Florida Doesn't Get Cold… Until It Does

By Aaron

"It's just Florida. You don't need winter clothes for Orlando."

Usually true. Until it isn't.

Last week I braved EPCOT in freezing temperatures wearing a hoodie and two long sleeve shirts. Before I moved here from New England, my cold weather kit included lined jeans, thermal shirts, knee high wool socks, a puffy down jacket, and an ushanka hat. I donated all of it.

They say Florida cold isn't Chicago cold. But cold is cold. In the parking lot, a kid stepped out of her van, froze for a second in the wind, then burst into icy tears. Her parents swaddled her in a stroller blanket like a burrito. Everywhere I looked, toddlers were tucked inside their parents' jackets like kangaroo joeys. We spent half a day in the park and saw maybe one kid dressed like Randy from A Christmas Story. The rest were underdressed and miserable.

The Cold Didn't Scare Off the Crowds

I figured anyone crazy enough to visit parks in freezing weather would swarm Animal Kingdom. It was the final day for the DINOSAUR ride (RIP). That ride even hit a four hour wait.

But EPCOT stayed busy. Rides I expected to walk onto showed 60+ minute waits in the app. Vacationers don't care about the weather. They paid for tickets, booked hotels, flew here and they're riding Spaceship Earth in a windbreaker if they have to. Vacation FOMO is stronger than wind chill. And Spaceship Earth is a wind tunnel. All shade. Brrr.

Our reward for braving the chill was Remy's Ratatouille Adventure. Freshly refurbished and a true walk on. We hadn't ridden it yet.

If You Go Out in the Cold

Pack one extra layer. Don't assume low crowds.

Florida doesn't get cold often. But when it does, the parks stay open.

- Aaron