August - how bad is it

[shagster330]

Hi everyone.

I have not been on this site for a while. We last went to Disney last February and I thought it was out of our systems.......I am back so clearly it is not

The previous two times we visited we went during the February half term and overlapped one week into the school term. I am not prepared to do this again as the eldest is getting to GCSE stage. That leaves us with two options, April (Easter) or August.

First question is which of these is busier and just how bad is it. In February the longest queue we had was 30 minutes for Jaws at Universal. Apart from this most were 0 - 15 minutes.

I am not sure I could handle 90 -120 minute waits.

Thanks in advance

 

[Giddy Kipper]

I am not sure I could handle 90 -120 minute waits.




If your prepared to get up early and hit the parks as soon as they open, you can ride pretty much what you want for the first couple of hours. Make full use of the fast pass system, and plan what you want to ride. As for universal- we stopped in one of the Universal hotels for one night and had two full days of their express pass system...which was well worth the extra money.Have a look at the universal board for more advice.Have fun planning

 

[Goofyish]

Not been at Easter but have been in August.

Towards the end of August crowds traditionally fall off due to local schools going back. The free dining plan has had an effect on crowds though but they are still lower than peak summer periods.

With careful planning and making full use of Fastpass in the Disney parks you shouldn't have to endure any long waits.

The weather is going to be very hot (90 degC+) and humid (~100%) with regular afternoon thunderstorms. If you are lucky they only last an hour or two and within 30 minutes you wouldn't have known it had rained
Sometimes the rain hangs around into the evening though.
You need to pace yourselves in the heat. Take advantage of air conditioned shops/restaurants and indoor attractions. Drink plenty of water and use plenty of high factor sun cream. Keep you heads covered in the sun.

It's best to get to the parks early then retire back to your resort/hotel/villa for a swim/siesta at the hotest part of the day before returning to the parks in the evening when it's slightly cooler.
The parks do have longer opening hours, so you can stay quite late when crowd levels drop slightly.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Like others have said, just accept it's going to be busy, VERY hot, incredibly humid - and you will have a great time

We had always visited in May and October. We went in August 06 and I vowed never to go again in August However, like you my DD is heading towards her GCSEs and there's no way I would take her out of school. I am also an Admin Officer in a school which means no term time off, so it was a case of August was the only time we could go for three weeks - our friends are coming with us and they are fully aware of how it will be temp/crowd/humididity wise because we keep druming it into them

Careful planning (study all the 'busy day' guides), early mornings and fast passes work a treat.

We also stay one night in HRH just to get the front of line access - this more than pays for itself at peak times.

Happy planning -you'll have a great time whatever time of the year you go

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

To be honest, I didn't think August was that bad, crowd wise. I had accepted there were going to be queues and crowds, but we just planned ahead, and utilised FastPass when we could - FP is definitely your friend!

I would DEFINITELY recommend stopping over at an Universal Hotel for one night. There were huge queues on Hulk, Spiderman, etc... etc... 90-120mins. BUT we walked on, three, four times in a row with our Hotel Key and go straight on. We did every ride we wanted to in IOA before 2-3pm, at least 3 times each.

It is BOILING HOT though!

 

[sarah b]

We ve been at easter a few times and it was busy, but managable, just get up early and use FP. Only thing I always feel is by Summer you don't feel like you ve been on Holiday! Plus the weather was hit and miss, which has its plus s if you want it cooler. We re going in July this year as my son sits his gcse s!

 

[Cazgal]

Interesting thread !

Would you recommendgoing for three weeks at easter or two at febhalf term ... which would bebetter ..the extra week at easter or the shorter queues (hopefully) in Feb ?

 

[jen_uk]

We went last August and are going again this August, it's really not that bad, we had worse queues at Christmas. It is hot but just plan regular breaks and drink plenty of fluids and you will be fine.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Would you recommendgoing for three weeks at easter or two at febhalf term ... which would bebetter ..the extra week at easter or the shorter queues (hopefully) in Feb ?

Easter and anytime during Spring Break weeks (second week of March until mid-April) can be very crowded. During February the lines are short. The first two weeks of August are crowded but get better each week after that. As mentioned, the weather in August is horrendously HOT and humid!

BobK/Orlando

 

[irongirlof12]

I have a simliar dilemma with my eldest going to big school- so term time is now a no go zone. fortuntatley we get 2 weeks in october half -term.

planning is the key to any time of year!

 

[poohmadmum]

My DD is in year 9 so I will not take her out of school in years 10/11 and the schools are clamping down on permitted term time holiday anyway.

We went last August and enjoyed it. It was VERY VERY hot but we just paced ourselves. Got up for park opening and took a break during the middle of the day, returning in the cooler evenings. You need to take breaks, keep hitting the air con in shops, restaurants etc and keep drinking fluids - DD and I coped but DH hated the humidity and is not keen to return in the summer. We went the last two weeks of August and were lucky with the weather as we didn't see the usual daily thunderstorms - only about 2 - 3 during our 2 weeks. The queues were manageable.

We've also been at Easter and the weather was lovely and hot although we were told that this was quite unusual weather. However, we felt that it was a much busier time than August.

 

[princess jackson]

Never been in August before.

Easter was busy for us the crowds died down the second week.
July the very first time we went, and never looked back, so must not of been bad.
Been September last year, crowds were managable plus it was free dinning.
Early Dec crowds were good.

The only problem we had in the summer was in the water parks when the groups of school kids decided just to sit on any sun lounger even when i was lying on it.

To be honest i would go anytime i could

 

[timallen]

went last august and it was great very hot but comfortable got up early and had no problems with crowds going again 2009 will wait to book until this august incase their is free dining again but will get a universal hotel for one day this time but not book out of our disney hotel so we dont have to lugg cases around cant wait

 

[stephensmum]

We went in Aug 05 & I had'nt discovered these boards, we arrived at the parks about 11 ish & hit the peak crowds & thunderstorms (Katrina). It was extremely hot & humid, but we would walk through water mists. Bad hair day,every day. We used fp but only queued a max of 20 mins. Last year we went in May & were at the parks for opening, 11.15 lunch, return to hotel around 1pm for rest/swim, back to parks. We thought it was about the same busywise, which means it was probably busier, as we were at the parks for the quieter times. Going this Aug & following May plan. Hope this makes sense.

 

[WiganTony]

We have also been from mid to end August, both in 2005 and 2007.

As has been mentioned, humidity is high as are the temperatures, but with careful planning, taking in plenty of indoor shows/attractions, and generally going at an easy pace, we were all fine.

The crowds as well weren't bad at all. Even the weather was kind - in 2005 we only had two downpours of an hour, last year we only saw a couple of showers when we were in Clearwater for a weekend.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

From personal experience we have been both at Easter and August.

Easter is busier for sure, weather cooler and probably slightly more unpredictable.

August is just hot, hot, hot, frankly many of us who go then only do so as it's the best or the most convenient time to go.
My son is at school and wife is a teacher for example.

If you don't mind the heat and plan your days to avoid the higher temperatures, ie get to the parks early and ensure you
take a break for lunch - then August is do-able, crowdwise first 2 weeks are busier, after that the US schools return.
Which is just as well as heat + crowds = trouble.

The fact is , to be blunt ,neither is the ideal time to go. School holidays have us at a disadvantage I am afraid.

 

[crabbie1]

Hi
We went the last week in july and the first week in august and we had only half a day of rain.I was expecting loads of showers etc but it never happened.It was VERY humid and hot.I didn't think the crowds were any where near as bad as I was expecting.Like the others have said we got to the parks at opening ,did the major rides and got fast passes.I think last summer was a bit unusual as it hardly rained .We are used to november december crowds and weather so are going back december.It is later than we normally go though so no doubt it will be busy from about the 18th on.Luckily we arrive home christmas day though
when like yourself my 5 year old had her sats etc I wouldn't hesitate to go back in july august although I vowed it was too hot.Its better than not going at all but would probably pick october

 

[shagster330]

Thanks for all the replies

I am now definitely considering the last two weeks in August.

The heat does not bother me too much, I guess as long as we plan carefully we will be fine

Thanks again

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Thanks for all the replies

I am now definitely considering the last two weeks in August.

The heat does not bother me too much, I guess as long as we plan carefully we will be fine

Thanks again

That's when we are there.