August Do's and Don'ts

[tiki23]

If you're trying to avoid buying hoppers then maybe one of your AK days could be on the PM EMH? We love AK in the evening! The extended hours might give you enough time to go back to your room for a break and still give you evening time in same park.

 

[VickiVM]

Going to WDW in August with DW, DS 11, DS4, DS2.

Staying at POR.

What are some suggestions/tips for weather, crowds, pools, etc. This is my and our first time in WDW in the summer. What are some things to definitely do and not do?

THanks!

I think we'll be there @ POR the same as you and your family. My kids are 16, 14 and 12.

Love all the advice!

 

[SHOREDAD]

I think we'll be there @ POR the same as you and your family. My kids are 16, 14 and 12.

Love all the advice!

Yeah this thread is loaded with great advice. I keep going back and reading it as we start to plan and go shopping for summer clothes. We are suprising our kids, well really DS 11. I will continue to reread as we get closer so we can buy some of things we need as suggested on here.


Can't wait

 

[VickiVM]

I think your plan of hitting AK early, then leaving after lunch is good. We were at AK 5 years ago in late May and it was brutal. We only have maybe 3 must see/do attractions, then we're going to one of the waterparks directly from AK. This will sufficiently wear us out and we'll call it an early evening...maybe take advantage of the watercrafts @ POR that evening.

 

[SHOREDAD]

I think your plan of hitting AK early, then leaving after lunch is good. We were at AK 5 years ago in late May and it was brutal. We only have maybe 3 must see/do attractions, then we're going to one of the waterparks directly from AK. This will sufficiently wear us out and we'll call it an early evening...maybe take advantage of the watercrafts @ POR that evening.

We are going to AK two days cause my younger guys just love it. One day we are going in early(rope drop) for an ADR at DOnald's Safari and leaving when our bodies tell us to. We will then just go back to the resort and swim, nap, eat then off to DTD for shopping. The other day we are there we have an ADR for dinner so we will go in later in the day maybe just a few hours before our ADR, not sure yet on that day, or possibly just go in early in the morning grab a few FP and go on our favs then out.

We don't plan on commando touring. we like to have fun on rides, eat, swim, and relax.

 

[pixiefairy]

We're going in August for the first time this year - also staying at POR and we'll be there from the 12th on through the 18th. LOVE POR...favorite resort by far. Great advice!

 

[lovegrumpy]

Going for the first time in Aug. So this tips are going to be great. We have always gone in the cooler months.

 

[Kriii]

Lots of good advice on this thread. We are going in August and 3 of our 5 previous trips have been in August. It isn't our favorite time but since we work around many schedules it is the only time. Honestly, we have been in WDW at the end of October and have been just as hot. The real saving grace of disney is the number of attractions that are air conditioned. Gotta love the Great Movie Ride and Philharmagic if it is hot outside! Too bad the Millionaire attraction is gone...that was 30 minutes in the cool!

 

[pbw]

Our first trip to Disney ever is this August. Since I know we have to drink, do you carry water with you? It sounds like you need to, but then you've got the lug a bag or backpack around with you which doesn't sound like fun. And what do you do with a backpack when you go on a ride?

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[SmallWorld71]

Our first trip to Disney ever is this August. Since I know we have to drink, do you carry water with you? It sounds like you need to, but then you've got the lug a bag or backpack around with you which doesn't sound like fun. And what do you do with a backpack when you go on a ride?

Thanks for all the advice!

We do take a drink with us when we leave the hotel. Otherwise, we get our drinks at the parks either with our meals or by asking for ice water (free!) at the CS places. We also bring little packets of Kool-Aid or whatever since the kids aren't too good about drinking the water otherwise. (And lots of people don't like FL water.)

We just take our backpack on the rides; it either fits on the seat or at your feet. The only 2 I am not sure about are RnR and ToT because my mother didn't ride those and kept the bag for us.

 

[qanita92]

2010 will be our 2nd trip in August. Best and MOST important tips, and you probably already heard these before but its because they are really important:
1. COME EARLY, you wont believe how much you could do within the first 2 or 3 hours
2. Take an afternoon break as early as you can so basically eat lunch at 11:30 (trust me, you will be really hungry by then) and after you're done eating, head back to your resort.
3. Utilize fastpasses
4. And have fun, dont come in thinking you have to do 20 things in one day

We'll be at the POP from August 17-28 (Celebrating my high school graduation, acceptance into University of Michigan, and some family time before I move out of my parents home) Woo Hoo!!

P.S. Now that Fantasmic is limited to some nights a week, expect a line waiting outside the theater two hours prior to the show so make sure you get in line as early as possible or take advantage of the Fantasmic Dining Package.

 

[poutytink]

We are going this August...thanks for all the great advice on this thread!!

 

[seelyt2]

Another vote for hitting the parks early, swimming in the afternoon, back to the parks in the evening. Hydrate!

We went last August. One word - H O T !!!

 

[frayedend]

Not sure if this was mentioned but I like to put baby powder anywhere skin chafing may be an issue. It helps a lot when walking and sweating. I'll also put it in my sneakers and socks if wearing them.

As for Crocs I'm not sure yet. I bought a pair and have been wearing them but they don't seem to comfortable for long walks. They are fine around the pool but they hold water in them so you have to pour out any water and let them dry. They don't air out as much as I thought they would and when I walk the dogs they seem irritating. I'm still looking for men's sandal options that are comfortable for walking.

 

[jlreimer]

I think a definite 'do' in the heat of August/September is to get to the parks early, & get OUT of them during the middle of the day when it's the hottest/busiest & go back to your resort for a nap/swim. Come back around dinner time.

The heat wipes everybody out, kids especially.

This is exactly right... Go early, get back to POR, then go back at night... Also, avoid eating huge meals.

 

[hookedonears]

Do's and Don't in August? Do stay away in August and Don't go.

 

[SHOREDAD]

Do's and Don't in August? Do stay away in August and Don't go.

Others have suggested the same thing! However for some of us we have to go during times we can go. I have been over Easter and it was fun, a little crowded but also a little expensive. This trip in AUgust is a lot cheaper than Easter. My wife and I have said that if this trip is too hot we will take crowds and higher price over heat. We at least want to give it a chance. Who knows it may be okay

 

[disneychic]

I'm going August 28 - Sept. 3rd with my mom. What will work best for us is to just not go to the parks in the daytime at all. We will relax, swim at the resort and then have lunch, etc. Then try to head out to the parks at 4:00 - 5:00 and stay at the park until closing -- or until my mom gets tired -- this is her birthday trip, so we'll end up doing whatever she wants This trip was not really planned, we talked about it last week and then booked it. I'm just happy to be going to WDW with my mom!

 

[jdd]

Others have suggested the same thing! However for some of us we have to go during times we can go. I have been over Easter and it was fun, a little crowded but also a little expensive. This trip in AUgust is a lot cheaper than Easter. My wife and I have said that if this trip is too hot we will take crowds and higher price over heat. We at least want to give it a chance. Who knows it may be okay

It will be okay!! We went for the first time in August last year, and had a great time! We certainly weren't as "commando" as on previous trips - took things slower, and enjoyed the resorts more. The crowds were definitely less than spring crowds (two trips in late April/early May - well past Easter break), so that was great!

You'll have a wonderful time!

 

[g-dad66]

I figure that if you go, expecting the worst as far as heat is concerned, you might have one of those "wow-that-wasn't-as-bad-as-I-expected" experiences.