Has anyone else ever gone in August?

[emer95]

Hi everyone.
I'm new to this board and this will be our first trip to Disney this August 13-20th. Our dd's are 4 and 6. We've been getting a lot of "You're crazy to be going in August" comments from friends and family. It's the only week my dh and I could both get off from work, so that's when it has to be.

Please help me with some good comebacks! I'd love to hear about your experiences.
Thanks!

(love these smilies- they're the cutest)

 

[KyMattDisney]

Yes we went last year in August from Aug. 21-28...it was both good and bad.

Good...didn't seem as crowded as when we have been in June or July. The nights cooled off dramatically..even at times needed a jacket.

Bad...rained every day for at least 1-2 hours and we were there between 2 major FL Hurricanes...charley & Isabelle. Aug. is hurricane season so we were lucky to miss the storms but there was damage to the immediate Orlando area.

The lower crowds might make me good back in Aug. but the hurricane threat can be a concern.

 

[JeffnFl]

It will most likely be very hot and humid and, of course, there is the risk of hurricanes (though the odds are that Orlando won't see another hurricane for many years!). Afternoon showers in the summer are something to be expected, but they usually don't last long though, of course, they provide a boost to the humidity.

Lots of people deal with the heat, so don't let that stop you from coming.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We're getting there 8/20th for the same reason as you, it's the only time that works for vacations for the group. I'm looking forward to it all, don't think I've ever been in August before.

Bobbi

 

[beccasmom]

We have visited in August a few times due to school conflicts. It is usually pretty hot and humid and thunderstorms are common in the afternoon. We just missed Hurricane Charlie last summer (by one day!), but that has not usually been a concern when we’ve visited in the past. Florida schoolkids return to school early in August (and so do many other school systems country-wide), so the crowds are not truly awful. Weekends at DTD are a mob scene, but that is the case year-round. We had a lot of pleasant pool time hours – the sun is usually abundant in the early afternoon. The parks begin to close earlier sometime in mid-August, so I would plan accordingly for your theme park visits. It is not that bad of a time to visit, if you can handle the humid weather.

 

[crcormier]

Have been in July 3 of the last 4 years and last year was August for the second time (the first was years ago with the Scout troop.) Arrived the day after Charlie hit so getting there took a long time, but I found the weather all week to be hot and muggy but certainly bearable, it did not bother me at all. And on really hot days, you just take a break for an hour or two in the afternoon to go back and shower and sit down for a little bit. Crowds were average every day, not too bad at all. I'm sure you'll have a great time!

 

[beattyfamily]

We just did it this past August! It was an extra trip to see how bad it really is. No DH on that trip. I knew going in it would be hot and rain so I was prepared.

I told people, hey I'd rather be hot at WDW then hot here!

It was HOT and humid. It did rain almost everyday except maybe 2 but it was in the evening around 4:00 - 5:00p so it didn't hurt or schedule much. We brought rags to wet us and refresh us from the resort. We brought bottled water that we froze in the fridge. Lots of sunscreen. Took A/C breaks in shops and had a mid-day sit down meal (tip I got here) to rest and get away from the sun. Start your days first thing early and then leave the park as it starts to get more crowded and hot or take a break eating/shopping or swimming and then head back to a park as it cools down. This worked well for us.

It wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be. The end of August many schools are back in session, like most of Florida. I was pleasantly surprised.

Good luck!

 

[MickeyAnne]

I've been to Disney in August two times and I have to say that I would go at that time again in the future.

It is EXTREMELY hot - bring lots of sunscreen and buy a fan that sprays water in the park or before you go, it will help (I had mine around my neck the whole time).

There are daily rainstorms but they pass - get a poncho and enjoy the short lines during the shower!

It is crowded - any resort area you go to in August is going to be crowded because kids are all off from school so there is no escaping it, just prepare yourself for long lines or plan on getting alot of fast passes.

Truthfully, a vacation is what you make it. Know that there are pros and cons to traveling at any time of year not just in August. Crowds, heat and a little rain can't ruin the magic of your Disney vacation if you don't let it - so my advice to you is go in August, and have a great time!!!! I always did!

 

[umbluegray]

We went 6/30-8/7 in 2003.

I was shocked by the small crowds & I was shocked at how empty the parking lots were. I remember thinking that the lots were designed to accomodate thousands upon thousands of cars and there was nowhere near that many cars.

But I think it was still too soon after 9/11 and people were staying home. It seems the crowds have been growing lately.

But I assume they say 'you're crazy' because of the heat. The heat and humidity didn't bother me in the least. But then again, I'm from Memphis and am used to hot, humid, sweltering, sticky summer days.

If you can stand the heat you'll have an absolutely incredible time!

 

[Leota]

We went in the third & fourth week of August 2001 & it was great. Crowds died significantly in the fourth week. Yes, it was hot & humid, but it was also very hot & humid here that year, so it wasn't it any different. I enjoyed it so much, we're going again for a quick week this August.
It is, like someone else said previously, what you make of it. I believe dealing with heat, humidity, rain and crowds is all a matter of mind over matter anyways. If you go with the attitude that 90º weather is awful, then you will be miserable. If you go with the attitude that 90º weather means lots of playtime in the pool & glorious heat to soak up, then you will love it.

 

[goofy4tink]

Aug. 13-21 was our time frame last year!! And it was about the same in '03. Now, H.Charley arrived on 8/13 this year. That made it incredibly hot/humid. When we went in '03 it wasn't nearly as bad. In fact, I didn't think it was all that much worse than here in Central Ma with the heat we had been having. So, that's why we went again, same time frame in '04. But, the weather pattern that enabled all those hurricanes to come in, made for some super de dooper humidity!!! We were wiped out by 6 each evening.

Would I go again at this time? Probably. But, drink lots of water, more than you really want. I suggest the mid-day break for a swim in the resort pool. Then have a really late lunch/early dinner at a decent table service restuarant. It's cool and you need to have some healthy food in you at least once a day. It gets so hot you really don't feel like eating and then you get all weak and droopy. Wear a hat at all times!! And most important...relax and take your time. Better to miss something than to get all in a dither, trying to 'see and do it all'. Have a great trip.

 

[caitycaity]

we went the third week of august in '03 and it was fine. i completely agree with leota though - it is what you make of it. it was hot and humid, but no more so than it is here in dc at that time.

 

[Schmeck]

We were there last year in August, arriving on Aug 15th. Not much more to be said, except look into purchasing trip insurance if you plan on flying. The hurricanes don't have to be hitting Florida for your flight to be cancelled.

We're aiming to go back before our APs expire - so it looks like Aug 7-15 for us!

 

[mwerner2]

We've gone in August and yes it's hot and it rains some most days. BUT--We also went last January and it was COLD. We were much less happy in the cold than the heat.

I think it really depends on your tolerance for heat/cold. We really don't like the cold and will probably not go in the dead of winter again for that reason.

Some folks cannot tolerate heat and would rather go in winter.

 

[DSNYRose]

Just like you, we had to take a trip in August because it was the only time for vacation. My DDs were 6 and 7 when we went. We had a great time

Of course, just as everyone else mentioned, it was very hot and humid. I agree with the other suggestions to purchase spray fans for the kids, it really keeps them cool and calm. Also, consider taking a hotel break mid-day; my girls were begging to go back to the hotel to cool off and rest. We left the theme parks 1/2 day on several ocassions and ended up at the water parks; the kids loved cooling off in the water. Have a great time!!

 

[kikipug]

We also went last January and it was COLD. We were much less happy in the cold than the heat.

Yet, January 2005 was unseasonably warm here... so you never can tell. But August... definitely HOT, no matter what!!! (That's what I moved here for... I'll take hot over cold any day of the year!!)

 

[Lorelai71]

Hi everyone.
I'm new to this board and this will be our first trip to Disney this August 13-20th. Our dd's are 4 and 6. We've been getting a lot of "You're crazy to be going in August" comments from friends and family. It's the only week my dh and I could both get off from work, so that's when it has to be.

Please help me with some good comebacks! I'd love to hear about your experiences.
Thanks!

(love these smilies- they're the cutest)

Hi Emer95,
This is my family's first trip to disney and we are also planning on going in August. Aug 12-21. I figure if it gets too hot we could always go swimmng at the resort.

 

[newholidayx2]

havent been in Aug yet
but this Aug 13-27 DS13 & I will be in WDW for 2wks - planning early morns or nights at the parks
rest of the time at the pools

 

[Goofy4]

Start your days first thing early and then leave the park as it starts to get more crowded and hot or take a break eating/shopping or swimming and then head back to a park as it cools down. QUOTE]

Yup!

Aug 20-27, 2003. 92 and HUMID every day. Rain is good!

We would do it again, as before:
-Early/Late Extra Magic hours are wonderful!
-Do the water parks or Disney Quest to cool down.
-Don't burn out early in your trip!
-Take plenty of ice water with you -- you'll be the envy of everyone around you!.

 

[buzzriders]

We went around the same time in 2003 and is was EXTREMELY hot!!!!!!! The crowds were very LOW (which was a shock because we normally go over July 4th) The one problem going this late in the summer was that we had to wait the whole summer for the trip and when we came home it was time for my DD and DS to start school again. You'll have fun no matter when you go!!

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