Hi Dakota,
Greetings from a fellow Hoosier! Boy, do I ever understand your question, and I
definitely think that escaping to sunny Florida during Christmastime sounds like a WONDERFUL idea!
My number one tip for packing for a
Walt Disney World Resort vacation during the winter months is to bring layers. While the average high temperatures that time of year are in the mid-70s, and you'll likely be comfortable with short sleeves and shorts during the daytime, I've been there before when I needed a winter coat, hat, and gloves. Even if it warms up during the day, the average low is in the 50s, so you'll probably want at least a sweatshirt in the mornings and evenings. I don't like to be cold, so while my hubby is often fine in shorts all day long, I also like to bring jeans to wear. December isn't a particularly rainy month in central Florida, but pop up showers are always a possibility, so I'd recommend bringing some ponchos with you, too. They're easy to throw in a drawstring backpack and keep with you just in case. As for bringing all the rest of the stuff to the parks with you? We usually start the morning with a couple of layers on, then tie sweatshirts around our waist as it warms up throughout the day. If we will need hats, gloves, jeans, and/or coats, I throw all of those in a backpack and either keep that with us or
rent a locker to store it in.
While it's too early to know for sure, I'd recommend keeping your eye on the weather forecast as it gets closer to your trip, and plan on bringing easily interchangeable layers. You're exactly right, though, that no matter what it's like at "The Most Magical Place on Earth," it's likely going to feel
much warmer than it will back in Indiana!
Thanks so much for visiting us at the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Dakota, and please let us know if we can help with anything else as you're thinking through the details of your trip. I hope that you have a truly magical vacation this
holiday season!
Missy