Breaking my own rule of going to Disney in the Summer..HELP!

[thelionqueen]

Hello everyone,
Well, I'm doing it! With the DP's, a company paid airfare and annual passes, I just HAVE to go to WDW in JULY I have ONLY gone to WDW off season (May, Oct. & Nov. & LOVE it) but now find myself if unfamiliar territory. Is it REALLY as hot as I think it is? Is it REALLY as crowded as I think it is? Any advice or words of wisdom would be appreciated. Thanks!!!

 

[Laurabearz]

It is hotter than you think it will be

It is more crowded than you think it will be

But on the upside the parks are open really early to really late so with a bit of planning the above two things wont matter.

What I found (I went last August) was just when you were getting to the point where the heat turns you insane, you entered a building and cooled down your core... Or got a breeze, or had an icee...

Neck Coolers were a life saver. Wowie Zowie made it bearable. You can make them or find them on Ebay. Worth every penny!!!

Hit the parks early in the morning or after the sun goes down.

Drink alot

Tour wisely, use fast passes EMH etc.

 

[tamclan]

As Laura says it is really hot. Also really humid.

I was sweating just standing. In the past I tried to do too much theme parks. Now I try to a day or two in between.

 

[bookwormde]

The summer is a good time to go as long as you make adjustments. I find it extra fun as long as I am on site. Go in the early morning and stay till it gets hot and /or crowded, take a break through the mid day and swim, nap or just explore the resort. Then go back after the heat starts to break (or after the thunderstorm). If you are a night owl it really thins out after midnight when the EMH Park is open that late. The ability to park hop really helps also. I am a June/August person since there have historically been lots of foreign groups in July from South America which make it extra crowded, but with the change in the exchange rate I would guess that there will be less this year. OKW is especially nice and relaxing with limited walking if you have a car.

bookwormde

 

[JenSop]

It is SO HOT! We can only go in summer because DH is a teacher. Do the parks early and late. When it's hottest at midday go back to your resort for a swim.

I hate the heat but I love WDW, so I go down expecting to sweat like a pig. At least mentally preparing for it sort of makes it a little easier to bear.

 

[hellerjw]

We do a summer trip every year due to the kid's school schedules and find that the "slow down, take it easy" approach works best for those hot, humid days.

We find ourselves spending more time at the pools, hitting the indoor attractions a lot more frequently, doing more indoor shopping, hitting the parks early morning or late afternoon and taking advantage of the extended hours, all trying to avoid the hottest part of the day. The almost predicable afternoon thunderstorms can sometimes provide some late afternoon relief but they can also bring higher humidity.

I'm always amazed at how unaffected by the heat and humidity the kids seem to be and I can only attribute that to their attitude. They are thoroughly enjoying themselves while we are there and are indifferent to the weather. I try to model my behavior around theirs and that makes it more enjoyable.

As long as you have the mindset that its going to be uncomfortable most days and go in with the attitude that you aren't going to let the weather dictate your enjoyment its tolerable.

 

[thelionqueen]

OK so I can handle the crowds but I am REALLY unhappy in hot weather & humidity, maybe I should reconsider....hmmm

 

[oakmanner]

The heat takes an unexpected toll on you. Plan to do just a quarter of what you think you will get done on any given day. It is brutal when its hazy, hot and humid. And if you venture to AK it is even hotter! Very few buildings to enter to take in the AC as compared to the other Theme Parks. Just keep repeating at least I'm at Disney World.

Dennis-

 

[dizzneebabe]

Well, there's no debating that it is insanely hot! When your feet melt to the pavement while watching a parade, you know it's hot! But it makes for a different kind of trip. Like others have said, there's more pool time and that means more of a relaxed vacation--at least for us. We're not going commando through the parks. We'll head over to a park in the early morning til midday and then again at dinner time.
Give it a try, drink a ton of water and plan to do things at a slower pace. You just might like it!

 

[joepest6]

Our family enjoys summer trips. have gone the past few July 4th weather around 90, enjoyed pools water parks etc. it's not that bad

 

[kristenrice]

I was always a "never in the summer" person too, but I have no intention of taking my kids out of school right now. Since we've joined DVC, I'm thinking of doing a June trip, then spring break the following year, thus getting 2 trips on one AP.

We are going this June right after the kids get out of school. Their last day is June 3 and we are leaving on the 6th. I am hoping to maybe get in just before most other schools let out for the year, but my fingers aren't crossed.

We are planning on making it a "resort-centered" vacation anyways, with the parks as a secondary entertainment source. We're just going to go where the non-existent wind may blow us.

DH is worried about the heat and humidity since we were there the first week of September 2002 on our honeymoon. It was never below 90 the whole week and I think we still played 72 holes of golf! I figure that we have heat and humidity here in Michigan too...but in WDW, we'd have a POOL, not just a garden hose with a sprinkler!

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

We went in July 2007. It was hot!!! And HUMID!!! And, there was a downpour nearly every afternoon. We had fun though. We swam every day (big hit with the kids), took long rest breaks in the afternoons, purchased those $15 water misting fans and really enjoyed the air conditioned attractions. We gave our washer and dryer in OKW a workout ... never anticipated twice daily wardrobe changes due to perspiration when packing.

 

[anonymousegirl]

I went this past July and really enjoyed myself and I hate humidity and sweating.

I did plan to change clothes twice a day and we did the afternoon breaks. We skipped all afternoon parades and performers (at Epcot). We were at the parks by 7 or 8 am (depending on Rope drop and EMH hour) and were gone by noon. We'd usually go back after 6 pm.

Concerning crowds, I actually found July less crowded (when following a good touring plan) than this last December. Sunday, July 6 evening EMH at MK was a ghost town. Walked onto Splash, Space, BTMRR, POTC. Even before EMH it was pretty empty. I think people overdo it during the hottest part of the day and end up leaving for the rest of the parks hours.

Contrast that to the first week in December just past. Crowd calenders predicted 4-5 (vs 9 in July) but with the reduced park hours and cooler weather, people stayed all day. EMH hours were still crowded and queues for even the lesser rides were common.

Even though I hate the heat, I would definitely go back in July (and in fact I am, July 2010)

 

[DebbieB]

I was in the "never in summer" camp until about 3 years ago. I took my niece in mid June in 2006, she could not miss school. Then last year it was a friend's birthday celebration and it was the last week of June.

It does get super hot in the afternoon. We managed by taking breaks, going back to the resort. Then head back out in late afternoon. You actually hope it rains to cool things off.

As far as crowds, the best advice is to use fastpass. Another tip we found last year was to go to the back of the part first. We rode Splash Mt & BTMRR with no wait right after opening.

 

[alldiz]

It is HOT.

Don't even think about going commando....and if you do...God Bless.
Kerri

 

[Tara]

We went last June because my son REEEEEAAAALLLY wanted to go right after school went out, so we said "just this once." Argh, we have really gotten spoiled by our non-summer trips!

The advice you've already gotten is good - take advantage of early mornings and late evenings, plan to spend the heat of the afternoon inside or in the pool, use a mister fan, drink LOTS of water.

I probably spent a small fortune on frozen lemonades on that trip - the best treat of all on a hot Disney day!

 

[marvali]

I was always a "never in the summer" person too, but I have no intention of taking my kids out of school right now. Since we've joined DVC, I'm thinking of doing a June trip, then spring break the following year, thus getting 2 trips on one AP.

We are going this June right after the kids get out of school. Their last day is June 3 and we are leaving on the 6th. I am hoping to maybe get in just before most other schools let out for the year, but my fingers aren't crossed.

We are planning on making it a "resort-centered" vacation anyways, with the parks as a secondary entertainment source. We're just going to go where the non-existent wind may blow us.

Just an FYI not for judgement but info. Gay Days is usually that first week after school lets out in June. I don't know if this matters to you, but at the least you may want to educate yourself on which park is being promoted for each day of your trip if it overlaps. That is where the biggest crowds will probably be, so you should have shorter lines in a different park.

 

[kristenrice]

Just an FYI not for judgement but info. Gay Days is usually that first week after school lets out in June. I don't know if this matters to you, but at the least you may want to educate yourself on which park is being promoted for each day of your trip if it overlaps. That is where the biggest crowds will probably be, so you should have shorter lines in a different park.

I read that the last day of Gay Days is June 6 so I am hoping (for crowds sake) that it is over by then. Thank you for the heads up though.

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

I can tell that all the people that are complaining about the heat and humidity don't live in Chicago. We were there last 4th of July and I didn't think it was that bad. The key is be where the crowd isn't. THis means you need to go to the least crowded park for that day and be there at the rope drop. Hit all the big attractions early, go back mid-day for a swim and dinner and return later for the parades, festivities, etc. I don't do late EMH because I think you get a bigger bang for your buck by being up early. You can't burn the candle at both ends. The longest wait we had in 5 days was about 25 minutes, the average was probably 15.

 

[Laurabearz]

I can tell that all the people that are complaining about the heat and humidity don't live in Chicago. .

I live in Chicago