Disney in the Summer

[GinaGrumpyDwarf]

DH and I just got back from a long weekend in WDW. We love Disney just as much as the next DIS'er....BUT.....WHY THE HECK would ANYONE wanna go to Disney (or Florida for that matter) in the summer?????????

We left our DD 2 1/2 at home and THANK GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw soooo many people with their children crying, exhausted, hot, etc....
Parents yelling...at 12 am for their children to be GOOD!!! OMG! are you serious? I know that some dont like to take their children out of school...and SOME parents are teachers...but please.....THINK before you BOOK!!!!!

I can understand why people leave Disney and hate it...(i'm NOT one btw)
We usually go in the "OFF" season, and have NEVER EVER seen such "GRUMPY" people....

I can remember going as a child in the summer with my parents, and my Dad being TOTALLY miserable while on the tram going back to our car....from that moment on i hated Disney...until my honeymoon and now i'm a total freak!!! lol

Well, i know that i will get some "hot" responses...but this really isnt meant to be a topic...just an observation...
Thanks for Listening....

Gina

 

[2Xited4Disney]

Here is the real question. Did you have fun?

 

[GinaGrumpyDwarf]

OF course...SORIN was TOTALLY Worth it..lol

 

[dvcgirl]

No, gotta tell you...I totally agree...lol! I live down here now, but the crowds in the summer...and the heat if you're not used to it....forget it.

Just responded to a post for a family who are first-timers, appear fairly clueless for a group heading down two weeks from now...and I think....oh God...they have no idea what they're in for.

But hey, you never know, they may actually have fun...and then everything from there on out will seem like nirvana.

But man, I visited the parks in the dead heat of the summer last year for the very first time...as a local. I turned around and walked out both days. It was just awful. This was near the end of July...and I do believe that this year it will be worse. I can't even imagine. For the brief time in the parks we looped around Fanstasyland...it was about 103 with the heat index...lots of hot and crying kids...lots of smelly adults. We saw people sprawled out on benches with family members fanning them. I just wouldn't do it...

 

[DISUNC]

WATER WATER WATER! Drink it by the Gallons, and keep a slow pace! Try to break the day up and o back to your hotel for a nap and /or swim!

Thats truly the only way to survive SUMMER in WDW!

 

[GinaGrumpyDwarf]

I totally agree with water, rest and relax...but most of these families that i have seen are so GUN HO when they get there and they spent SO much money...i totally understand going CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The entire time my DH and I were there, we were saying..."THANK GOD we left Mikayla at home...lol"

 

[tysonfamilyof4]

gosh, we are leaving friday for 9 days, you guys are scarying me, lol. i have two kids, 8 and 5. i have read almost every tip possible so i am hoping i am prepared....

 

[jjarman]

I so agree with you. We always went on vacation in the summer when I was a kid and we still do now but to the beach where it is okay to be hot. We did WDW 3 years ago the end of June and it was so hot. We went again this year at Springbreak in March and I will never go in the summer again. It was still crowded at Springbreak but you didn't care as much cause it wasn't so darn hot. I am from South Mississippi and we have the same weather as Orlando and it still is too hot to do WDW in the summer for me. If you must do it though, take a refillable water bottle and refill it with ice only throughout the day. It will melt enough that you will always have cold water to drink. You might try taking a wet washcloth with ice in it in a ziplock baggie. A nice cool washcloth does wonders. Schedule cooler indoor attactions for the hottest part of the day or better yet go back to the hotel for a swim and a nap.

 

[wdwdavem]

I've been in august three times and it never really bothered me. Don't get me wrong it was HOT!!! The biggest problem is that people don't pace themselves. I allways take a break to swim and nap during the day. You can't drag children from early morning until midnight in the hot sun and expect them to not be miserable. Also when somebody in your party gets tired you all have to have an understanding that it's break time. (or time to split up)

 

[paigevz]

One of our absolute best trips was in summer. I liked it much better than the two Spring trips......................Christmas was also nice. We get up early, hit the park until about lunch..........leave until late afternoon/early evening and then head back, usually 4-5 o'clock...........it's even nicer after the afternoon shower, that clears a lot of people out of the way for us! After lunch we swim and then nap. I would be someone admonishing my sons to be good at 12 am..........but you understand they will have slept from 1-4 that afternoon, so for them it's actually 9 pm..............yes, getting late, and we'll likely be on our way out at that time anyway, especially if they're showing tired signs, but I still expect them to be good on the way out!

 

[Bouncing4Tigger]

One of these days I will make it down to WDW in the summer just to experience what it is like. I hear so much and I know it gets very hot and humid in the summer there. I am actually hoping to move down there in a few years, so maybe good to check it out ahead of time in the summer anyways.

 

[Frank_M]

We went the first week in August two years ago, and are doing the same this year. For us (with a DS 6 1/2 who was 4 1/2 then) we find the best strategy is to be at the park at opening, stay until lunch... head back to the resort for a swim/rest, and then return at dinner time. It not only beats the heat by not being at the park from 12-4, but also avoids much of the crowds.

Just make sure to have a change of clothes for every day, becuase you WILL wear two outfits each day!

But we're already gettting psyched. Like someone above said, the only important thing is that you enjoy yourself!

 

[disney1990]

Why we go in the summer.

Much longer park hours.

2 showings of Fantasmic and Parades

Attractions not closed for Rehab.

Pools warm enough to actually swim in -- I have been in almost every month of the year -- and I only swim in the pools in late April, May, June, July and August.

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 live in DC -- DC is hot in the summer. If I'm going to be hot anyway, I just as well be on vacation at my favorite place -- Disney World.

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

Any questions?

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Y'know, it gets hot in New England in the summer, too. Actually, I think we have beat out Miami a few times. It was 97 in my backyard the other day, humidity 70%. So, let's see, do I think I can handle WDW in that kind of heat? UMMMMMM, no. I'll stick to the Christmas crowds, thanks.

 

[Toby]

I so agree - going to DW in the summer is miserable. I've been 3 times in August, and just returned from a trip in late May. It was so hot that I vowed, "never again in the heat". I'm done. And I laugh when I read first-time people who say they're going to take lots of breaks, take naps, etc.., but it takes so much effort to get everyone going in the morning, getting stroller-ready, walking from the parking lot to the tram, walking from the tram to the entrance - you're wiped before you even start.70+ humidity is not fun to do anything in. And when you're ready to leave, walk from the park to the tram, to your car - which is 1000 degrees - no wonder why everyone's miserable.

If you have to go in the summer, try not to hit the parks until late afternoon, once the greatest heat of the day is over. I know first-timers are anxious to head out first thing, but sleep in, swim in the great pools, and relax. The parks are open until really late - much more enjoyable then

 

[isyt]

The first time I did Disney in the summer was 2 yrs ago and it took a couple of days for us to get use to the humidity. Last summer we went in June and again in August. June was hot but humidity was not as bad as the year before, August ended up between hurricanes and we had the most spectacular weather. It was gorgeous 80 and no humidity. Me , dh , dd8.dd6 and ds4 are not the type to take breaks so we leave in 5 days for 3 weeks and I hope we can hold up as well as in the past.

My best plan is not to have a plan. Keep going if we can but if we need a break go for it!!

 

[dkrause716]

We love Disney in the summer for many reasons but especially for the longer park hours. We truly do stay late in the parks every night, never do early entry, always relax by the pool in the afternoon. I too have to say that it just doens't feel like Disney with a hat and gloves on!! Also, I am from Southeastern Pennsylvania and let me tell you it gets hot and humid here.

Several years ago (in July) it was actually cooler down there than it was at home!

To each his own. Isn't it great that we all have different preferences?

 

[MKCP5]

We're leaving in a couple of months for our 2nd august visit. It is Africa Hot as we call it, but we just try and manage it. Dh is a teacher so off season is not possible for us. August gives us fewer crowds (after about the 12th) because most of the south is back to school by then. I love the idea of going back to the resort midday but it takes so darn long!! A solid hour to get from the park to your hotel unless you are at GF Poly or CR, then another hour getting back. I didn't mind this when the parks used to stay open til midnight in summmer, but now they close at 9 or 10. I don't want to give up 4-5 hours in the middle of the day to come back to a park that closes at 9! So we plan a table service meal midday, rest in the cool there for a solid hour or hour and a half, and make sure we get onto things like hall of presidents and country bear jamboree in the middle of the heat. It can be tough though. No doubt the heat is brutal.

 

[dkrause716]

I need to add something to my previous post-- We don't do the commando thing. You just can't do it in the summer and it just makes everyone grumpy. We know what we like and don't like. For instance, please don't flame me but we just really don't care fro AK that much. Last summer we only spent a couple of hours there. This year we have decided to skip it all together. We just love the other 3 parks soooo much.

 

[Toby]

AK is absolutely brutal in the heat - all those narrow passageways. While the foliage is beautiful, I feel as thought I'm in the deepest jungle, and can't breathe from the humidity. Even the animals on the safari ride are lazy and lethargic from heat. There's nothing worse than being rained on by a shower, and then have to walk around in damp clothing - If I wear a poncho, I feel like I'm baking from the heat/humidity....

That said,would I pass up a free summer trip to DW? Probably not, but pay for one - Nope!! Fall/Winter/Spring for me...