Compare it to Six Flags

[kjpotter]

Ok, let me just say that I know that Disney is about a thousand times better, but hear me out.

My family goes to Six Flags every year. It's St. Louis, and there have been times when it is 97 degrees with 90% humidity. Yes it's hot, yes we complain, however we usually end up spending 10am - 9pm in the park. We have waited in hour plus lines for rides.

That being said, compare that to the heat/crowds that we will experience in Florida in mid-June.

We know how to "do" Six Flags when it's hot/humid and crowded. Should we prepare the same way for Disney? Or should we expect it to be a totally different game plan?

 

[Yoshi]

It's different because of how much is indoors in Disney. Many lines are covered in shade or indoors, many more rides are indoors and there are all the indoor shows.

It will still be hot, but the difference is you won't be spending all day out in the sun like at Six Flags.

 

[oogieman8541]

It's different because of how much is indoors in Disney. Many lines are covered in shade or indoors, many more rides are indoors and there are all the indoor shows.

It will still be hot, but the difference is you won't be spending all day out in the sun like at Six Flags.

what about AK? It is mostly outside but you should be fine it isn't like torture.

 

[danceintherain]

Here's my comparison:
I have been to Six Flags-Over Georgia exactly once, and I have been to Disney during the summer once.
Both trips were around July. Now, I was very young and naive during my Six Flags trip, so I didn't really do much to protect myself from the heat, except maybe sunscreen. By my Disney trip I was VERY familiar with Disney and heat problems, so I altered my behavior accordingly.

Six Flags - It was soo hot and miserable that I ended up getting heat sickness partway through the day. I had waited in line for probably close to 2 hours for the Superman ride, and after that I barely felt like doing anything else. I think I rode a total of 3 rides that day. Then my friend and I took turns at the Water Fountain and sitting down in a shop with air-conditioning while we waited for everyone else to get done.

Disney - It was hot, but it also rained quite a bit, which kept me cooler even though that of course increased the humidity. It was MUCH easier to find places to cool off, and many more places to sit in general. The queuing areas are probably 80% in doors or at least covered, so if I ever had to wait 2 hours to ride a ride I could have. (I never waited that long, because I was much smarter about Disney)

Ok...now my last full day in the Disney parks I was a little stupid. I was out during the hottest part of the day in the World Showcase with my little sister looking for characters. (my sister is VERY absent minded, so we ended up retracing our steps which drew out the experience to even longer) So, my last day I wasn't really up for going to the parks at all, because once again I was a little heat sick and exhausted.

Personally, I probably would not plan on spending 10am to 9pm in the parks everyday. My guess is that when you do Six Flags you probably only do a day at a time, so staying the whole day works out fine, because you're not doing the same thing the next day. At Disney it's a bit different, if you spend the hottest part of the day out in the sun continuously for several days, it may become a little bit more difficult to handle.
If you DO spend a whole week at Six Flags and go all day every day, then you'll probably be fine doing the same thing at Disney. Maybe even better, because of the added air-conditioning, coverings, and overall things to do inside.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Are you going for the day or for a few days?

We usually go in May when its not too hot and we could stand being in the parks all day. But this year we are going in August so we are planning on getting there at rope drop (not all days, but some) and then around 1 taking a break at our hotel/pool to cool off and relax. Then having dinner either at the hotel or at a park and spending the evening at the park.

Also, n the summer parks are open later (so if your standing on line @ 8pm the sun isn't BLAZING on you like it would be if you were waiting on line at 1PM) and if your staying on site you have Extra Magic Hours so you may be able to stay at MK til 2am!

And remember to drink drink drink!

 

[sharonabe]

With Fastpass and a good plan, you should have no reason to stand in line for anything for two hours!! Definitely get a guide book and educated yourself about fastpass, so you can don't have to wait in line. And have a plan of some kind, so you're not walking back and forth around the parks. That may mean you have one person in your party "run" to get the FPs you want, but you can also take turns being the "runner."

When we go in the summer, we find we do need a break in the middle of the day. Go for a swim at the hotel or take a nap in the A/C. With longer hours at the parks, it helps to take a break when it is so hot and take advantage of the "cooler" mornings and nights.

 

[LaurenT]

As the last post said, if you learn how to use fastpass you willnever wait in line for more than 30 min (and usually 15 min or less).
Also, some lines have misters and fans to help cool you off. There are some great attractions indoors, so plan to intersperse them with the outdoor ones. Carry a personal mister with you - I use the kind you can pump and spray so I don't have to worry about batteries, the water evaporating off your skin will cool you down enormously.
We have gone to Disney many times in the summer and have stayed in the park from rope drop to close day after day WITH our daughter who is just turning 7 this month - never problem..it's all n the planning.
And, finally YES...Disney is 1,000 times better than 6 flags..I have a 6 flags about 30 min away and I go once or twice a year...if WDW was 30 min away..well...let's just say I'd be a less productive human being!

 

[meghanlea]

we went in june last time, and that is the same time we are going again this year. we would go out for a little bit in the morning, come back and rest or swim. then hit the parks up again about 4-5pm, and stay till close. it wasn't bad at all, and really our only "hot" day turned out to be the day we went to AK. It worked for us, and we are going to do it again. Everyone is different, and everyone likes to do the parks diff. Like a PP said research, this board is a great place, and plan what works for you.

 

[JPN4265]

Ok, let me just say that I know that Disney is about a thousand times better, but hear me out.

My family goes to Six Flags every year. It's St. Louis, and there have been times when it is 97 degrees with 90% humidity. Yes it's hot, yes we complain, however we usually end up spending 10am - 9pm in the park. We have waited in hour plus lines for rides.

That being said, compare that to the heat/crowds that we will experience in Florida in mid-June.

We know how to "do" Six Flags when it's hot/humid and crowded. Should we prepare the same way for Disney? Or should we expect it to be a totally different game plan?

As they say.........At Disney World, its not the heat, its the humidity.... Wear light cool clothes, drink plenty of water, and go back to your hotel for a swim in the middle of the day.

 

[Anal Annie]

We go to Disney every summer and sometimes we trek to a Six Flags or to Kings Dominion (in VA) for a day. Disney does a much better job providing shade, AC, large fans and misters plus you have the Fast Pass system to cut down on how long you have to wait. That is a tremendous advantage.

A majority of the lines at Disney start out being outside but they don't usually STAY outside for the whole thing. They have a lot of trees & covered walkways over the lines. Where possible the line then moves inside to AC. If it stays outside they have large fans blowing. The line for Tower of Terror is primarily outside but it is wide and winds thru a lot of shade so you don't bake the whole time. Toy Story Mania starts out outside then moves inside into the AC for the most part. Space Mountain is inside... Splash Mountain is in the shade... Even Expedition Everest goes in & out of shade & AC. I think the "hottest" line is actually the standby line for Big Thunder Mountain. It stays outside the whole time & they have a lot of fans but the line is so tight and can be so long it gets really hot. We definitely like to Fast Pass that one.

 

[Coach81]

It's different because of how much is indoors in Disney. Many lines are covered in shade or indoors, many more rides are indoors and there are all the indoor shows.

It will still be hot, but the difference is you won't be spending all day out in the sun like at Six Flags.

 

[twokids0204]

Weather is weather... Hot in Six Flag is the same as Hot in Disney. Stay Hydrated.

Comparing the parks - no comparison.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Six Flags - An amusement park, with most rides outside, overpriced bad counter service food, focuses on thrill rides.

Disney - A theme park, with rides being 50-50 inside and outside, overpriced OK counter service food AND good table service food, focuses on family-friendly rides.

I find that at most amusement parks I end up feeling hotter than I do at Disney, because, like people say, the queues are mostly outside at places like Six Flags. Also, Six Flags doesn't do FastPasses, so you have to wait in long lines if you want to ride on some things. At Disney you can use a FastPass to go do something else while you wait to get on a ride. And there are plenty of indoor shops to help you with the heat if need be.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

IMHO, the people who are completely miserable at Disney because of the weather..... and consequently complain the most...are people who are coming from more moderate climates. A vacation is just not enough time for most bodies to acclimate. Truthfully, even people who live in warmer places don't spend alot of time outdoors and can become affected when spending the day at Disney. I think if you are able to spend the day in summer at Six Flags, you will find that it's actually easier at WDW. As previously stated, WDW has alot of indoor areas. Summers in NC are very hot and humid and my family isn't affected at all by the heat in Florida.

 

[Virtucomp]

My DD goes to Six Flags at least once a year. She got a season pass last year since it was a good deal. The first day they went DW went along. They were there from essentially Rope Drop in the moring to almost closing. The spent an extra $20 each to get a fast pass card. Thats on top of the normal ticket.

They rode about 8 rides all day and baked in the sun and ate bad food.

They went back a different day since they had passes. They did not get the $20 fast pass. Stood in lines all day and rode 3 RIDES!

No shows.

I think we get more attractions in at Disney in the afternoon the day we fly down.

As far as comparing the rides. Six Flags is all thrill rides with long lines. Disney is all themed rides and shows. If you NEED Superman sized rides to get a thrill then Disney will not feel very scary.

 

[cc-atl]

That being said, compare that to the heat/crowds that we will experience in Florida in mid-June.

We know how to "do" Six Flags when it's hot/humid and crowded. Should we prepare the same way for Disney? Or should we expect it to be a totally different game plan?

I think the heat will be similar. In my experience there are a few bottle neck type places (like Main Street in MK) where the crowds can get worse than what you would typically experience at Six Flags, but with Fast Passes the wait for rides should not be as long.

If you going to Disney World for a multiple day vacation, I think you would have a totally different game plan then a one day trip to Six Flags. If you are staying onsite it is particularly easy to vist a park in the morning while it is not quite as hot and crowded then head back to the resort for a swim and some rest and then come back later in the afternoon. Trying to pull a marathon day like you typically do at Six Flags for multiple days at Disney World could get ugly.

 

[Tomh]

Disney may be about the same heat / humidity, it will CERTAINLY be more crowded than ANY Six Flags. However, many of the rides, and nearly all of the restaurants and shops are air conditioned, as well as the majority of the queue lines, and if you are smart with a touring plan, and Fast Pass, you can largely avoid the lines. We've NEVER waited in an hour long line at Disney. The longest we waited on any line was 45 minutes to see the fairies.

We had one 30 minute wait our first visit, every other ride we went on was 20 minutes or less, with most being under 10. So, lots more people, lots more to see and do, and if you play your cards right, shorter waits than you are accustomed to at Six Flags, plus most everything is air conditioned, so you don't have to spend the whole day outside in the sweltering heat.

I live in NY, and hate the hot weather. We too have visited our nearby Six Flags park many times, though it's not nearly as hot in upstate NY, and the humidity isn't even close. I figured that the heat, humidity, and crowds in Disney would make it impossible for me to tolerate the parks for the whole day. I was wrong. We did park opening until park closing nearly every day, and I was fine. The shorter waits on line, and the plentiful A/C made it much less tiring for me.

 

[RNtheRN]

We used to go to six flags in new jersey when we were younger, but haven't been there since probably 1995. The last experience was horrible. The rides were ok at least, but the park in general was dirty and the 'guests' were less than desireable, just real trashy. For my vacation dollar, I'll stick to WDW, even in June.

 

[KellyNY]

It is definitely hot and humid in both places, I visited Six Flags in NJ. In Disney it may be easier because most of attractions are inside and there is a lot of stores and places to eat everywhere, you can always step in and relax. In Six Flags, the one I visited, not many stores and they are tiny and not always have AC. Places to eat are mostly outside, you wait in line outside and the tables also outside in shaded area but it does not make it much less hot. Attractions and lines are also outside, so you practically outside all the time. Definitely use sunblock in Disney since it is big and you do a lot of walking, drink water, wear light clothes and protect your head and eyes, but do not worry, you will have plenty of inside to cool down.

 

[Manda]

July in St. Louis is nearly identical to July in Disney - only St. Louis can get hotter. If you can survive summer in St. Louis, you can survive a week at Disney.