lorigallelli

I am getting ready to start packing my family for a trip to Disney World. We will be there from Dec. 1st - Dec. 9th. I am packing for three kids...2, 4 & 6. I am just not sure what kind of clothing I should pack. I am assuming it's fairly nice, temperature wise, during the day and must get a bit chillier at night. If anyone can guide me as to what type of clothing would be suitable I would really appreciate it!

cmeyer54

Our boys were 4 and 6 for our first Disney trip (they should have a blast!!). We took zip-off pants for them but I don't know if they are still in stock at stores. We could start with the full length pants, zip off the bottoms and store them in a backpack when it got warm and put them back on in th evenings. If you are staying on property, it should be easy to run back and forth as you will probably need to do anyway for naps, etc. and change clothes. I'd take some shorts, lightweight jackets/pants(like a running suit or track suit), and plenty of short sleeve shirts. I'm sure you've seen the advice to go early, take an afternoon break and head back late afternoon/evening. Have a wonderful time - disney is one of my favorite destinations for over 50 years!

GBelle

Some advice I received years ago when my kids were that small.

1. Rent a stroller, even if they kids think they’re too big for it. They’ll get tired walking and you’ll end up carrying them. (Mark it with a big ribbon so you will find it easier.)
2. Bring a backpack like cmeyer said so you can bring in water, sandwiches/snacks, diapers, etc. and use it for keeping jackets in one place so they’re not lost.
3. We found zipoff pants at Old Navy. Don’t know if they still carry them.
4. Bring an autograph book from home for each of them – less expensive.
5. No matter what you do, the biggest thing the kids will ask for and remember is the hotel POOL. I told my kids that I wanted them to remember what they did, so I made each of them write in a journal at the end of the day (or tell me their story and I would write it for the younger ones) and used the pool as my bargaining chip. They could go in the pool after dinner and journal. The pool wiped them out. A quick bath/shower and then bedtime.

Connie

If you are staying on property, realize it can take an hour one way to get to your room. It's not as easy and quick as it sounds.

They rent lockers (usually close to the front gate) where you can keep things. It's a good idea to have an extra pair of dry underwear and socks if you plan to ride water rides.

I did most of my Disney research on www.wdwinfo.com/chat.htm

One thing the majority of the parents say they are glad they did was to pack a days worth of clothes (shirt, pants, socks, shoes, accessories) in a zip lock bag for each day. No hunting for things in the morning when you are trying to get out the door. If they are old enough, just hand them their bag.

MiamiBeachMomma

lori - check
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USFL0615
a week or do before your visit.
December weather in Orlando can vary widely.
A cold front can come through and put the day time temps in the 50s or it can get hot and be in the 80s.

A stroller is also useful to help you carry all the extra junk you need for the day. Just make sure to carry all your valuables at all times - dont leave them in the stroller. Use the stroller to store the extra clothes, diapers, and snacks!!

portiaperu

MiamiBeachMomma, has great advice re checking the weather before your departure. We've been to Disney several times in December and it's been all over the thermometer. One year we had to buy hats and mittens for the children, although I'm told that is rare for Orlando.

Take clothing that can be layered: short sleeve jerseys that can be worn under a long sleeve jersey and if you have shorts that can be covered with lightweight sweat or running pants. And no need for anything bulkier than a sweat shirt with a hood, which can be worn on the plane instead of bulking up the bags. Lightweight rain jackets or ponchos will be handy in case of rain (check that weather forecast!). With layers you can start out fully dressed in the morning, remove some clothing for the warmer hours, and cover up again for the evening.

The stroller is a requirement. We used one until our children couldn't fit in the seats! And load it up with extras as you would for any day trip at home.

Have a wonderful time!

cmeyer54

One other suggestion. If it even has a slight chance of rain forecast, take rain ponchos from home. You can buy them at a dollar store,they are folded flat for easy packing and if not needed,just leave them behind. Ponchos in the parks or even in convenience stores near the parks will run well over $10 each. You'll be able to use the 'hand off' for some of the rides that your older child will be able to go on and the younger ones won't due to height restrictions. FastPass is also great for some rides as well. We also found on our first trip that the boys could share a child's meal at some of the park restaurants - the portions were very large and the staff didn't seem to mind. We usually made a list of 3-4 things/rides that we really wanted to do each day and interspersed those with any other parades, shows, etc that caught our eyes. It got the boys involved rather than just tagging or dragging along. A stroller is an absolute must - especially for the 2 year old - I can't remember if double strollers were available or not but that might be a good option too.

321go

"One year we had to buy hats and mittens for the children, although I'm told that is rare for Orlando." Yes, it is unusual, but last winter we had several weeks of such weather. You were lucky to find mittens for sale; they can be hard to find here as stores simply don't stock a lot of them.

To the OP: do bring a backpack to the parks, they are invaluable and yes, get a stroller. I agree with the advice to dress in layers. And don't forget the sunglasses, comfortable (well broken in) shoes, and sunscreen. Even if it's cold, the sun can be unrelenting here.

DawnCt

I would bring my stroller from home. There are so many places that it comes in handy, not just in the theme parks. I often brought a wide width umbrella stroller even though we stayed on property and often at the Yacht Club. I would put the middle child (5 at the time) in the seat and he held our 2 year old at the time. Often they are too tired for the walk back from Epcot late at night. In 3 days, it paid for itself.