August Trip

[cdnSpinalTap]

Hello,

Can anyone comment on doing a trip to Disney World during the last 2 weeks of August? My oldest starts high school this September so we are contemplating moving our annual January trip to the last 2 weeks of August.

I am aware it is hurricane season and that August is the hottest month for Orlando, but just trying to get some perspective on how bad it really is. The way we are looking at it is, out of all our choices, it will be the best all around for lowish (relatively) crowds, etc.

We are planners and don't spend the entire day at the parks, so we figure we could modify our schedules to go earlier in the morning and later at night, to help beat the heat.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[mkmommy]

Our favorite trips have been the end of August and we are going 17-25 this summer. Doing a split stay Pop Century and Animal Kingdom, before my daughter starts University.

We go early and head back to rest and then back in the evenings. I love the warm evenings, Big Thunder Mountain at night in August is the best.

It is hot, humid and crazy Thunderstorms, but if you expect that and you work around them it will be a fun trip.

Make sure to take a good sandal that if gets wet you can still walk in. We are a croc flip flip family and find those are the best as long as the soles are in good shape.

Take extra clothes or do laundry as you sweat lots.

 

[ellbell]

I've done September the last 2 years and I'm doing August 24 - September 2nd this year. I usually go and do rope drop and then leave the parks around 1 when it is hottest and come back at 5 or 6. This also from what I've read the last few years is a relatively quieter time of year (quieter not quiet).

I have found the best way to deal with the heat is to just embrace it, know it will be hot and accept you will probably do less.

 

[hdrolfe]

We went the last week of August two years ago and are going back this year last week of August. The price is right We plan to do an afternoon break, and we shower in the evening. Shoes that can get wet and aren't slippery when wet is important. I like that it is quieter, fewer people. We get to do the Halloween parties if we choose, and also Food and Wine starts up for the last day or two.

 

[Magical2017]

We did it last summer. It was a fabulous trip! Read all the comments, pro and con, but do what works best for you.

Crowds were great. Yeah, it was hot. It's Florida in August. It rained most days for at least a few hours (Thank goodness--it cooled us off). We missed a lot of the rain because it happened while we were on rides or at dinner. The poncho was hot and uncomfortable. We only had one day with continuous downpours, but that cleared up. We swam every day. Everyone said the pools would be too hot but we found our resort pools very refreshing.

 

[darwinsrule]

MICKEY'S NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY.

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

Thanks everyone for the replies. This is right along the lines that we were thinking - embrace it and make the best out of it. Going in January, our family has never ridden Kali River Rapids - now we will get the chance!

 

[kbender295]

We are going this year 8/17-24 this year. We went a few years ago at the end of the summer and got back in time for school to start. Barely any lines and I was able to get last minute dining reservations too! Yes, it was hot but you are out of the heat when you are on rides, you can always catch a show in the air conditioning so it really isn't that bad. There was only one wicked thunder/rainstorm just as we were arriving at the MK. It was awesome, we waited under the tunnel to enter the park while everyone else left. We each had a water bottle and we all drank a ton. We also found we weren't hungry as much as it was so hot but did normally do table service lunch to get a break if we weren't going back to the resort. You will have a blast!

 

[starvenger]

We went last year at start of August... and it actually wasn’t bad. Hottest, most humid day was at Epcot because of course it would be the place with the least amount of respite from the heat (but lots of beer). Rest of the time was overcast, still a little humid, and hot, but at a manageable level.

We usually save last week of August for a cruise, and I can tell you that South Florida is usually crazy humid, even when it’s raining. Of course, on a cruise, you can practically jump in a pool whenever you feel like it, so it’s slightly different than visiting WDW.

Key points:
- Water. I’m sure you know this,and it can’t be stressed enough. I prefer insulated bottles, and the parks will generally give you ice upon request to fill them up. Wife likes bottled/filtered water, so I generally end up lugging some around or buying at the park. Water fountain is cheaper, but as long as people are staying hydrated, I don’t really care.
- Tried using Mission cooling towels last trip and on the cruise. I don’t think they work as well in the humid climes, but they still do their job of cooling you down a bit.
- Comfortable footwear. I alternate between sandals and running shoes on trips to the World. I’m usually ok with Crocs (their flip flops are great), but their men’s closed toe sandals gave me blisters, so I’m switching back to Keen sandals for this summer.
- Aside: For the GTAers: there’s usually a Crocs warehouse sale at the Markham Fairggrounds where most of the shoes are between $10-25. Good time to stock up, especially for kids whose feet are still growing.
- Headwear. Essential for a sunny day. Also a way for me to represent Canada, since I’m usually sporting a Blue Jays/Raptors/Expos cap.
- Sunscreen. I like the KineSys non-aerosol spray. YMMV.

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

Thanks again for the replies - much appreciated.

Are the WestJet flights for August typically more expensive, than say January?

 

[Disney Addicted]

My family is going August 27 - Sept 6. Yes, my kids will be missing the first 4 days of school. I would have rathered they didn't but it's the way our flights worked out. That's ok. I'm the mom who will be asking the teachers to put all the missed school work on Edsby so they can get caught up Saturday and Sunday before going to school Monday morning. My kids were thrilled to hear that.

Personally I love the heat. I have no qualms about visiting in the summer months. Canada is C O L D too many months of the year. Shorts, shirts, bare feet, swimsuits, pools, waterparks - Bring it on!

Ironically, the one and only time we vacationed in Florida before (September), I actually caught a cold. The heat was wonderful but I'm convinced walking out in to the heat and back into ice-cold air conditioning over-and-over screwed up my body's system.

I love Keens! Everyone has a pair of Keens for water related activities. Closed-toe, waterproof, comfortable, great support, nice colors.

 

[Aladora]

Okay, so I'm going to be the lone voice of dissent here and say that FL in August is revolting.

We went last year Aug 19-30 and after that trip we vowed never again in August. We typically go to DL at the end of August and while it can get into the high 30's-low 40's in CA, the humidity in FL just about killed us. Like Disney Addicted, I got a really bad cold this trip which I have never done in all our other Disney trips.

A few things that made life a bit more bearable.

We ordered groceries from Garden Grocer, actually did a second order while we were there. Between both orders, we got 96 bottles of water and between the three of us we went through every single one, plus a few more we bought at the parks! I am rally picky about the taste of the water I drink so I always buy bottles when we go to either FL or CA parks. (Ugh, Anaheim water is GROSS!)

Like others, we went to the parks in the morning, back to the resort after lunch to rest and then back to the parks late afternoon. This worked well for us, it was just too hot in the early afternoon to keep touring.

We planned on break days and they were wonderful. Our first trip to WDW did not include any rest days, it was 7 straight days of parks and we were worn out. This time, we had a rest day after 2 park days.

I brought rain ponchos but really, a rain coat and umbrella would have been better. There was nothing grosser than putting on a big sheet of plastic in 35+C heat in the pouring rain!

 

[starvenger]

I love Keens! Everyone has a pair of Keens for water related activities. Closed-toe, waterproof, comfortable, great support, nice colors.

Keens are great. I tried the Crocs sandals because they were $20. They're still pretty good, but they're just not great for a day of walking around outside.

 

[Donald - my hero]

Breaking into this discussion to ask about Keens (I'm guessing you mean the funky looking sandals with closed toes?), do they offer the same type of support that their shoes do? We'll be needing some type of footwear for our trip to Mexico and hubby has terrible feet!

 

[starvenger]

Breaking into this discussion to ask about Keens (I'm guessing you mean the funky looking sandals with closed toes?), do they offer the same type of support that their shoes do? We'll be needing some type of footwear for our trip to Mexico and hubby has terrible feet!

So basically it's these:

I don't know that it's "funky" looking but I do find them comfortable with good support. Like most "sport"-style sandals and flip-flops, the insole is a plastic/rubber/something material - no memory foam cushioning.

I find that the ventilation on the shoe is good if I'm walking. Stay in one spot for too long and you can feel a bit of sweat build up on the soles of your feet.

 

[Donald - my hero]

Perhaps my comment is because THIS is the first image i found

 

[starvenger]

Groovy!

 

[Disney Addicted]

Last year I really wanted to purchase the tie-dye Keens! But they did not have a black sole last year. Looked way better than these blacked sole ones do.

I already have 3 pairs... orange, reddish and a deep purple. Now I'm eyeing these. Still waterproof and closed-toe but more feminine/pretty.

My birthday's in July. Maybe...

 

[flav]

We usually go in August and typically like to precede WDW by a week at the beach to acclimate to the heat and to being in vacation together.

Asides what people have already mentioned regarding hydration, slowing down (one sit down restaurant a day for us), sunscreen and Crocs (or change of socks if you need running shoes), I would add:

• Everything that needs to stay dry (autograph books, clothes) need to be in a plastic bag,
• Fast drying (tech) clothes as much as possible,
• Little long sleeves for when going from humid or soaked to freezing air conditioning,
• Not too rigid of a plan if you want to enjoy some pool time.

Enjoy!

 

[Sue M]

We have been going late August for years. The closer to Sept you get the lower the crowd. It also tends to be the less expensive season for resorts. I say that with a grain of salt because prices are getting ridiculous lately.
This year by example- I booked a deluxe Universal resort in May for less than a WDW moderate. Crazy.