Are we going to die of heat exhaustion in Sept?

[NicholeB630]

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.

 

[Valstew]

Yes. 90's and a chance of rain everyday. Last visit was first week of October and it was wicked hot all week. Going Sept 18-22 this year and expecting it to be very hot. There are ways to cool off in the parks though even if it's just walking around a store for a few to get out of the sun.

 

[tinkerbella16]

It will be hot, but try and make the best of it. We'll also be there in Sept, from the 3-10 and we'll have an 18 month old with us. We were worried but honestly, there is so much to do that is in the AC. Plus we are planning to do rope drop mornings, afternoon breaks at the resort to swim/nap and then head back to the parks at night. We plan on doing that each day, so we aren't wiped out. Having that break in between will let us unwind, relax and get refreshed for the evenings.

 

[Momof2Singers]

Our first trip to Disney was in September 1996. I don't think I have ever experienced that kind of heat/humidity before, even though I live in NC when it is humid a lot. You really have to find shade whenever you can, which doesn't help too much and DRINK a lot of water. Take advantage of all the places that give you free water and ice. Plan to walk, ride, and then hop into the air conditioning. We walk thru every building possible to get to another location to avoid the heat. And I know its not always pretty, but wearing some kind of hat helps too.

We try to book our lunch ADR somewhere during 12-2 to avoid as much as possible and leave shortly afterwards for a much needed break and return after 6 or 7 depending on park hours.

We have been in October, May, June, July, September, and this year we will be there 1st week in August, not looking forward to that heat, but sometimes you have to go whenever your family can get together. Hoping for a break that week.

 

[Cee]

It's pretty intense. Get to parks early, take a break at the resort during the hottest part of the day, and go back after dark.

 

[Flight]

Get to parks early, take a break at the resort during the hottest part of the day, and go back after dark.

Great advice!

 

[theone74733]

Coming from California where there is isn't humidity to deal with, I was sweating even on the bus to the parks in the morning. Major shock when you get there, but you start to get used to it. In our trip last Sept, 2 of the 6 days were brutally hot. Remember to stay hydrated (no soft drinks) and do most of your touring during the morning and the evening. During the afternoon, take advantage of all of the indoor attractions (Hall of Presidents, Carousel of Progress, Philarmagic). I think this is why they have these attractions in the park.

 

[Cupcakesmum]

We have 4 kids ages 7,6,4 and 2 and this will be our third September in a row and we're from Canada. I think it's totally manageable and we don't even bother with mid-day breaks. The worst is waiting in direct sun for parades, but other than that we don't find the heat any worse than the hottest summer days at home. A stroller may help if your 4 year old wilts as well as a little handheld or spray fan.

 

[Bluegrrl]

If climate change keeps up, then yeah, it's gonna keep up being hotter and hotter. It's usually better in November/October/and dec/January. January is nice. We had a good April and May.

 

[aretha30]

It will be hot, you can survive. We go every August. These are some of the things we do to try and stay cool. I suggest that you head to the parks for RD and take a break around 12 to swim/nap. Go back around 5 or 6 and stay until close. Stay hydrated, drop into shops to cool off for a few minutes between attractions, and take things a little slower. We take misting fans with us and have cooling towels (we don't find they work that great in the humidity). We take things slower and don't try to do and see it all. When it's so hot out it can take a toll on your body. Listen to it, rest and hydrate when needed and you and your family will be fine.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

The best advice I received was to use an umbrella for parades and hang out by Frontierland instead of Main St for 3pm parade. (We got our "shade"umbrella at Epcot's Japan Pavillion.)
There is always the option of making an ADR at Tony's and asking for an outside seat for the parade as well. Not a/c, but you're sitting down with cool refreshments.
It is wicked hot, humid, and hazy in September, but that's when we always used to go, we always had a good time, and usually beat feet out of there for some pool time in the afternoon. (DH was known to snore a bit in his sun lounge, but hey, it was relaxing and fun!)

 

[Srbright]

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 are on the same schedule! September 8th for 9 nights, kids are 12 & 10.

It is going to be hot and humid with a chance of hurricane. We usually go in September.

Tips:
1). Water water water. I can't emphasize enough about water. Make the kids drink a little bit every half hour even if they don't feel thirsty. It takes longer to recover from heat exhaustion than it does to prevent it. It comes quicker than you realize.

2) Bring multiple pairs of shoes. You are going to get wet. Either on Splash Mountian, Kali, or the frequent thunderstorms. 2-3 pairs a person prevents you from having to walk in damp shoes.

3) wide brimmed hats. If you forget them you can get wicker ones in China in Epcot for 3-4$ each (was 3$, may have gone up). They fold up flat to slip into a back pack or bag.

Stacy

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

We are on the same schedule! September 8th for 9 nights, kids are 12 & 10.

It is going to be hot and humid with a chance of hurricane. We usually go in September.

Tips:
1). Water water water. I can't emphasize enough about water. Make the kids drink a little bit every half hour even if they don't feel thirsty. It takes longer to recover from heat exhaustion than it does to prevent it. It comes quicker than you realize.

2) Bring multiple pairs of shoes. You are going to get wet. Either on Splash Mountian, Kali, or the frequent thunderstorms. 2-3 pairs a person prevents you from having to walk in damp shoes.

3) wide brimmed hats. If you forget them you can get wicker ones in China in Epcot for 3-4$ each (was 3$, may have gone up). They fold up flat to slip into a back pack or bag.

Stacy

Excellent advice, Stacy! (@Srbright)

 

[anniemae]

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.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

All these reports of the heat in Sept actually has me excited. We're going in early Sept next year and I was worried it'd be cool. We went at the end of Sept a few years back and never once got to wear shorts - it was pants and coats every day (and we're from Alaska). Maybe that was a total fluke though. I'd love to do the Halloween and Christmas parties again, but I hate cool weather and not being able to go to the water parks.

 

[mshanson3121]

We have 4 kids ages 7,6,4 and 2 and this will be our third September in a row and we're from Canada. I think it's totally manageable and we don't even bother with mid-day breaks. The worst is waiting in direct sun for parades, but other than that we don't find the heat any worse than the hottest summer days at home. A stroller may help if your 4 year old wilts as well as a little handheld or spray fan.

This. We're from Canada, too. We found it very manageable. Granted we went end of June/first of July. Higher temps but a bit lower humidity than you'll probably have. But it was easier to deal with the heat there, than home in Canada where in our area we average 80-90% humidity in the summer. There's air conditioning everywhere you turn down there. And the summer nights are beautiful.

 

[Starclassic]

Lol I'm thinking the same thing....we've only gone in February but this year we're going in September. And I hate heat and humidity. I also don't go in pools. Pretty sure I'm just gonna die

 

[kbmartin]

I have been to WDW in mid-late August the past two years in a row, and we are going again this year. Personally, if I had a choice, I would never go during this time of year, but I'm a teacher. We prefer the lower crowds and heat to very high holiday crowds (my only breaks would be Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and Memorial Day) and cooler weather.

I think all above posters have very good advice. Personally, my DH and I find our Frog Toggs cooling towels to be a godsend (they don't look pretty but they WORK), and a misting water bottle would be great, too. Get ice to put in the water bottle at every possible opportunity. Don't bother putting on makeup or dressing up - you're going to be sweating within 5 minutes of walking outside. We just wear athletic clothes every day. Make your ADRs during times when the heat is the worst (noon to 5). I personally don't go in the shops (we don't do souvenirs) to cool down. Instead, we plan to go to rides that have air-conditioned queues and shows when the heat is the worst.

Here's a list of attractions where you can find relief. I tend to over-plan every single trip, so this is what I have learned! I did not include water rides.


Magic Kingdom
Space Mountain (I don't mind waiting for long periods of time there)
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Philharmagic
Carousel of Progress
Pirates of the Caribbean (should cool you down once you're on the ride!)
PeopleMover (great breeze!)
Country Bear Jamboree
Hall of Presidents
Enchanted Tiki Room


Hollywood Studios
Great Movie Ride
Star Tours
Rock N Roller Coaster (partially)
Tower of Terror (partially)
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Star Wars Launch Bay
One Man's Dream


Epcot
Soarin'
Livin' with the Land
Mission Space
Test Track (partially)
Ellen's Energy Adventure (great for a snooze)
Impressions de France
The American Adventure show
Voices of Liberty (inside the American pavilion)
Mitsukoshi store at Japan (I know this is not exactly a ride or show but my DH and I spend at least a half hour there every trip because it's huge and engaging)
Mexico ride
The show at China and Canada are air-conditioned, but you have to stand. I don't find them relaxing because of this.
The Seas with Nemo


Animal Kingdom
Dinosaur
It's Tough to Be a Bug (partially)
Festival of the Lion King
Finding Nemo show


One thing no one has posted is that you can relax in the lounge of any nearby hotel during those hot times if you don't want to go back to your hotel. We found a lounge at the Swan that was incredibly cool and comfortable. At MK, you could relax at any of the monorail resorts (who doesn't love riding the monorails, anyway?). At Epcot (walking) or HS (take the boat), you could go to the Yacht & Beach Club, the Swan & Dolphin, or the Boardwalk.

I do want to mention something that no one brings up. Everyone says it's a great idea to go back to your hotel mid-day, but it can take a while to travel back and forth. For my DH and I, we oftentimes found ourselves so heat-exhausted that all we wanted to do when we came back was just to say in our hotel room in the AC. We would get back and relax and feel so lazy that it was hard to get ourselves moving again and motivated to go back out into the heat. I've never seen anyone else say that, so I don't know, maybe that's just us.

I don't want to scare you off for that time of the year, so I hope that this post didn't do that! Any day at Disney is better than no day at Disney. These are just some things I've learned over the past couple of years and wanted to pass on. Like I said, though... if you can really go anytime during the year, this is really not the best time to go, weather-wise.

 

[ArwenMarie]

The weather is terrible. You can still have fun. It's good to be ok with getting less done in the parks, between the heat and the daily lighting storms. Have a good touring plan where you force yourselves into AC even if it means you are in the Tiki Room at a time you wouldn't normally pick that lol. Honestly, I think realistic expectations are the most important part of summer touring. GL!

 

[wdw4rfam]

It's HOT but we've done 8 September trips and we're still going back this year. The crowds are low and the weather is not usually as bad as they say.