Best Strategy for August Heat?

[floridadream]

Hi Everyone-- we just booked a trip to the BC for August (yay!) and we're trying to figure out the best touring strategy to deal with the heat. Is it best to hit RD in the morning with Fast Passes, go to the pool and then return in the evening? Or is it best to hit RD, the pool and then save the fast passes for later at night? Since our kids are getting a little older, this will be the first time we're attempting to tour the parks at night. TIA!

 

[starjazz]

I think if I were going to go in August, I'd save my FPs for when you return in the evening. Park will be open later, but lines can be long for quite a while into the evening until some of the younger families start to leave. I think I'd try to own RD, and head out around noon. Then, come back around dinner time with FPs in hand. YMMV.

 

[MHDTS]

Recommend you arrive at your preferred park at opening, as crowds are usually lighter. Stay until lunchtime, then head back to hotel for lunch, swim, rest, etc. Head back to park after dinner, use FP's then, stay for evening event.

Of course, if you have places in the parks where you want to dine, make ADR's and stay later in the morning or arrive earlier in the evening for them.

This has been our strategy for our kids back in the 70's and now the grandkids, and it works well -- no one gets too tired. There's nothing sadder than seeing a parent pulling a tired, screaming kid to yet another ride about 4 p.m.......

 

[ArwenMarie]

Definitely rope drop is a must to beat the heat! FPs...if you are going back at night, then save them for then. If not, then use them starting around midmorning or so. As far as the pool, don't count on being able to swim in the afternoons because the daily thunder and lightning storms. They also keep the pools closed if there is lightning in the area, even if it is isn't raining.

 

[kj2mom]

We didn't ever do a pool break, we went open to close the entire week but to give you an idea....we loved RD, did as much as we could in the morning with essentially no waits. We had a lunch ADR around noonish where we could sit/relax/eat/cool off/regroup then after the meal was when we had our FP selections. I definitely made sure to allow about 2 hours for meals so that we weren't rushing from the meal. It was a great feeling knowing that after the meal we were pretty much guaranteed 3 rides with no waits. Then after the FP windows we would do some of the less popular attractions that had little to no wait or get in some shopping, maybe a bite to eat then the night time entertainment. I have two teenagers and I wasn't sure how they would respond to RD but after the first day I asked them what they wanted to do the next morning and it was a resounding RD. They recognized how much we got done in those morning hours and were all for doing as much early then having a bit more relaxing afternoon. Honestly, they took great pleasure during the afternoon when heading into Splash Mountain where the wait was posted at 180 minutes and we walked by hundreds of people to the front of the line. They thought their mom's planning was pretty cool then !

 

[Mark P.]

We've done August a few times, and bring a couple bottles of warm water. Warm because if they're from the fridge, they'll be a sweaty mess in the bag we bring to the parks. One of the few free things at Disney is ice, and we'd (kindly) ask for a cup of ice at one of the counter service places, pour and drink ice cold water.
Haven't done this in some years, so it's possible that they've done away with this courtesy.

 

[kj2mom]

We brought Brita water bottles (one frozen to begin the day, one just cold water). Our backpack had a drink holder on each side and I brought two medium sized Dunkin Donuts coozies that worked perfectly for containing the condensation and hopefully keeping the drinks a little colder than without. You can absolutely still get free ice water, we would get two cups, all 3 of us would share one then we would pour the other into our Britas to have along the way.

 

[lustergirl]

OP: Good Luck in the heat.

 

[larryz]

I just can't imagine going in August. I used to live in Florida, and it was painful just to go to work in that heat...

So my latest technique for dealing with the August heat is to go in January.

 

[redsbe]

whenever possible use the shade, take breaks in A/C for meals and shopping, and do not find your self standing for long periods in the direct heat and sun at attractions (use RD and FP+) and for parades (avoid hub and main street so you can line up shorter time before parade start, and if possible in shade and not direct sun). We managed in August 2009 heat with these tricks (plus a few days with mid day pool break).

 

[redsbe]

oh yes and keep hydrated, specially young kids and not just when you get really hot or thirsty as by the time you are feeling the effects it is too late, drink fluids regularly throughout the day.

 

[GillianP1301]

Last week of August is the week we always go. I use TS ADRs to build breaks into our day (2 - 3 TS meals a day). So a day for us would be early ADR pre-park opening, tour the morning w/our FP for late morning/early afternoon. Then TS lunch and tour some more picking up 4th+ FP where we can. Mid afternoon we will sometimes hop to another park, which is another opportunity to cool down in the nice AC of our car. On a couple of our days (we do 9 park days in total), we will opt to return to the resort for swim time before heading out for dinner.

That works well for us, the heat really doesn't get to us that much, between indoor rides, TS restaurants and shops, there are lots of opportunities to cool down. Wear a hat, sunscreen and drink water and you'll be fine. We don't tend to tour very late at night (I prefer to get my son to bed as close to his normal bed time as possible), but we do choose a couple of nights to tour late and those are usually the days where we have pool time in the afternoon. But even on those days, I FP earlier in the day and just use the kiosk for additional FP at night.

 

[Ensusieasm]

I just can't imagine going in August. I used to live in Florida, and it was painful just to go to work in that heat...

So my latest technique for dealing with the August heat is to go in January.

Absolutely agree! I live in Maine and it's Vacationland all summer long. But come January I want to be somewhere sunny and warm..... But not hot!

 

[heidijanesmith]

August heat and humidity is brutal. We always hit RD, come back at lunch and then go out at sundown for night touring. Drink lots of water and Gatorade, more than you think is necessary. Bring water/Gatorade with you every time you head out and keep drinking.

We went through two outfits a day (I would start sweating as soon as I left the room)so I ended up doing laundry during the trip. Bring a pop-up laundry basket and keep it in the bathroom. Great place to store your dirty clothes.

I would save FP+ for evening touring and hit some favs at RD.