Surviving Winter Weather at Disney World

ByTom Bricker
154 Comments

If you’re visiting Walt Disney World during winter months of November through February, you need to pack clothes for cold weather. This post offers an update on the freezing forecast, plus tips for dealing with chilly temperatures in Central Florida. (Updated January 22, 2025.)

It’s already been a cold couple of months in the South, and “winter” weather is once again returning to Orlando and beyond! A cold front is about to sweep across Central Florida, bringing with it daytime highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s for the next few days.

With this, Blizzard Beach is closed for at least the next few days–and probably longer. Over the course of the last month, the water park has been closed due to weather as much as it’s been open. And the days that it has operated have been quite on-theme for the wintry wonderland water park.

Despite these chilly temperatures, Walt Disney World has actually gotten lucky with its winter weather. That’s because it’s officially snowing elsewhere in Florida! (See our Photos of “Snow” at Walt Disney World for a simulation (via infrared photography) of what these conditions might look like.)

Places like Pensacola, Panama City, Tallahassee and portions of Jacksonville are under a winter storm warning as of Wednesday, January 22, 2025. Snow already began falling in the area yesterday just before noon, and is still coming down. Prior to this, the all-time snow record in Tallahassee was 2.8” set on February 12-13, 1958. The all-time Florida record of 4” in Milton was set on March 6, 1954.

As of January 21-22, 2025, there are new records all across northern Florida. Meteorologists are reporting a preliminary 9.5 inches of snow in Jay, smashing Florida’s old statewide snowfall record. Milton saw 8.8 inches of snow, more than double the previous state-wide record. Pensacola got a record 7.6 inches, smashing its prior record of 3″ from 1895.

Here are photos of the snow in Florida:

Most of the snow from the winter storm fell in the western Panhandle, and there may have been locations near the Florida state line that received more than 10 inches of snow, once tallying is made official. Tallahassee residents saw some snow but it was mostly sleet that fell in that area.

As rain and frigid air push through Florida, meteorologists are forecasting winter storm conditions for the next couple of days. This is expected to spread heavy snow and disruptive ice around a wide region of the South from Texas to Florida that rarely sees such weather, and in places where infrastructure and homes are not built for such temperatures or weather.

Because of the incoming storm, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency. While most of Central Florida is not expected to see extreme winter weather, Marion County is under a winter storm advisory for the first time on record.

Depending on how low temperatures drop throughout Wednesday morning, officials say it’s possible for northern Central Florida to see some freezing rain. Still, this is unlikely–and these areas are still to the north of Walt Disney World. Even the worst case weather forecast has it “only” being really cold in the parks.

Most tourists envision sunshine and warm weather when preparing for trips to Walt Disney World, but the reality this time of year is that you could experience a veritable roller coaster of weather in a single day. With temperatures in the 30s and 40s possible at any point through February, it’s important that you’re prepared for winter weather (minus the snow…hopefully!) at Walt Disney World.

The cold weather at Walt Disney World can be good news if you’re properly prepared, as crowds tend to be significantly lighter when the temperatures drop. Between locals who don’t own the clothing for colder days and tourists who don’t pack appropriately, a drop in temperatures results in a drop in crowds.

This is especially true in the evenings. A familiar story plays out with regularity this time of year at Walt Disney World: around lunch, the temperature is in the mid-70s, perhaps even the 80s, which is t-shirt and shorts weather for most people. By sunset, the ‘feels like’ temperature drops considerably, to around the low 50s.

An hour or so after sunset, Magic Kingdom can clear out on days that are abnormally frigid. We’ve had late nights when the park is a ghost town (we’ve seen Seven Dwarfs Mine Train with a 20 minute wait on nights when the park was previously very busy during the day!), as the cold weather drives a lot of guests away.

Even if you’re from a cold weather state and are used to cold weather, you should not ignore these huge variances in temperature, thinking it’ll still feel fine. Your body will become acclimated to those 70-degree Florida daytime temperatures pretty quickly, making double-digit temperature drop once the sun goes down feel even more pronounced.

More importantly, Florida cold is far worse than Northern states due to the humidity that comes with it.

The “feels like” of even 50º weather in Walt Disney World is significantly colder than what it’d be in a Northern state. We aren’t simply Floridians who aren’t used to the cold weather–we spent years living in the Midwest and are no strangers to sub-zero temperatures and blizzards. Florida’s humidity makes semi-cold weather far less comfortable.

The difficulty of packing for Walt Disney World or Disneyland this time of year is the large variances in the weather. You could experience four seasons of weather during your trip…in a single day. Daytime temperatures could be in the 70s, whereas nights and evenings could be 20 or 30 degrees below that. That swing in a single day is a huge difference.

Most people aren’t going to want to carry the luggage that would be required to pack for every weather scenario, making what to bring a tough question. This post will cover a few things you should take on any winter trip to the Disney Parks, plus some additional items to consider when the weather is expected to be unseasonably cold.

While it’s incredibly unlikely to snow while you’re at Walt Disney World or Disneyland, temperatures in the 40s or 50s in Florida and Southern California happen much more likely than you might expect. Being caught off-guard by frigid temperatures in the parks sucks. Don’t think it can’t happen to you. As much as I hate to admit it, this has happened to me a couple of times, and I’m very diligent about checking the weather forecast.

For those of you reading this at the last minute (if you’ve already arrived at Walt Disney World and are surprised by the cold weather), you do have one option: heading to UNIQLO at Disney Springs and purchasing a coat and some warmer clothes.

UNIQLO is your least-expensive option on Walt Disney World property, and they normally carry sweaters, coats, jeans, etc. (Note that UNIQLO sizing runs small, so be sure to try things on before buying. Most of the time, you’ll need to size-up by one size.)

Alternatively, if you have a rental car and don’t mind venturing off-property, there are several outlet malls within a short drive. We favor Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets for a few reasons. First, they have a diverse range of stores (from Old Navy to Burberry). Second, there are plenty of options for inexpensive winter-wear (Columbia, Levi’s, Gap, Nike, etc.). Finally, there’s a Disney outlet that features deep-discounted items from the parks.

Of course, the best option is preparing with what you need before your trip. That’s where the rest of this list comes in handy. Note that this list only covers items specific to winter travel. For our full all-seasons packing recommendations, check out our Unique Disney Packing List post, which contains a lot of innovative and cool things for your trip that you otherwise might not have considered.

Before we dig into the practical (read: boring) stuff, let’s start with some highly recommended fun options to get into the festive spirit. This is downright essential if you’re attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Even if you aren’t, we highly recommend doing a full-day or at least an evening donning your holiday finery…or at least a rad shark sweater!

Novelty Christmas Sweaters – Every year, we wear new “ugly” (or some might say super stylish) Christmas sweaters during the holiday season. Disney itself sells some great (albeit pricey) designs. For cheaper non-Disney options, we highly recommend Blizzard Bay Ugly Christmas Sweaters. This brand is our favorite for budget-friendly ugly Christmas sweaters.

We’ve purchased several of these for $25-$35 each, and have had them for years. Here’s the Manatee Christmas Sweater that Sarah is wearing above; I’m also partial to this Gator Christmas Sweater, both of which are fitting for Florida. The Blizzard Bay brand offers quality sweaters–not just sweatshirts that look like sweaters–that hold up over time. They’re not heirloom caliber, but they’re better than you’d expect for novelty Christmas sweaters!

Another brand that we’ve had success with in the past is Alex Stevens Ugly Christmas Sweaters. However, in searching again for new designs, many of their designs are disappointingly crude and juvenile (IMO). I’m hardly puritanical, but I think way too many of their new styles rely on shock value imagery instead of fun, cheesy, and good-natured humor. To each their own, though!

Christmas Mickey Mouse Santa Red Graphic T-Shirt — This is my go-tos for wearing underneath Christmas sweaters, since the weather isn’t usually right for those until the sun goes down. It’s cheap and looks far nicer than you’d expect for a shirt that costs for $13. (I’d recommend sizing up if you want a looser fit.)

Other Christmas Attire Trends – We have not gotten “into” either of these trends yet, but Ugly Christmas Suits and Matching Family Christmas Onesie Pajamas are both incredibly popular with guests at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. You won’t be out of place with either, and both make great material for family photos.

Christmas Accessories – If you’re not down with the sweaters, or want to take it a step further, grab an Illuminated Christmas Light Necklace. It’s just like the one they sell in the Magic Kingdom, but it’s a lot less expensive!

This cool Reindeer Christmas Scarf is great. Candy Cane Elf Stockings for ladies are both practical and festive. These matching His & Her Reindeer Antlers are also pretty…uhh…stylish? 😉

Now, let’s check out what you should pack for Disney during those winter months. First, some practical stuff, and then fun options to get in the festive spirit (in the event you’re visiting at Christmas-time)…

HotHands Hand Warmers – Perfect when you’re standing around outside waiting for a parade or fireworks on really chilly evenings. These hand warmers are cheap and effective, and last longer than a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. These might seem over the top for a normally warm-weather destination, but when the sun goes down, it can get cold.

Touch Screen Gloves – Post photos of Cinderella Castle lit up for Christmas to Facebook or Instagram without removing your gloves. Priceless. These gloves will keep your hands warm while allowing you to use your touch-screen smartphones.

Microfleece Travel Blanket – This is a really versatile option, and it’s worth grabbing a few. Thanks to its incredibly thin material, it packs easily in your backpack, and can be used to keep warm before parades/fireworks (or, if it’s not that cold, you can sit on it) to wrap around you on a chilly night, etc. The super cheap price makes this something you don’t have to worry about getting dirty!

Thermal Shirt – Packing a lot of cold-weather clothes can take up a lot of room in your suitcase, so instead of heavy coats and thick sweatshirts, we recommend inexpensive and lightweight means of keeping warm. Thin thermal shirts that keep your body heat close to you and can be worn under another layer of clothing are a great option. We recommend this one for men and this one for women.

800-Fill Down Coats – Our pick here is specifically an 800-fill goose down coat because it compresses really well and takes up barely any suitcase room. It’s smaller and warmer than fleece, and although a bit pricey, these last a long time and are perfect for cold weather.

In Florida or California, a down coat is more than enough to keep you warm even on colder nights. If you’re going to Disneyland Paris or Tokyo Disneyland in the winter, you should also pack a proper winter coat and use the down coat as a base layer. In France and Japan, temperatures drop below freezing on a regular basis (both parks get snow a couple of times per year), and a down coat alone will be insufficient for those cold nights.

Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Winter Hat – You can find cheap knit winter beanies just about anywhere, but I’m serious about my winter hats. I love this Mountain Hardwear hat with a wind-stopping layer; I’ve worn it in the mountains in sub-zero temperatures and it has kept me warm–it can handle Walt Disney World just fine.

Waterproof Shoes – These are probably overkill. I bought a pair for our first visit to Disneyland Paris a couple of years ago because I read that December in France is cold and rainy, and I was vindicated as it was cold and rainy, and my wet stayed warm and dry, but there’s a difference between Paris winter weather and Florida or California winter weather. I don’t typically wear these to the parks during the winter months (they are far from stylish), but they are a great option if you want to play it safe.

sleeping-beauty-castle-sarah-tom-bricker

Long Pants – For some of you, this is a no-brainer; even in the summer you wear jeans. For those of you like me who savor the feeling of the wind rustling your leg hair, jeans are not something you typically pack when visiting Florida or California. The most practical option is convertible pants like these ones for men or these ones for women, which are great for hot or cold weather (and are nice for storage)…but are not exactly the most stylish option.

If you’re visiting during the winter months, regardless of the forecast, you will want to pack at least one pair of long pants as a safety net: you’re likely to encounter at least one sub-50s day on a weeklong trip in the winter. Unless you’re keen on the idea of dropping ~$50 on a pair of Disney sweatpants (and are okay with then wearing sweatpants to the parks), just bring a pair of long pants.

Finally, and once again, other packing “rules” for Walt Disney World remain in effect for the winter. For instance, not packing disposable ponchos is a cardinal sin if you’re visiting Walt Disney World any time of year (and down jackets do not take well to rain). Depending upon your sensitivity to cold weather and/or style preference, there are also other accessories you might want to pack. Some people love scarves, I find them to be an inefficient hassle. Some people love thick socks, I view these as ill-advised “moisture sponges.”

Not necessarily related to winter packing, but if you’re visiting for Christmas, consider packing some lights or other decorations to put in your hotel room window if you have the space in your luggage. A lot of people do this, and it can be fun! For Walt Disney World trip planning tips and comprehensive advice, make sure to read our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide and related articles.

Your Thoughts…

What you recommend packing for a winter Disney trip? Do you have any experiences with unseasonably cold weather at Walt Disney World? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

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154 Comments

  1. Hello

    what can be considered ‘winter’?.

    We just booked from Nov 24 – Dec 8. Ap holders in DLP. If i read this post it seems I have to pack for a standard spring or autumn week over there. Where we can go from snow and freezing to short sleeves.

    Reply

  2. We were at Magic Kingdom on Monday Jan 20 and it was cold but not rainy. I was shocked at the low crowd numbers. I think its the quietest day we’ve ever been there. Ride times never got over an hour that I saw (for Mine ride and Peter Pan). I guess it was due to cold weather? It was a holiday weekend so I expected crazy crowds.

    Reply

  3. We’re from Minnesota (where the current windchill is a balmy -35F…) and definitely use these tips when traveling to WDW in January/February. We typically go at the end of January for my daughter’s birthday. Things that we will bring include packable down jackets (our favorite is the 32 Degrees Ultra-Light Down Packable Jacket), thin gloves, and hats. I like to throw in hot chocolate packets, tea bags, and instant coffee. We will get free hot water from a quick service and use that to warm up. We have also learned to check the wind forecast. Epcot is the coldest park by far when there is any sort of wind and it makes walking around World Showcase miserable. Magic Kingdom is our favorite park for especially cold days, because like Tom said, families with younger kids will clear out once the sun goes down. We have found that more people tough it out at Hollywood Studios in the cold weather/wind than any other park. Although we are quite used to cold weather, the humidity definitely makes you feel much colder than the air temperature suggests. Add that with a bit of wind and people really get caught by surprise.

    Reply

    1. My husband and I were in WDW in January 2019, and it was a similar cold snap. We were prepared, with long undies, layers, down, and hats. But the shopkeepers in the Norway pavilion told us they had never sold so many jackets as they did that week. For the unprepared, Uniqlo in Disney Springs is an excellent affordable spot for down and layers.

  4. Want to point out that humidity will actually make the temp feel warming not colder. So if the temp is 50 and the humidity is high it will feel warmer not colder. We live on the west coast near the beaches and when it’s colder and the humidity is higher it feels warmer then it should

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  5. Great article, we were there before Christmas a number of years ago. The topiaries were given row cover houses with lights. We had checked weather and were prepared, the folks in shorts weren’t very happy.
    One thing, please don’t promote down anything. The birds ate put through horrible brutality getting it, think along the lines of your hair being ripped out by the roots handful at a time. Leaving you bleeding and freezing in untreated pain. Down alternatives have gotten to be great.
    Enjoy your articles.

    Reply

    1. Your comment inspired me to look up how down is collected and wow. The thought never crossed my mind that would be done to them while alive. I have both down and synthetic coats and agree on recommending the alternatives. They also dry a lot faster if you get caught off guard by rain.

  6. Your updated article came at the perfect time! We are headed to Disney this January. We actually love going in January because of the cooler weather. My family and I do not handle the heat well. 80’s are too hot for a theme park! (We live in Wisconsin.) Winter gear has always stayed in our car at the airport. We bring a couple pairs of pants, couple sweatshirts or fleece and a rain jacket. Everything else is shorts and short sleeves and swim suits. So far that has always been enough for us.
    On our last trip it was in the 70’s or 80’s, felt like 90’s to us, and we were sweating and miserable. The people in front of us in line were wearing jeans and long sleeves. I struck up a conversation and not surprisingly found out they were from Florida!
    So I was laughing to myself a bit when I was reading your article. Hand warmers and down jackets?! I figured that’s just for Southerners who can’t handle the cold. But I obviously have something to learn about Florida weather. On our trips it was in the 50’s in the mornings, but that was the coldest weather we ever had. And we never made it to evening hours because we had toddlers the first trip and some of us were sick the second trip. So, we might have just gotten lucky that we left our winter jackets at home! I will be watching the forecast carefully to make sure there won’t be any unusually cold weather for our upcoming trip. And I will make sure to bring some gear to keep us warm in the evenings because we need to see the fireworks this time! It would be a huge disappointment if everyone wants to leave because they’re too cold.
    Love your articles Tom! Thank you for all the helpful tips and advice.

    Reply

  7. We are visiting Florida Nov 11th for two weeks.
    The last time we visited 20 years ago on our honeymoon I don’t remember needing any warm clothes. I’m very confused about what to bring for this vacation. Is Winter more late November/December time ?

    Reply

    1. January is Orlando’s coldest month. But even then it averages a high of 72°F and a low of 51°F. But it certainly can drop lower than that or even snow, so it’s best to look at the long-range forecast and be prepared. November is a few degrees warmer than that, typically. I’ve been a couple times in November-December and never needed more than long pants and a light fleece in the evenings, but sometimes have still been in shorts.

  8. I am so glad for these checklists for packing and the fact I saw them so far in advance. I am putting things on wishlist or going where is that glide I hadn’t kept handy since I have not run a marathon lately. LOL It not only helps catch things on sale but it is helping me from forgetting things that make sense but I know would not when packing.

    Reply

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