How bad is August?

[ksinniger]

Just chiming in to add it's not 100% necessary to do the afternoon breaks, even when it's hotter than Hades. Especially at MK, where there are so many rides/shows/restaurants where you can get out of the heat. You just need to be careful and, as others have said, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Last August, my DD (12) and I were at MK from rope drop through Wishes and we had a blast. The only terrible time was when we watched FOF, because we staked out a good spot in advance and ended up sitting in the sun for 30 minutes. But we cooled down right after in CoP, then a couple back to back rides on the Peoplemover.

 

[Moms]

I will chime in here and "second" many of the earlier posts. We went in August for years and always had a wonderful time. HOT is not strong enough to describe the weather but the AC is cranked full blast and if you hit the parks early then break for a cool indoor lunch and go back to the room for an afternoon "siesta" (or dip in the pool) you will miss the worst of the day's heat and maybe even the afternoon thunderstorm that is part of almost every summer day. You will return to the parks in the evening feeling rested and refreshed. The evenings are hot too but without the sun it is not quite so bad.

 

[busymommy2pink]

We love August and are Canadian so not used to the heat by any means. We've gone twice in August, and once in both May and September and November. And while May is our abaolute favourite, we wouldn't hesitate to go back in August again.

We usually go the last two weeks. It's significantly less busy. It's very hot, very humid and yes it rains (usually storms), but the rain never lasts long. We aren't rope drop people, but we do go in the morning, go back for a rest/swim and hit the parks again at night when it's slightly cooler.

I suggest shelling out for Disney ponchos. Not only are they great quality, if they rip you bring it to any shop and they'll give you a new one, but they don't stick to you. We brought cheap ones and it amplified how hot we got since it felt like we were trapped in garbage bags. The difference Disney ponchos made was worth the cost.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We typically alternate between April and August. August is super hot but the end of the month is not bad as far as crowds go. The later park hours are really nice too. We just take a break in the middle of the day and then enjoy the parks at night.

 

[Lothlórien]

August is hot, crazy humid and crowded. It is also doable if that is your only choice. Drink a lot of water, wear light clothing (color and weight), carry a little fan with you, have a plan, do rope drops, leave in the afternoon for naps and come back and stay until closing.

 

[Moonwolf]

I lucked out last August. Went the first week fully expecting heat and humidity. Instead it rained on and off for a a good portion of the first few days and was overcast for much of the middle portion of our trip so we didn't really get any heat until our very last day.

My cousins on the other hand came the week after us and they said they had plenty of heat and humidity. Though they still got rained on for a hour or so every afternoon.

For the rain we bought $3-5 ponchos from Walmart before our trip. They worked great. More durable than $1 ponchos but not so expensive that we worried about trashing them after we got 2-3 days of use out of them and they started to smell funny.

 

[georgina]

We've been in August and had several days without any rain at all. You never know. The only time I have had heat issues was in May, I guess because my body was not yet acclimated to the heat and humidity. By August I am used to it so it doesn't seem to get to me as much. Also I agree with a PP who said there are many air conditioned things to do so it is not always necessary to leave to cool off. But then my kids are adults now so that makes a difference too.

 

[biondagirl]

It's hot. It's humid. It rains. Not every day. Sometimes for a half hour, sometimes three. I find it completely manageable. We've done it twice now. Once in the beginning of August and once towards the end. The week you are thinking about will have fewer crowds and the hours may get shorter towards the end of your trip. The only time I find the heat/sun unbearable is during the afternoon parade. Other than that, you're inside for attractions or you're in lines with fans/air conditioning. Last year my kids were 9 and 12 and they didn't complain at all. We're from Pennsylvania so it's pretty hot and humid here in August, too.

And I wanted to add that we'll be going back August 2017, too. My kids will be in middle and high school next year so, as much as I'd like to take them out for a week to go in September (my favorite time!), it would be to hard.

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

We went August 21-24 last year, and I remember reading all the posts saying it was hot and humid and thinking "Psh, I live in NC I'm used to hot and humid" And then I stepped off the plane! Yes, it was much more humid than I was prepared for, but it wasn't unbearable. We took it slow and hit more of the indoor rides than we normally would have. Anytime we stopped for a meal or a snack, I ordered a water. I found that choosing relaxing attractions and stopping every couple of hours for a small break allowed us to skip the big afternoon break and not wear myself out.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Another important thing for us in August is to have a really good touring plan. You really don't want to be just wandering at any point. Wandering can be lovely but it's too hot for that in August lol!

 

[lisagyo]

We visit every August my husband is a teacher and our anniversary is also in August. It's really hot and really humid. It rains every afternoon, we joke that it happens every day at 4pm!

 

[Frozen2014]

Wondering this too for a future trip. End of August looks great in terms of crowds and and lower price. But then there is the big downside which is the weather.

 

[RoxyMat]

I go every year in late August, the lighter crowds just after many schools have gone back into session and just before Labor Day, plus the lower rates are the main attraction. I definitely plan for rain EVERY afternoon (think of days with no rain as a pleasant surprise!), and I know that there is always a risk of hurricanes that time of year, but those things aren't enough to keep me away.

It actually can be a nice break in the afternoon, to stop for rain, especially since it cools things down for a bit, but your mileage may vary. Hope it works for you!

 

[madzy]

We used to go in August a few years back and we always enjoyed it. It's hot but I don't remember anyone complaining because of the heat and I have little ones. We are planning our next trip for August 2017 and cannot wait.

 

[Slapshot1188]

I've lived in Florida for the last 8 years. Planning a trip to WDW in August. Even for us it's really HOT and CROWDED. Our plan is to split parks. Get to one at Rope Drop (or even Early Entry) and hit as many rides as we can/want before it gets too hot and crowded. Then head back to the hotel. Head back to another park around dinner and use FastPasses for those rides and shows.

 

[loves to dive]

We used to go mid to late August every time we went since that was my son's school break and less expensive. How hot is is? Well, it depends on how much heat you can take. We are from Georgia so our temps during the summer are pretty close to Orlando (except when we are in a drought then we don't have the humidity) so it makes no difference to us. We grew up in in and wouldn't have thought about not going out to play in the summer because of it. Frankly, if it's not over 80 I'm kind of cold outside and wear a sweater. Will it rain, most likely more than once. Will that cut down the heat, maybe, maybe it might just make it muggy and hot. So really, it's just a matter of your tolerance to heat. I wouldn't let the rain factor in at all, it's Florida, I've been going for over 33 years and last March was the first trip I've ever taken without rain, we didn't know how to act. Go, enjoy, take rain gear and wear light clothes, drink loads of water (and no despite what my son says, beer does not count as water even though it has water in it).

 

[Fuhnuh]

Knowing the parks and where to get an air conditioned break helps. A lot of cues are inside and some rides (e.g.,Philharmagic) are nice ways to cool down for a while. We go every year in either late-August or mid-July, the heat is doable for us. We seem to be the only people who haven't experience a big enough difference in the weather to differentiate July from August. It seems that average rainfall and temperatures are about the same. We like late August better for the lower crowds, but like to get home from our trip a few weeks before school starting. We have taken trips with a family that doesn't handle the weather very well, but lots of water and finding air conditioned cues and rides helps quite a bit. If it gets a little to hot, you can always cool down walking through a shop. Stay cool and ride Haunted Mansion for me.

 

[DizDaD7]

Just found out we have to reschedule our May trip.
We are considering rescheduling for our daughters 7th birthday the week of Aug 20th. Can anyone share with me how bad the heat/humidity really is. Should we expect daily rain? We were there the last week of Sept into October last year and found it quite manageable.

Feeling pretty disappointed right now and I really need to come up with a new plan! My only consolation is that Rivers of Light should finally (right, Loungers!?!) be up and running by then.

Very very hot, but doable, with many breaks....That's the key...I'm sure someone already mentioned that, for I haven't read through all the posts sorry. Stay Hydrated!!

 

[pktbMouse]

I seriously thought I was going to die.