If you are planning a special visit to the Disney Parks for the holidays or sometime over the winter months, you might already have packing on your mind. It’s hard to know exactly what to take, and when it comes to selecting your wardrobe, things can get even trickier. There is one thing I want to put on your radar ahead of time, just in case you need to go shopping before the end of the season.
I’ve spent a few holiday seasons in the Disney Parks over the years, and there is always one unexpected item that you will find in my suitcase that earns me a confused look from others. No matter what the predicted weather is expected to be, I always take a swimsuit with me. Yes, that’s right, even in winter, and I will admit, I learned this one the hard way. We all know that Walt Disney World Resort, in particular, can have some fairly unpredictable weather. Well, the case doesn’t change all that much in the so-called cooler months, when this peninsula state can have a seasonal mind of its own.
A few years back, I found myself desperately longing for a swim after a long day of slightly above-usual temperatures. In this part of the world, it doesn’t take much above the average to feel like swimming weather, and while I watched all the other clever resort guests frolic around in the water, I vowed never to make the same mistake again. And Disneyland Resort guests, don’t think you are excluded from this one. Since packing faux pas all those years ago, I have always taken one to Disneyland, where temperatures are consistently warmer than expected. One of my favorite memories there was watching the Disneyland Park fireworks from the rooftop pool of one of the Good Neighbour hotels, which was heated and delightful after a long park day. It was just my kids and me, enjoying the warm water and watching the colors shoot up into the sky. Now, that’s some magic right there.
So, why do I bring this up now, you might ask? Well, the answer is that to take that bathing suit, swimming cozzie, or whatever you want to call it with you, a shopping trip might be in order. I can appreciate that not everyone identifies as a mermaid (like I do), and perhaps you don’t spend the warmer half of the year being dragged from the sun’s rays and pulled out of the water as I do in the evening. Those in cooler climates might not even have a swimsuit they feel comfortable wearing in a resort setting. In that event, now is your time to take advantage of those end-of-season sales and get something to take on your trip!
Of course, there will always be a trip at some point where I won’t end up using it, and in that case, it’s a small price of packing real estate to pay for the peace of mind, knowing that I’ve used it so many times unexpectedly. Get some swimmers (what we call them here in Sydney) that you can throw on and relax in should the moment strike. The water is a beautiful way to take the pressure off your feet after a long day, and an evening swim can be downright enchanting.
What’s one unexpected item you always take on a Disney Parks vacation in the cooler months?
Feature Image: Photo by Aubrey Odom on Unsplash
Zoë Wood is a travel writer from Sydney, Australia. Since her first visit to Disneyland at the age of 6, she has spent her years frequently visiting Disney Parks and traveling around the world.
Join Zoë as she lets you in on all the tips, tricks, anecdotes, and embarrassments that arise from her family adventures.
