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

[White_Sox_Fan]

I live in Chicago

And what we wouldn't give for a little of that summer heat and humidity right now!! My wife was downtown last summer and got to talking with someone from one of the western states. They told her they didn't know how we could take the humidity, my wife just laughed because it the humidity was so low (for us) at the time.

 

[vandy]

The first couple of weeks in June are not that bad for crowds. After that it gets worse. In July, expect to see all of the tourist groups from South America and other continents! They are in abundance.

Same advice as others: Do parks early, go back to resort and rest or swim, go back to parks in evening and stay till close.

 

[vandy]

Oh by the way, it was -22 degrees at my home today with wind chills in the -40's. I am wishing I had some of that July heat that we experienced last year at WDW now!

 

[Paticake]

Thanks for all the info. We will be doing our first summer vac to WDW the last week of June returning July 3. DD, DSIL are teachers and DH's part time retirement job is with the school system. This trip will be our first with our grandsons ( 1 who will be just 2 and the other 9 months). We are staying in a GV at SSR. DS and DDIL are also coming,( they are parents of the 9 month old) We are planning on being out early in the morning, back for lunch, naps and pool time. Maybe some evenings but it will depend on the babies. I purchased misting fans on sale at the end of the summer and DH and I checked out the baby centers when we were there alone this last trip. I am keeping track of everyones tips for this trip.

 

[RLRDA]

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

See, I'm the opposite. We have gone in late August before and are going again this year. As much as I hate the heat, I can handle it because the crowds in late August thin out a bit. If you are all right with the possibility of crowds, take pool breaks, A/C breaks, water park visit, etc. to manage the heat. See for yourself if it's something you can deal with (for future trips). Obviously the heat can't be that bad or there wouldn't be crowds of people! You're going to get tons of opinions - good luck with your decision.

 

[allshookup]

We typically go mid to late August because of the kid's school & the crowds do tend to thin out a bit since Florida schools are back in session. It gets too expensive to fly on school vacations so we usually go in the summer. We're not morning people so we never make rope drop, but we do tend to hang around the villa in the morning relaxing over coffee, hit the pool for a few hours (until the afternoon storms come in), back to the villa to get ready, have an early dinner somewhere & then hit whatever park is having night EMHs & we stay till closing.

It's still hot, but the parks are much more bearable in the earling evening & into the night. We love going back to the villa to get ready for our night out & watching the thunder & lightening that occurs almost every afternoon. I love that the parks are open later & there are really only a couple of must-dos for each of us at the parks so we don't need to run around trying to get everything in. Sometimes we even take a late night swim & it's great that it's still hot enough out to do so. Packing is much easier too, with only shorts, tank tops, one nice outfit for CG & a bathing suit. Like others have said, summer in WDW can have it's advantages so take the great advice given here & enjoy!

 

[spiceycat]

are you going July 4th - will be there too!!!

really hate summer at WDW.

still if like other years the normal park hours for MK will be midnight - so EMH starts then... So even if some parents are still making their kids stay - they won't be able to until 3am. Especially if they were there when the park opened.

also sometimes Disney adds EMH morning hours to the MK during the summer - so hoping for this time.

it has been years and mean years since went in the summer - July 4, 2002 - was jmy last trip in the summer - so unless rent the thing - will be there.

 

[thelionqueen]

First of all, thanks to everyone for their opinions/input, it REALLY helped me out. Now for the update...LOL
I decided to take my kids out the last week of school and leave 5/24
After debating, reading, discussing, and planning, I think this is the best option. Really the Only downside is taking my kids out of school, and to be honest, they don't do anything the last week of school, so that was the decision.
I'm going on DVC points which are less before June 10th, the heat will be more tolerable and the crowds a little less abundant, so I switched. But without your honest and informed posts, I probably would have kept my previous plans. I can say that I feel MUCH better about this new itinerary and less feeling like--->
So thanks again, YOU ROCK!!!

 

[Sammie]

Summer at Disney, washing all those sweaty clothes.

Summer at Disney, pool time is a must.

Summer at Disney, crowds, hot and humid.

Lots of fun to take a cool boat ride.

the people who did not drink enough water.

those that forgot to apply plenty of sunscreen especially on your feet.

When you see Wishes at late night with an ice cream cone you forget all the above.

 

[lisaviolet]

The best thing about summer trips - summer nights. Aaaaaah, don't make me sing. Summer nights in Florida - so great! Nothing like it.

Also, the summer is nice for a no park trip or only at night park trip.

 

[allshookup]

The best thing about summer trips - summer nights. Aaaaaah, don't make me sing. Summer nights in Florida - so great! Nothing like it.

Also, the summer is nice for a no park trip or only at night park trip.

I'll sing with ya! I'm known for sing-alongs!

Summer lovin' had me a blast......

Seriously I'm all for an night park trip only, but my kids are older now & can handle it!

 

[marvali]

are you going July 4th - will be there too!!!

really hate summer at WDW.

still if like other years the normal park hours for MK will be midnight - so EMH starts then... So even if some parents are still making their kids stay - they won't be able to until 3am. Especially if they were there when the park opened.

also sometimes Disney adds EMH morning hours to the MK during the summer - so hoping for this time.

it has been years and mean years since went in the summer - July 4, 2002 - was jmy last trip in the summer - so unless rent the thing - will be there.

We will be there June 28th - July 6th. We are usually there towards the end of July, early August. This will be our first July 4th trip.

 

[mdurette]

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

We did - had an II trade into Boardwalk for the last week into June to go with friends. Really, really wanted to experience Disney with them - but started to think about the heat and crowds (we are Nov and Jan visitors).

We ended up loosing the unit and although I will miss going on that vacation with them I'm not going to miss the heat and crowds.

Besides - got into Vero mid May instead - SOOO looking forward to that trip!

 

[vandy]

First of all, thanks to everyone for their opinions/input, it REALLY helped me out. Now for the update...LOL
I decided to take my kids out the last week of school and leave 5/24
:

I have not checked this year's dates, but you will probably be going during the Gay days celebration at Disney. This isn't that bad if you check ahead of time and look at the schedule of events. There is usually something going on in one park on any given day. If you choose, you can go to a different park for the day a parade or other activity is planned at another. You may be able to find this information on the Gay and Lesbian forum.

 

[Kiderak]

We will be there June 28th - July 6th. We are usually there towards the end of July, early August. This will be our first July 4th trip.

I'll be in Jambo house from June 29th - July 6th

 

[edk35]

We are going back this summer for our third summer trip in a row. Yes it is hot, yes it is humid but for us......the crowds were not that bad. We usually go in Nov. and Jan. and I was very worried about our first trip Aug. 07 and yet pleasantly surprised at how much we liked it. There is something about summer trips that seem so much less stressful when you return home. When we go in Nov. and Jan. we always seem more stressed when it is time to go back to work and school than in the summer when the kids are off from school. The parks are open late, the atmosphere is so different to us with these summer trips. We usually head back to the resort by 1:00ish hang at the pool for a few hours then head back to a park for dinner or after dinner. We tend to relax more on the summer trips ...if we stay out really late then we sleep in. If we get up early maybe we don't head back to a park. We always use Tour Guide Miike for all trips so that is probably why we don't think the crowds are that bad. We use fast passes of course too. So far we feel summer trips are a lot of fun and I would have never guessed that we would like them enough to go again. First year we went mid Aug. Last year we went mid July. This year we arrive on July 21st for 9 nights. I prefer Aug. but because of my son's high school soccer tryouts ....we have to be back by early Aug.

 

[edk35]

The best thing about summer trips - summer nights. Aaaaaah, don't make me sing. Summer nights in Florida - so great! Nothing like it.

Also, the summer is nice for a no park trip or only at night park trip.

I have to agree....love the atmosphere of the summer nights at WDW.

 

[tea pot]

Wow ...I too have that rule but after reading this thread I'm thinking that late August may not be a bad idea... I never been in the parks past midnight and I always enjoyed that Magical Mood in the parks at night and most of all I really love warm summer nights

The best thing about summer trips - summer nights. Aaaaaah, don't make me sing. Summer nights in Florida - so great! Nothing like it.

Also, the summer is nice for a no park trip or only at night park trip.

Night only.... great idea

When you see Wishes at late night with an ice cream cone you forget all the above.

Ahhhh.....

 

[goalie5hole]

So how many other people follow these guidelines? Are the parks crowded in the morning? Are the pools crowded in the middle of the day too?

 

[edk35]

So how many other people follow these guidelines? Are the parks crowded in the morning? Are the pools crowded in the middle of the day too?

We had no problem at SAB at all. We were shocked really. The parks are NOT crowded in the mornings either. I think people tend to stay up later and stay at the parks later in the summer and SLEEP IN.