Considering changing our August trip???

[mom2rtk]

OP, basically you are asking a bunch of strangers about your own heat tolerance. If it was me, I would definitely change. I don't tolerate the heat well, it makes me nauseous and miserable. If you asked my husband at at least 1 of my kids, they would think you were crazy for thinking of changing. But they have a different level of heat tolerance, even enjoy it. I think they're nuts but it really illustrates how different people are.

 

[RustManFan]

Also from NJ. We have gone the end of August a number of times. Even camped in our tent at FW this time of year. It was hot and humid but is was not at all miserable for us. We were at WDW! We drank lots of water and iced tea. Enjoyed the pool and a day at TL on one of the trips.

I rather go when you have planned and not take my kids out of school. First of all, my school district is NOT ok with this for any age group

 

[ArwenMarie]

We went last August and it was awful. And that was with Frogg Toggs, frozen water bottles, sit down dining in the a/c, etc.

We're going back this August. We added water parks, we decided to stay at Beach Club so we'll have the amazing pool and we decided to think of it as a highlights trip rather than a do everything every minute of the day trip. I also plan to use our car and/or Uber if we have bus issues. (The buses at POR were unspeakably awful in August.)

This is us. Every August we go, we have a great time, but I say, it's too hot, never again.

Then the next year swings around, and the last week of August starts looking good again...a combination of the NJ school calendar, the Disney crowd calendar and lower prices on hotels and airfare. And off we go again!

I agree though, you definitely have to go in with the attitude that you are not going to get as much done as you could in the cooler, drier months and be ok with that.

 

[JennyDrake]

even tho people say its just as hot as where you live......
Do you REGULALY spend 8-10 hours OUTSIDE in August?
I sure don't (I live in deep south)

_I_ do on a farm in TN and WDW can still kick my butt in August.

 

[PetePanMan]

This is why it isn't a "no-brainer". Most rational people would agree weather will be nicer in late October than late August, but everyone has other factors in their decision on when to travel to WDW.

Original poster has 11-night Aug/Sept trip with every ADR booked and crowd levels around "3". Changing to Oct/Nov trip would be 4 nights shorter, crowds around a "5", have to take the kids out of school, and lots of ADRs already gobbled up. But would have much nicer weather, as well as F&W and MNSSHP. Choice depends on an individual family's preferences and heat tolerance. Personally I would take the extra days and lower crowds and deal with the heat.

Of course there are other factors but the poster seems to be very concerned about heat and humidity. I would never suggest someone go in late August (if they have other options) if they are concerned about how they handle these conditions.

 

[Nancyg56]

If work schedules didn't interfere would you still choose August?

No, but I cannot always have what I want. My DD used to take our DGD out of school when she was younger, and she was okay but since Middle School, that is not an option. DGD is already a little nervous about the length of time between our return from WDW and her return to school. The way I see it is that if we want to vacation as a family, and we do, then compromise is going to factor into our plans. My DSIL really does not tolerate heat well, and neither do I, so we know we have to plan our days a bit differently than if we were traveling in December. Which by the way was not that great the last time. It was FREEZING! So all that money we spent on a BC vacation so we could enjoy that fabulous pool...well let's say the pool was not the feature we got to really utilize, and we swam in the Ocean in December before, and go to Hampden Beach..the coldest water on Earth in my opinion.....so it had to be wicked cold for us to cry Uncle.

My point is that given the options the OP presented, if I was making the choice, I would keep what I have and modify my touring plans. Given teh opportunity to travel to Disney whenever I wanted, I like October. But I would not give up additional days and great ADR's for that.

 

[maxaroni]

Another NJ person

We also went in August when DS was traveling with us. We weren't ones to take him out of school for vacations. It was down right hot and humid at 8:00 AM. DH and DS handled the heat well. I, on the other hand do not handle it well. However, as others have said we kept well hydrated, took advantage of the A/C attractions, cooling towels and the like. What we like during the last week of August, would be lower crowds, lower prices and just that it was the end of Summer send-off before school started. We also like the fact the parks are open late, which you lose in November.

 

[msb578]

One thing people often miss is that the sun is at a higher angle in FL than NJ. Temperature is measured in the shade. That sun makes a difference.

I did August last year. I wilted- got heat sick. My family was ok. Personally I will avoid it if at all possible in the future.

 

[sharadoc]

My opinion, and my whole family, is if we can only go in August, we won't go. We've gone in June and although it's just as hot, it doesn't feel as oppressively humid like it feels in August.

Yes it's that hot at home but we are inside at home, not out at theme parks. We hated feeling sweaty as soon as we walked out of our room, like you have a moist coating on your skin. You can feel the humidity in your lungs when you breathe it in. It's exhausting. Plus park hours are shorter after mid-August so you need to be out during the day to do everything you want to. The rain seemed to last longer in August too, we had multiple days with long severe storms rather than the daily 20 minute rainstorms in June.

This is our experience, yours could be completely different.

 

[NewRVLady]

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. ?

Isnt that JERSEY WEEK?
last year we were there the first week of Nov and it was Jersey week-I thought the kids had 3 days off then?

 

[ArwenMarie]

Isnt that JERSEY WEEK?
last year we were there the first week of Nov and it was Jersey week-I thought the kids had 3 days off then?

This year it's the 5th and 6th off so I guess she means she would have to pull them out the 2, 3 and 4th.

 

[autumnpalm]

We've been in August and September and while it was hot, we did not find it unbearably hot (and we are from Canada). Took midday breaks at the pool, enjoyed AC when we could and we managed just fine! We've had a blast on our summer trips, we just make sure we schedule our park time for mornings and evenings, and hang out by the pool all afternoon.

 

[AriesAriel]

We just got back, and most of our days were around 90 degrees. Anything above 92 and I was miserable and my 5 yr old became unbearable.

So I'm with the others, it depends on YOUR family. My son (the pasty white one!) was fine with the heat. My daughter (who tans well) hated the heat and became incessantly whiny. We would not do an August trip because she and I would just not make it.

 

[Wenny]

We went the first week of November last year and it was summer crowd levels and untypically cold. We only had two days where swimming was possible and even then only mid day for a couple hours. Lifeguards were in pants and parkas. LOL

But it was such a great time to go because you can catch the last MNSSHP and the first MVMCP - and see the change over of decorations.

We've always gone in the fall but we're going in August this year because it's become tougher to pull DD out of school. She had a hard time getting caught up on work this time. We're nervous about the heat, but we're going into it with the mentality others have mentioned here. Plan for the heat and expect the worst. But its WDW so we'll make it work!

 

[maryj11]

We went last August and it was awful. And that was with Frogg Toggs, frozen water bottles, sit down dining in the a/c, etc.

We're going back this August. We added water parks, we decided to stay at Beach Club so we'll have the amazing pool and we decided to think of it as a highlights trip rather than a do everything every minute of the day trip. I also plan to use our car and/or Uber if we have bus issues. (The buses at POR were unspeakably awful in August.)

I have read that the temps were unusually higher last August. I sure hope it wont be the same this year. We arrive August 14th/

 

[maryj11]

We went the first week of November last year and it was summer crowd levels and untypically cold. We only had two days where swimming was possible and even then only mid day for a couple hours. Lifeguards were in pants and parkas. LOL

But it was such a great time to go because you can catch the last MNSSHP and the first MVMCP - and see the change over of decorations.

We've always gone in the fall but we're going in August this year because it's become tougher to pull DD out of school. She had a hard time getting caught up on work this time. We're nervous about the heat, but we're going into it with the mentality others have mentioned here. Plan for the heat and expect the worst. But its WDW so we'll make it work!

This will be our first August trip. I'm nervous also about the heat and hoping we dont have a lot of rain. We will just deal with it though and run in and out of AC, have spray misting fans, frogg toggs, and water to drink of course. If we expect the worst it wont be as bad We cant go during school so it was our choice to go in August. We went in May last year and a couple days it was 90 and in AK it seemed like 100. We sprayed each other in the face most the day to keep cool lol.

 

[msb578]

I have read that the temps were unusually higher last August. I sure hope it wont be the same this year. We arrive August 14th/

True, it was 95 instead of 92

 

[anniemae]

Yes, last Aug it was a heat wave when we were there. The heat indexes were in the triple digits. As I said in my previous post, we were told it was not safe to be outside. But, that is not really an option when going to the parks! Hot is hot though and I think it would have been just as uncomfortable without the heat wave!

 

[Kandiwilde]

We go in August every year as mu mum works in a school.. Coming form the UK we look forward to the heat that everyone else seems to hate, we make sure that we stay hydrated and don't rush around too much. We tend to arrive late morning and stay until after dark when the temperature drops slightly, we love the new Fastpass Plus for this reason, no more running around collecting fastpasses getting all sweaty. Schedule ADRs to get out of the heat and ride attractions with ac if you get too hot. My favourite thing about going in August are the storms, everything clears and the park empties even though most of the time it only rains for 15-30 minutes. I vote you stick with August

 

[kandb]

Thanks everyone. We are sticking with August. I cancelled our flight reservations 7 hours after I made them for Oct/Nov and cancelled our CBR vacation for Oct/Nov. We are staying for 11 nights in August, so we will not be doing commando for the parks. We have 10 day park tickets with water parks included. We have never done water parks before, so are excited about that. I had such great adr's and the trip was going to be nice and long, that I decided to keep August. We have gone in September before and no one melted. Thanks for all the great advice. Our August trip will also have lower crowds, which will be great.