For those who have been to both DL & DW in the summer

[KatMark]

How are crowds/wait times comparable between the two? We have never done DL and are thinking of going next year (we know we won't be going to DW next year).

 

[Stitch35]

From my experience, DL can feel a bit more crowded due to smaller walk ways. DCA feels much more empty. As for wait times, they are shorter at DLR.

 

[HydroGuy]

How are crowds/wait times comparable between the two? We have never done DL and are thinking of going next year (we know we won't be going to DW next year).

My summer experience at WDW was in mid-June. I have been to DLR in all the summer months.

First, DLR is much more tolerable in the summer than WDW.

Second, I agree with the PP that while DL feels more crowded (not DCA so much) both DL and DCA have much shorter lines in the summer. This is largely because DLR's two parks have almost as many rides as WDW's four parks put together. So it spreads guests out better for rides. But the DL park is smaller than MK and its walkways feel much more congested especially at certain times of day. You learn to work with it so don't let it overly concern you.

Plus, DLR is easier to tour than WDW if you make a good hotel choice. See these links for more info:

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

 

[Kristina4109]

Even though the temperatures at both locations are pretty similar, there is no comparison to the humidity. DL NEVER gets the high humidity that WDW does. That makes a big difference.

 

[MomToOne]

We always go to DLR or WDW in August.

DLR wins hands down for weather. The humidity at WDW in August can suck the life right out of you. And you basically don't have to worry about rain at all at DLR - no ponchos, hurray!

WDW wins for the PERCEPTION of crowds to me. DLR often "feels" more crowded - but as others have said, that's because it's a smaller square-footage wise. Weekdays are a lot better than weekends, but since Cars Land opened the park isn't as empty as it used to be even on those.

But they are both fabulous vacations. We never regret our trips, no matter what the weather or crowds.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I have been to both WDW (June and August) and DL (August) many times in the summer.

Hands down WAY more comfortable at DL! Now, you could get a bad week, of course, at DL. But my August trips (D23) there were warm (but not humid) during the day, and COOL at night! And no rain. Awesome. For most of the summer, local APs are blocked, (until mid August) so even the crowds are not that bad, especially compared to WDW.

At WDW, you KNOW you are screwed all summer, with high humidity, high temps, even at night, and rain almost every afternoon/evening. High crowds.

 

[CrabbyPatty]

We've been to both in August, and while WDW is not as "surface of the sun hot" as some native Floridians will tell you - boy, is it humid and sticky. Our last trip coincided with a hurricane offshore near Tampa so the first 3 days were hot, humid and wet almost all day long - wearing PLASTIC ponchos - followed by 3 days of incredible heat and humidity. The crowds are generally VERY low during this time, but last year it was PACKED in WDW, especially in the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

We have grown to love DL in August because of the weather and tolerable lines, but I personally LOVE the generally stress-free vacation with not having to worry about making ADRs 180 days out or spending an hour getting from your hotel into a park via bus or boat or monorail, etc. DL is a much more peaceful vacation IMHO.

 

[cdatkins]

How are crowds/wait times comparable between the two? We have never done DL and are thinking of going next year (we know we won't be going to DW next year).

DL will seem more crowded but its actually more manageable in the summer. Weather is also much more tolerable in Southern California in the summer.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Wait times will be (and always are) shorter at DLR because there's more to do in each park. DL may feel more crowded (though I don't buy this--both MK and DL have their super-crowded pinch points, just in somewhat different places), but you'll always have something to do that won't require a long line.

As far as weather as others have shared, SoCal has far more pleasant summer weather than does Orlando. It's usually 70s, 80s on a hot day, with absolutely (absolutely) NO humidity or rain. At all. (The wet season in SoCal is the winter.) When my partner and I, both DL vets, visited WDW last summer...We. Wanted. To. Die. The moment we stepped outside of the airport. Just evaporate from all the humidity and die. That's how much better the weather is in Anaheim.

 

[luv2sleep]

Wait times will be (and always are) shorter at DLR because there's more to do in each park. DL may feel more crowded (though I don't buy this--both MK and DL have their super-crowded pinch points, just in somewhat different places), but you'll always have something to do that won't require a long line. As far as weather as others have shared, SoCal has far more pleasant summer weather than does Orlando. It's usually 70s, 80s on a hot day, with absolutely (absolutely) NO humidity or rain. At all. (The wet season in SoCal is the winter.) When my partner and I, both DL vets, visited WDW last summer...We. Wanted. To. Die. The moment we stepped outside of the airport. Just evaporate from all the humidity and die. That's how much better the weather is in Anaheim.

Haha! So true!

Hands down DL is a much easier vacation for the many reasons listed above. We went to FL for the first time last June and although we had fun I hated the weather. It was hot, yes. That I'm used to. It was humid too but that wasn't the worst of it. The rain! It rained every darn day. As a So Cal native who lives where is dry 10 it of 12 mos of the year I found that rain miserable and annoying. I'm not used to planning my life around weather. To go out only to be able to do nothing because of thunder, listening, and rain was annoying. We went again in January. Same thing. Can't win!

 

[luv2sleep]

And it wasn't some brief shower. It poured for HOURS every darn day. Yes I'm a spoked southern Californian, lol. A little weather and I'll complain but this was a lot of weather!

 

[BriannaRuth]

I'm from Seattle so DL is where we usually go, but I've done both in August and have sworn I will never do DW again. At least not in high season.

The main thing was the weather -- every time we walked outside the hotel, even for 5 seconds, I felt like I was literally wilting from the heat and humidity. To make matters worse, I couldn't help myself from looking at the weather reports. "Gee, it's 100 degrees and 90% humidity here in FL, but if I were in DL right now instead, it would be 75 degrees!"

Add on the long commute time to the parks, the longer waits, and DL wins for me hands-down.

 

[BriannaRuth]

When my partner and I, both DL vets, visited WDW last summer...We. Wanted. To. Die. The moment we stepped outside of the airport. Just evaporate from all the humidity and die. That's how much better the weather is in Anaheim.

Yes! Exactly!

 

[KatMark]

Thank you all for the advice and your feelings...I truly appreciate it. We aren't worried about the weather. Truthfully, we like the hot...it doesn't bother us (and a good part of the reason we plan to move to Florida in two years). Our main concern is the crowds so that we can get as much done as we can in the four days we are planning to be there and not missing too much since it is our first time to DL.

 

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

I don't get where people are saying it's "75 degrees in California right now in August!" When it rarely hits 70 degrees in August. I live in SoCal, yeah it's not as humid as Florida, though when I went to FL and it was humid (I went in the beginning of June) it wasn't as bad as people were making it out to be. I found it nicer in FL then I did in SoCal. The only thing I was not prepared for were the 2 hour rain showers in the middle of the day.

It gets to be about 80s-90s in August, 75 degrees feels significantly different than 80-85 in CA. You don't feel much of a difference though imo once its 95+, it just feels hot. Yeah it's dry heat, but it's still hot.

 

[SnowBelleAlice]

Mid July - mid August, weekdays DLR is lovely, the weather is far more pleasant; and I've only visited WDW in October, I prefer DLR in July *weather wise!

 

[DznyPrnces]

Thank you all for the advice and your feelings...I truly appreciate it. We aren't worried about the weather. Truthfully, we like the hot...it doesn't bother us (and a good part of the reason we plan to move to Florida in two years). Our main concern is the crowds so that we can get as much done as we can in the four days we are planning to be there and not missing too much since it is our first time to DL.

I think 4 days at Disneyland gives you a great chance of accomplishing everything. The fast pass system at Disneyland is different (no fast pass +) and I feel it's a little less efficient (but that's my personal opinion). But really, 4 days should be enough time to see most, if not all.

 

[SnowBelleAlice]

Thank you all for the advice and your feelings...I truly appreciate it. We aren't worried about the weather. Truthfully, we like the hot...it doesn't bother us (and a good part of the reason we plan to move to Florida in two years). Our main concern is the crowds so that we can get as much done as we can in the four days we are planning to be there and not missing too much since it is our first time to DL.

There's hot and then there's humid hot - I can't stand humidity!

 

[kschafer]

Just had to say Hi Kathy!

I'm not used to see you hanging around the DLR threads!

 

[PinkBudgie]

As far as weather as others have shared, SoCal has far more pleasant summer weather than does Orlando. It's usually 70s, 80s on a hot day, with absolutely (absolutely) NO humidity or rain. At all. (The wet season in SoCal is the winter.) When my partner and I, both DL vets, visited WDW last summer...We. Wanted. To. Die. The moment we stepped outside of the airport. Just evaporate from all the humidity and die. That's how much better the weather is in Anaheim.

Aghhh! I just popped in here to the DLR side because I miss it. I've been reading the WDW boards like I'm cramming for a final! We are going to WDW for the first time mid June. We are teachers, so that's it for us. I've been worried about the humidity. I don't mind hot, but I have a hard time imagining how the humidity will hit us. I know we'll have fun but I guess it will make us appreciate DLR all the more in July of 2015. (July is our favorite month for DLR!)