December might be the most comfortable month of the year to visit Orlando. The summer heat and storms are long gone, the humidity drops, and you can spend a whole day outside without melting. It is also one of the busiest and most festive times of the year. Here is what to expect, using official National Weather Service data for Orlando.
December in Orlando is mild and fairly dry. The normal high is about 74°F and the normal low is about 53°F, with roughly 2.5 inches of rain for the whole month. Pack shorts and T-shirts for the day plus a jacket for evenings, airboat rides and the occasional cold front.
Orlando Weather In December
Temperatures slide a few degrees cooler as the month goes on. These are the official 1991 to 2020 normals for Orlando International Airport:
| Date | Normal high | Normal low |
|---|---|---|
| December 1 | 76°F | 56°F |
| December 15 | 74°F | 53°F |
| December 25 | 73°F | 51°F |
| December 31 | 72°F | 50°F |
Those are averages, and December in Florida can swing. Cold fronts can bring a few chilly mornings in the 40s, and some years December stays warm enough for the pool. December is also one of the drier months, with about 2.5 inches of rain on average, compared with more than 7 inches in a typical summer month.
What To Pack For December
- Daytime: Shorts or light pants and T-shirts most days.
- Evenings: A sweatshirt or light jacket. Once the sun goes down, around 5:30 PM, it cools off fast.
- Outdoor adventures: A warmer jacket for airboat rides or anything on the water. The wind makes it feel colder.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses. The Florida sun is still strong in winter.
- Closed-toe shoes for theme parks, farms and nature trails.
Crowds: When To Go
December is really two seasons. The first couple of weeks are usually calmer, with shorter lines and better hotel prices. From the week before Christmas through New Year's Day, Orlando is typically among its busiest of the whole year, and theme parks can be extremely crowded. If you are visiting during the holidays, book timed experiences early, go early in the day, and mix in a few non-theme-park days to give everyone a break.
Holiday Events In 2026
- Christmas at Gaylord Palms (Kissimmee): November 13, 2026 through January 3, 2027, featuring ICE! with The Polar Express, an indoor attraction carved from ice and kept at frosty temperatures. They hand out parkas for a reason.
- EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays: November 27 through December 30, 2026, with holiday food booths, storytellers around World Showcase and the Candlelight Processional.
- Theme park holiday celebrations run all month at Walt Disney World and Universal, including separately ticketed holiday parties on select nights. Check each park's calendar for dates.
Event dates come from each organizer's 2026 announcements. Always confirm details before you go.
The Best Outdoor Things To Do In December
Cooler weather makes December the perfect time for the outdoor experiences that can feel like a lot in July.
Meet the Highland cows at their fluffiest
Highland cows are a cold-weather breed, and they grow their thickest, shaggiest coats as the days get shorter. That makes December peak fluff season at Mini Moo Land in Kissimmee. Pet, cuddle and hand-feed the herd for $29.99, or bottle-feed a baby calf with the $65 VIP experience (admission included). It also makes a great spot for holiday photos. See our Highland cow photo tips.
Take an airboat ride
Comfortable temperatures make December a great month for an airboat tour through the headwaters of the Everglades. Bring a jacket, because the wind on the water is chilly. On cool days, wildlife is usually easier to spot in the late morning and afternoon than at first light, when gators are still warming up. Sunset tours are a highlight this time of year, with the sun setting early over the lake. Read our airboat ride guide before you go.
Explore Florida's parks and trails
December is ideal for walking, biking and kayaking. Kissimmee Lakefront Park, Shingle Creek Regional Park and Orlando Wetlands Park are all far more pleasant now than in summer. For more ideas, see our list of free and cheap things to do.
Make It A Boggy Creek Day
Mini Moo Land is one stop inside Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures, a Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice park with more than 9,000 reviews. After you meet the herd, the rest of the park is right there:
- Ride an airboat through the headwaters of the Everglades and look for wild alligators, bald eagles and wading birds. Choose a 30-minute or one-hour tour, a sunset tour, or a night tour that guarantees gators.
- Dig for gems at the 70-foot Prospector Gem Mine, where kids sift for semi-precious stones, fossils and crystals.
- Walk through Lily's Butterfly Garden and its native butterflies and plants.
- Visit the Gator Pond.
- Eat lakeside at Boggy Bottom BBQ.
The easiest way to do it all is the 1-hour airboat ride and Mini Moo Land combo, which costs $10 less than booking both separately.
Visiting over a holiday? Call Boggy Creek at 407-344-9550 to confirm holiday hours before you go.
