How bad does it really get during summer vacation?

[Momof5cubs]

We always go in the slow seasons but DH wants to go this summer, the last week of July. How bad are the crowds? Are we talking 3 hour lines for rides? Horrendous waits for restaurants?

 

[tcfdick]

I always go in June/July because I am a teacher and that is my longest break for a vacation. I love going in the summer because of the water parks and all of the parks are open later! We do usually go for at least 2 weeks though.

If you really want to go in the summer, it will be crowded, but manageable. The lines do get long, but usually it's the rollercoaster type rides with the lines that are 1-2 hours long.
Last year from July 12-28th, we never waited in any lines longer than 20-30 minutes!

We go first thing in the morning and use EMH at the MK then leave at about 11:30-12:00. We also use FP on all rides if at all possible. We take a break in the middle of the day when it is the hottest and go back to the resort to swim, play games in the arcade, or watch TV. Then, around 3:00 or 4:00 we go back to a non-EMH park (usually a water park, MGM or EPCOT). MK is almost always the one we do in the morning, but we will go to MGM and EPCOT at least one morning to do the "big" rides (TOT, R&RC, TT, and MS).

We always bring Brita water bottles from home and a mister fan (they have these available at WDW, but they cost more).

We never had to wait long at any restaurants either. I did make PS's to 50's Primetime, Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic Dinner Package, and Sci-Fi, but not until we arrived at our resort the day of our arrival on July 12th and I had no trouble at all getting any PS for the days I selected. We also ate at the RFC at DTD without a PS at dinner and only waited about 15 minutes. We never had long waits in counter service restaurants either.

If you like being around people (I do, it kind of goes with teaching!) you'll love summer in Disney. Everyone is usually very nice!

 

[bobcat]

tcfdick said it all! Must be something about teachers.

I really like visiting WDW at the end of July. My first year I was quite worried about the crowds, I already knew about the heat because we had visited in August the two years previous, and I was pleasantly suprised. The crowds weren't too bad and made the parks seem lively. With fast pass and EMH we have never waited in long lines. Besides I can visit for two weeks in July and I can't during any other month of the year.

 

[ValerieK]

I like going in the summer also. We always went for DS's birthday which is June 30. We left before July 4th. We always had a great time. It is hot, but if you know that going in and pace yourself it isn't too bad. DH hates the heat and always complained

The parks are open late and the water parks are open and it is hot enough to go swimming. I am a Southern girl and like the air to be hot and the pool warm. No swimming for my unless the air temp is at least in hte 80's and the pool water is also in the 80's

The lines for the the rollarcoasters and "thrill" rides were long. It took us three years to go on Test Track because the line was always so long. I'm sorry, but I am not waiting 2 hours to go on Test Track, well most rides for that matter. The year we went on Test Track was the year they started Fast Pass. We always drank a lot of water and went back to the resort and went swimming. We also used e-ride night. We loved Mk at night. We would always stay till closing. A lot of rides are easy to ride during the fireworks.

 

[Ratpack]

We always go in the summer as well, DW is a teacher, and we love it. You know what to pack, no worring over the weather other than rain. The crowds aren't too bad, far better than Christmas time. Just go to the parks early and back to resort mid afternoon for nap and swim and then back to parks in the evening. We do all of our riding in the morning, most people sleep late, when there are no crowds ( at least not in the past) and then the evening is for strolling and looking at the less noticed things of Disney.

 

[mum4jenn]

The only way I will ever go in the summer again is if I win an all expenses paid trip. The last time we went during the summer it was in July 2000 and it was SOOOOOO HOTTTTTT both me and my MIL got heat exhaustion. We took the proper precautions but it happened anyway. I work in the school system too but we now go in the fall,winter and spring.

 

[fsufandis]

ValerieK - "It took us three years to go on Test Track because the line was always so long."

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I've waited on long lines before.....but 3 years!!! Yikes!!


I live in Lake Buena Vista and I will tell you it will be HOT! Late July - Mid Sept. are extreeeeeemmly hot.

Good luck, drink plenty of fluids and stay indoors or do indoor rides from noon until dusk.

 

[Gomez Gang]

DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you are used to off-peak times you WILL REGRET going in JULY!!
It is HOT_HOT_HOT!
There are CROWDS_CROWDS_CROWDS!
I have heard numerous horror stories. It is SOOOOOO much more enjoyable in May or September. We went ONCE during a peak time and NEVER again! We will stick during the not-so-popular months!
Live and learn!

 

[ValerieK]

Originally posted by fsufandis
ValerieK - "It took us three years to go on Test Track because the line was always so long."

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I've waited on long lines before.....but 3 years!!! Yikes!!


I live in Lake Buena Vista and I will tell you it will be HOT! Late July - Mid Sept. are extreeeeeemmly hot.

Good luck, drink plenty of fluids and stay indoors or do indoor rides from noon until dusk.

LOL, I guess I didn't read it like that. That would be a long wait!

 

[cajunfan]

We went the last week of July/first week of August in 2002. Planning the same this year.

It is hot...not doubt about that! But, that makes the pools, water parks and indoor rides/shows that much better! I don't do heat well (get very GRUMPY), but was not bothered when we were down there. We drank LOTS of water and planned our time to where we were doing "cool" activities during the afternoon hours.

As for crowds, they didn't seem that bad. We did not wait for anything more than 20 min. We used fast pass wisely, and went to e-night to enjoy some of the more crowded rides (hope they announce those soon for the summer... they haven't had any e-nights so far this year)

I say go and enjoy!

 

[budget mom]

Our first July 02 and we are going back this July. We loved it because we absolutely followed the advice from The Unofficial Guide to WDW. I can say without a doubt if we hadn't purchased that book we would have been miserable. I've already read the o4 cover to cover just to refresh my memory. Do the tour plans in the back of the book they WORK GREAT!

 

[OnTheRocks]

What is the weather like in mid July? I know it will be hot & humid.
Will there be any rain? thunderstorms?
We have been in May and September. In September it was hot but a little rain now and then would be nice to cool things down a little. Shoud we expect a little rain in July?

 

[pmcpmc]

A good time to change and go to the parks after a day by the pool

 

[OnTheRocks]

Are these thunderstorms or just showers?
Do they close the pools / boats or other things when there are thunderstorms?
I can see going back to the park after showers but if it is just pouring down, I'd rather stay in the pool where i'm already wet.

 

[KerriL]

On The Rocks,
Even if there is no lightning, they still may close the pool. The lifeguards have to be able to clearly see the bottom of the pool. And when it rains really hard they can't. It happened to us at least every day when we went in July.
A thunderstorm came through every afternoon for a couple of hours. But we were able to still get in some time at the pool every day. It forced us to return to the room and shower and get ready for dinner...My kids would be happy to spend all day and night in the pool
Kerri