Top Tips for When the Cold Weather Hits in Walt Disney World

It’s rare to be cold in Walt Disney World. Generally, Lake Buena Vista is used to warm temperatures at the very least. However, the winter months can bring cold spells. The cold weather has arrived in Florida over the past week, with temperatures dropping below 40 degrees during the evening. The days have seen the temperature increasing with the sun, but not enough to keep the evenings warmer.

So what do you do when the cold weather strikes in the Walt Disney World Resort? Here are our top tips to help you stay warm and continue to have a magical Disney experience.

Layer Up!

When the cold weather arrives, it can be challenging to know what to pack when visiting Walt Disney World. Layers are your best bet to help stay warm during the early morning and late evening but keep you cooler during the day when the sun is shining. Wearing layers means you can take them off, one by one, as the temperature increases and put them back on later in the day when the sun begins to set.

It is generally easier to layer on the top with vests, t-shirts, sweaters, hoodies, and coats. A good idea for bottoms is to wear pants or jeans, to begin with, and take a pair of shorts to change into if it gets warm enough. Alternatively, pair a skirt or dress with leggings, as they can be easily removed as you warm up.

Take a bag

If you plan on wearing layers, carry a bag or backpack to store them as you take them off. You don’t want to have to carry them or tie them around your waist when you’re not wearing them. Kudos to you if you have a coat or jacket that can be packed into a storage bag. This can make it easier to carry when you’re not wearing it.

Indoor Attractions

When visiting Disney Parks on a cold day, indoor attractions are a blessing. Seek out those that provide you some time inside. You may even be thankful for a long line if it is indoors. These are the attractions we recommend experiencing when it’s chilly:

Magic Kingdom

• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Space Mountain
• Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• “it’s a small world”
• Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid
• Haunted Mansion
• The Hall of Presidents
• Country Bear Jamboree
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

EPCOT

• Spaceship Earth
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends
• Turtle Talk with Crush
• Living with the Land
• Awesome Planet
• Soarin’ Around the World
• Mission: SPACE
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Canada Far & Wide in Circle-Vision 360
• Frozen Ever After
• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
• Journey Into Imagination with Figment
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
• Reflections of China
• Palais du Cinema
• Impressions de France
• ImageWorks – The ‘What If’ Labs
• Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Rock n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• Disney Junior Play and Dance!
• For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
• Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Muppet*Vision 3D
• Star Tours – The Adventure Continues
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• Toy Story Mania!
• Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• The Animation Experience at Conservation Station
• Avatar Flight of Passage
• DINOSAUR
• Festival of the Lion King
• Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
• It’s Tough to be a Bug!
• Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost
• Na’vi River Journey

Dine Inside

There are plenty of indoor restaurants to dine in around Walt Disney World. These are great places to warm up while killing your hunger. If you want to eat at a full-service dining location, secure an advanced dining reservation inside or outside a Disney Park. This will guarantee your dining experience and avoid disappointment.

Explore the Resorts

When it’s a little chilly, time inside is welcomed. The cold spells provide an excellent opportunity to explore the Disney Resort hotels. Explore the lobbies, browse the shops, participate in scavenger hunts and relax. Guests can use any Walt Disney World Transportation mode to access different hotels from a Disney theme park or Disney Springs.

Hot Drinks

Cold weather makes you want to drink hot drinks. Joffrey’s and Starbucks are offered in each Disney Park and Disney Springs. Joffrey’s is also available in each Walt Disney World Resort hotel. Guests can order coffee, hot tea, and hot chocolate in most dining locations on Disney property. Check the My Disney Experience app to find your nearest location during your Disney vacation.

Expect the Disney Water Parks to be closed

If really cold weather is expected, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach water parks have been known to close. Should cold weather strike during your Disney vacation, you may not be able to visit a Disney water park. In this instance, it’s helpful to have a backup plan. Generally, Disney Resort pools should remain open so you will be able to access them. Alternatively, the time you had set aside for the water parks could be used to explore the Disney Resort hotels or even participate in other activities such as Disney mini golf.

If you expect cold weather when visiting the Walt Disney World Resort, we hope you’re feeling more prepared with these tips. Remember that there’s still plenty of fun to be had, so your Disney vacation won’t be ruined. It’ll just be a little different from usual. Have fun, and stay warm!