A Word of WARNING About the Freezing Weather in Disney World

It’s about to get seriously cold in Disney World.

Cinderella Castle

This holiday season has seen some intense weather, and it’s about to get colder. This week we’ve seen thousands of flights being canceled and delayed, millions of predicted travelers, and a warning from President Joe Biden about holiday travel. Now, we’re preparing to bundle up even more.

Florida is about to experience a severe cold front. Experts are predicting that the cold front will hit Florida on Friday, December 23rd. Temperatures are expected to drop in Central Florida between 20 and 35 degrees with highs between 40 and 50 degrees.

©Wesh 2

According to Wesh 2, the freezing temperatures are expected to begin around 4 AM on Saturday, December 24th, and last for several hours. A freeze warning and a freeze watch will be going into effect soon. A freeze watch is usually issued 24 to 36 hours before temperatures are expected to drop to 32 degrees (the freezing point) so you can prepare to protect anything that might be outdoors, such as animals, plants, and crops.

Prepare with a warm jacket or two!

A freeze warning is issued when it is almost certain that temperatures will drop below freezing. Due to this warning and the watch, you should start to prepare by bringing your animals and potted plants indoors. During the freeze watch, anyone within the watch area should also protect their plumbing by letting water drip from their faucets to help prevent their pipes from freezing. If you’re traveling to Walt Disney World, guests can expect dangerous winds and cold temperatures in the parks as well.

Orlando Sanford International Airport via AllEars.net

The Panhandle and North Florida are expected to get the worst of the weather but anyone in Central Florida needs to be prepared for freezing temperatures as well. Already, thousands of flights have been canceled or delayed starting Wednesday, December 21st until Saturday, December 24th, due to the severe weather that has already hit across America. As of 4:00 PM on December 23rd, the Orlando International Airport saw 36 flights canceled, 84 delayed, and 110 still on time.

Big travel day folks…here's the Big board over at #OIA. Check ahead with your air carriers! Safe travels. #weshwx pic.twitter.com/IW1PD9VnsD

— Tony Mainolfi (@TMainolfiWESH) December 23, 2022

Due to these changes, if you’re heading to Walt Disney World for the holidays the Orlando Airport shared some travel suggestions. They urged guests to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours early, make reservations to go through security ahead of time to help guests avoid waiting in line (anyone traveling can do that here), download the airline and airport apps to get the most up-to-date information, and prepare for long lines and large crowds.

Orlando International Airport crowds

If you’re currently in Disney World or will be there soon, you can also keep your eyes peeled for hot chocolate as it pops up around the parks, bring extra jackets for your trip, and keep your eye closely on your weather app as the temperatures drop.

Presents!

Another way this weather could impact you is through shipping delays. The winter storms could also bring about the delay of any last-minute holiday packages being delivered. Both FedEx and the United States Postal Service have issued statements warning that packages could be delayed. (CNBC) If you’re expecting packages to be delivered on December 23rd or December 24th, be prepared for them to arrive a little later than expected.

As always, make sure to keep following DFB for all of your travel news and updates.