What is the temperature like around XMAS

[dmperry134]

Some advise please,

We will be going to to Disney for 3 weeks from 13th December and as we have never been at this time of the year (normally Oct or early Nov) what is the weather like. Also temperature, ie can you still walk around in shorts and T-shirts.

Many thanks

Dave
Worcestershire (UK)

 

[SpongeScott]

Dave, I've been able to swim in the Gulf on Christmas to us having rolling blackouts because people were using so much power because of the cold. In other words, it could be in the 70's or 80's or could be in the 30's or 40's. You just don't know. Pack for both!

 

[PixiePower]

Christmas can be an iffy time here. I usually go that time of the year and we normally wear jeans, tshirts and have a fleece pullover with us. We wear the fleece early in the morning and after the sun goes down. During the day we are always comfortable in jeans. Some days are warm enough for shorts but not at night.

If you are going to see any nighttime shows...especially Illuminations...pack gloves! It gets cold there at night when the wind is blowing.

But, like SpongeScott wrote, it is crazy here that time of the year...it is one of the worst to try to pack for. I would go heavy with things you can layer.

 

[Master Yoda]

SpongeScott is correct. It is not uncommon to have 30 degree temperature shifts from one day to the next. You can almost always count on it being cool to cold at night especially if there is wind coming across a body of water so like was stated before pack for both.

 

[maelstrom]

I went December 4-11 in 2003 and it was SO COLD!!!

 

[righttrack]

Its like spring/fall in the northeast. Expect the unexpected.

 

[Robfasto]

I will agree with everyone else.... You never know.

We always pack a bit of everything with mostly jeans and 2 or 3 pairs of shorts (for a week stay) as we have found it better to have it and not need it than it is to wish you had brought it with you.

 

[swimmom]

We went last year from Dec 17-23. The highs were in the 60's-70's, but it was chilly in the evenings. We packed shorts, but never wore them because we didn't want to come back to change for the evening. The best part was that we had no rain during our entire visit. On the warmer days when we didn't need a jacket all day, we took our jackets to the parks and stored them in a locker until it got cooler in the evening.

 

[brich]

My opinion... I usually go that time of year. I live in New England so my opinion may be different from someone living in Florida year round. I have found it generally pleasant enough to wear shorts during the day. I like it cooler anyway. I will wear shorts if its 16C. To me thats comfy. And at times it feels very summery with much warmer temps. I will say that the nights tend to get quiet chilly. I tend to put on long pants and a sweatshirt. :xmas:

 

[Sloan]

Beautiful

The weather is usually great that time of year. Average high in December is 73, average low is 51. Of course, a front can pass by and make it colder ... (so be prepared)

 

[shoppingnut]

I have been going down to FL for about 10 years now at christmas time and can tell you the weather is very iffy at that time of year. I am from New York and used to cold weather, but when you are out in it all day long, it's a different story. It's been years since I was able to wear shorts. What I normally do is go on the weather channel website and do a 10 day forecast projection which helps in packing. I have found that layers work the best, because some days you can wear a tshirt during the day, but at night need a jacket or sweatshirt. I always pack a pair of gloves, scarf and earmuffs and yes, I have used them. A few years ago, it got down to 30, so glad I had a heavier coat with me that year.

 

[CaptainMichael]

When we went in 2003, it was cold at times and warm. When it was cold, a jacket was absolutely necessary!

 

[Nansafan]

To echo everyone else, we've gone to BB during a Christmas trip and worn gloves later that night. My son has these nylon, zip-off warm-up pants that he wears when we go to WDW in December. Pants early morning, zip to shorts when the sun gets hot, then back to pants when it gets colder. I bought them at Old Navy a couple years ago. Should have bought some for myself.

 

[surfsupdon]

Christmas 2002, the weather was warm and dry. 70s for highs and chilly 40/50s at night. The week before Christmas was freezing and wet.

Christmas 2003 was hot, highs were in the 80s for a majority of days, but nights were still chilly.

Christmas 2004 was chilly, with cold nights. It did moderate back into the 80s by Jan 2nd.


I was at Disney for the past three years from 12/26--1/4. The days are mild to very warm (only a few chilly days) and the nights are chilly to cold. You really ahve to bring clothes for everythig tho. It is, usually, dry always.

 

[cherrynegra]

I went December 4-11 in 2003 and it was SO COLD!!!

Yes, I was there those same dates and it amazed me how the weather would fluctuate like mad. My friend and I even had to make a special trip to Target to buy warmer clothing for the cold spell that hit that week.

 

[Robfasto]

Yes, I was there those same dates and it amazed me how the weather would fluctuate like mad. My friend and I even had to make a special trip to Target to buy warmer clothing for the cold spell that hit that week.

That is why we alway pack extra clothes, most of the time we have an extra suitcase that only has winter type clothes so even if flying just check it through. If a cold spell hits we don't have to run out to the store for anything because I hate to take away from my time on vacation...

 

[SpectroMan]

We were there the week before Christmas last year, and it was very cold. My family ended up wearing pants and T-shirts with jackets during the day, and at night we had to put long-sleeves shirts on with the jackets.

 

[DisneyMarg]

I took my Mom and Dad at Christmas in 1983 or 4 and it was FRIGID. The high one day was colder than the low in Anchorage, Alaska. The groves were covered with ice to insulate the fruit (or blossoms or whatever), which was very neat to see.

Christmas was on a Sunday. We went to church that morning and the church we picked had no heat. They greeted us at the door with a blanket and cup of hot chocolate. Once we settled in, there was no standing for prayers or hymns. It was a memorable service.

The plan was to then go to MK for the Christmas parade. We drove to the park, parked the car, rode the tram to the TTA, took the monorail to MK, walked into the park and found a spot for the parade. Everyone was wrapped up in whatever they could find from bedspreads to socks on their hands. I found Mom and Dad a cup of coffee, and when I delivered it back to them, they said, "we really want to go back to the warm hotel." So, we took the monorail to TTA, rode the tram to our car, and drove back to the hotel, and got there just as the live coverage of the parade started.

It was one of my most memorable Christmases ever! We enjoyed laughing about it for years.

 

[Robfasto]

I took my Mom and Dad at Christmas in 1983 or 4 and it was FRIGID. The high one day was colder than the low in Anchorage, Alaska. The groves were covered with ice to insulate the fruit (or blossoms or whatever), which was very neat to see.

Christmas was on a Sunday. We went to church that morning and the church we picked had no heat. They greeted us at the door with a blanket and cup of hot chocolate. Once we settled in, there was no standing for prayers or hymns. It was a memorable service.

The plan was to then go to MK for the Christmas parade. We drove to the park, parked the car, rode the tram to the TTA, took the monorail to MK, walked into the park and found a spot for the parade. Everyone was wrapped up in whatever they could find from bedspreads to socks on their hands. I found Mom and Dad a cup of coffee, and when I delivered it back to them, they said, "we really want to go back to the warm hotel." So, we took the monorail to TTA, rode the tram to our car, and drove back to the hotel, and got there just as the live coverage of the parade started.

It was one of my most memorable Christmases ever! We enjoyed laughing about it for years.

I remember that year, I was a Cast Member at the time and know that cold spell came through and caught everyone at Disney off gaurd, they lost a lot of plants that year because it came so quickly they didn't have time to get everything covered and the heaters out. They had to buy plants from as far way as Tennessee and have them trucked in to replace all the damaged plants.

Here is a picture of some frost damaged trees taken in the Magic Kingdom a few days after the cold snap:
Picture of the Frost Damage 1983

 

[Pippa]

Some advise please,

We will be going to to Disney for 3 weeks from 13th December and as we have never been at this time of the year (normally Oct or early Nov) what is the weather like. Also temperature, ie can you still walk around in shorts and T-shirts.

Many thanks

Dave
Worcestershire (UK)

So Dave, to conclude its just like the weather in the UK!!! Could be nice, could be chilly!

I usually go end Nov/beginning Dec and 1998 & 2001 were lovely and warm but 2000 was very cool! You never can tell!