When visiting a Walt Disney World with or without children, there’s a lot to consider. You have to determine when you will go and where you will stay. You may also need to make reservations for dining and theme parks in advance, depending on where you are visiting and the current rules and regulations.
One of the most important things to consider, however, is what to wear to Walt Disney World. This will frame your entire packing process, so that you can make sure you have the right amount and style of clothes for your trip. While the Disney resorts do offer laundry facilities in common areas, who wants to spend time on their vacation doing laundry?
Instead, you’ll want to make sure you that you have everything you need for whatever weather conditions you’ll face. Understanding that you are likely to do a lot of walking, you’ll also want to make sure you have comfortable shoes and clothing for each day. While you will have access to some shops, it’s best to bring along whatever you need.
This post starts with some general ideas of clothes/shoes to pack, and then breaks things down by month.
Disclosure: Affiliate links within. Purchasing and/or clicking on some of the links may result in a small commission paid to us. I am a former member of the planDisney panel and have been on some complimentary press trips at Walt Disney World, but all opinions are my own.
By clicking on an affiliate link, you agree that we may share your personal information with our affiliates and their affiliates.
When booking your Walt Disney World vacation, consider purchasing through our affiliate Get Away Today. They offer great prices on tickets and can book many hotels.
Save money on your Walt Disney World tickets by booking through Get Away Today.
What to Wear to Walt Disney World (By Month)
What to Wear to Walt Disney World (Generally)
Regardless of the month you are visiting, there are some common things that you’ll need to consider when packing your clothes for Walt Disney World.
Comfortable Shoes
Ever walk over a mile in flip-flops? That’s just the distance from one end of EPCOT’S World Showcase to the other. Every time I spend the day at Walt Disney World, I’m amazed at how many steps my smart watch records.
Your feet are likely to feel that distance. Make sure that you pack comfortable shoes – whatever that means to you. For some, running shoes are the best option. I preferred to wear sandals in the past, but now I’d rather wear sneakers.
It’s also important not to wear brand-new shoes. Even the most comfortable walking shoes usually need to be broken in, so remember to take care of that well before your vacation.
I like to bring several styles of shoes and rotate them by day. That way, if a strap or other part of the shoe irritates your foot, you’ll have a day or two to rest that part of your foot. You’ll want to make sure you do this for kids as well.
Here are our favorite theme park shoes if you need ideas on what to buy.
Disney-Themed Clothes
On my daughter’s first Disney trip, she wanted about 15 princess-themed dresses/shirts within the first five minutes. Of course, you may choose to include these types of things into your vacation budget. But if you don’t want to spend lots of money in gift shops, you may want to buy some clothes in advance.
The Disney Store online has dozens of clothing items—from dresses to costumes to long-sleeved and short-sleeved shirts. If your child’s favorite character doesn’t change often, you may want to buy whenever there’s a sale.
Remember to pack everything from prior years if this isn’t your first Disney trip. That way, you won’t have to buy brand-new Mickey ears (unless you want to!).
When I visit Walt Disney World from my home in Massachusetts, I’m usually in for a temperature shock. It’s typically much colder at home, and when I dress at home, I usually wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, socks, and winter shoes. But when I get to my resort, I typically want to change immediately and visit the parks.
I recommend packing one outfit per person in your carry-on bag to facilitate that. You may not always have access to your checked bags immediately, so make sure the clothes are easy to access. If you can’t go to your room right away, you can always change into these warmer-weather clothes in the restroom.
Packing Lists
I always use packing lists when we go on vacation. They’re the best way to ensure that you don’t forget anything. We have packing lists on our site that you can use as a template.
If you have older kids, you can give each one a packing list and let them pack their own stuff. Even though my kids are older now, I still check their piles of clothes before putting them in their suitcases.
Bathing Suits
Regardless of when you visit, you may want to pack bathing suits. Even if you don’t plan to visit the water parks, you may want to spend some relaxing time in one of the resort pools. If you do think you’ll be in the water frequently, you may want to pack two so one will always be dry.
Casual Clothes
The theme parks are informal; most people wear casual clothes like t-shirts, shorts, sweatshirts, and light dresses. Remember that some restaurants do have dress codes, so you’ll want to check that out in advance.
When we go to a more upscale restaurant, I usually like to do that in the evenings. We’ll visit the park during the day, and then take a break at our resort to shower and change before dinner.
Packaging breathable fabrics is also a good idea, especially in the summer months. Remember that there are water rides, like Kali River Rapids.
A note about the weather: We like to look at historical averages when estimating highs and lows. However, these are not always accurate representations of actual temperatures. I recommend reviewing the upcoming forecast before making your final packing list for clothes.
High temperatures hover in the 70s or higher throughout the year. But it’s important to look at the low temperatures as well. Depending on the time of year, it can get cooler when the sun goes down.
Florida is known for its rainstorms, which usually come on strong and quickly. Many people pack rain ponchos for this purpose, and they can also be purchased throughout the parks.
What to Wear to Disney World in January
January’s highs are about 70, with lows in the high 40s. This is a huge temperature swing, which usually means that you’ll need to wear layers. Expect January to be the coolest month of the year, which makes it great weather for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.
I generally like to pack a zip-up sweatshirt so that I can wear it in the evening. Don’t forget the sunscreen – even when it’s cooler, the sun is still intense. I love Coola Sunscreen, which can be purchased online or in many drugstores.
*We utilized the average temperatures from CurrentResults as well as our personal experience for this.
What to Wear to Disney World in February
February temperatures get slightly warmer, with highs in the mid-70s and lows in the mid-50s. You’ll still want to have a second layer for the chilly nights. But in general, the days can be very pleasant.
What to Wear to Disney World in March
March has very average temperatures, similar to February. It also really starts the busy season, with many schools closed for a week or two for spring break. Again, pack a sweatshirt, but you may also consider shorts instead of long pants.
What to Wear to Disney World in April
Spring break continues through April. This is when you’ll start to see warmer evenings, with temps in the 60s in the evenings. If you come from the northern states, Florida is likely to be hotter than home – especially during the day.
Shorts and T-shirts are great options. I generally don’t need a sweatshirt at night, but it may still be a good idea to pack one (you can always wear it on the plane).
What to Wear to Disney World in May
Before my kids started school, I loved visiting Walt Disney World in early May. It’s after spring break but before the summer break, so the parks aren’t quite as busy. It’s also before things get oppressively hot.
In May, you can usually wear shorts and short-sleeved t-shirts with no issue. Again, packing a sweatshirt isn’t a bad idea, although you probably don’t need it (except maybe on your flight).
What to Wear to Disney World in June
June starts the busy and hot summer months. You probably won’t need a sweatshirt or sweater in the parks, and you’ll want to drink lots of water and plan cooling breaks. T-shirts and shorts are the best options throughout the summer.
It’s also important to remember that hurricane season starts in June, so you’ll need to keep an eye on the forecast and could potentially deal with heavy rain.
What to Wear to Disney World in July
July in Orlando is hot. With very strong sun, daytime temperatures can reach the 90s. Bring lots of sunscreen, drink lots of water, and stay cool with breathable fabrics. You may also experience strong showers.
What to Wear to Disney World in August
August has very similar temperatures to July. Definitely pack your coolest clothes, use loads of sunscreen, and drink plenty of water.
What to Wear to Disney World in September
You may think of September as the beginning of fall, but it can still be very hot in Orlando. I remember some very hot vacations in September, so pack short-sleeve shirts and shorts.
What to Wear to Disney World in October
You can experience some of the fun Halloween events at Walt Disney World in October. Temperatures do start to cool down a bit. While you aren’t likely to need a sweater or sweatshirt, it’s still a good idea to pack it. You may also consider regular pants rather than shorts.
What to Wear to Disney World in November
November, when you can start to enjoy the Disney Christmas events, is cooler than October. We have a whole family collection of Disney sweatshirts that we had to buy on a particularly chilly day during a Thanksgiving trip. Average highs are in the high 70s, and lows are in the 50s.
What to Wear to Disney World in December
December is very similar to January/February. I’ve been downright cold in December at Disney World, but also gotten a little tan. In these months, it’s best to pack layers and be prepared for big temperature shifts throughout the days.
