Follow up question - crowds in May v August

[ewasilau]

Follow up to my previous post on switching our upcoming WDW trip from May to August - everyone responded that they would choose the August trip if it meant more time, with the most commonly mentioned down side being the hotter August weather.

My next question - what about crowds? UT gives most of our proposed August days (Aug. 7-15) a red but a few yellows at the end, while all but one of our May days (May 9-14) would be yellow. TP gives our May days 4-6s, but our August days would be mostly 6s with one or two 7s. But what about the real life crowds? Can anyone compare that time in August to any other time period? Would it be impossible to get 4th FPs in Aug? Would we be forced to take mid-day breaks because of crowds? (We went in Aug once before, but it was later, which is not an option this time.) We are the kind of WDW people who sometimes take breaks, but don't really want to be unable to function in the parks all afternoon if we feel like forging ahead.

As an aside, we don't really remember the heat being an issue when we went in late Aug about five years ago. We just don't get too bothered by heat. What was annoying was the constant checking of weather radar because we were on the lookout for thunderstorms. Is it the same way in earlier Aug?

Thanks!!!

 

[Tomh]

No matter when you go, it is going to be busy. It is possible for sure to get 4th FP+ in August, and sometimes 5, and 6. I have never felt that I needed to take a mid day break because of a crowd. Generally, I am at the park from rope drop until park close. I don't constantly watch weather radar either. It is very easy for the most part, to see when a storm is brewing. Keep an eye on the sky, and when you see the clouds starting to build up tall, be aware. If you feel the breeze picking up, and the clouds are building high, then it is pretty likely that the rain will start soon.

We always visit in August (except for the one time we went in July . . . much busier when we were there in July), and manage to enjoy our trips just fine.

 

[PH7]

I personally have been both in May and August and think the crowds are pretty busy in both (though August was slightly more busy) and August was hotter. Enjoy whichever time you pick!

 

[OB1]

Similar crowds. You have a good time in May before things really start to pick up, and a decent time in August, but still some summer crowds. August is super hot - but May can be hot also. I work outside so the heat is not an issue, but I don't mind being more comfortable. I would do the May trip if I was choosing between the 2. You also have flower & garden festival in May.

 

[yaya74]

I have only gone in early-mid August. I could get 4th, 5th, 6th, FP+ with no problem. As for crowds, the crowd level could be low but doesn't mean the standby line would be short... Disney has been reducing staff and ride capacity, as noted by Len Testa from Touring Plans. Some says that Disney is purposely making supposedly slow season looking busier than before....

 

[randumb0]

You can't really go by the crowd calendar. Last year August was not as crowded as expected which was the reason for the lifting the black out days for Silver AP's.

 

[Penmac]

We were there in mid-May 2015, and then last year August 20-25. I don't think the crowd levels were any different, but perhaps early August would be busier than the week of the 20th. We have also been in early July during peak and only MK felt more crowded, and that's because we were there on July 4th. I didn't observe a huge difference in crowds from our May or August trips. Maybe we were there during all busy weeks! I found it to be crowded on all trips, but absolutely manageable with sensible FP+ planning. I will say though that Epcot was a total mob scene in May during the flower and garden festival. That was our busiest day outside that July 4th at MK. We really did not enjoy that park day as much, and Epcot is one of our favorite parks overall.

As for heat, we actually averaged hotter weather on our May trip than our August. It was 97-100 degrees almost each day we were there, and not a cloud in the sky. August is obviously similar for temps, but it lightly drizzled a couple days and cooled the temp to the high 80's for a bit. I was actually chilly late in the evening when we did MNSSHP last August. It rained for a little while and the temp felt like it dropped 20 degrees. We were damp from the rain and I remember being so happy I had a long sleeve rain coat because I was freezing!

I think you will have a great trip no matter which week you end up going! We are back there again in early July this year.

 

[bbn1122]

We have been in August several times. We try to go early to parks and take advantage of Magic Hours. Cooler in morning. Weather is hot, it’s August, but we have had many friends and family who have gone in May recently and experienced heat waves with temperatures 95-100 degrees.

We are DVC members, so we like to break up the day with a trip back to our resort for lunch and a swim. And is we do get an afternoon thundershowers we miss them because we are eating lunch or we may have to jump out of the pool. We then head back to the parks around 4pm. This gives us a chance to recharged and we are ready to hit the next park till it closes. We always get Park Hoppers and we spilt our days with 2 parks.

We have done late August when the south is back to schoo. It’s busy but some times seem a little more manageable.

Good luck.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I've been in mid-May and the end of August a few times...the crowds are pretty even but the weather is better in May. It's not quite as humid and not quite as much rain.