Surviving Winter Weather at Disney World
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:
Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola…with snow?
Winter Storm Enzo is over the Pensacola area. Stay safe!#CNRSE #NASP #WinterStormEnzo #CityofPensacola #VisitPensacola pic.twitter.com/l0CSseWeXe— NAS Pensacola (@NASPCOLA) January 21, 2025
Yes, Florida has snowplows. But we also have well trained and dedicated FDOT snowplow crews who have been working around the clock to get essential segments of the state highway system cleared and safe for travel. pic.twitter.com/XqCROxC3w4
— FDOT District 3 (@MyFDOT_NWFL) January 22, 2025
Our agency is currently assisting @FHPPanhandle in shutting down Interstate 10 at State Road 285 in Mossy Head. There is a possibility of closures further east. 🚫
We know you have a lot of questions regarding road conditions. ⚠️
Here are a few ways you can see road closures… pic.twitter.com/rNDBf8IVrg
— Walton Co. Sheriff (@WCSOFL) January 22, 2025
NEW VIDEO: I’m in Pensacola, Florida, near the border. Already at 2” and it’s still snowing heavy. This is a truly historic event. #Snow #Florida @spann @stormhour pic.twitter.com/K4dIdVzgZt
— Matt Devitt (@MattDevittWX) January 21, 2025
For much of the Gulf Coast, the snowstorm that’s expected to end soon was a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Florida just saw the most snow on record, with a preliminary 8.8 inches observed in Milton — the highest snow total on record for the state. https://t.co/XIV846n5UY pic.twitter.com/ik1ZoN8nHK
— ABC News (@ABC) January 22, 2025
We’ve reached legendary snow status here in Gulf Island National Seashore I’m Pensacola Beach, Florida #flwx pic.twitter.com/LmtVug18Bb
— davis_wx (@davis_wx) January 21, 2025
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.
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!
Hi am going for for two weeks in the middle of November what would we need to pack this will be our 3rd visit but we went in the June and October I just font know what to take
My family of 5 is going to Disney for the first time this November. WE are staying the first week of November 2015 . I was wondering if you have any packing tips for us. Thanks!!!
This will be our first ever Disney trip. We’re coming from the UK for the last week of Feb 2015. Any idea what the weather will be like? Coats and jumpers??!! When I booked I was assuming it would be sunny!! We will be staying at The Beach Club resort, I have 2 kids aged 12 and 9 and i have no idea whats more important to fit into the time we have! For us its probably a once in a lifetime trip, so any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much and Thanks so much for this blog too!!
February could really go either way. It might be hot, it might be cold. I would assume the weather will be warm by then, but you should really monitor it before you leave and pack accordingly. I wouldn’t expect weather in the 30s or 40s, but lows in the mid-50s certainly isn’t out of the question.
We have been 4 times all during fall and winter months and the weather is always tricky in late November to late January. We finally determined that a waterproof rain jacket is the best way to go. You can buy “packable” jackets or fold it as tight as possible and store in a gallon ziploc bag in your sling back. Our most recent trip has one day of 80 degree weather and 4 days of rain with low 50’s. We also pack a fleece and layer with rain jacket for really windy days.
Hi! It Will be my first time in Disney (Florida). I am nervous and excited. Couple of questions:
1. Where can I get the ponchos? At wallmart?
2. I have no reservations at Cindirella’s dinner and nothing… Do they use waiting list?
3. I Will arrive at 7 am on 31st to Magic Kingdom… What are the first thing I should do?
Thank you and Happy Holidays
1. Amazon, Wal-Mart, Target, etc. all have ponchos. Look in the camping or sporting goods sections. Here’s a 4 pack on Amazon for $4: http://amzn.to/1zqfewM Can’t do much better price-wise than that!
2. You absolutely need reservations for Cinderella’s Royal Table.
3. Check out our Walt Disney World at New Year’s Eve post: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/new-years-eve-disney-world-tips/
Like your blog. We are going to Anaheim in Jan. and will definately
bring warmer clothes.
We have been to Disney twice during spring break (because circumstances dictated) and will never to that again!! We’re planning a trip for this January, as that’s when I hear the lines are shortest. I can deal with the chilly temperatures but a you’ve mentioned that certain attractions might be closed. Is there any way to find out what will be closed? My 5 year old has never been so I’d hate for him to miss a must-see ride. My older kids really want to see Harry Potter world so I’d be devastated if that was closed. Any insight?
Thanks so much for this blog!! I stumbled across it and I am devouring it!
hi I have a question
I want to spend Christmas in Disney 2 adults 2kids (6&4)
any tips any information
I am on a tight budget but it is the only time I can get vacation
Hi Martha! I stumbled on this post while looking for packing tips on Pinterest. My family and I (2 adults, 3 kids ages 12, 11, & 2) will be in Disneyworld the week before Christmas. My sister-in-law is a travel agent for Disney and we booked our trip through her months ago – which made it possible to pay over time. Thanks to her extensive knowledge of the parks (they have been at least a dozen times), she was able to score all kinds of deals for us. Our trip, including 4 nights @ one of the mid level resorts, 4 park passes, meals, etc costs us right at $2000….I expected it to be substantially more! I won’t post her information publicly, of course, but if you’d like to email me I can give you her contact info. She’s fantastic! So great that we’re actually going on this trip with them!! (Actually that’s because she’s married to my brother & is the mother of my 2 nieces & nephew, lol) My email address is [email protected]. Happy Holidays!! 🙂
My family is going in 12 days. I have not purchased any tickets yet and would like to get some tips from your family genius. A phone or website would be great if you could please send along. Very Grateful,
You could always buy a sweater from The Puffin’s Roost.
Why stop at one? For the low price of $299 per sweater, you really can’t afford *not* to buy one for every day of your trip! 😉
We just took our 2 young girls to Disney world for the 1st time last week. Your blog was quite helpful! We took mostly shorts and had to wash our jeans and long sleeves mid week at the hotel. Mornings were best in shorts and a jacket, which we needed to remove by 11am, but nights were surprisingly chilly. definitely jeans and jacket weather.
What does Sarah usually wearing during the winter other than a light fill down coat? I’m hoping my trip during the first week of December and for the Mickey Christmas party isn’t as cold as it is in Chicago right now!
We are at Disneyland this December (15-17th) – any idea of the opening hours of the park /is it the same all year round? And how do you get to go to the Mickey Christmas Party?
Went one year in Jan. and stayed off site (will never do that again but that’s another story). While up the first morning and has to scrape ice off our windshield. It was so very cold. Had forgotten my toddlers winter jacket. Drove up and down the strip looking for something warm that fit her. Finally found a warm-up jacket that was actually to big for her but I layered up under it. The worst part was having to ride the open air trams in from the parking lots. OMG, it was beyond cold. Had to open my jacket and put my toddler against me and try to wrap my jacket around her. Husband had older daughter on his lap doing the same thing. The cold air blowing on us was miserable. Glad we had hats and gloves. Now we stay on site and have nice buses taking us everywhere. No more open air trams. 🙂
hi, I’m from ecuador, I’m going to visit disney world in a few days! Please can you tell me what should i wear?
I think I have figured out the one thing I need to know for packing (one thing after reading yalls tips 1000 times). Can it get really windy in the parks? Like make your ears cold and red wind….? Texas weather is currently strange (IT SNOWED LAST NIGHT!!) so we are all walking around like the little kid in The Christmas Story…but it’s really only cold because of the wind. There have been days this past week I was able to wear a cardigan in the 30s/40s but only because it wasn’t windy. I want to know cardigans are safe. Does Sarah do cardigans?
I tried packing today and decided if I can’t figure out what to wear in Texas there’s no point trying for Florida. I’ll pack a coat of course, but like you said. I can’t just tie it around my waist if I don’t need it! The horror!
We went to wdw last January over MLK weekend. Although the temps were chilly (low 50’s) they were a welcome change from the frigid temps of minnesota.
We found that light jackets, layers, stretchy gloves ( the ones you get from the dollar section) and good jeans really did the trick. Also you are not kidding about the changes in weather. The first day we were there it was in the low 50’s, but by are lags say it was low 70’s. There were even fluctuations during the day. Layers and a backpack ( to store the unneeded layers later) were life savers during that time
We had a great time going in January and I would recommend going there at that time agai. Just gotta pack smart and be prepared!
Yay! We’re doing an MLK Day weekend trip in January 2015 (and coming from Minnesota, too). We’re leaving the kiddos at home (it’s an anniversary trip, after all), so it will be nice not to have to worry about keeping them bundled up. So excited! 🙂
Great tips, Tom…and amazing pictures as always!! LOVE the one on Main Street.
Visiting a park during a cold spell makes for some fun memories! We thought highs in the 40s would feel fine in January and did not pack appropriately. (Luckily this isn’t too common.) A high in the 40s in Florida means it will be that for 5 minutes in the afternoon, and colder the rest of the day. I’ve never heard people talk about “wet cold” before, but I swear it’s a thing in Florida. Now any trip from October-April I pack some kind of cold gear. Not worth being cold, even if it’s just early morning or evening chill.
I’ve gone in January for my birthday the last 2 years. I think the warmest it ever got was 74 during the time I was there. This past year, one morning, the wind chill was 36 (and you could tell who were locals and who were “Northerners” based on how people were dressed)! Not that I was complaining – that was about 50 degrees warmer than the wind chill at home here in Illinois. I actually wore a sweatshirt or a jacket for most of the trip. I was not traveling with children, so carrying my coat for awhile didn’t bother me too much. I might even suggest packing multiple pairs of jeans for a week-long trip, especially if you’re going in the coldest part of the year (mid January-ish). I’ve yet to put on a pair of shorts in January at Disney. The best attitude to have is “A chilly day at Disney is a million times better than a frigid day at home.”
Oh yeah, definitely take more than one pair of jeans this time of year. I think my attitude as a northerner along those lines of yours is what gets me into trouble. I figure, “it can’t be nearly as bad in Florida as it is at home” and have failed to pack appropriately. While that thinking is true, when I’m in colder weather at home, I’m always wearing a coat, so if I only pack polos and shorts for Walt Disney World, I’m colder there than I am at home in a coat, even if it is 20-30 degrees warmer in Florida!
Would you recommend going or not going in January (end of) for a 1st time trip w/ kids (4 Yr old)to Disneyland (CA). I have heard mixed… no lines, but some rides are closed. some of the larger we would not care, but some of the smaller kids rides we would. if you have any experience, let me know your thoughts.
It’s definitely off-season for Disneyland, so you can expect a lot of refurbishments, but it’s a great time to avoid crowds. I’d recommend it, just keep in mind you won’t be able to experience everything.
Its 12 degrees here in Iowa right now – with 20 mph winds gusting to 30 mph with blowing snow so even 39 sounds warm to us!! We are leaving tomorrow but we will be taking jeans, jacket, etc. along with our short sleeve shirts.
We have similar weather here right now. I’ll gladly trade it for Florida weather…although I’d like it to be a little warmer than 39! 😉