What to Wear to Disney World in December

Going to Walt Disney World Resort in December is one my family’s favorite traditions. In fact, it’s what got us hooked on Disney. The weather is amazing during the winter months (especially if it’s cold where you live). The Christmas decorations add to the magic, and if you go at the right time, the crowds aren’t that bad. Of course, if you go at the wrong time, it will have the largest crowds of the year. But either way, December is a great option for going on a Disney vacation.

Below I’ll let you know exactly what weather to expect in Central Florida in December. I’ll let you know what to pack for December is Disney, what to pack for any trip, and what not to pack. Then I’ll give you information crowds, events, and swimming at Disney World during the month of December. Enjoy what I think is the best time to go to Disney World!

We love the Christmas projections on the castle in December.

Weather at Disney World in December

December is the second coldest month of the year for the Orlando, Florida area. However, if you’re from anywhere besides the southwest United States, it’s going to seem really warm. The average high temperatures are 73 degrees Fahrenheit (22.8 Celsius, for those of you outside the US), and the average lows are around 55 degrees Fahrenheit (12.8 Celsius).

The average and extreme highs and lows in December (middle). Courtesy of Weather Spark

However, it’s important to pay attention to when it’s cold. It will be fairly cool when park first opens in the morning. It will heat up starting around 10AM (later as the month goes on), reaching the high around 2PM. Then it will stay on the warmer side until after sunset (8-9PM).

Let me stop here and take a moment to talk about darkness. Getting dark earlier doesn't just mean cooler temperatures, it also means that December is the best time to see Pandora lit up at Animal Kingdom. In the summer time, the park closes before dark.

A terrible photo I took of the beautiful bioluminescence in Pandora at night in December. 

Don’t forget that you will be in relatively high humidity and with direct sunlight on pavement. Combine that with the fact that you’ll be walking 10 miles a day, and it will feel significantly warmer, possibly at 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit higher (2-3 Celsius).

Again, everything changes with cloud cover as well. If it’s overcast (40% of the time, less than the rest of the year), it will be significantly cooler. And rain also makes a huge difference. While November and December are the least rainy months in Central Florida, a steady drizzle can make everything significantly colder. Even though it only rains about 20% of the days in December, and that rain is usually short lived, always bring rain gear or be okay getting wet. Central Florida is known for freak, unpredictable rain, but the December weather forecast is a little more reliable.

My daughter and I, prepared for the rainy parade at Magic Kingdom.

The first time I went to Disney World, it was in the 70s most of the week, but then I ran a Spartan Race in Tampa, where it rained and stayed 55 degrees the whole day. That was great for a race but chilly for my family still at Disney.

Oh, and if the temperature drops below 50 degrees, there’s a chance that iguanas will get cold and fall out of trees. Don’t worry, they’re okay.

What to Pack for Disney World in December

Since it will cool in the mornings and evenings at Disney World, you should definitely pack layers (shorts, short sleeve shirts, long sleeve shirts, hoodie, or light jacket). We’ve found that we can wear long pants and hoodies when the theme parks open but end up needing to be in a short sleeve shirt by the time lunch rolls around (again, unless it’s overcast). Long sleeves are great because you can just push them up.

Since you’ll be doing so much walking in direct sunlight on sunny days, you’ll warm up faster than you might expect. The exception is if you are using a scooter, wheelchair, or sitting for long periods of time. Kids that are primarily in strollers might also get colder.

December weather is crazy, as you can tell by our varying choices for clothes at the Magic Kingdom Christmas Party.

If you’re from a really cold climate, and the idea of 55-degree weather sounds warm to you, you can probably get away with shorts/skirts and short sleeves the entire time. I’m from Georgia, so that’s still pretty cold to me.

In the interest of saving space in my luggage, I typically bring one to two pairs of pants and one hoodie or light jacket to deal with the cold weather in the morning and night. I also feel like I have to bring one or two awesome Christmas sweaters, especially if they’re Disney sweaters.

Here's my favorite of my Disney Christmas sweaters. Max likes it, too.

What to Pack for Disney World Any Time of Year

There’s also several things you’ll want to bring to Disney, regardless of which month you’re going. Bring clothes, toiletries, and of course, all of your Disney gear (as long as it’s comfortable to walk around in). Here’s a guide for packing for Disney if you need it.

Costumes are always great for kids at Disney World, but the December weather allowed my daughter to go all out, pigtails and everything.

Next, you’re definitely going to want rain gear. Bring ponchos, raincoats, and waterproof shoes or shoe covers. I don’t recommend buying this in the park. We’ve been stuck buying $20 ponchos at the gift shop, and it hurts your wallet if you have a big family. We still try to use them every trip just to get our money’s worth. Rain gear is also useful if you want to do water rides like Tiana's Bayou Adventure or Kali River Rapids. It'll be a lot colder if you're walking around wet.

It’s my opinion, from painful experience, that you should be wearing socks and running/walking shoes at Disney World. Plenty of people love their Crocs or flip-flops, but I’ve seen and had a lot of blisters and shin splints at Disney, so proper footwear and protection is mandatory for me. Also, Disney rash is real, so be prepared for that. Here’s a list of the best shoes for Disney from experts and frequent Disney goers.

Next, this may seem crazy for December, but you need sun protection. The sun is intense year round at Disney World, so bring sunscreen and hats to keep yourself from being miserable. Even if it’s chilly or overcast, the sun can do damage and ruin the rest of your week.

Also, since you’ll be walking much more than most people are used to, you need to stay hydrated. Have a plan for that. Disney World offers free water at quick service restaurants and has water fountains, but the Central Florida tap water is not everyone’s favorite. If you can’t handle the sulfur taste, it might be a good idea to bring bottled water or a water bottle with a filter. If you don’t stay hydrated, you might be miserable by the end of the night.

This article is primarily about what to wear, so remember that you’ll be walking a lot, sweating some, and climbing in and out of rides, so wear comfortable clothing—Disney themed or not—that allows you to enjoy the experience.

What to Never Pack for Disney World

Don’t pack lewd t-shirts even if they’re Disney themed, especially if their Disney themed. Regardless of how much they make you giggle, this is a family place, and you might get turned away. Also, everyone has different opinions as to what counts as inappropriate, but Disney has been known to turn away guests that show too much skin or wear problematic outfits.

Now let’s talk about costumes. If you want to Disney bound with nods to your favorite character, that’s awesome. However, people over 14 years old can’t wear costumes (unless it’s the Halloween party). If you look like an actual character, they won’t let you in because they don’t want people pretending to be characters. It messes up the brand, or worse, they might think that you’re trying to manipulate people into thinking you are a cast member.

This article is about December, so you might be considering bringing a parka or winter coat. I’ve never been to Disney and needed that, but if you’re chronically cold, maybe it’s for you. It’ll take up a lot of room in your luggage. In all of my trips to Disney (and it’s many), the only person I saw in a winter coat and gloves was my mother-in-law who stayed in a scooter the whole time. Don’t tell her I said that. That being said, I did see a bunch of people trying on winter coats at the Norway pavilion on a rainy day in February.

Finally, let’s go back to footwear. Don’t wear heels or flip flops. It will be miserable. Unless that’s your thing, and then go for it. But if you're not sure, wear comfortable shoes that are good for movement like tennis shoes.

Events and Crowds During December

Let’s talk special events and crowds at Disney World. First, let’s talk events. EPCOT has the International Festival of the Holidays (during a normal park ticket day) that has incredible food, performances, and decorations. All of the resorts are decorated for Christmas, especially the deluxe resorts, so go check them out. Magic Kingdom offers Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party that my family loves, and recently, Disney's Hollywood Studios has offered Jollywood Nights that cater to an older audience. Disney Springs also offers amazing Christmas experiences, like meeting Santa and a Christmas tree trail.

Even Tower of Terror gets in on Christmas theming.

Now, let’s talk crowds. Typically speaking, the first two weeks in December are relatively low crowds. Kids are still in school, so if you can arrange a trip then, you can get the holiday season experience without the crowds. The third week is usually decent as well. If you’re bound by a school calendar, my recommendation is to book a trip before Christmas but after the passholders are blocked out. Doing that also results in low crowds. My family always tries to thread that needle to avoid the long lines.

Now, the days leading up to Christmas and the week after Christmas are the absolute busiest days at Disney World the whole year. If you like the crowds and the excitement, this is the time to go. However, if you want to ride all the rides without enormous wait times, consider booking a trip earlier in the month.

Can You Swim at Disney World in December?

Yes, you can swim in December. For most of the northern hemisphere, there is no swimming in December. However, at Disney World, the temperatures are often moderate enough to take a dip, even if it’s just in the hot tubs (at all deluxe and moderate resorts). Even the pools are kept at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can enjoy them even on the coldest of days. Just be prepared for the coldness after you get out of the pool.

My daughter, undaunted by the cold, dancing at the Coronado pool with a cast member.

Along the same lines, unless it’s below 50 degrees or so, the water parks will stay open. Since Covid, Disney has kept one water park (Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach) open at any given time. The water there is also heated, so unless it’s raining iguanas, you can “enjoy” a water park (if you don’t mind shivering after you get out of the water). If you’re from up north (northern states, Canada, or Europe), this is amazing way to experience a water vacation in the winter.

We’ve been to Disney in December and had a great time at the pools and water parks. We’ve also been when it just isn’t fun to go swimming. It’s really up to you, the weather, and your tolerance for what you consider cold, but I definitely recommend bringing your bathing suit.

Conclusion and Further Reading

December is an absolutely amazing time to go to the Most Magical Place on Earth. The parties, decorations, lights, and everything else get my family in the Christmas spirit. The weather is mild for Central Florida, so you may need layers. The crowds at the end of the month are intense, but if that’s your thing, have at it. If there's a perfect time for a Disney trip, this is it.

Click on this link if you want to know what to pack for Disney any time of year. Also check out my guides for Disney in February, Disney in November, Disney in April, or Disney World in July. Or you can check out my guide for dealing with the warm weather at Disney during the summer months.

If you’ve been to Disney World in December, let me know your thoughts in the comments.