Rope Drop News · What to wear, December
What to Wear to Disney World in December
Warm enough for a t-shirt at two, cold enough for a jacket at seven, and once or twice a month a front blows through and nobody gets the t-shirt at all. Dress in layers you can peel, and bring the one you think you will not need.
- Afternoon
- 74°
- Night
- 53°
- Rain days
- 7
- Sunset
- 5.30pm
One December day
A twenty degree swing, before dinner
The gates open in the mid fifties, the afternoon tops out near 74, and the sun is gone before the dinner reservation. Follow the bright line and you have the outfit. The dashed one is the same day with a cold front through.
-
Rope drop · 54°
A t-shirt under a fleece or long sleeve, and pants if you run cold. Mid fifties in a still queue feels colder than it reads, and it lasts until about eleven.
-
Afternoon · 74°
Down to the t-shirt, with a hat and sunscreen. Low humidity and low seventies make this the most comfortable few hours of the whole December day.
-
After dark · 58°
The jacket goes on at sunset, around 5.30 all month, and stays on. Fireworks, parties and the bus home all happen in the fifties.
The cold front day
Pack for two Decembers
Most December days look like the bright line above. A few each month look like the dashed one. A cold front drops the whole day by ten degrees or more, usually with a windy, clear sky behind it. Pack for both and check the forecast the night before.
Cold front figures are a typical example, not a forecast.
The December bag
Six things worth packing
Layers, warm feet and two small fixes for the coldest hour of the night.
Rope Drop News may earn a commission when you book or buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read our affiliate disclosure.
-
The night layer
Amazon Essentials Lightweight Packable Puffer Jacket
December nights at the parks sit in the low to mid fifties, and the party nights run past midnight. A packable puffer is warm enough for that and still folds into the park bag at noon.
See it on Amazon -
The morning layer
Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece
Rope drop in December often starts in the forties or low fifties. A midweight fleece over a t-shirt covers the first two hours, then ties around the waist or goes in a locker.
See it on Amazon -
The shoes
Brooks Ghost Running Shoes
Festival of the Holidays means World Showcase laps for cookies and storytellers. A cushioned, broken-in trainer keeps day four as good as day one.
See it on Amazon -
The socks
Darn Tough Merino Wool Socks
Merino is warm in a cold queue at 8 am and stays dry by mid afternoon, which is the whole December day in one pair. Pack one per park day.
See it on Amazon -
The cold front hat
Carhartt Knit Cuffed Beanie
It weighs nothing and fits in a pocket. On the mornings and party nights when a front comes through, a warm hat does more than a second jacket would.
See it on Amazon -
The fireworks fix
HotHands Hand Warmers
Standing still for forty minutes to hold a spot for Happily Ever After is when December gets cold. A pair of warmers in the pockets makes the wait easy, and kids love them.
See it on Amazon
Before you book
The first two weeks are the easy ones to book. From the 19th through New Year's Orlando fills up and rates climb, so lock the room early, and a base close to the parks keeps the ride back short on a cold party night.
Where to stay in December
Hotels near Walt Disney World
Stay close and the ride to rope drop is short, with a quick trip back for a midday break.
Or start with an area
- Lake Buena VistaNext door to Disney Springs
- CelebrationQuiet streets, minutes from the gates
- KissimmeeMore room for less on US 192
December 2026, night by night
The nights you are dressing for
December is full of late nights, and the crowd changes shape on the 19th. Every square shows the holiday events running that date, the expected crowd at Magic Kingdom and when Magic Kingdom closes to day guests. Tap a date for that night's outfit call.
Tuesday, December 1
- Sunset
- 5.30 pm
- Magic Kingdom
- 7p
- Crowd
- Light
Very Merry Christmas Party, Festival of the Holidays
Party night at Magic Kingdom until midnight. Pants and a real jacket, it is mid fifties by the last fireworks.
- Very Merry party, Magic Kingdom
- Jollywood Nights, Hollywood Studios
- Festival of the Holidays, EPCOT
- Light Moderate Busy Packed
- Small time is when Magic Kingdom closes to day guests. Ringed squares are Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
13 December nights through the 22nd, 7 pm to midnight
Five hours outside after dark, ending in the low to mid fifties. Pants, the jacket and a hat in the pocket. Adults can costume at the party, inside Disney's party rules.
Every party night and priceJollywood Nights
7 December nights from the 5th, 7.30 pm to 12.30 am
The latest finish of any December party. Plenty of guests dress up for the Twilight Soiree, so pack a smart outfit with a warm layer that goes with it.
The Jollywood Nights guideEPCOT Festival of the Holidays
Daily through December 30, Candlelight every night
Storytellers, Holiday Kitchens and the Candlelight Processional, all outdoors around World Showcase. The longest walk of the trip, so wear the good shoes, and layer up before the last Candlelight show.
The Festival of the Holidays guideChristmas and New Year's Eve
December 24, 25 and 31
The heaviest days of the year, so check each park's hours before you plan the night. Dress light enough for midday queues in the sun, and bring the full night kit for New Year's Eve, which runs well past midnight.
Magic Kingdom hours in DecemberCrowds and hours
The calmest December days, park by park
December is two months in one. The first two weeks are among the best of the year, every decoration up and the crowds still home. From the 19th it is the busiest stretch on the calendar. Pick your park for its full month.
Hollywood Studios
- Tue Dec 1Moderate
- Wed Dec 2Moderate
- Tue Dec 8Moderate
Animal Kingdom
- Tue Dec 1Moderate
- Wed Dec 2Moderate
- Tue Dec 8Moderate
Questions
December packing, answered
What should I wear to Disney World in December?
Dress in layers. A t-shirt with a fleece or long sleeve over it for the morning, pants or jeans if you run cold, and a packable jacket for after dark. December afternoons average 74 degrees and the nights fall to about 53, so most people peel to a t-shirt by lunch and put everything back on by sunset. Add broken-in sneakers and a compact poncho for the odd rainy day.
Is it cold at Disney World in December?
It can be. Most December days are mild, low 70s in the afternoon and low 50s at night. Every few days a cold front comes through, and those days can start in the 40s and stay in the low 60s all afternoon. Sunset is around 5.30 pm, so the evening is long and cool. Check the forecast the night before each park day.
Do I need a winter coat for Disney World in December?
Not a heavy one. A packable puffer or a midweight fleece plus a warm hat covers almost every December night, including the Very Merry party and Jollywood Nights. A full winter coat only earns its space during a rare hard freeze, and it is a burden in the parks every other hour of the day.
Can I wear shorts to Disney World in December?
On most afternoons, yes. Shorts are comfortable from late morning to sunset on a normal December day. On a cold front day they are not, and after dark they rarely are. Many visitors wear light pants or leggings all day instead, which saves a change before the fireworks.
What should I wear to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in December?
Warm layers and comfortable shoes. The party runs 7 pm to midnight at Magic Kingdom, and December party nights end in the low to mid 50s. Pants, a jacket and a hat you can stuff in a pocket cover it. Adults can wear costumes at the party as long as they follow Disney's party costume rules.
Does it rain at Disney World in December?
Not much. December averages about 2.5 inches over seven rain days, and the summer afternoon storms are long gone. Rain usually arrives with a passing cold front, so a compact poncho in the bag covers it, and the day after a front is often clear and cool.