Disney in the Summer

[nluvwithmickey]

After freezing my butt off all winter long, summer in WDW even in the torrid heat will be great for us.

The planning of this trip is what got me through this awful winter so give me heat, I know what to expect.

My kids are a little older now (DD 13&9) so we do plan on taking things a bit easy. We know which attractions to do and the ones to skip. We know where all my favorites restaurants are and the layout of each park....This helps wasting time in the hot sun.

We will not be staynig in a Monorail resort so we may not go back to the rsort in the PM because I have to agree, that ot does take a while just getting there and back. Instead we take it REALLY easy in the afternoon and shop in the AC or do attractions that are inside. Most important thing: ALWAYS watch the PM parade in the shade......

 

[cstwwt]

We are going on our first trip July 3. I teach so it is really the only time we can go....I know it will be hot, but thanks to so many great posters on this board I feel well prepared!!

Wendy

 

[2Xited4Disney]

Here is my plan.... I pack extremely light so I will have one carry on bag... i am also going to check a 36 pack of Poland Springs water (as we will not be having a grocery stop on ME) then I also have one of those camel packs... I am going to fill that with ice and put some waters in it each day... For those of you that have them, if you remove the "bladder" the pocket is water proof... I know that with all the water you are thinking YOU WILL BE SWEATING SO MUCH with all that extra weight but this bags distribute the weight so evenly you can barely even feel it.

I tried it out two weeks ago when the weather was 90+ with high humidity I put a couple of books in it and walked a couple of miles. It was great.
That being said. You will never hear me talk about the weather after I come back from our AUGUST trip because it is our first time and I don't want to come back and say IT WAS HOT because I know someone will find this post and say... Well What happened to you plan. hahaha


Oh yeah and I am going with 3 20 year old girls so getting back and forth to the resort for a break may be a little easier then a family of 5 with the children under the age of 6.

 

[DISUNC]

camel packs... I tried it out two weeks ago when the weather was 90+ with high humidity I put a couple of books in it and walked a couple of miles. It was great.

That is the MOST EXTREME WDW planning I ever heard! You are sooooo Military Disney! lol! Great laugh from that...thank you!

 

[Cinderella822]

When my DD was little, I used to go in the off season and wondered the same thing - why would anyone go in the summer! I thought they were nuts. But now that she's older and entering high school, its just not possible to take her out for a week. So its either go in the summer or don't go. We opt to go. Yes, its harder to adapt and you can't go commando as we used to go in the cooler weather, but its nice to be able to swim (which we couldn't do on previous trips- too chilly). For the first time last August, we visited a water park. If I had small children, I would probably not opt to go in the summer, but with an older child, its much easier and a necessity when school is an issue.

 

[disneyfanfamily]

DH only gets 3 weeks off from work. They shut the plant down for 2 weeks, one over Christmas and 1 over the 4th of July. So, it's the hot 4th of July week for us. The other week he takes day at a time - for sick days etc. We go and just take it easy. If we get too hot, we get in the car and head back to the hotel for a break. But 2 years ago, we had DS8, DS6 and DD2 and it wasn't that bad. Don't get me wrong, hot, but managable. You go when you can go....I't rather go hot than not at all!!

10 more days for Surprise trip for the kids!

 

[DisneyMim]

We've been going in August for 13-14 years now and love it!! It is the only time we can go for two+ weeks at a time as my husband teaches and we simply cannot take our children out of school. Our school district is very strict. We've also been able to squeeze in quick trips at other times of the year and love those too!! I think that people go when they can. There is no right or wrong time. As for crowds, well what I have seen over my many many years of visiting WDW is that crowds are seeeming to pop up at all different times of the year now. There are a lot of people who don't like summer and are able to take their kids out of school. If that's what you can do great, but I am here to tell those people who have trips planned for the summer that you will have a great time. Don't worry. Some people can't take the heat. We don't mind it at all. After our loooong NE winters a hot Florida summer is just what we need!!

Enjoy no matter when you go!!!

 

[waltdisneyworlddreamer]

We will never again go in the summer! Our last trip was in July with DS, 4 and it was miserable!!! You just can't enjoy anything, when it's too hot to stand in line. It just makes the kids cranky and wears everyone out. This time we are all taking off work and going in November. I can't wait!!!!

 

[Leota]

In a perfect world, I would travel to WDW every October. But, since DS hit Junior High, we have had to go on school breaks. Out of all the times we have gone during school break, Late August is my favorite. I like the heat. I like it when it's hot & humid here at home & even better in WDW. We've been enough that we don't go commando anymore. We hit the Parks early, ride til noon. Back to the resort for lunch, swimming, break - then back to the Parks around 4 & PI later (DS is now 16 & we love AC & CW)

I don't know how I would have handled summer touring when DS was little, I think it would have been much more difficult.

This August trip is all about the Water Parks & PI. Perfect for summer WDW trips. Summer can be a great time to go, if you go in with your eyes open & know how to deal with the heat.

 

[gwcollins71]

Hubby and I always go end of July/beginning of August. I am a teacher and frequently teach summer school for the first part of the summer.

Its never been that big a problem. Chicago has been known to have some pretty wicked summers. (although not last summer) We go early, have a PS for lunch somewhere with ac and take it slow. The only park I have become uncomfortable at was AK because I wanted to stay and see the parade. Normally, we would have left much earlier. But because we wanted to stay later, we went and say FOTLK and just sat and people watched.

Honesty, you can't do a commando vacation when its that hot, but it is ok to sit back and relax.

My hints -- 1. drink lots of water, 2. Bring some of the liquid baby powder or diaper rash ointment for anywhere that gets uncomfortable in the heat. It comes in small bottles and it helps. 3. If you're doing water rides, bring extra clothes so you don't have wet clothes rubbing everything. 4. Visit the air conditioned attractions throughout the day. Even waiting in line can be refreshing.

Anyway, I'd love to go between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but that is when hubby cannot take time off of work.

Gretchen

 

[Weegl]

We were just there for the weekend and all I can say is - Wow was it Hot AND Crowded! We live nearby and can come and go for very short visits so it was not that big a deal for us to be there 3 hours and manage to get on 3 rides (even using the fast passes).

That said, it was still fun and great to be there...I'm just glad it wasn't the only time I'd be at WDW all year.

 

[ryley26]

We always go summer hustle in the am till noon or one. Leave swim or relax don't go back till six. Just drink plenty of water and watch your kids .we do fine every year and see all the parks.

 

[PamNC]

The parks are open later and there is a special air of excitement that I just can't explain. The heat does not, repeat DOES NOT bother us. We live in NC and it's quite hot here in the summer. Often as hot or hotter than Orlando. Last week we had two days with a heat index above 100. We have the humidity as well. We've been in November and December and it was nice to be there during the Holidays, but we missed the hot weather. That's what pools are for. I wish everyone hated going in the summer like some of you, then it wouldn't be so crowded.

We're going in 12 days, bathing suits in hand, suncreen ready to be applied and we're hoping for some 90 degree hot Florida weather! BRING IT ON!

PamNC

 

[PamNC]

I hate cold weather -- I have been to Disney in December when I needed a coat and gloves. To me that is not how I want to experience Disney.

I'll be there over the 4th of July" Yeah!!!!!

Any questions?

Hi there - I must second your emotion. I despise cold weather. Anything below 70 degrees is just unnecessary. We were there once in January and it was freezing - like 40-50 degrees. It was miserable!

We'll be there 7/2-7/10 - we'll probably rub sticky hot elbows.

PamNC

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

We usually go in December or January. Every once in a while, we'll hit on a few really warm days, like in the 80's but usually it's in the 70's. For me, half of the fun is going to Florida is when it's frigid here (yes, it does get cold in Kentucky). Low 70's in Florida beats high 30's at home any day!
I'm happy if I get to wear shorts at least once, even if it is with a sweatshirt.

 

[GinaGrumpyDwarf]

Most of the people you see going "commando" on a disney vacation are 1. NOT DIS'ers, and 2. usually only do 1 trip every few years or so. I just hated seeing angry parents and totally exhausted children. we only spent 1 day out of our 4 in the parks because it was TOTALLY crazy crowded and hot.

also what i couldnt believe was the number of people who really didnt have a clue about what to do...like they just picked DISNEY as a vacation and went without planning...omg...could you all imagine?? This coming from the "Disney Nazi" as my DH calls me...ROFL.

Although I must say that in my 1 short day at Disney, I did "help" several families while in line for rides and while watching Spectromagic *sigh* Makes ya feel all gushy inside...lol