Walt Disney World’s climate is wild. That’s true year-round, however particularly in winter when there may be 30-40° swings in temperatures from the every day highs to lows. This photograph report shares my near-freezing day in Magic Kingdom–protecting what I achieved, and (most significantly) actionable recommendation for beating the crowds on chilly days and nights in WDW.
Winter is my favourite time of 12 months at Walt Disney World. Most likely an unpopular opinion amongst snowbirds who escape the freezing temperatures and winter climate of the Midwest and Northeast, fleeing to Florida for sunshine and heat. However I far choose the coldest days of the 12 months (all 13 of them!) in Orlando to the most popular ones (all 43 weeks of them!).
Don’t get me mistaken, I like sunshine and heat climate…however I’m simply not outfitted for these days with 90+ diploma warmth and triple-digit looks like temperatures. Final summer time was simply brutal–I’ll fortunately take the chilly over that. When temperatures drop, you’ll be able to at all times add layers to remain comfy. On the oppressively sizzling and humid days, there’s solely a lot you’ll be able to take off earlier than safety will get concerned.
There are additionally a whole lot of misconceptions about how the climate impacts crowds at Walt Disney World. That is price mentioning as a result of we often hear feedback from readers who’re stunned by this. Opposite to standard false impression, rain normally doesn’t filter crowds until it’s an absolute deluge lasting hours.
Excessive warmth additionally has minimal affect on crowd ranges. Anecdotally, I feel it does make company grumpier and extra meltdown-prone, however they play by way of the ache. (Critically, there’s a noticeably higher ‘vibe’ at Walt Disney World from November by way of March than through the summer time months.) About the one factor you’ll discover when it’s actually sizzling is that nighttime crowds enhance as extra folks take noon breaks and extra locals come out after darkish.
Sizzling and wet climate have minimal affect on crowds as a result of each of these issues are just about par for the course with Florida climate–if Walt Disney World wasn’t busy when it’s wet or sizzling, the parks can be uncrowded half the time! On the contrary, vacationers and locals alike put together for these kinds of climate so it doesn’t ship them heading for the exits. Nobody is forgetting their shorts for summer time in Florida; in the event that they do make the error of not bringing ponchos or umbrellas, they’ll simply buy these within the parks.
What does make a distinction is chilly climate. Extra importantly, a wider vary of temperatures or “shock” lows. If the daytime excessive is within the higher 70s or low 80s however the nighttime low is within the 40s, that is the candy spot. Bonus factors if there’s a little bit of precipitation, or higher but, wind, thrown into the combo. It additionally helps if these lows happen all of the sudden, throughout timeframes when lows are in any other case within the 60s.
Just about everybody seems to be on the climate forecast for Central Florida whereas packing. If planners see present temperatures within the 60s to 80s, they plan for that. Furthermore, most individuals will costume for no matter season it’s once they head out the door within the morning. So if it’s within the excessive 70s or low 80s, that’s shorts and t-shirt climate.
Anybody who has spent a great period of time in Orlando through the winter can let you know that there’s a large distinction between a sunny 80° day and nights when temperatures are within the 50s or decrease. Even on paper, that 30 diploma swing is critical, but it surely’s completely large when you account for the divergence in “looks like” temperatures.
We’ve been warning about this for years, and I’m not too proud to confess that this recommendation comes courtesy of classes I’ve realized the laborious manner. As a local Michigander who grew up within the belt that received hit laborious by the “Lake Impact Snow Machine,” I assumed no Florida climate might faze me. Then got here a fateful journey in December 2010, with lows within the higher 30s. I haven’t made the error of underestimating Florida climate since. (That’s not completely true–I’m a sluggish learner–however I’ve principally not made the error of underestimating Florida climate since.)
Level being, even for those who’re from the Midwest or Northeast and are used to chilly climate, you shouldn’t make the error of assuming you’ll be effective–that Florida (of all locations) can’t dish out winter climate. Your physique will turn out to be acclimated to these 70-degree Florida daytime temperatures fairly rapidly, making double-digit temperature drop as soon as the solar goes down really feel much more pronounced.
Extra importantly, Florida chilly is way worse because of the humidity. I can’t reiterate this sufficient. The “looks like” of even 50º climate in Walt Disney World is considerably worse than at residence. Florida’s humidity makes even semi-cold climate far much less comfy. I might not be a meteorologist, however belief me on this–it’s science.
Most individuals received’t be ready for a dramatic drop when the solar goes down. At that time, their choices are to bear the chilly climate in no matter they’re carrying, head residence, or purchase hotter clothes. There’s a purpose racks of sweatshirts roll out to each present store when the temperatures drop–however at $60 a pop, shopping for your manner out of the chilly is a dear proposition.
Individuals begin dropping like flies. An hour or so after sundown, Magic Kingdom can filter on days which can be abnormally frigid. We’ve had late nights when the park is a ghost city, because the chilly climate drives a whole lot of company away. The parks filter in a manner that simply doesn’t occur in different excessive climate, wanting a veritable monsoon or hurricane scare.
On busy days between November and February, one of the simplest ways to ‘forecast’ a decrease crowd degree within the night at Magic Kingdom is taking the distinction between the day’s excessive and low temperatures. The larger the unfold, the extra probably crowds shall be decrease. That’s a greater predictor than day of week developments, crowd calendars, or the rest.
For example, I wish to share my current expertise in Magic Kingdom on an evening in January when temperatures dropped into the 40s. Daytime was fairly uneventful. Each as a result of the park was fairly busy and since I wasn’t centered on effectively. Most of my day was spent saying goodbye to Nation Bear Jamboree (on loop), plus the Peoplemover and Carousel of Progress. I did that trio of sights over a dozen occasions–most likely no must stroll you thru that.
As a substitute, let’s choose up when issues really get fascinating–my near-freezing evening in MK instantly after Fortunately Ever After, which was proven at 8pm. That left slightly over 2.5 hours on the clock in Magic Kingdom, because the park closed at 11pm.
My first intuition was to knock out Peter Pan’s Flight, as it’s attainable to beat the gang to that for those who’re quick after the fireworks.
Sadly, I used to be not. The Lightning Lane overflow queue was already in use, so I had a reasonably good concept that the 55 minute (not 5 minute, the photograph deceives) wait was too near accuracy for consolation.
In case you watch the fireworks from Fantasyland, Peter Pan’s Flight is a superb first cease after that on an evening like this. In any other case, wait till the ultimate half-hour or so.
I did Haunted Mansion as an alternative, which was a posted 20 minute wait time and really a walk-on.
Now that I’ve lastly had an opportunity to see Hatbox Ghost in individual, I can’t say that I prefer it. I get why different followers are enthusiastic about this–it’s new and who doesn’t love new issues?! Additionally, Hatbox Ghost is simply flat-out cool. The gnarly cane, the large prime hat, the rib cage exhibiting by way of his trench coat for some purpose, the great field for conveniently storing his personal head. Ladies need him, males wish to be him.
Setting apart his enviable seems to be and equipment, Hatbox Ghost simply feels too shoehorned into this spot and doesn’t movement with the remainder of Haunted Mansion. To every their very own, however I hope the work is ultimately performed to maneuver this AA to the attic, the place he belongs.
Talking of spirits, Frontierland was a ghost city.
I’m truthfully a bit stunned they haven’t been operating Nation Bear Jamboree from park opening till closing. The stage present was taking part in to (actually) full homes each single time I did it, to the purpose that looping generally wasn’t even attainable.
I do know it received’t occur, however I’d love if Imagineering modified the present to be Disney songs through the day and Nation Bears ‘After Darkish’ at evening. Sorta like how Magnificence and the Beast Sing-Alongside rotates with Impressions de France. Have the bears sing Toy Story songs or no matter till 8pm, however allow them to do the grown-up routine that includes violence, humor, horniness, and different hijinks within the night hours!
Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad was posting a 20 minute wait time at this level, however was extra like 10 or so. I don’t recall the precise quantity, but it surely was not a walk-on.
I used to be really barely stunned by this. It’s an outside curler coaster, that means that 44° temperature feels even colder. Regardless, the road moved rapidly–much better than the 85 minute wait time it hit at one level earlier within the day. (That additionally helps clarify why it nonetheless wasn’t a walk-on at this hour.)
Pirates of the Caribbean was posting a 5 minute wait time, which was roughly correct within the sense that it takes that lengthy to stroll by way of the empty queue.
Using this so quickly after Haunted Mansion, I couldn’t assist however examine the Jack Sparrow and Hatbox Ghost AAs. I bear in mind when Captain Jack was first added to Pirates of the Caribbean–it was an enormous deal. There was even mainstream advertising and marketing alongside the traces of, ‘first the experience impressed the film, now the film conjures up the experience!‘
I used to be one of many Walt Disney World followers who was excited for this, and I nonetheless assume the AAs are fairly cool. Nonetheless, I additionally must admit that the luster has worn off, and I now assume that Captain Jack feels shoehorned in, and the experience would most likely be higher off with out him. Both manner, it’s not an enormous deal to me–I simply assume it’s an fascinating parallel. Already, different stuff from the movie franchise has been faraway from Pirates of the Caribbean. I assume the identical will occur with Jack Sparrow, ultimately.
Jungle Cruise was subsequent up, posting a ten minute wait with an precise wait of 0 minutes.
This was really one of some walk-on sights the place I really handed folks within the Lightning Lane. Late at evening, this really isn’t unusual–it usually takes folks longer to scan into the Lightning Lane than it does to stroll by way of an empty standby line. It makes me marvel why they don’t simply shut the Lightning Lane sooner or later because it provides zero worth? Most likely as a result of the notion of worth is essential, and/or as a result of the standby line might all of the sudden get longer at which level the Lightning Lane would have some nominal worth.
Since I didn’t go into this evening pondering this is able to be a publish subject, I finished to screw round and take pictures in Frontierland and the Central Plaza. I additionally did the PeopleMover twice in the direction of the tip of the evening to get off my ft.
The most important blunder I made was fully forgetting to seize a spot within the TRON Lightcycle Run digital queue. I’ve talked about this earlier than, however I at all times gamble on becoming a member of the digital queue now. At all times the 1pm entry, and by no means proper at 1:00:00pm on the dot. I’ll normally wait till no less than 1:05pm, at which level I’m usually in a boarding group that will get known as after the fireworks. If I wait till the tip of my window, I’m among the many final teams.
That might’ve been a unbelievable technique on this evening, as there seemed to be just about no bodily line for the digital queue. As with the remainder of the park, I’m guessing that the chilly climate cleared folks out and other people bailed on their spots within the VQ. Earlier within the day, the return line had an extended overflow space, so the distinction in precise waits between day and evening would’ve been fairly important.
Area Mountain was my second-to-last experience of the evening, with a posted wait time of 20 minutes and an precise wait time of lower than 10.
This was really the shortest I had seen Area Mountain shortly. There have been a number of occasions I’ve performed it lately at first or finish of the day when the precise wait barely exceeds the posted one. Plus, it’s indoors and this was a chilly evening–I used to be bracing myself for a 20-25 minute wait.
I debated doing Peter Pan’s Flight subsequent, however I wasn’t assured I’d be performed earlier than park closing. As a substitute, I finished for extra pictures earlier than leaping in line for Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice at 10:58pm.
Above is the tip of the queue behind me. I used to be really stunned at how many individuals had been in entrance of me–a lot “worse” (gentle air quotes) than I used to be anticipating given the dearth of traces elsewhere.
Posted wait time was 55 minutes, my precise wait was slightly below 20 minutes.
Clearly, that’s not dangerous (in any respect) for Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice. Only for perspective, although, I’ve had waits as brief as 7 minutes on the finish of the evening. Not that I minded–a technique or one other, I’ve to kill time earlier than the park clears out for pictures. It’s both ready Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice, consuming corn canine nuggets, or shopping the Emporium for stuff I don’t really need.
On the plus facet, between the chilly climate and Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice taking barely longer than regular, the park had actually cleared out by the point I used to be off the experience.
Fantasyland was rapidly emptying, and the Central Plaza was uncrowded as soon as I received up there. On a traditional day, these areas can nonetheless be packed half-hour or extra after closing. That’s very true if it’s a hotter day or Magic Kingdom closes at 10pm or earlier.
Listed below are some extra pictures from my near-freezing evening in Magic Kingdom:
In the end, it was a productive evening in Magic Kingdom. By the point I left the park at 12:15am, the temperature had dropped to 42° with a looks like of 38° (there was even a wind chill advisory issued for Orange County). That’s not even near the coldest I’ve ever been at Walt Disney World, but it surely was frigid sufficient to filter Primary Road in a rush.
Amusingly, there have been virtually as many PhotoPass photographers on Primary Road as company at one level–presumably as a result of they didn’t have the ‘all-clear’ to go away but from a supervisor. I received this shot to commemorate the event:
The ethical of the story is that, between the tip of the evening and Early Entry/rope drop, you’ll be able to knock out each high-profile experience in Magic Kingdom as a walk-on, even on a busy day with 7/10 to 9/10 crowds. That leaves the center of the day for stage reveals, snacking, and even conducting extra sights effectively by way of Lightning Lanes, for those who so need.
All in all, a really satisfying day at Walt Disney World regardless of chilly climate and winter attendance fairly removed from low season lows. Hopefully this demonstrates to you the way it’s attainable to have a terrific expertise and use the climate to your benefit with a purpose to beat greater daytime waits!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever performed a freezing night at Magic Kingdom? Had been you capable of accomplish so much after the solar went down and temperatures plummeted? In case you’ve performed chilly climate at Walt Disney World up to now, what are your suggestions? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
