Ever Been To A Theme Park On A Cold Day? What Was It Like?

[tory898]

It's the best.

I absolutely love Disney in cold weather. Being able to wear a jacket and feeling comfortable is so much better than dying from the heat

 

[Disney_and_Wine]

Turned out it was going to be in the 40s,

Proving yet again that "cold" is subjective. At home, we can go from mid-December through February without seeing a day in the 40s. When March rolls around and we see the thermometer read 40+, we break out the shorts and t-shirts.

 

[rastahomie]

Proving yet again that "cold" is subjective. At home, we can go from mid-December through February without seeing a day in the 40s. When March rolls around and we see the thermometer read 40+, we break out the shorts and t-shirts.

Yeah that's the thing. To Orlando locals, anything below 60 is parka weather. If it's December and in the 60-degree range here at home, I'm ready to go outside in my shorts and barbecue.

 

[loves to dive]

We were there the week before Christmas last year and the nights were cold (we are from Georgia) and some of the days chilly. Some of the days I was o.k. with just a lightweight long sleeve shirt, there was one day when it was windy and chilly in the morning and long sleeve shirt just wasn't getting it so I HAD to buy a pashmina in Morocco, another day again my long sleeve shirt and scarf wasn't getting it so I HAD to buy a jacket in HS. The day of the pashmina it did finally warm up enough to kind of wrap it around my waist, the day I had to buy the jacket I had to wear it all day and even though I had that on and a scarf, that night I was freezing.

 

[KCSherri]

"Ever Been To A Theme Park On A Cold Day? What Was It Like?"

Yes. It was cold. Very cold. In fact, I was frozen. But I learned to let it go, as the cold never bothered me, anyway.

 

[gatorlisa]

Early in December you are unlikely to experience cold weather. It can happen, but usually if Central Florida is going to get a cold burst it's in January or February. But yes, I've done Disney in some reasonably cold weather. Late January 2016 I went for a long weekend. The first day was cool and overcast. Wore shorts, and light jacket while cool, took it off and strapped it to my bag when I didn't need to wear it. The second day was chilly and rainy. Wore jeans, waterproof hiking boots and a waterproof jacket pretty much all day this day. The last day was cold by Orlando standards and windy, with wind chills in the 30s. I'm a native Floridian and have lived in Georgia for over a decade, so for me this was pretty cold weather to be out and about in. Wore jeans, the boots (because they are warmer than my running shoes) and two layers of outerwear. That last day, we elected to skip rides with the potential to get wet (we did AK and MK that day, so Kali and Splash). By the end of the day, as it was getting dark, we also elected to skip anything that was outdoors that got up to any sense of speed (so Thunder Mountain and SDMT). Other than that, it was ok. I was cold while outside, but not enough so to make me want to leave. Even sat in the cold to wait for the MSEP...first time I've ever had hot chocolate while at WDW.

 

[AngiTN]

Yes we have, a couple different trips turned cold and honestly, no. It was no fun whatsoever. We were even prepared both times. Still, nothing fun about clouds, mid 40's, 20+ mile per hour wind and being outside in a theme park. Even if you make that the 50's if you add in rain it's pretty dang miserable.

 

[DekrRini]

I'll be there first week of December and, maybe, for the first time in my life, might experience a "cold" day at a WDW theme park. Now, my definition of "cold" is probably different from yours (I don't generally break out my jacket until it gets below about 30), but, using whatever definition of "cold" you prefer, what's it like being at a theme park on a cold day? Was it brutal? Or were you still able to have a good time?

I go the first week of December every year and I've not encountered really cold days. I'm from the St. Louis area so I'm used to a more humid cold than other places. I don't ride many of the outside rides anymore so I don't know how it would feel if it's really cold. I try to take a couple long sleeved t-shirts and a hoodie. That's worked for me.

 

[AngiTN]

I do agree, we've done the first week in December twice and it's never been one of our cold trips. It's usually Jan-Feb that the cold snaps will hit FL. And thankfully they aren't long lived so unless you have a really short trip you probably will have both 80 and 40 on the same trip. Which is both good and bad. Means you need shorts and parka's on the same trip. Sucks for packing.

 

[lvdis]

We were there one year in mid December and I was very glad that we had our winter coats and gloves with us. When you are out in it all day and it's windy, you will get cold a lot quicker than at home just going between your car and work or wherever. Especially waiting for a parade or fireworks in the evening. I was wishing I had toe/hand warmers with us.

 

[Xennia]

I'll be there first week of December and, maybe, for the first time in my life, might experience a "cold" day at a WDW theme park. Now, my definition of "cold" is probably different from yours (I don't generally break out my jacket until it gets below about 30), but, using whatever definition of "cold" you prefer, what's it like being at a theme park on a cold day? Was it brutal? Or were you still able to have a good time?

Florida girl here.
You won't experience any cold in December. Mother Nature saves it for Jan-march

 

[AngiTN]

We were there one year in mid December and I was very glad that we had our winter coats and gloves with us. When you are out in it all day and it's windy, you will get cold a lot quicker than at home just going between your car and work or wherever. Especially waiting for a parade or fireworks in the evening. I was wishing I had toe/hand warmers with us.

Plus, just being outside walking around all day. A typical day in a theme park is not how most people spend a typical day in the winter at home, out walking in the wind, riding rides, etc. Unless they usually ski or hike in the snow or something. And so often the cold is without sun, so you can't even seek that out to help warm you up.

 

[MamaBelle4]

I'll be there first week of December and, maybe, for the first time in my life, might experience a "cold" day at a WDW theme park. Now, my definition of "cold" is probably different from yours (I don't generally break out my jacket until it gets below about 30), but, using whatever definition of "cold" you prefer, what's it like being at a theme park on a cold day? Was it brutal? Or were you still able to have a good time?

I live in Southcentral PA. Hershey Park opens over the winter for Christmas at Hershey and runs (very) limited rides. I've been in early fall before when the air is cold, especially it it rains. Still a great time.

Actually when I went to Disney with my MB in 2000/2001 (we went over new year's), it was 40s all week. We all still had a blast. Plus it is gorgeous at winter time!

 

[Shanti]

I'll be there first week of December and, maybe, for the first time in my life, might experience a "cold" day at a WDW theme park. Now, my definition of "cold" is probably different from yours (I don't generally break out my jacket until it gets below about 30), but, using whatever definition of "cold" you prefer, what's it like being at a theme park on a cold day? Was it brutal? Or were you still able to have a good time?

We took grandma on a weekend getaway trip to WDW in January 2016, right when they were in the midst of a cold snap. Wind chill brought the temps into the 30's. We were shivering, completely bundled up in blankets to our noses as we waited for Wishes. Even worse was the boat ride to & from Fort Wilderness for Hoop Dee Doo Revue. That wind blowing over Bay Lake onto us...brrr! I got Photopass pics off us going off Splash Mountain completely bundled up with ponchos on top of our coats. We didn't want to skip anything because it was a special trip for grandma...Let's just say I'm happy to go to WDW in summer now.

We went in January 2009 and February 2014 and never had a problem with cold weather, btw. We just got caught in a really nasty cold snap during our January 2016 trip.

 

[Dashzap]

One year in February it was cold. We were from New England, so we warmish clothes for travel days.

We went to the MK in jeans with fleeces and windbreakers on. It was great although we had no interest in riding Splash.

 

[Micca]

I only remember being truly cold during one trip, probably 20 years ago. I don't recall if it was December or January but it was so cold that I had to wear gloves to keep my fingers from freezing. The upside was that MK was nearly empty, probably because the locals were staying away. @rastahomie you'll be fine in early December.

 

[ZoZo]

I was at WDW one October. My twelve day trip started off in the mid to upper 90s with high humidity.
Using that forecast as my guide for packing, I brought nearly all shorts and sleeveless tops and sandals.

Flash forward about eight days. There was an unseasonable drop in the temperature, going down to about 50 degrees and windy. I layered the best that I could with the clothes that I had brought, with mixed results. I was very reluctant to buy expensive Disney clothes so close to the end of my trip. I'm super frugal, so spending $75 on one sweatshirt wasn't in my budget.

I did okay, but what ended up being really cold were my legs! I had one pair of long running pants that were loose around the ankles, so that cold wind made my legs sooooo cold! and it ended up being nearly impossible to find warm socks. I really wanted crew socks, or even better would have been knee-highs, but I could only find short "footie" socks in most stores. Finally, after much searching, I found socks in the Japan pavilion at Epcot. These sock were meant to be worn with the traditional Japanese shoes that are like flip flops, so they were a little weird - they were sort of like "toe socks"! But desperate times call for desperate measures, so I ponied up $13 for them!

So the moral to my very long story is, bring not just a jacket and long pants, but warm socks, gloves, and a hat. You might be able to find stuff after you arrive, but maybe not - and who wants to spend that kind of money if you don't have to?

 

[FallsChurchDad]

A few years ago when we went in mid-November, the forecast showed some nights with lows in the 40s, so we brought sweatshirts, jeans and jackets for everybody. We were driving, and I assumed we wouldn't need them. If we were flying, we probably would have left the warm clothes at home.

Boy did we need them!! In an 8-day trip, we had four days that were pretty cold, with one of those where the high was only 44. We were at Animal Kingdom for the high-44 day, and it was EMPTY. We hit Everest around 10 am and still had it all to ourselves - I remember people walking out as we got there, and they looked like they came out of a freezer. Kali was operating, and we watched a few rafts that just had two pre-teen boys each; we did not ride it. Maharajah was open, but there were almost no animals outside. We also had a day at MK where the high was around 60, but the morning was mid-40s and rainy, and it was a party night. So MK pretty much stayed empty from 9-7, and we stayed the whole time. I remember Dumbo was only operating one side at 5 pm, and it was still running half-full.

Ultimately, we enjoyed all of the cooler days, mostly because it reduced the crowds, but we had to change our plans somewhat and rely on our heavier clothes. We were reminded that being outside for many hours at a time, with lots of water around, and sometimes going on fast outdoor rides, makes your body gradually feel colder and colder.

Incidentally, the other days on the trip were fairly warm, with two days in the mid-80s.

 

[mercydisney]

"Ever Been To A Theme Park On A Cold Day? What Was It Like?"

Yes. It was cold. Very cold. In fact, I was frozen. But I learned to let it go, as the cold never bothered me, anyway.

Love!!!!!

 

[CAS239]

My fingers are crossed that it'll be in the 50's Dec-Feb. But for at least the last 2 years it's been in the 80's on Christmas day unfortunately