Disney August 5-10. What to know?

[scoutie]

The search not working, and I'm going to spend some time today making dining reservations. I have the crowd calendar handy and a list of "must dos" (Chef Mickey's, Akershus).

I have three kids (9, 6, 3). We've been to Disney as a family once before (January 2013). We are staying at Port Orleans (as we did last time...one of the the only moderates to accomodate our family of five!) I know the basic tips (rope drop, tour early, go back to the resort for a break). I'm from the Chicago area, so the heat and humidity won't bother me. We plan to hit all four parks. We skipped Animal Kingdom last time.

I have to do August, because it's that or nothing (I'm a teacher, and I start back August 13th).

Any tips, tricks, or things I should know?

 

[Andeevan]

We're going August 9-16 because my husband's a teacher and that's the only time to go too. We plan on getting to the parks early, come back for a swim and a rest and then head back to the parks at night. Bring ponchos because there will most likely be a rain storm in the afternoon. Our favorite park the last time we did a summer trip was Epcot because most of the rides were indoors. My daughter loved doing the Kidcot fun stations. Animal Kingdom was incredibly hot! We ended up leaving there at noon and didn't go back. Just take it slow, get out of the midday heat as much as possible and have fun! We used the spray fans as well, they really helped with the heat.

 

[W.E.D.]

We're from Iowa so we also thought the heat would be OK. It's not! Plan for the heat.

 

[scoutie]

We're from Iowa so we also thought the heat would be OK. It's not! Plan for the heat.

Uh oh. I'm originally from Iowa, and thought it would be fine.

Thanks for the storm tip. I hadn't known that.

 

[Heluvsme]

If you plan your day out diligently, you can plan on being at the parks before rope drop, hit as many of the headliners as possible, then leave around lunch---the heat of the day--- go back to your resort to swim, rest in a dark room, rehydrate, etc---- then return to the parks at sunset. It's still hot but at least you're not in it for the entire day.

We've done August twice because we have had to due to schedules, and each time, while the actual temp was maybe only 6-8 degrees above June, and the humidity was maybe 10 %age points above June.... for us those differences FELT like SOOOO much!! Honestly I'm from Central California, we are used to 110 degrees... but being so close to the equator there in Central Florida, it just FEELS hotter.

Drink more than you think you need to. Nebo's trip report from a couple years ago painted a very scary picture of what can happen to a person when they're dehydrated and don't feel like it.

 

[Micca]

If you like rib roast, throw one in your backpack. It will be medium by dinner time

 

[Wishes Count]

You can get cups of ice water for free at almost any location that serves fountain soda. Drink a lot of it and limit the soda or avoid it all together. It will make you dehydrate faster. You should drink at least 8 oz every hour. Many people are not used to the heat and become very I'll very quickly.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[jm106]

We took Mister fans and extra batteries and cooling towels. I am from NJ and it was hotter home but most ppl were saying it was so hot. I was fine. We took a pool break each day otherwise we did a ADR so we could be inside and resting.

Drink a TON of water. We take a cooler bag in stroller and we got cups of ice (or ice water when needed) and poured ours over so it was good and cold.

Light weight clothes, good sun block and a hat are important. We are flip flop or good sandals for kids so we can skip the heat from socks but many disagree. Go with the flow and be ready to take a break. I would plan your FP+ for times it will be hot so you can cool off (but I have not used fp+ so take it for what its worth.)

 

[Violet Parr]

The search not working, and I'm going to spend some time today making dining reservations. I have the crowd calendar handy and a list of "must dos" (Chef Mickey's, Akershus).

I have three kids (9, 6, 3). We've been to Disney as a family once before (January 2013). We are staying at Port Orleans (as we did last time...one of the the only moderates to accomodate our family of five!) I know the basic tips (rope drop, tour early, go back to the resort for a break). I'm from the Chicago area, so the heat and humidity won't bother me. We plan to hit all four parks. We skipped Animal Kingdom last time.

I have to do August, because it's that or nothing (I'm a teacher, and I start back August 13th).

Any tips, tricks, or things I should know?

Right before the daily afternoon shower, it gets MISERABLY hot. Sometimes a pool break does the trick. Arrive at the parks early, leave when it starts to get too steamy and uncomfortable. We were hot that week, but we were surprised by how quickly lines went. We were expecting much longer waits. Find a way to get indoors sometime between 1-3 pm just for a break. It could be something as simple as saving Mouse Gears for that time of day so you know that you'll have a 30 min indoor break.

After having been in October, December, etc, I really thought August would be the worst, but we were pleasantly surprised. It's manageable and can still be very fun!

VP

 

[lroger01]

Plan for hot. This time of year is a good time to take in as much indoor fun as you can. For example, load up on character meals, the Animation academy drawing class, American Idol finale, Hoop-dee-doo, and so on. The only time I went in August, was insanely hot, and these are the things I have the best memories of.

The mister fans work, but are large and heavy. I always take a few pocket-sized fans (no misting). These are great for any hot wait, and you don't have to worry about spritzing someone accidentally. I bring the Coleman pocket fan. It's only about $3 and can be found in the camping department at Target. Just be careful with the blades. These have hard plastic blades that can hurt if touched, but it moves much more air than foam blades do.

 

[Sabbysuburbia]

Going 8/4 to 8/11 and from the Chicago area as well! We went as a family in April last year and stayed at POR. Staying there again this year. I went in August when I was single and it was incredibly hot. Had to drink drink drink all day but still had a nice time. I think it's all the blacktop....just radiates heat. We just bought chilly pads and I think they will help out. Looking into small personal fans. Also going to being our polar water bottles. We are thinking about doing some afternoon breaks on a few of the days. Never done that before so still looking for info here. The new fp+ stuff is kind of a game charger too. Hoping all the kinks get worked out by august and we have better info for touring by then. Maybe we will see you there!

 

[CanadianPaco]

We've visited late-August a number of times and are considering a trip back during this time frame! Here's hoping!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

It is "too hot to sit on your shaded balcony reading with a cold beer" hot.

Had to move inside with the kids.

 

[JennyDrake]

We're from Iowa so we also thought the heat would be OK. It's not! Plan for the heat.

DITTO! I went 2 years ago w/ someone from Chicago who thought he heat would not be a big issue--- IT WAS.

I'm from The South and I work outdoors (farm) a great deal, but let me tell you, Disney August heat is in a category all by itself.

Especially with kids, you need to build in a long, midday break out of the heat, with a nap and maybe some swimming too.

The heat and humidity do NOT break significantly at night.

There will also be many queues where you will stand waiting in the sun w/o shade or breeze.

 

[scoutie]

If you plan your day out diligently, you can plan on being at the parks before rope drop, hit as many of the headliners as possible, then leave around lunch---the heat of the day--- go back to your resort to swim, rest in a dark room, rehydrate, etc---- then return to the parks at sunset. It's still hot but at least you're not in it for the entire day.

This is what we planned on--we like the break in the middle fo the day anyway.

Thanks for the water tips!

If you like rib roast, throw one in your backpack. It will be medium by dinner time

Now I'm getting scared.

This trip was supposed to happen the last week in May, but the Polar Vortex and all of the school days that now have to be made up screwed that trip up. GRRRRRRR!

Going 8/4 to 8/11 and from the Chicago area as well!

Nice! Maybe we will run into each other!

 

[Sabbysuburbia]

Maybe together we can find ways to beat the August heat! Following this thread so if you find some good info post here and I will do the same. We've never done the afternoon break and are wondering about the logistics of getting from the parks back to POR and then back to parks again. Have you done this?