Crowds in August?

[2disneyland]

We'll be in Orlando for the Star Wars convention in August, 2012. Looks like we might be able to afford to do a few days in the parks!!

How bad are the crowds? Are they worse on weekends?

Our dates are still up in the air right now, but it will be between August 8 and August 27.....are there dates to avoid or dates that will be better?

Is there anywhere (free) that I can access the history of wait times for last August?

Thank you!

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

I can't say for sure because o have never been in august. But if the parks are crowded in mid to late February, I can't imagine what they would be like at the peak of summer...all I can say is yikes!

 

[KellyNY]

Did August many times, second part is much better then first because of schools. Closer to September crowds are almost non existant. However it is extremely hot, humid, rain every day and a big possibility of hurricane.

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

However it is extremely hot, humid, rain every day and a big possibility of hurricane.

Sounds like a blast...lol

 

[monkyby87]

I went last August at the beginning, around the first week and a half, and while it was a little crowded I don't think it was really any worse than normal. And it rained while we there, but not all day long. It was hot though. But overall a great experience.

 

[2disneyland]

I can't say for sure because o have never been in august. But if the parks are crowded in mid to late February, I can't imagine what they would be like at the peak of summer...all I can say is yikes!

Yeah, but mid-Feb is because of Valentine's Day and President's Day crowds.

We typically go late January (after MLK) through early Feb (leaving before Valentine's Day) and the crowds are remarkably low....the only time I think is better crowd wise is the week before Thanksgiving (the festival is over and folks are waiting for T-Day....T week gets worse as it goes along) and then poof the weekend after T-Day everyone leaves and it's wonderful again for the first two weeks of December. And Nov/Dec has the added bonus of the holiday decor, lol.

I definitely realize that summer is going to be more crowded than we're used to....but just wanting to see HOW bad it is, lol. I don't do rides if I have to wait more than about 30 minutes max....but the times that we go typically its half that for all but the absolutely most popular (like Toy Story).

 

[2disneyland]

I'm prepared for the weather....hot I can handle (live in Phoenix), humid I can do without, and the rain shower each afternoon won't phase us either because while we don't get it every day, on the rare occasion that it rains it's a short one but life just goes on. I'm wicked but don't melt.

 

[KellyNY]

I'm prepared for the weather....hot I can handle (live in Phoenix), humid I can do without, and the rain shower each afternoon won't phase us either because while we don't get it every day, on the rare occasion that it rains it's a short one but life just goes on. I'm wicked but don't melt.

Then there is something wrong with you, wicked should melt.

Anyway, it can be short rain, it can be pretty annoying long rain, get some rain ponchos and get them before you go to Disney, they are expensive there. If weather does not scare you, you should be fine. Last time we went at the very end of August into Labor Day and we did not even need FPs, we just walked on all rides except TSM.

 

[Brer Shay]

We've been there the last two years in August. There is definitely a drop off in crowds after the weekend around the 15th. Yes, it's hot and humid, yes you'll likely see thunderstorms, but it's still good. Be sure to stay hydrated, plan shaded shows for mid afternoon when it's hotest, and have a good plan for which parks to go to which days - I use TourGuide Mike, but easywdw is good to. The last two years, we've only had one each visit that the evening was a complete washout. Normally there's a 10-30 minute downpour at some point, but it's never really bothered us. Hang out, have a snack, or people watch. We haven't waited more than 30 minutes for anything. Work your fastpass times. With a teacher in the family, the only way we can do 10 day trips is in the summer. It's never been a problem.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

I'm prepared for the weather....hot I can handle (live in Phoenix), humid I can do without, and the rain shower each afternoon won't phase us either because while we don't get it every day, on the rare occasion that it rains it's a short one but life just goes on. I'm wicked but don't melt.

I agree. I've lived on the west coast and the Florida humidity is a force to be reckoned with in comparison to the dry, desert heat of the western states. I would have no problems going to DLR in CA in the summers, WDW in the summers is a different story We went to WDW in August of last year and the heat and humidity is intense and draining, but manageable if you prepare and plan for it. Our saving grace was that the crowds were lower because we went towards the end of August, so lower crowds makes tolerating the heat a little more doable. Also, there are a lot of opportunities for air conditioning breaks since a lot of attractions and queues are indoors. If my kids missing school wasn't an issue, we probably wouldn't go to WDW at all in the summer months; but if you have to go in August, the later in the month you go the better.

 

[sunshineNJ]

We have gone the second half of Aug 3 times. The last week in Aug crowds are really light!! The third week in Aug isn't bad but not as light as the last week. Have a great trip!

 

[2disneyland]

Thanks everyone! We homeschool so we're lucky enough to be able to go for long visits during off-season (Jan/Feb Nov/Dec are our norm). But...the Star Wars Celebration is in August, and being that close we just can't stay away from WDW, lol.

Question about the ponchos....I know I have seen others discussing them and my brain recalls that if you purchase them at WDW then if they tear or whatever they will be replaced for free? How does that work, do I have to keep a receipt forever....or is the fact that you have the poncho mean they'll replace it? I've read they are expensive, anyone know current pricing? Lots of folks saying not to bother with the dollar store ones, but at less than a buck each I'm thinking we could just use it then toss it each day and be ahead of the expensive WDW one? What's flawed in this thinking, if so many say don't do it? I don't relish the idea of carrying a wet poncho around all day, but I don't really want to be soaking wet all day either, lol.

Many of you say the last part of August is best.....when do the Labor Day crowds kick in....before the Saturday/Sunday/Monday of the actual holiday or only those 3 days?

 

[tzolkin]

Question about the ponchos....I know I have seen others discussing them and my brain recalls that if you purchase them at WDW then if they tear or whatever they will be replaced for free? How does that work, do I have to keep a receipt forever....or is the fact that you have the poncho mean they'll replace it? I've read they are expensive, anyone know current pricing? Lots of folks saying not to bother with the dollar store ones, but at less than a buck each I'm thinking we could just use it then toss it each day and be ahead of the expensive WDW one? What's flawed in this thinking, if so many say don't do it? I don't relish the idea of carrying a wet poncho around all day, but I don't really want to be soaking wet all day either, lol.

I am fairly certain that I read a post within that last month or so that said they no longer replace ripped ponchos. I'm sure someone else can confirm.

We were there a few years ago for 12 days of non-stop rain (in May) and we were very glad that we went to Target the first day and purchased decent ponchos. They were under $10, but the nice thing was that they had a drawstring around the hood and snaps which kept the rain from pouring in the front of the poncho (also baseball caps help). For that trip we really wore them all the time, so we weren't carrying them. We hung them on hangers in the shower to dry overnight.

MIL met up with us for a few days in the middle of the trip and she used some of the Dollar Store ponchos I had purchased. They were extremely thin and didn't even cover most of her body. They were short sleeved and all of her clothing was soaked underneath the poncho. They would probably be sufficient to carry in your bag for a brief/light shower, but if alot of rain is predicted I would buy a decent poncho.


We are going Aug 13-24.

My oldest is starting HS, so we're now limited to the school breaks. We would have liked to go a bit later in Aug/Sept, but I work for a university that starts the following Monday. We're hoping for low crowds and decent weather.