Anyone else kinda relieved they're NOT going this summer?

[Bob P]

In a word.....NO!!

 

[Danthesand]

3rd week in August (whene we're going this year):

- Crowds dramatically shrink below July/early August levels because:

-all those southern and western schools systems open in mid August, so all those families disappear. I've walked onto the Tower of Terror at 3pm on the afternoon at this time of year. Ditto Pirates at 11, Haunted Mansion at 2.

- penny-pinchers aren't here (they're waiting for the eat free promo that starts a week later).

- heat scares off a lot of other people (as displayed in this thread).

- Park hours remain relatively long (9pm closings)

- Show schedules remain high (Fantasmic every night, Specto 3 times a week).

- Room rates drop below earlier summer levels



September/October Fall:

- It's still hot

- Yes, crowds are smaller, but park hours are shortened and shows schedules are limited.

- Heavy duty re-habs often in progress, so some attractions closed (fall is Disney's "fix-it" season).


Bottom line: pick your poison. While others enjoy the "small" crowds in the fall, I'll take the longer hours in late August that also have minimal crowds, while enjoying the fact everything is running, supplemented by a full, frequent schedule of shows, which IMHO adds up to a higher return on the investment of the vacation dollar!

 

[Brianne]

I'm actually kinda glad we're blocked out for the summer with our passes; even though I need my Disney fix in the worst way already, I've gotten too spoiled with going during cooler, crowd-less months. I can do heat. I can do crowds. But I cannot do heat AND crowds. It makes for one very grumpy Disney addict.

Doesn't mean I won't talk DH into going to DTD at least once this summer. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

 

[MiRi]

Well, since I am from Miami, I am used to the heat, rain, and lots of people. It just doesn't bug me as much. I have been to WDW many times when it rains and I end up enjoying myself more. I love getting wet.

Now Disney in the cold weather... I did it in February and don't know if I can do it again for a looooong time.

 

[FINFAN]

It's not the heat that holds me back...quite the opposite actually. One year we were there 2nd week of August, and I was wrapped in a towel at Typhoon Lagoon, drinking hot chocolate. One dip in the shark encounter did me in! I was more along the lines of the crowds and changes....I will need a whole new arsenal of tips before we head back.
rkmassa: We had a mixed bag of crowded days in Dec. We did a split stay WL/DOLPHIN trying to work the location angles. Itwas crowded on the 18, 19 at MK as we expected being the weekend, a ton of people arrived the same weekend as just about every school was out for break by then. Monday we did AK and it was not too bad, but the weather was cold. Tuesday (21) cold, crowded, Wed beautiful day, mid 70's swam at WL and did the resort switch, hit MGM that night, pretty crowded but I think because the weather was so nice. Thurs (23) Did Epcot, doable, but def needed fast pass and PS for eating/jumped over to MGM, again, prettty crowded, most FP were gone for TOT, RRC, INDY JONES, but saw the Osborne lights and just hung out. On Christmas Eve it was rainy and chilly, we bummed around AK and Epcot, had 8:30 PS for O'Hana's...FANTASTIC time, meal, seats, saw a couple get engaged, fireworks from table...and the best part, we decided to try MK around 10:30...what the heck we thought, we're right here, yes it's freezing....but we walked on just about EVERYTHING we had time for! SM, HM, BUZZ, PeterPan, Dumbo,BTMRR, (skipped SM but could've had the ride to ourselves) Philharmagic.we were exhausted from running from ride to ride. All the little ones were at their resorts waiting for Santa, and the cold must have kept others away! Being on MainStreet at midnight when it turned to Christmas was so cool...best moment of the trip. Xmas day we went to Epcot, it was not too bad, again, weather (rainy chilly) held folks off. That was our last maneagable day crowd wise...the 26, 27 were jammed, and we just hung around the Dolphin on the 28 before our evening departure. We loved that the parks were open later, but we really like the daylight hours too and wished it was summer for the longer sun hours. Glad we did it, even MORE glad we had 10 days and had been before so did not feel too much pressure if we missed something. We did have PS for each day, it was a lifesaver, and we had our ponchos, gloves, winter coats so we braved the elements. We even commented that id we were back in Il NO WAY would we be at a theme park in this weather...but WDW is so much more than a theme park. It did wear us out tho, so waiting 'till next summer is o.k. w/us....just can't wait for E. Everest and to try Soarin'!


Pam

 

[swincha]

my kids were out a little earlier. we went the first week of june. our last day was the day people started coming. it was horrible i will never go there in the summer with the heat and crowds

 

[Jakesmom1]

Guess Im crazy, cause I say "Bring on the Crowds"

This will be our first 4th of July at Disney and I Cant Wait

As for the Heat, I live in Florida, so Im gonna be hot anyway


We have been to Disney at everytime of the year, and as far as Im concerned its always crowded, ( except in March )when we went, but the weather was horrible, I actually wore my NY coat while we were there.

I love the later park hours, and that there arent many rehabs going on.

Were going in 14 days, and we are dancing fools.

 

[FINFAN]

We went over the 4th once, and I was expecting horrendous crowds...but it was fine! Matter of fact we didn't even enter MK 'till 8:30 to see the fireworks, walked over to the bridge to Tomorrowland and had a great view! All along I was thinking MK would close due to crowds.. best part was the park was open 'till 1 a.m. and we just walked on to Buzz 3 times in a row. So there you have it, Christmas Eve and the 4th of July...both historical crowds days yet we were able to enjoy those days better than regular ones...of course, the late hours were the key factor.


Pam

 

[cocowum]

Crowds,Heat,Rain I say... "smoke me baby!!!" I'll take it, any day, any way, as long as I'm in the world!!! WDW is my mecca

 

[CuteKatCar]

A hot, rainy day at Disney is better than a cool, sunny day at work. Bring it on - heat and humidity. That's why I picked the Beach Club. Stormalong Bay - here we come

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

At first I was scared of August, but not anymore!!! As long as I'm in the Happiest Place on Earth I'm a happy, happy girl!!!