From one Brit to another........how bad is July?!!!

[Debs Hill]

Ok..........the story so far! Until now we have always gone to WDW in Oct, Nov or Dec.......now son has started school have to go in holidays! Narrowed it down to Easter or July, and based on everyone's opinons of how crowded it is at Easter we are considering July.

Which is where you guys come in!!!! How bad is it?!!!!!!!
How is the heat? The rain? The crowds?
We will be there for at least 3 weeks, so will be in no hurry to cram everything in, but would you recommend it?!!!

Does it ever rain all day?!

Debsx

 

[sunshine state]

We went in July a few years ago and to be honest the parks were pretty crowded but we did'nt let in ruin our trip and still had a great time. As for the weather the day usually starts off lovely and im talking clear skies but usually by about lunch time the clouds start to come over then around 2/4pm there was usually some kind of heavy storm which sometimes lasted into the evening and other times just an hour or so.

 

[gilld]

It is very busy in July and the first half of August and then quietens slightly as the US schools go back. However, the parks then close earlier.

Weather is very hot and very humid. As for rain, most but not all days there will be some, sometimes a short sharp shower and sometimes longer, both usually with thunder and lightening the likes of which you will probably never have seen before. We have only had one full day of rain and many, many days with none at all. We have also been there through two severe tropical storms which passed overhead and during hurricane Andrew in Fort Lauderdale in 1992, the effects of which we felt all the way up in Orlando!

Personally, I think it has a lot to recommend it in July/August and a lot against. We like the long hours and the sunny weather but the humidity does sap your energy. As we always stay on site we usually leave any park around lunchtime, go back to the hotel for a swim and rest and then return later when it is just as hot but without the intensity of the sun.

This year we are trying September as we don't have any children with us any more, and we don't feel to need to rush and see everything.

 

[Debs Hill]

We will also be staying on site, and were planning on avoiding the hottest part of the day!!!!

Are the resorts/pools/water parks very crowded?

What are the typical park hours for July? Typical wait times? Will I need PS for every meal?!!

Can't wait to hear more of your experiences!
Debsx

 

[gilld]

MK is often open until 11pm or sometimes midnight. The wait times are so variable but the "big" rides can be over an hour or sometimes a lot more, especially at Universal and IOA! Make good use of Fastpass.

Water parks are also heaving. Best advice is go early and try and get things done before the lazybones arrive. At water parks you need to be there at opening to bag seats in the shade. Resort pools can be busy, but less so during the middle of the day. We have found them very busy at night.

We make PS's if there is somewhere we really want to go on a particular day. If time or day isn't crucial, we leave it and book over there. Though Cindy's is obviously the exception.

Anything else just ask...

 

[wendye]

I don't want to hijack Debs thread but I have lots of questions so will start a separate thread after I've searched through the existing ones.

 

[Debs Hill]

Ask away! You may well have questions that I'd like to know the answer to as well, so please hi-jack away!!!

........
Debsx

 

[tartangirl]

We have been in both July and April and now choose to go in July.

Our general rule is that if the Q time is >30mins we dont wait.

We also go for 3 weeks which we couldn't do at easter. If you can get to the park at park opening then the crowds are not too bad for the first hour and then you probably get another hour when you wouldn't want to wait in the queues for the major attractions (>30 ins) - but with careful planning you will either have ridden them or have fastpasses for them.
By 11am the queues for all the major rides (perhaps with the exception of Duelling Dragons at IOA) will probably be over 1hr and may not go back down for the rest of the day.

I think the parks are busier at Easter so the queues build quicker and the times being given out from the fastpass machines are later. Also at easter we found even the small rides got busy while in summer it was mainly the major rides.

We aim to be leaving the parks at 12ish as we find that the children start finding the heat uncomfortable (but not as uncomfortable as when we get back in a hot car ). It then gets really hot and potentially very wet by mid-late afternoon - we are never in the parks at this time and the rain/heat rarely disturbs my shopping

The parks vary in when they are open until - you'll get an idea from the Disney website. We go back to the parks in the evening but dont tend to go near the major rides but rather do the quieter areas of the parks and take in the parades/fireworks. I personally enjoy the atmosphere of the evenings. Seaworld is a great park in the evening.

I dont know if we are unusual but no-one in our family finds the humidity a problem - I cant say I even notice it. I just love the warmth in the air

We used to do the water parks but none of us enjoy sunbathing and with little cover in the queueing areas we found it too hot from mid-morning. We decided that we would rather spend time around our pool at the villa. It seemed to me the queues at the water parks got longer earlier than at the theme parks.

 

[Miss Mickey Mania]

I've been to Florida for 11 July trips so I'm pretty used to it by now! Those people who say the afternoon rain only lasts 15 minutes - no way!

I've noticed in the past three years expecially that the pm rain lasts longer than it used to, sometimes for 2-3 hours, going into the early evening. It can sometimes be so heavy that you really can't be out in it even with a poncho.

All that said, you can tell when there's a storm coming, the signs are pretty obvious. I find the tv weather forecasts to be very good as they are quite accurate about stating the time a storm will come through. You can then plan around them to a degree.

The heat is searing it must be said. Cool clothes, cotton, light colours, the usual. Go inside to air conditioned buildings frequently and drink lots. It is do-able though, LOTS of people manage just fine so it's not all bad! Try to get as much done in the mornings then relax more in the afternoons. It really can be hardgoing in the parks by 2pm.

Late openings in the evenings are great as the temp is better.

I go in July due to school holidays too - not my kids as I don't have any but my own as I'm a teacher . 3 week trips have to be in the summer.

 

[edinburghlass]

I almost didn't want to read this thread as we have to go July

However, hearing of the rain in the afternoons means I won't feel bad having a sleep in the afternoons!

We have booked to stay onsite for this reason and intend making the most of early mornings and late evenings

I didn't realise late evenings were quite so late, so that is good news

 

[sunshine state]

I dont think it matters when you visit Florida because your always going to have a brilliant time, we went a few times during July/August time because of school and although we had the long queues we just appreciated being there and realised theres people who could never even afford Florida in their whole lifetime.

 

[kevin harrison]

I love visiting in September, crowds are lighter and it's still very warm, but slightly less humid - which to me is the killer.

Our Daughter is 3 though so, once she hits 5 - it looks like July for us also.

 

[brer rabbit 28]

I went last year and my second week fell into july.First week at end of june was pretty chilled,but the second week went mental!We forgot all about 4th july celebrations in USA!The world and his dog landed in Orlando!

I would advise booking after the 6th or 7th if you have to go in july-good luck!