Are we going to die of heat exhaustion in Sept?

[oceanmarina]

It will be hotter than the surface of the sun. Seriously, be careful. The sun can be dangerous that time of year. We went in Aug and saw 2 people pass out from dehydration/heat exhaustion. It is like nothing I have ever felt before, and it is hot all day. The sun is relentless even in the evening. Stay hydrated. You will sweat like you have never sweated before and everyone smells awful. Remember to re-apply sunscreen often and make everyone drink water often.

I agree that you should keep your current travel dates, I don't think Nov will be cooler and it will be tons more crowded. We go every August with our 2 kids (9 and 7) and you do need to be prepared how hot it feels - when you step out of your AC hotel into the swampy humidity its unbelievable. My kids and DH are very heat sensitive, but we make it work. Here is what helps us;

1. We usually do a 9AM breakfast (if it's in a park, do a few rides afterwards) and then right back to the resort to enjoy the pool.
2. We spend a lot of time at our resort pool. lunch poolside
3. We do a 5:45 dinner and then stay at the parks till 9 or 10 (which is why my kids sleep in and we can never do rope drop). The heat is more bearable for us at the parks after dinner than as opposed to the day with the full sun and sweltering humidity.
4. I bought the frog togs at Amazon, they were ok. My kids loved the misting fans that we bought in the park. I would put freezing cold water and ice cubes in the fan's base when we were in the park - which helped.
5. hats and sunglasses for all, sunblock & hydrate

You will have a fantastic time, just make your park/dining plans with the heat in mind.
Marina

 

[bizeemom4]

Too hot to eat. I never get the dining plan during the May-Sept trips I take because it's so hot. All I want is Ice cream and water.

 

[dominiondad]

Yes, you are going to actually die. That's why the parks are completely empty in July and August.

 

[anniemae]

Too hot to eat. I never get the dining plan during the May-Sept trips I take because it's so hot. All I want is Ice cream and water.

So true! I find I am not that hungry either. Drinking all that water fills me up I think.

 

[Mom2Stitch]

We were there mid-September last year and yes it was hot, but with some strategy we weren't too miserable. We always get up early and then head back to the room right after lunch. Always have water and pay attention to your body--it will send signals to you when it needs a break. Once I tried to ignore a headache and ended up in the room for the rest of the day and night.

I like the pool, but for afternoon break I much prefer a nap in our cold, dark room, this is how I recharge myself (plus it gets me some sleep back from late nights/early mornings).

Many great tips here. Just prepare to be sweaty, you certainly won't be the only hot sticky person there, lol.

 

[Mskay1216]

We are going Sept 8th for 9 nights. We have two kids 7 and 4. We're really looking forward to using pools but I'm so afraid we'll be miserable in the parks. We've only been in Dec & Feb and both times we had crap cold weather. Like super windy and 40.

we went last year in sept. me, DH, DS 3 DD 1 to me it was very bearable..we didn't find it oppressive, we usually travel and will be traveling in august this year and sooo not ready for the heat. but we thought Sept, -the weather and the crowd levels were not bad at all.

 

[Doug M]

Not from heat exaustion, but heat stroke maybe if you dont stay hydrated.

 

[vincent00]

Water, water, water, water, and just when you think your bladder is about to burst, drink more water! We carry a water bottle and sip from it constantly; filling up at fountains. (Corollary: Make note of washroom locations. If you're drinking enough, you'll need to make regular pit stops.)

Additionally, we mark the park maps before heading out so we know at a glance when near a gift shop or indoor attraction with air conditioning. We try to weave in and out of these places every 20 minutes or so during the hottest part of the day.

At meals, try to avoid greasy, heavy and overly rich foods. Nothing worse than feeling stuffed and logy while out and about in brutal heat & humidity.

Last bit of advice I can offer... Try to be moderately active during the summer heat at home in the weeks leading up to the trip. Especially if coming from a climate unlike that of Florida, a little bit of "preconditioning" goes a long way to lessening the shock.

Heading to Disney myself the first week of September. I'm from Nova Scotia, Canada where our summer highs typically run 25-28C (77-82F) with 60% humidity. Uncomfortable, but still a far cry from the hot, sweaty hug of Florida air.

 

[Robertfam08]

I'm in the "it's not really that bad" camp, but clearly in the minority. September is our favorite time to go. But we are from the St. Louis area and are totally used to high humidity and hot summers. It feels just like home. We go early, take an afternoon swim or rest break, and head back in the evenings. It's perfect for us, because low crowds and free dining trump all else on our list. The only time we have ever really felt the heat was walking from a park to the parking lot. (We drive.) There are so many air conditioned spots everywhere else that it's no big deal to us.

 

[VACamm]

Yep... its gonna be hot. We'll be right there with you! Pool time is essential!

 

[anniemae]

Water, water, water, water, and just when you think your bladder is about to burst, drink more water! We carry a water bottle and sip from it constantly; filling up at fountains. (Corollary: Make note of washroom locations. If you're drinking enough, you'll need to make regular pit stops.)

Additionally, we mark the park maps before heading out so we know at a glance when near a gift shop or indoor attraction with air conditioning. We try to weave in and out of these places every 20 minutes or so during the hottest part of the day.

At meals, try to avoid greasy, heavy and overly rich foods. Nothing worse than feeling stuffed and logy while out and about in brutal heat & humidity.

Last bit of advice I can offer... Try to be moderately active during the summer heat at home in the weeks leading up to the trip. Especially if coming from a climate unlike that of Florida, a little bit of "preconditioning" goes a long way to lessening the shock.

Heading to Disney myself the first week of September. I'm from Nova Scotia, Canada where our summer highs typically run 25-28C (77-82F) with 60% humidity. Uncomfortable, but still a far cry from the hot, sweaty hug of Florida air.

LOL! I agree. When we get a hot 90 degree day, we are all like, "we should go out back and walk around until we can't walk anymore, then stand in a line for an hour to get ready for Disney!"

 

[NeuroCindy]

Pay attention to your body's signs too. If you're hydrated enough your urine should be very pale yellow, any darker and you need to drink more water. A lot of muscle or stomach cramps? Drink more water and get more electrolytes.

When looking for places to relax always choose air conditioning over just a shaded area, choose sitting over standing.

 

[lady_hlh]

We have always gone in August or September, the only thing that I have given up on doing is any afternoon parades or shows because in my opinion none of them are worth standing in that blazing hot sun. We usually take an afternoon break to recharge and I have started doing more table service lunches than dinners. It is more comfortable to walk around the parks at night so we don't want to waste that park time at night at a restaurant.

 

[Christinaxo]

Our first trip was August a few years ago and being so worried about keeping the kids hydrated I totally forgot about myself and was dehydrated and sick our last MK day!
Everyone gave great tips but just want to add that being hot and sticky can get aggravating very quickly and ruin a trip! Just try to stay positive going into it by remembering yes you're hot but at least its at Disney! lol Last July I literally dumped ice water all over myself and the kids thought it was hilarious but I needed to lighten my own grumpy mood. It helped shift our perspectives and we all ran through the splash area by Dumbo after, it ended up being a great memory for us!

 

[NicholeB630]

Thanks so much for all the advice. Its interesting to see the different opinions. Some people say its just awful while others say its not that bad. We are from VA so it def gets hot and has 100% humidity on top of 90 degree days here. But its not usually all summer long. We will def take precautions with lots of water drinking, misting fans and the cooling cloths. I have a couple days with breaks but my only concern is how long it takes to actually get back to hotel and actually have a break then get back down to a park later. It just seems like it would eat so much of your day up. This is my rough plan for the week and I need to lock it down soon before picking fast passes in July! We are staying at AKL.

Friday - Epcot arrive around 3 stay till late
Saturday - Epcot rope drop. Stay all day (possible break?)
Sunday - MK arrive 1pm for Pirates league then staying for party
Monday - Full day off from parks
Tuesday - Hollywood Studios arrive 11am for lunch at Sci Fi stay till 5:45ish
Wednesday - AK 8am ADR at Tusker, mid day break, return in evening depending on night stuff going on by then
Thursday - MK 9am rope drop. Hopefully be done by 2/3
Friday - MK 8am rope drop. Hopefully done by 2/3

My only real time for much of a break is our Epcot day. And then the MK days instead of leaving park for good. Leave after lunch then come back in the evening. Not sure which would be better. But we want to eat at Boma and Sanaa at AKL so those nights we have ADR there.

 

[MariMama]

I'm serious we encountered lots of rain over the years, and there has been thunder, but never saw lightning. Did encounter hurricane Charley in 2004, but that was August I think. But that's another story

There isn't thunder without lightning.

 

[HatboxHaint]

No, just dehydration as the humidity leechs all the water out of our body.

 

[smallworldnh]

I'm another fan of going in September and like so many OP have said, get out early and make time during the hottest hours for pool and rest time! I personally found that there were many places in the parks to get in out of the heat for a bit so it wasn't too unbearable even though it was very hot and humid!

 

[LuvMyEAR]

I don't think strollers have been mentioned in this thread. I think they are a must, even for your 7 yr old. And please don't put them in a double stroller which is so they will be touching each other. Physical contact in those temperatures is not welcome. Also, strollers go a long way toward avoiding fatigue and heat exhaustion in youngsters. They will still get more than their usual share of exercise, even if they spend part of the day in a stroller.

Strollers provide rolling shade, minimize the time young feet are in contact with the scorching pavement AND let you schlep along everything you need without having anything strapped to your body. Think rain ponchos, umbrellas (which offer shade as well as shelter!) cooling towels, handheld fan/mister devices which kids just love, dry shoes, socks, you name it. Cooling towels really do work, you can even get hats! We really missed strollers on our Sept trip.

The ice water which is free at every counter service is wonderful. We drank, and drank, and drank, chewed ice cubes, poured the cold water over heads and down necks. Glorious.

I do not tolerate heat well at all, nor does my DSIL, and older DGH. We all had fun, because we made a pact to never let it get the best of us. After all, we were in WDW, not stranded on a desert island. Pools, water parks, cooling stations, cold drinks and air conditioning were never more than a few minutes away. It was our vacation and we were in control, not out to torture ourselves. One morning at AK, we were wilting badly before our 10:45 Kali river FPs, so we granted our own wish to head for the exit. Next stop - Blizzard Beach. Gangplank Falls was a whole lot more fun than KR that day.

 

[jennilouwho]

We went in September a couple of years ago. Reading these boards scared me a bit, but it was the only time we could really go with lower crowds. We are from an area with no humidity. We were fine. We just made sure to drink a lot of water and we took afternoon breaks. There is so much air conditioning that you're not out in the heat for too long. Waiting for the afternoon parade was the worst. Umbrellas sound like a good idea and I will use that tip next time.