We have a saying here in Virginia: “If you don’t like the weather… just wait a couple minutes.” It might be just the tiniest bit of an exaggeration, but the truth is, the weather around here has a tendency to be a little bit moody. It could be hot enough to brew sun tea at the beginning of the week and then by the end of the week we’ll be running around wrapping our plants in burlap and hoping that they survive the night.
Being used to this kind of monkey business would make you think that I would expect anything when it comes to weather no matter where I am, but that’s just not the case. The truth is, I was woefully naive when it came to the weather potential of Florida before my family made our first venture to Disney World. After all, who thinks that they are going to be shivering in Orlando? We learned, though, and now I’m ready to go from the moment I start packing. This is especially important when you keep in mind the needs of my family – from our age range, to the baby’s sun allergy, to sensory issues that make regulating temperature a challenge sometimes.
So I present you…
Guide to handling Disney World weather.
Heat. So this is the one that everybody thinks about when they consider Florida. They don’t call it the “Sunshine State” for no reason. When it comes to the heat in Florida, one thing to keep in mind is the humidity. This is not dry heat. This is slog-through-it-like-soup heat. That is much harder on you and can lead to exhausted bodies and snarky minds. When packing for the heat, think light colors and light fabrics. Avoid anything that is too tight and look for fabrics that are breathable. I also recommend avoiding the wear-as-little-as-you-can-legally-get-by-with route. Not only will this expose more skin to the sun, actually making you feel hotter, but there’s nothing quite so unpleasant as that feeling of bare skin touching the sweaty seat of a roller coaster and then peeling off after the ride. Top your look with a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face and choose socks that wick moisture rather than absorbing it. For a bit of heat extra credit, pack a cooling scarf or neck wrap or go for my trick and slip a few first aid instant cooling packs in your day bag. This way if you get excessively hot, you can just pull out a pack, crush and shake, and place on your neck for instant cooling
Rain. Yes, it rains in the Sunshine State. You may not want to think about a shower happening in the middle of your vacation, but the truth is, unless you are visiting in the middle of winter or through a particularly dry spell, it’s probably going to happen. During the wetter seasons it can actually rain every day. The good thing is, these showers tend to only last for a short time and then clear up. This happened during our very first trip. It poured for a bit of several of the days that we were there. Be ready for this by simply tucking a few ponchos into your bag. They are available for purchase inside the park, of course, but you can get about 20 of them for around the price of one offsite if you don’t mind feeling like you’re walking around in a sandwich bag. Take my advice, though. Don’t be that person who goes running for the hills the second a drop of water hits you. Many guests do, which means if you are willing to stick it out, you’ll get shorter lines and some very cool ambiance. There’s nothing quite like riding Tower of Terror when it is actually raining outside. If it gets particularly bad, you can always dip into one of the shops for a peak, stop for a snack, or go watch a show. I, for one, am a fan of Super Splash Mountain
Cold. It never gets cold in Florida, right? Lies. All lies. It most certainly gets cold in Florida. Our first trip was at the end of February. In our minds, the daffodils are blooming back home, which means that the weather should be downright balmy in Florida at that time of year. Turns out we were partially right. And partially very, very wrong. The days were warm enough that we were in t-shirts and even took a dip in the pool. By the evening, however, we were shivering. There was even one night that I was so cold in the park that my fingers were going numb. Fortunately we had our sweatshirts from the ride down, but I would have appreciated something a touch heavier. That’s why I now always have a heavy hoodie as well as light hoodies no matter what time of year we travel. You just never know.
If you have a little in a stroller as we did that first trip, bring along a full-size blanket. Tutu had gotten a fleece blanket in her welcome basket and we were able to tuck it in around Avalon to keep her warm. I was so grateful for that little Mickey-bedecked throw. Trust me, the last thing that you are going to want to do with your souvenir money is spend $60 on a sweatshirt that you might only ever wear around your house again because you’re freezing. If you want to make sure that you have something appropriately Disney to keep you warm, there are plenty of sources for more reasonably priced themed sweatshirts that you can order ahead of time and bring along for your trip. Don’t forget there are plenty of coffee stands throughout the parks in case you want to grab a coffee or hot chocolate to keep your hands nice and toasty on those chilly days (or if you are a vegan on a quest — grab some chili at Columbia Harbour House!)
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Taryn was born and raised, and still lives in Richmond, Virginia. Neither she nor her husband ever had the opportunity to visit Walt Disney World when they were children, but when their daughter Avalon came along, they decided she was not going to follow in their footsteps. They brought Avalon for the first time when she was 3 and have been hooked ever since. Now along with Taryn’s mother and equally Disney-loving older brother, they go “home” at least once a year, and by the time she is staring longingly at Cinderella Castle from the ferry on their last night, Taryn is well on her way to planning the next trip. As a group consisting of two adults with Asperger’s, including one who is also vegan, a very accommodating husband, an only child, a senior, and a service dog, they are a pretty special family, but Taryn is excited to show that the World really is The Most Magical Place on Earth and that there is a place there for everyone. When she isn’t thinking about her next Disney adventure and trying to come up with a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party costume that will beat her Oozma Kappa nerd look, she is a professional blogger and novelist.
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