What to Wear to Disney World in February (2024)
If you’ve booked a trip for the Walt Disney World Resort in February, you’ll want to know that Florida weather is…different. It’s not really like anywhere else in America, except maybe Texas—brutal summers, mild winters, and a lot of rain.
Going to Disney World in February has been a family tradition for us since 2018 because we have a winter break (Presidents’ Day) for my kids’ school, and my wife and son have birthdays in February. So, all my tips will come from personal experience. I really enjoy the cooler weather on the off-chance that I can wear a Disney hoodie, which still doesn’t happen much.
In this article, I’ll explain the weather at Disney World in February and what you should pack for the Disney theme parks. I’ll also explain special events at Disney World, and what you should always take with you, no matter what month it is. Hopefully this guide will help you be prepared for an amazing family vacation!
Jump to Section:
Weather at Disney World in February
What to Pack for Disney in February
What to Pack for Disney Any Time of Year
Festivals and Holidays at Disney in February
What Not to Pack for Disney World
Can You Swim at Disney World in February?
Are the Disney Water Parks Open in February?
Weather at Disney World in February
The weather in February in Orlando is amazing—average high in the low 70s (low 20s Celsius) and average low in the mid-50s (low teens Celsius) on average. That being said, the temperature can fluctuate to as high as the low-80s (high 20s Celsius) or as low as the low 40s (4-7 Celsius).
Average temperatures each day from January to March, with details for February. https://weatherspark.com/m/17721/2/Average-Weather-in-February-in-Orlando-Florida-United-States#Figures-Temperature
It’s also important to know how the temperature changes throughout the day and in intense sunshine. The weather will typically be cool until about 10AM. Then it will start heating up, reaching the high around 4PM. Finally, it will start to cool around 7:30PM.
It’s not just us, everyone’s wearing shorts and short sleeves in February, and if you look closely, that ice cream is melting.
Also, you’ll probably be outside and moving on pavement and in direct sunlight more than you are at home. And the intensity of the sunlight and the physical exertion will make you feel warmer than you’d expect for 75 degrees. I’ll go over this more later, but the sun is still dangerous even in February. If you’re prone to sunburn, take precautions accordingly.
My family, perfectly comfortable in shorts, t-shirts, and thin dresses in February at Disney World.
Finally, while February is blessedly not the rainy season, Florida is always prone to sporadic rain showers. Always be prepared for rain, and don’t fret over the forecast. The showers usually come and go quickly. February is one of the driest months in Florida, though, so hopefully you’ll avoid the rain. I can only find one February picture of my family in rain ponchos.
Awesome Fact: If the temperature in Florida ever drops into the 40s, it’s possible for iguanas to become immobile and start falling out of trees. Don’t worry. They aren’t dead. It's on my bucket list to see an iguana fall out of a tree.
What to Pack for Disney in February
You’ll want to pack layers. As I mentioned in the weather section, it will start and end cool. Therefore, it’s nice to have a hoodie or light jacket with you for rope dropping and staying for the fireworks. Here’s a great one that’s cheap on Amazon. There are tons of options for men and women.
Next, I recommend you bring both pants/leggings and shorts/skirts. I get so hot in sunlight and walking that I can almost never wear pants at Disney World. I can only wear pants if it’s below 70 and/or overcast. Even then, with pushing the stroller or carrying kids, my body temperature stays pretty high. I think a good rule of thumb is dress for what you think you’d wear if it was 5-10 degrees warmer. We always pack a variety of long-sleeved shirts and short sleeve shirts to make sure we're prepared for everything. I also don't have a problem pushing my sleeves up and down as needed.
One of two days in my most recent trip to Disney World in February that I could wear pants instead of shorts. Also, the most epic of all my Disney shirts, I’ll give you a link in the comment section if you ask.
The exception to this is if it’s overcast, drizzling, or cold and windy. Then you may want a fleece with a shell, pants, and even a winter hat. In 20+ trips, this has only happened to us once and not in February. If you’re really desperate, borrow the extra blanket from your hotel room (and bring it back).
This diva is the only evidence of anyone in my family wearing a hoodie at Disney World in February, and it’s at rope drop (park open).
Another exception is if you are naturally colder and don’t plan to move around a lot. For instance, you may want to dress warmer if you are in a scooter or a wheelchair, and don’t be surprised if your stroller-bound kids are colder. An easy fix is to use the sweatshirt you brought to cover your kids with a blanket.
By the way, if you're looking for a good stroller for Disney, check my posts on the best single stroller for Disney and best double stroller for Disney. I polled a bunch of Disney veteran parents to put these lists together.
Finally, if you’re not bringing a stroller to Disney, you’ll want to bring a bag for supplies but especially to store your layers in when it gets hot. You could take them back to your hotel for a mid-day break, but you might need them again as the temperature begins to drop at night.
In the next section, I’ll give you more packing tips that pertain to any Disney trip, regardless of the month.
What to Pack for Disney Any Time of Year
For any trip to Disney, you’ll want a few necessities. First, bring all your Disney gear—hats, ears, shirts, jewelry, bubble wands, and three-fingered gloves! Here’s an Amazon list I put together if you’re in need.
You also need rain gear. Don’t wait to buy this at the park. Nobody wants to spend $20 on a flimsy poncho when you can buy tons of them at Walmart or Amazon.
My daughter in a poncho and a tiara in February 2019 at Disney World.
If you’re bringing a stroller or scooter, make sure you bring a poncho or shower curtain and clips to cover them. It hurts the vibe for your kids when you get off the ride to find a puddle in the stroller seat, and it’s not good for the goldfish snacks.
Next, it’s my opinion that regardless of the time of year, you should be wearing socks and running/walking shoes. You’ll see an enormous array of footwear at Disney World, but I will never travel 10 miles a day by foot in anything that wasn’t designed for that kind of mileage. One time I tried to wear Hey Dude-style loafers and ended up with shin splints.
Whatever you do, don’t wear flip flops or heels. And, make sure you break in your tennis shoes before wearing them in the park. Blisters and Disney rash are real, my friends.
My kids are young enough to wear what we tell them, but I’m ready for the day when they want to pick their own shoes. Then, all I can do is say I told you so at the end of the day.
Now on to sun protection. It doesn’t matter what the temperature or cloud cover is, subtropical sunlight is intense. If you have fair skin, bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses or you might be a blind lobster on day two.
By afternoon in February, it’s often warm enough for the Magic Kingdom splash pad.
On a related note, even if the weather is really mild, you’ll be walking upwards to 10 miles a day. Make sure you stay hydrated. You can bring in your own water, purchase it at Disney, or use the free water stations located around Disney World.
If you’re not used to Florida water, it’s very sulphury. In other words, it tastes like water with the essence of rotten eggs. If that’s not your favorite, bring bottled water.
Finally, remember that you’ll walking a lot, using the restroom a lot, climbing in and out of rides, moving at high speeds, and so on. Think about doing all those activities and pack practical clothing. You might look amazing in a tuxedo or ballgown, but 8 hours in, you might be regretting it.
Festivals and Holidays at Disney in February
You also might consider what holidays and festivals are happening at Disney during your trip. For the first 3 weeks of February, it will be the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. There will be amazing performances, art pieces, art experiences, and my favorite, shadow boxes that allow you to be a part of famous paintings. If you want to dress up in recognition of your favorite artist or Disney merch that nods to this festival, go for it.
My lovely wife is the screamer in the famous painting at Epcot Festival of the Arts.
The third Monday in February is President’s Day. The weekend surrounding it is a holiday for many school systems. This used to be our favorite weekend to go, but now President's Day weekend has gotten really crowded. It's still nothing compared to Spring Break but something to consider.
President’s Day (or Lincoln’s birthday) was very important to Walt Disney. He would dress up and recite the Gettysburg Address at school every year (as cool kids tend to do). He loved Lincoln and history so much, it was the impetus for the Hall of Presidents. I know none of you are going to do this, but if you want to be extra-niche Disney, dress up like Lincoln.
More likely, it might be important to remember that February has Valentine’s Day. There’s plenty of Disney V-Day merch out there for you and your sweetie.
The fourth weekend at Disney is the Princess Half Marathon. This is a RunDisney event with multiple races and activities. While the races do not typically create enormous crowds, they do create crowds at strange times because people surge there after the race and get to the park around late morning.
If you’re participating in the race, make sure you bring comfortable running clothes, comfortable shoes, and maybe a jogging friendly costume.
It might not matter to you or what you wear, but the first week of February is also Super Bowl weekend, so be prepared for that.
What Not to Pack for Disney World
Here’s a few things you don’t need at Disney World—in February or ever. First, people over 14 can’t wear a costume (unless it’s a Halloween Party). This is to prevent people impersonating cast members, hurting the brand, or worse, tricking kids for nefarious reasons.
Next, you won’t need a parka or winter coat. It will never get that cold, and it will take up so much room in your luggage.
Third, I want to reiterate. Do not wear heels or flip-flops. You will regret it.
Finally, this is a family place. Don’t bring obscene or graphic clothing to Disney World. Even if it’s Disney themed. Especially if it’s Disney themed. Next, don’t push the envelope on risqué. Everyone has different opinions on what modesty looks like, but Cast Members have been known to turn people away for inappropriate clothing.
Now on to a weather and clothing related question.
Can You Swim at Disney World in February?
You can swim any time of year at Disney World. The pools are heated to 80 degrees. This sounds nice, but it’s not as warm as you might think. If it’s below 70 degrees outside, many people struggle with the pool water temperature and getting out of the pool.
In general, kids don’t mind as much as adults. I don’t know if we have more sensitive nervous systems, or we’re just bigger whiners, but it is what it is. I’ve also heard that people from colder climates tend to enjoy winter swimming more. I'm not from one of the northern states or Canada, so I can't vouch for that.
I have a bunch of pictures of us in the pool in February, but I can’t remember if I was a willing party to this.
The kids look happy, but my smile looks a little forced: us in the pool in February at Coronado Springs. All Disney resorts provide those life jackets.
Several moderate Disney resorts and all of the deluxes have a hot tub (not to mention plenty of non-Disney hotels in the vicinity). This is a good option if you really need an aquatic experience in February.
If you’re heading to Disney in February, bring your swimsuit just in case.
Are the Disney Water Parks Open in February?
The water parks are also open year-round. Post-covid, Disney has made sure to keep at least one water park open at any given time. The water at the water parks is also heated. So, if you're brave enough to go to a water park in slightly colder weather, it'll be a good idea to bring a bathing suit with you on your trip.
They will close for what they consider extreme cold. There doesn’t seem to be a consensus on the exact temperature, but it seems to be when the highs drop below 70 and lows drop below 50: in other words, when it starts raining iguanas.
Conclusion and Further Reading
If you have other tips, outfit ideas, or other ideas about going to Disney World in February, I would be honored if you left a comment in the comment section at the bottom of the page.
The month of February is a great time to go to the Disney Parks. It's much cooler and less rainy than the summer months, and there are typically lower crowds than other times of year. It also rains less during the winter months. We see February as a great option for a Disney World Vacation, and have made at least 5 trips in February.
February can get a little bit cold, especially in the early morning and at night. Having layers is a great idea, with the option of short sleeves or long sleeves. Remember, you'll be doing a lot of walking, which will heat you up more than you expect from the cooler temperatures.
I also should mention that you might want to be prepared for water rides like Kali River Rapids and Tiana's Bayou Adventure (the new Splash Mountain), and Frozen and Pirates of Caribbean can also give you a wet surprise. We don't avoid the last two rides, but I'll definitely try to avoid the outside seats in order to make sure we have a good time. It's also a good idea to bring a change of clothes just in case a water ride or rainy days make things a little colder.
I hope this helps you have an amazing February trip to the happiest and most magical place on earth. You chose well. It's a great time to go.
If you're looking for other times of year to go, check out my article about handling the heat at Disney World, or what to wear at Disney in April.
And if you're trying to decide on a good place to stay, check out my arguments for staying onsite or offsite at Disney World.
Having a portable charger at Disney World is important because so many things require your phone. Here’s the best portable chargers.