-Known Member
Pack for a little of everything. I lived in FL for 7 yrs and I never knew what to expect at that time of year. It's been a while since I lived there, but we went to WDW in Dec 2010 and it was much colder than I expected. I remember it being in the upper 30s on our arrival day and that windchill at the WL dock was BRUTAL. Lowest temps of the trip were in the 20s. Of course I had friends go around this time last year and it was quite pleasant the entire trip. So really- you just never know.
 
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the1nonlysinger

Active Member
We were there for the crazy winter of 2010 (hi Mukta & HouCuseChickie!). I live in Upstate NY and it was cold by MY standards. Luckily I had packed hats, scarves and gloves- was still freezing- but layering is certainly the way to go. I would even buy a few of those hand warmers from the dollar store too. :)
 
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disney magic 06

Well-Known Member
We were there 5-17 December a few years ago and had a real mixed bag.

Some days we could sunbathe, other days it rained constantly, some days were bright but cold-very cold. The night we went to Fantasmic was SO cold I have been put off it for ever.

Locals did say it was unusually bad through.
 
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sydneymorganmom

Active Member
Original Poster
Thanks, everyone. I figured it would be a real mixed bag. Here in MD, we have the same thing from year to year. I imagine that it won't be as warm as last year so I'll assume jackets in the morning and evening with short sleeves for afternoon.
 
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