Considering changing our August trip???

[kandb]

I am so torn. We have a 11 night Aug/Sept trip planned with fd for CBR, the tickets include water parks. I am starting to read about the heat and am second guessing how miserable it will be to be there when every day is super hot/humid. I checked and can get free dining 10/31 to 11/6. We are in Jersey, so I can take my children out of school for 3 days and go when the weather will be much more doable. The dining that I have for Aug/Sept is awesome (2 dinners at BOG, 2 dinners at Ohana's, Garden Grill, Via Napoli, etc. all great adr's). Trying to get adr's now in Nov. is not that good at all. I am so torn if I should cancel our Aug trip and go to November or stay with the Aug trip. I really don't know what to do?

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

As a fellow Jerseyan, I can advise you to relax. What is it like in our home state in August? Usually mid 90s with 100% humidity, what is it in Disney? 100 with 100% humidity. We did the August trip last year and loved it so much we're going back this August. You just need to manage the heat. Rope Drop, cooling towels, bringing your own water into the parks, hand fans, indoor shows/attractions are all your friend! 11 nights with all those great ADRs will always beat a 3 night trip eating CS the whole time.

 

[ErinsMommy]

From another NJ'er I would go in Oct/Nov, check out the ADRs regularly and avoid the heat humidity. My family are park junkies and as soon as a relaxing breakfast is done, were in the park til it closes -- and I would never go back to that humidity heat or rain.

 

[shm_helene]

I'm in southern PA...we went August two years ago. It was hot. Very, very hot BUT not that different than summer here. To me, hot is hot. Given the opportunity to go 11 days I would totally keep my ressies in Sept and Au!

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

We go every August and totally agree with the advice from BuzzinDownToDisney ... The cooling towels / frogg toggs have made our last few trips much more comfortable. Just go in with a plan for breaks when you are hot (indoor shows or swim at resort). Plus, you have a nice long trip, so you can take those breaks. Have fun - your dining reservations are fantastic!

 

[ArwenMarie]

We go every August (we are in NJ too). It's hot, but as long as you get out early in the morning and get your must-dos done, it's totally workable. Rotate in enough AC attractions, etc. It sounds like you have a nice trip set up. I would just go for it and not have to take your kids out of school for 3 days, since you already have it set up (not saying there is anything wrong with that, I've done it many times myself!)

 

[ArwenMarie]

We go every August and totally agree with the advice from BuzzinDownToDisney ... The cooling towels / frogg toggs have made our last few trips much more comfortable. Just go in with a plan for breaks when you are hot (indoor shows or swim at resort). Plus, you have a nice long trip, so you can take those breaks. Have fun - your dining reservations are fantastic!

I agree, the length of the trip helps a lot too.

 

[brighteyes]

We are going in August too, and it will be hot. We usually are later to the parks..and stay late. ADR's for lunch to cool off, indoor rides, water rides and standing in the thunderstorms to get wet. We dry off pretty quick once the sun comes out. Plus a few water park days thrown in. We are doing a longer trip so it helps spread it out a bit.

 

[BigHeroKen]

In all depends on your tolerance to heat. The heat coupled with the humidity can give you a smothering feeling and can quickly lead to heat exhaustion if you aren't taking breaks and properly hydrating yourself. This could put a few kinks into a touring plan because of the extra time that is recommended to rest and get out of the heat, especially for older and younger members of your party.

If you are not normally an outdoor person during the summer, I would recommend going in the "cooler" months. If you are an outdoor person during the summer, the heat should be manageable with a little preparation.

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm from Northern Ct and it is hot in August at home too. WE just hit the parks early, get out in the heat of the afternoon and either enjoy the pool or some air conditioned activities. We go back out for a later dinner. WE will sometimes spend the morning at the pool, relax and have a late lunch at teh resort, and hen go out to the parks in time to go to air conditioned attractions first, dinner and then back to touring after dark. Touring is different. but not awful. The vacation pace is different, but not awful. To be honest, every season presents unique challenges, from increased crowds and attractions closed for refurb, to heat, cold, or rain. But each season presents great options not available at the other times of year.

 

[Ava]

We're going for 10 days at the end of August this year - we know its going to be HOT but we'll manage. I have an afternoon break planned for almost every day, so we'll only be in the parks for 3-5 hours at a time with the longer stretches during the cooler nighttime hours. We also have a "rest" day (pool or water park) after every 2 days of park touring.

As Nancyg56 said, the weather in FL is rarely perfect and every season presents its challenges. Last year we went at the end of September and it rained almost every day. We still had a great time though, and the rain made for some memorable moments - like being in the middle of the dance party in Dinoland at AK, DD dancing with Meeko, when the sky suddenly opened up and started pouring down rain. The characters rushed off and we ran with a bunch of other families to huddle under an awning. We had a 5pm ADR at Boma so we decided to just head out, and it was raining so hard we were practically wading to the buses. If I'd been at home in that rain I'd have been really annoyed but for some reason at Disney it didn't bother me much.

 

[kandb]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Maybe I am just talking myself into how horrible the heat will be. I have just been reading so many posts about the horrible heat and humidity. We do love our sit down dinners and I have great adr's that are all at great times. We have never tried frog togs, we would definitely try them if we go in Aug. We also have never done the water parks and were planning on doing them this year also.

 

[pktbMouse]

Yes its hot but not unmanageable..like previous posters said its just a different kind of strategy you need to manage it. Most of Disney if not nearly all rides are in the AC so take advantage of that..shops have AC also so even if your not buying, take a little walkthrough to cool off. Florida being a peninsula of sorts does always have a slight breeze blowing across it so it may not be as hot as you imagine. The storms will come in every afternoon too and they will drop the temps by 10 degrees. I would def stick with your Aug/Sep trip, you will have a blast! We are heading to CBR too 17th to 23rd August

 

[ArwenMarie]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Maybe I am just talking myself into how horrible the heat will be. I have just been reading so many posts about the horrible heat and humidity. We do love our sit down dinners and I have great adr's that are all at great times. We have never tried frog togs, we would definitely try them if we go in Aug. We also have never done the water parks and were planning on doing them this year also.

I think with the heat, if you go in with a negative attitude, you may end up pleasantly surprised that it wasn't as bad as you thought.

 

[Sabrina°o°]

I am so torn. We have a 11 night Aug/Sept trip planned with fd for CBR, the tickets include water parks. I am starting to read about the heat and am second guessing how miserable it will be to be there when every day is super hot/humid. I checked and can get free dining 10/31 to 11/6. We are in Jersey, so I can take my children out of school for 3 days and go when the weather will be much more doable. The dining that I have for Aug/Sept is awesome (2 dinners at BOG, 2 dinners at Ohana's, Garden Grill, Via Napoli, etc. all great adr's). Trying to get adr's now in Nov. is not that good at all. I am so torn if I should cancel our Aug trip and go to November or stay with the Aug trip. I really don't know what to do?

I think I would try and find ways to stay cool and keep my ADRs and current dates. We thought about moving our trip but we got two pre park openings and BOG and figured it wasn't worth losing them.

 

[Nancyg56]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Maybe I am just talking myself into how horrible the heat will be. I have just been reading so many posts about the horrible heat and humidity. We do love our sit down dinners and I have great adr's that are all at great times. We have never tried frog togs, we would definitely try them if we go in Aug. We also have never done the water parks and were planning on doing them this year also.

It is all relative. One July 4th my DH and I were in Daytona for the race. it was gorgeous! I mean dry and breezy. Back home it was 103 and almost 100% humidity. I figure most of us deal with heat that we do not even think about, but theme parks and heat are just another layer to contend with. The only park I am a bit iffy about is Animal Kingdom. I want to bring my two little Princesses to AK, ( I babysat for them since they were born) , they have never been to Disney and I know they will love this park, but it is HOT! My DD and I decided we will watch the weather, will not make any ADR's in that park, will hit it at RD and make a bee line for the attractions they like, finish with nemo and Flights of Wonder, and then leave. No ADR's mean we are not committed at all, we lose FP (which will be a godsend in the heat) but that is not a problem if we decide the girls will not be able to handle the heat.

We chose a resort that has the amenities we all like because we will be using the resort a lot this trip. Pool time is a must for us any season, but in summertime the pool is a bonus that we use even more. Keep your reservation, and just go in knowing you will have a different strategy for a fun trip. Use your resort as a respite, and take time in the TS restaurants without the pressure to rush back out. Shoot! We take the kids swimming after a lateish dinner and they think that is the best thing ever! Swimming at night? Just before bedtime? Best vacation ever!

 

[Jadyreen1282]

The miniscule amount of extra heat is just one more reason to hit the Disney waterparks!

 

[Disney Mom 7272]

We are getting ready to go in September for the 3rd year in a row and yes it is very hot but it is manageable. When we need breaks we usually go and watch a show or something like that. The crowd level is definitely worth it!!

 

[JennyDrake]

In all depends on your tolerance to heat. The heat coupled with the humidity can give you a smothering feeling and can quickly lead to heat exhaustion if you aren't taking breaks and properly hydrating yourself. This could put a few kinks into a touring plan because of the extra time that is recommended to rest and get out of the heat, especially for older and younger members of your party.

If you are not normally an outdoor person during the summer, I would recommend going in the "cooler" months. If you are an outdoor person during the summer, the heat should be manageable with a little preparation.

I was going to say this same thing! If you keep your home a/c set on 65. you are going to be miserable at WDW in August.

I live in TN in a house w/o a/c and I go every year the 2nd week of August--and it can kick MY butt. Disney heat is relentless and the humidity does not break at night.

 

[Lucius Best]

It's hot in NJ too. The hottest I've ever been in an amusement park was at Six Flags NJ once about 15 years ago. It was over 90 degrees at 9am, already sweating like crazy, temperature was above 100F all day, and there was no thunderstorm to cool things off even a little.

We've gone twice in early September. With an 11 day trip, you can adjust your touring strategy to avoid the heat, and you'll be there for so long there will be no stress to do everything in one day. Be at park at rope drop every day. Lunch inside in A/C. Back to CBR for pool, rest, shower before dinner. Hit some more rides after dinner when sun goes down.