Do you prefer visiting WDW in April or August and why?

[Magical2017]

Of the two choices, I would prefer April, but school and work schedules have made August and Christmas break our only options. So we are 12 days away from our WDW vacation.

 

[JessicaW1234]

August, because we can only go in April during school vacation week and flights are too $$$$

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

April, avoiding Easter/Spring Break week if possible. We had beautiful weather and tolerable crowds during the first week of April when Easter was on April 16th.

Last year, we went the last week of August. The heat and humidity was as expected, but the daily downpours were frustrating. We had to change plans on the fly and one day we were all soaked having to walk from Fantasyland to the buses at MK. Not only our clothes, but our shoes too because we learned quickly that MK has poor drainage. We then froze on the bus back to our resort in the AC. The constant rotation of ponchos in and out of the backpack was a daily occurrence. It just was a negative that I can avoid by choosing a different time of year next time.

hmm forgot about the rain.....

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

Of the two choices, I would prefer April, but school and work schedules have made August and Christmas break our only options. So we are 12 days away from our WDW vacation.

Please update when you get back re the heat and the rain, crowds etc!

 

[amyy]

Another August vote. I can only go during April break and the crowds are too much for me. It has been in the 80s to low 90s where I live so Florida doesn't feel all that different. Lovely weather in the morning and again at night. We go often in August and this year went the last week of June into August. I only remember one day when the rain was a problem in the afternoon but we were at our hotel. We usually head out of the parks by 2:00 for a break. That night we didn't make it back to AK which was disappointing but ended up playing mini golf which was a lot of fun (I know it doesn't compare to AK but still fun). The crowds were not an issue, you could get almost a dining reservation that day. I was shocked to see Chef Mickey's, the castle, Crystal Palace etc. If you can save $2000 and stay deluxe I would definitely give it a try! Hope you are able to have an enjoyable trip no matter which month you pick

 

[billyjobobb]

We have gone around Flower and Garden a couple of times, so this year we're going in September / early October. We managed to link our 10th anniversary, food and wine and Halloween, so that is more important to us than just about anything else.

Keep in mind that lighter crowds often means shorter park hours, fewer cast members at the rides, etc. On a busy day rides run at higher capacity than slow days. Crowds may be larger, but often the park runs pretty efficiently on peak days.

 

[reluctantredhead]

We've been twice in April...once for the Easter holiday about 15 years ago, and just this year in the second week of April. The crowd levels were night-and-day different. It was PACKED the year we went for Easter, but this year crowds were extremely manageable and we had a great time. Also, the Flower and Garden Festival was on during the week we went this year, and we absolutely loved it (went last year in March also for the F&G Festival).

We've also been in August...just once, and I swore never again. It is just so miserably hot and humid, and our family doesn't handle that well at all.

So like many others have said...if you do well in extreme heat and humidity, then it might be worth it to go in late August for the low crowds and to experience the F&W Festival. But if you're like us and late summer FL heat and humidity aren't your friends, strongly consider going for April.

 

[gillep]

I have been in April twice, once very close to Easter the second time a few weeks away, and July once when it was hot but not very crowded at all, and I would take either of the April trips over July.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

April because as a native Floridian I do not go outside between the months of May and September.

The hottest summer I ever spent was the October I spent in Orlando.

 

[OneinThree]

April, particularly the end of April *can* be as hot here as August. August is slightly less crowded on average, in my recent experience. Almost a wash if I had to say.

 

[yaya74]

August for me and my family. We are from NJ. The long winter and snow made us longing for the hot and humid weather in FL (serious!!). We were at WDW the past week. We enjoyed the pool and the water park. Parks were busy but not wall to wall people (except for the Fantasy Land at night). We took breaks back at the hotel and we rode 6-8 rides a day. I also planned to see a show (eg. Monster's Laughing Floor, Finding Nemo, Frozen Ever After) each day after lunch. Best of all, I don't have to worry about taking kids out of school.

 

[gap2368]

I go in April every year since my birthday is in April Also August is hot humid

 

[Tomh]

August, because I have a kid in school in April.

 

[Wood Nymph]

April can be hot but the humidity is lower than in August. It doesn't rain as much in April as it does in August and hurricane season hasn't begun yet.

 

[asbyrneva]

Basically as you can see from the replies it depends on what matters most. We've done both at least 3 times:
April-
Pros - Beautiful weather (temp, precip, humidity) flower and garden
Cons: Crowds, higher costs. (BTW crowds can be manageable with a good general plan, but I don't find that Easter date really matters. About March 10- May 1 between college spring breaks, and other school breaks all rolling at different times its crowded )

August-
Pros - Usually lower rates, lower crowds especially later in the month (although earlier and earlier Halloween parties will negate that a bit). Halloween parties if you want to attend
Cons- heat, rain, humidity, bugs. And I always think I know how bad the combo of heat humidity and daily downpours are but you are wet all the time. Halloween parties if you dont want to attend.

Both times of year can be wonderful just go in with expectations and plans.

 

[happymommy]

I LOVE the last two weeks of August. Literally no crowds (one day Soarin' was a walk on the entire day).

Yes, it's hot. It's hot at home too.

It often rains in the afternoon. Then it's cool (one trip we made trips to Target and Walmart and bought hoodies).

If I could go this month I would, but I'm going next month.

 

[petrola]

We've been both in August and in April and I really think it depends on WHEN in April you can go. Our week off is usually attached to Easter (either on the front end or back end) and as a PP indicated - yes - flights are expensive! Not only that, but it is more crowded that Easter week than any other week in August that I can remember. As far as the weather - I think it's hit or miss. We went last August and had almost perfect weather - yes it was warm, but didn't really rain except for at night - which is a great plus in my book! Other times in August it did rain during the afternoon but we are morning park people - and leave the parks in the early afternoon so didn't really bother us much. This past April we went and had an entire day of rain on MK day. The other days were nice.

As other posters have mentioned - there are much better deals in August. So we tend to upgrade to a better room when we can go in August. Not sure if this matters to you, but just thought I'd throw it out there.
Good luck planning and enjoy your trip!

 

[yaya74]

I LOVE the last two weeks of August. Literally no crowds (one day Soarin' was a walk on the entire day).

Yes, it's hot. It's hot at home too.

It often rains in the afternoon. Then it's cool (one trip we made trips to Target and Walmart and bought hoodies).

If I could go this month I would, but I'm going next month.

I have been thinking about going to WDW during the last two weeks of August. But worry about the hurricane. We often go in early August and would get that afternoon rain. Is the weather in late August similar to early August??

 

[Hopefully]

April. August is too hot and HUMID. Nasty And second week in August is not slow crowd wise.

 

[happymommy]

I have been thinking about going to WDW during the last two weeks of August. But worry about the hurricane. We often go in early August and would get that afternoon rain. Is the weather in late August similar to early August??

The last two weeks are very, very low crowds. I wouldn't go early August, as many schools haven't started up yet, but later in August many have (my kids always started after Labor Day).

We've never had terrible storms, just afternoon showers. I just keep an eye out (I use a free app called "my radar" which is awesome! One time we were at a water park, skies looked fine, but I pulled up the app and saw a huge storm heading our way. I told the kids to pack it up, and by the time we got to the car, the skies had opened up and it was pouring! Folks were running to the exit!).