August feedback

[FormerFLresident]

I was just looking for some feedback about a trip scheduled for Aug 10-16. These are the only dates that we could pull off a trip. I know I am missing out on free dining by a week but we can't go then. I have been to WDW many times but never in August. I am not worried about the heat, I am very familiar with Florida in August. I am hoping that I miss the crowds because everyone is going to wait for free dining, am I fooling myself? Don't get me wrong though, I would rather be able to get free dining but since I can't, lighter crowds would be nice. Thanks for your input.

 

[wilde_oscar]

hot, amazon hot, jungle hot, oooops I singed my eyebrows staring into the hair dryer hot.

 

[DizzDoll]

I was actually thinking the same thing - we'll be there from 8/14 to the 24th so free dining actually starts the day we leave (oh darn) - so we're hoping the crowd levels will be slightly less too.

 

[magchavez]

We were there 8/12 - 8/18 last year and it was crowded but it was manageable. I did lots of research and used a couple of touring plans as well as some of the other websites that tell you which parks to avoid on each day. We never waited more than 20 minutes for any ride. It was hot and it rained just about everyday but we still had a great time! I would do a little research about the crowds at each park on each day and you should be fine!

 

[MD DisneyFreaks]

We were there 8/12 - 8/18 last year and it was crowded but it was manageable. I did lots of research and used a couple of touring plans as well as some of the other websites that tell you which parks to avoid on each day. We never waited more than 20 minutes for any ride. It was hot and it rained just about everyday but we still had a great time! I would do a little research about the crowds at each park on each day and you should be fine!

My DW and I were there last year around this same time and, while it was very hot, we found the crowds to be manageable if you know what you're doing. We didn't really wait any more than 20 minutes either, so you can definitely do it if you have a plan and use the Fastpass system to its fullest!

 

[olafpooh]

What are the temperatures this time of year? Is it really unbearable?

 

[thesupersmartguy]

I was hoping the same thing, we are going August 10-13.

 

[MD DisneyFreaks]

What are the temperatures this time of year? Is it really unbearable?

In general, it's 90+ during the day and mid to high 80's at night. It also tends to be quite humid.

You'll just need to resign yourself to sweating profusely ALL DAY!!

 

[I Believe n Fairies]

DH and I were there a few days before free dining plan last Aug. I remember looking at each other saying that we would never return in Aug. It was so stinking hot. The crowds were more than when we were there in Sept 06 for free dining. In the afternoons, the rides had long waits. We were at the parks pretty early, so we got everything we wanted to do done. I do remember the line for Peter Pan being over an hour long, though. CRAZY!!

-- MD Disney Freaks, your avatar made me smile!! My dh is a drummer and he loves that picture. He had it on his myspace for awhile.

To OP, if you have a plan and get to the parks early, you'll be fine. Hot, but fine.

 

[harleyquinn]

We go at this time every year. It sucks. But it's the best time for us to go, so we do. I'd rather be sweating at Disney than working or sitting at home.

It's still very crowded since most kids don't go back to school until the week free dining starts. But its a lot less crowded than late June or July.

I can't emphasis this enough--go early, leave for an afternoon break and go back out in the evening. Especially if you are onsite. We did this last year and it was heaven--there were 2 days we didn't do it and it was a disaster. You DO NOT want to be at a park (esp AK) in the middle of the afternoon. You might miss a parade, but it's worth it.

 

[Kellylynn3]

i'm going august 11th-19th and used the touring plans and crowd calendars to best plan which days we're going to which parks. we're also going to use the extra evening magic hours for some of the parks but mostly just to be able to see everything not ride everything. we'll save rushing to the rides for our actual planned days in the parks. i'm expecting it to be hot and humid and am going to plan to pack accordingly. my question is how well did the touring plans work out for everyone?

 

[fairestoneofall]

Hot! (I think that's been mentioned already!)

If there are EMH, use them! I will say that the best thing we did was go back to the room during the hottest part of the afternoon to rest. Then, we'd go back into the parks for dinner and stay until close.

It was crowded, but not unbearably so.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I was just looking for some feedback about a trip scheduled for Aug 10-16. These are the only dates that we could pull off a trip. I know I am missing out on free dining by a week but we can't go then. I have been to WDW many times but never in August. I am not worried about the heat, I am very familiar with Florida in August. I am hoping that I miss the crowds because everyone is going to wait for free dining, am I fooling myself? Don't get me wrong though, I would rather be able to get free dining but since I can't, lighter crowds would be nice. Thanks for your input.

The UG touring plans crowd calender has most of the days you are there at 8s and 9s with August 13 and 14 as 7s. It will still be pretty crowded while you are there so I think it would be better to prepare yourself for heavier crowds, as opposed to lighter, so you won't be disappointed. As everyone else has said, get to the parks early and make the best of it.

 

[M2DD's]

My girls and I will also be there August 6th till the 15th. Haven't started planning for that trip yet(we just got back 2 wks ago).
The 10th through the 16th on disney's web site is days are included in the"wonderful wks of disney"which they claim its one of the best times to visits in terms of crowds levels but the UG still has crowd levels high.

It's sad that we have to miss FD this yr have gone the last 3 yrs but we can't take the kids out of school anymore .The upside is that you don't have to take time out of touring for sit down meals which can take a few hours a day.

 

[stky6]

We're heading down the first week of August, 2-9. Already know it's going to be a scorcher but we can handle it, afternoon breaks already planned. I haven't been there since 1974, first trip for the wife and kids. We're planning on taking advantage of the EMH morning and night. I was looking at the UG and they really don't have any plans for using the EMH's, seems it's more generated to people not staying on the property? and not able to use the EMH's?

 

[Cinderella822]

We're heading down the first week of August, 2-9. Already know it's going to be a scorcher but we can handle it, afternoon breaks already planned. I haven't been there since 1974, first trip for the wife and kids. We're planning on taking advantage of the EMH morning and night. I was looking at the UG and they really don't have any plans for using the EMH's, seems it's more generated to people not staying on the property? and not able to use the EMH's?

I'm afraid you'll be in for a shock with the crowds if you haven't been since 1974! I go often and still find the crowds to be a bit larger each time I go, expecially during the summer months. I remember going in the 80s and thinking it was crowded, but that was nothing compared to how it is now. That being said, we still go in the summer months as that's the only time we can. Yes, use EMH as often as you can, especially the morning. You can really get a lot done in that first hour before the crowds get there. And you avoid some of the heat that way as well. Go to your favorite rides first if they're open then. Use FP as much as you can as well. But definitely be prepared for heat and crowds!

 

[joenan88]

I am going 08/15-20 then 08/20-22 @ Portofino....I know it is going to be HOT from reading this forum and just knowing Florida weather...let's thow in the humid and likely to rain everyday! The only thing I hope is that our trip is after many schools start back in the south and before free dining...BUT I keep reading that from so many other people...time will tell

 

[tiferetsix]

We were there last year from Aug 13th - Aug 22nd. (in fact we go in August every year - talk about not learning from your mistakes) Yes it was busy. Very very busy. I hadn't discovered TGM then, so we hit EMH wherever we could. And we got to go on everything we wanted to. EMH at MK was pretty good in the evening IF you have the staying power to remain up to park close (we were riding Splash Mountain over and over with NO wait). EMH in AK worked well in the morning (son and I went on Everest 4 times with very little wait, FP once and standby the rest)

The one EMH I would have avoided was evening in MGM, was stuck with 2 * 5 year olds waiting for the other grownups to go on the Rock and Roller Coaster. And compounded my mistake by forgetting to take my key to the world from dh. Stuck sitting outside with 2 very sleepy children for nearly 2 hours. With no room key. And we never take cash to the parks just charge everything to the room. So couldn't even take them to grab a snack. STUPID STUPID STUPID. (almost as stupid as my dh taking kids to waterpark early one morning so I could go to the supermarket and him locking my purse and my car keys in the safe!!!)

So yes, it will be hot. And it will be busy.

But it'll still be FUN. Mostly.

jane
Aug 05 Contemporary, Aug 06 SSR, Aug 07 OKW, Aug 08 VB and OKW

 

[paintnolish]

I've been in Aug. and am going back. The crowds are manageable, especially if you start earlier. We never took any afternoon breaks- we just powered through all day! But, prepare yourself- it is very, very hot and humid and has an afternoon thunderstorm almost every day. Like a pp said, just resign yourself to the fact that you will spend most of your outdoors time hot and sweat soaked. The good thing is, though, that so many things are indoors!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We're heading down the first week of August, 2-9. Already know it's going to be a scorcher but we can handle it, afternoon breaks already planned. I haven't been there since 1974, first trip for the wife and kids. We're planning on taking advantage of the EMH morning and night. I was looking at the UG and they really don't have any plans for using the EMH's, seems it's more generated to people not staying on the property? and not able to use the EMH's?

We always stay on-site and can use EMH anytime, but we usually choose to avoid EMH, especially morning EMH days. UG is not for people staying off-site or on-site, it is for people who want to avoid the most crowded parks on certain days. The EMH parks WILL be the most crowded parks on those days.