FREEZE WATCH Goes Into Effect Soon for Disney World Counties

Be prepared for COLD weather in Disney World this weekend.

Compared to other parts of the U.S. where people are battling snow storms and temperatures below zero, Disney World seems like a warm paradise. But those who are native to Florida or who may not be expecting cooler weather in the Most Magical Place on Earth could be in for a shock in Orlando over the weekend.

Cooler weather is headed to Orlando this weekend, but it’s not just “chilly” temperatures. It’s actually enough to have caused freeze warnings and freeze watches to be put in place.

Showers popping up and moving through the metro area- Here’s a look right now. The cold air comes behind this… pic.twitter.com/Ljs03dzu7h

— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) December 23, 2022

Here’s what you need to know.

Freeze Warning & Freeze Watch

A freeze warning will soon go into effect for parts of Central Florida, including the two counties within which Disney World is located (Orange and Osceola). The freeze warning is from 1AM to 9AM on Saturday, December 24th.

WESH 2 News warns that sub-freezing temperatures (28-32 degrees) are expected.

In addition to the Freeze Warning, a Freeze WATCH will go into effect from Saturday evening (December 24th) through Sunday morning (December 25th).

For the Freeze Watch, they again warn that sub-freezing temperatures of 28-32 degrees are possible.

The overall impact is that frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and sensitive vegetation, and potentially damage outdoor plumbing that is unprotected.

So what should you do if you’re in those areas? Well, if you live in those areas, take steps now to protect plants from the cold. Bring pets and potted plants inside.

WESH 2 News also advises checking on elderly neighbors to make sure their furnace is working. If this will be the first time turning on your heater in a while, remember that you might smell a light burning smell. if you do see any smoke or flames with that smell, evacuate and call 911.

In Florida, we don't run our heater too much, so if you do turn it on … you *may* smell a slight burning smell from your heater kicking on. Please be aware of this. #FloridaColdWeather pic.twitter.com/vwhfixX8P6

— Seminole County Fire Department (SCFD) PIO Media (@scfdpio) December 23, 2022

And when it comes to the pipes, to prevent possible freezing and bursting, you can wrap pipes, drain them, or allow them to drip slowly from faucets indoors.

If you’ll be visiting Disney World and staying at a hotel, look for any instructions that might be provided to you by the hotel regarding letting the water drip from the faucets or other steps they may need you to take.

And remember to bring those layers! You’ll want to make sure you’re bundled up for the trip, but have the ability to remove layers as things heat up during the day.

Holiday Package Complications

Winter storms around the U.S. could also delay the arrival of holiday packages.

According to CNBC, both FedEx and the United Parcel Service have warned that packages could be arriving a little later than expected.

Packages that were supposed to be delivered on Friday (December 23rd) or Saturday (December 24th) may be delayed — so you may want to print out little versions of what you’ve gifted folks in case the real thing doesn’t arrive until later!

Travel Warnings

In addition to package delays, you may encounter complications at the airport. According to CNBC, airlines canceled more than 6,000 flights and delayed more than 20,000 flights between Wednesday and Friday. These are due, in part, to the massive winter storms impacting some of the U.S.

Even if you’ll be driving (instead of flying), you’ll want to watch out for dangerous road conditions, high winds, and really low temperatures.

CNBC reports that U.S. President Biden has urged Americans to be careful, heed local warnings, and leave early when traveling this holiday season.

The delays have begun at Orlando International Airport. On December 23rd, around 84 flights were delayed while 36 were canceled.

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

The important thing here is to be prepared. If you’ll be traveling to Disney World soon, keep a close eye on the weather conditions in the city you’ll be traveling from, the cities you’ll be traveling through, and Orlando itself. Come prepared with enough sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves, and socks. And keep in mind that weather conditions can change quickly, so stay on the alert!

Once in Disney World, keep an eye out for special hot drinks that may pop up in the parks specifically for the cold. Be prepared for LONG lines at the coffee carts as folks try to warm up, and look for heaters that might get turned on in certain places.

Stay safe out there and share your cold-weather Disney stories with us here or via social media!