end of august

[nutty4wdw]

posters have been helpful in giving this first timer to DL excellent advice. my other post made me realize that june may not be the best month to go with grad nights etc etc. since i'm an east coaster and probably wouldn't get to DL as often as i get to wdw i really need to make sure that attractions and shows are not down. but DL only posts a few weeks ahead of time. out of july and august which would be better crowd wise. i know at wdw end of august sees a lot of schools back in session. what about DL. sorry for the long post. TIA

 

[camouseketeer]

The end of August can be very busy. Once all annual passholders become unblocked at the end of August, the crowds can rise dramatically. It also can be very hot.

I would go in July. I went just after July 4th two years ago and then in mid August last year. The July trip was much cooler and less crowded, and many passholders were still blocked in August when I went.

Don't get me wrong. July will still be busy, but it will be more manageable than the end of August.

 

[SeattleTink]

The end of August can be very busy. Once all annual passholders become unblocked at the end of August, the crowds can rise dramatically. It also can be very hot.

I would go in July. I went just after July 4th two years ago and then in mid August last year. The July trip was much cooler and less crowded, and many passholders were still blocked in August when I went.

Don't get me wrong. July will still be busy, but it will be more manageable than the end of August.

Well, we were there at the end of August this year (August 23 - September 1) and it was wonderful. Yes, it was warm (maybe to some hot) but the crowds were not heavy at all.

There was much speculation that after the block of SoCal passholders would be lifted there would be extreme crowds...and this never materialized and this theory was that...a theory.

We had no wait at a lot of rides..and most days it really didn't save any time to use FastPass. Crowds overall were very light...and we were able to get seated at ESPN Zone with 12 people at noon with no reservation.

If I could choose between July and end of August, I would pick end of August.

 

[HydroGuy]

posters have been helpful in giving this first timer to DL excellent advice. my other post made me realize that june may not be the best month to go with grad nights etc etc. since i'm an east coaster and probably wouldn't get to DL as often as i get to wdw i really need to make sure that attractions and shows are not down. but DL only posts a few weeks ahead of time. out of july and august which would be better crowd wise. i know at wdw end of august sees a lot of schools back in session. what about DL. sorry for the long post. TIA

The past few years the end of August has been real busy. However reports from late August 2010 were that crowds were not bad at all. Some people speculate that it was partly because of the very hot weather that week. In any case, late August after the APs come unblocked has a lot of uncertainty around it. Personally I would avoid that time unless I had absolutely no choice.

See "Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

 

[LisainCalifornia]

The end of August is typically really busy (high season) and dreadfully hot. I have been there then--and lived to tell the tale!

 

[c&m]

We've been to DL in mid-July and also end of August. We definitely enjoyed end of August more. It was so crowded in mid-July. We had such a hard time maneuvering through the crowds. Even the FP line when we returned with our FPs had loooong waits of 30+ min.

When we go end of August, we find the crowd levels less congested. Yes, it's still crowded, but we can still find room to move. FP lines are a breeze to get through. We also find the weather most comfortable.

 

[jocotter]

We went about the 3rd week in August 2008 and I was so surprised that it wasn't terribly busy. It has been much busier during the Veteran's Day weekend and early December, so I would definately consider going then. The parks are open very early and late, so it seemed to me that the only really bad crowds were from about noon to 5 pm. We swam and napped during that time.

 

[HydroGuy]

We've been to DL in mid-July and also end of August. We definitely enjoyed end of August more. It was so crowded in mid-July. We had such a hard time maneuvering through the crowds. Even the FP line when we returned with our FPs had loooong waits of 30+ min.

When we go end of August, we find the crowd levels less congested. Yes, it's still crowded, but we can still find room to move. FP lines are a breeze to get through. We also find the weather most comfortable.

Crowds just depend so much on multiple variables. This year we were at DLR last week of July and crowds were amazingly light in the days and but more crowded at night - in part driven by WOC and GlowFest.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Most of my experience has been mid to late August and the crowds were much less than previous years. It was busy but no really crazy. We had a great time.

Jack

 

[Amysita]

California schools don't go back in session until the middle of September...so the crowds will be up until then. When I go...I go mid-late Sept., crowds are lower, DL fireworks usually only go on the weekends, and the park hours are slightly shorter. But since you don't have the crowds...it takes less time to hit the things you want to hit. Shows & parades have always been running through September...so that wouldn't be a factor.

 

[marcemc]

Well, we were there at the end of August this year (August 23 - September 1) and it was wonderful. Yes, it was warm (maybe to some hot) but the crowds were not heavy at all.

There was much speculation that after the block of SoCal passholders would be lifted there would be extreme crowds...and this never materialized and this theory was that...a theory.

We had no wait at a lot of rides..and most days it really didn't save any time to use FastPass. Crowds overall were very light...and we were able to get seated at ESPN Zone with 12 people at noon with no reservation.

If I could choose between July and end of August, I would pick end of August.

We had the same experience, we were worried as well, but it turned out to be great. We were there from august 22nd to the 27th.

 

[LavenderPeach]

California schools don't go back in session until the middle of September...so the crowds will be up until then.

Actually, it depends on the school district and there are over 1000 districts in California - each with their own calendar. Our school district used to start the first week of september but now starts at the end of august. It seems like I've been hearing about a lot of schools starting earlier than they used to so that may be the new trend.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Our school went back mid August. In our area, the schools are all moving towards ending in May and going back in the middle of August. DH works in the county to the south of us and his school still goes to mid June and goes back at the end of August.

 

[lauritagoddess]

Coming late to this post, but when people mention hot August weather, what exactly do they mean? Currently we're booked for the last week of August for WDW and having BTDT twice I just don't feel like dealing with Orlando in August again and we're thinking of going to DL instead. I'm just trying to gauge what the weather would actually be like. Then again, our first trip to DL in 2008, we hit a freak heat wave where it was in the high 90s up to 100 degrees and I still thought it was better than being in Orlando in terms of the heat.

TIA!

 

[PineapplePrincessCA]

We were there the first week of September this year (so not exactly the same time, but very close) and the weather was great. Shorts and t-shirts during the day with jackets at night. I can't remember the exact temp, but probably high 70's.

We went Tuesday and Wednesday this week and it was high 90's on Tuesday and 101 on Wednesday.

 

[HydroGuy]

Coming late to this post, but when people mention hot August weather, what exactly do they mean? Currently we're booked for the last week of August for WDW and having BTDT twice I just don't feel like dealing with Orlando in August again and we're thinking of going to DL instead. I'm just trying to gauge what the weather would actually be like. Then again, our first trip to DL in 2008, we hit a freak heat wave where it was in the high 90s up to 100 degrees and I still thought it was better than being in Orlando in terms of the heat.

TIA!

In general...DLR is much more tolerable in the summer than WDW.

See "Comparison of Weather For WDW and DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1711098

 

[KelliLee702]

posters have been helpful in giving this first timer to DL excellent advice. my other post made me realize that june may not be the best month to go with grad nights etc etc. since i'm an east coaster and probably wouldn't get to DL as often as i get to wdw i really need to make sure that attractions and shows are not down. but DL only posts a few weeks ahead of time. out of july and august which would be better crowd wise. i know at wdw end of august sees a lot of schools back in session. what about DL. sorry for the long post. TIA

When does your school year end? I would shoot for as soon as the kids get out of school. Being a "EAST COAST" transplant . . . it can be really hot in August! Also, I think Grad nights are early in June. Maybe try to go the third week in JUNE? BEFORE July!


Just my opinion . . .

 

[HydroGuy]

When does your school year end? I would shoot for as soon as the kids get out of school. Being a "EAST COAST" transplant . . . it can be really hot in August! Also, I think Grad nights are early in June. Maybe try to go the third week in JUNE? BEFORE July!


Just my opinion . . .

Grad nights go into mid-June and sometimes late June. See "The Scoop on Grad Nights at DLR in May and June" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2298400.

And days in June with unblocked APs have been among the most busy in recent years. In July APs are blocked. I would take July over June for that reason alone.