How bad is August?

[Nicnicnic.nic]

No annual pass. We did a split stay to get 2 free water park days

What's super weird to me is I offered my kids to go to WDW for 5 days this summer cuz of the ticket deal and they said no they'd rather only go to the parks 2 days so there is more pool/water park time....my husband and I were like ok.... (The last trip was kinda last minute and budget friendly and planned by me)

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

What is your experience traveling to Florida in August? I am hoping to make a mother/daughter trip work sometime next year and I'm currently looking at August. Everything in my is screaming that will be way too hot! However, that may be the best time for us to go. I might can arrange for another time over the summer but would any summer trip really matter? What about crowds, would mid August possibly have lighter crowds?

It will be way too hot, but you will still have fun. Crowds seem a lot lower. We just do early morning parks and break in the afternoons when it's at peak heat. I wouldn't do it every year, but if it's the only time you can go, you'll still enjoy yourselves with lots of ice cream breaks

 

[mi*vida*loca]

What's super weird to me is I offered my kids to go to WDW for 5 days this summer cuz of the ticket deal and they said no they'd rather only go to the parks 2 days so there is more pool/water park time....my husband and I were like ok.... (The last trip was kinda last minute and budget friendly and planned by me)

My kids would beg for the pool when they were younger. They would’ve picked the pool over the parks everyday. I remember once my son was upset on arrival day since we went to magic kingdom instead of the pool. Kids!

 

[Mle8308]

We were September people until my DD was in high school then we swapped to August as she didn't want to miss school. The daytime weather is very similar but I feel you don't get the same break in the evening/night heat in Aug that Sept sometimes offers. Aug just seems hot 24 hours a day where Sept seemed to offer a tiny bit of relief.

Very good description of the difference between August and September!

 

[ExpeditionEmily]

We've been in August before and Liquid IV was the biggest lifesaver. We took it slower than usual and made extra stops to grab waters and refill on electrolytes. We also skipped sit-down meals and opted to just snack / eat lighter.

 

[JackiesHubby]

We've lived in Jacksonville for 41 years until we moved to the mountains 5 years ago. September is the hottest month followed by August coming in a close second place. The best advice I can give is do early and late park trips, stay hydrated, wear breathable/wicking clothing and comfortable shoes. Wear a hat of some type. Give yourself permission to be sweaty because you will be doing it anyway. Also if you are not peeing at least once an hour then you need to drink more (learned that one in the Navy).

 

[leebee]

We did multiple August trips. Yes, it is brutally hot and humid. Yes, it'll rain for a bit in the afternoon. Yes, we still choose to go. Here are my tips:
1. Bring at least 2 pairs of underpants per day. Maybe TMI, but you'll sweat-wet whatever you are wearing, right down to the skin. Bras in multiples, too. As mentioned previously, things don't dry in 24 hours in that kind of humidity, even in the room.
2. Powdered electrolyte sticks, like Propel. I have trouble drinking large quantities of water and find it more tolerable with flavor. The added electrolytes are a plus as you are going to sweat a ton.
3. Frog-toggs poncho. About $6 at Walmart. It's made of a more paper-like material than the cheap dollar ponchos or the Disney heavy plastic ponchos. I swear those plastic ponchos are like a sauna... and who needs to be trapped inside your own personal sauna when you are already in a sauna?
4. Neck fan. It blows air up onto your hairline and cools your head a bit. Yeah, it's ambient air, but moving air is cooler than still air. We don't like the mist fans.. you are already wetter than a fish, and it's too humid for the mist to evaporate and provide any cooling effect.
5. "Frozen" washcloths. Wet a wash cloth, put it in a ziplock with ice, and then put all this in a bigger ziplock and into an insulated sandwich bag. VERY refreshing to wipe down with a cold washcloth, mid-day. If this is too much bother, bring the washcloth anyhow. Get a cup of ice water from a counter service place and use that to wet the washcloth.
6. SUNSCREEN. Sunscreen STICKS for fast swipes to noses, lips, and ears when you aren't "into" doing the whole douse-down while waiting in lines.
7. Walk thru the gift shops as much as you can. They are airconditioned.
8. We plan a big sit-down meal to be part-way thru our park day. An hour or so in air conditioned splendor is rejuvenating.
9. If you MUST use the pool, search out the quiet pools. The feature pools are just too warm... it's gross, especially when you remember that about 2% of the kids in that pool didn't bother to rinse off their stinky, sweaty bodies before getting into the pool. Quiet pools usually have fewer kids in them, and are less hot than the feature pools. I never thought it'd happen, but those pools are as warm or warmer than the air- definitely NOT very refreshing.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

It is hot, wet sticky, humid and rainy. Take breaks, alternate between indoor and outdoor ride queues, drink lots of water and have a wonderful time!

 

[elvispursley]

We did multiple August trips. Yes, it is brutally hot and humid. Yes, it'll rain for a bit in the afternoon. Yes, we still choose to go. Here are my tips:
1. Bring at least 2 pairs of underpants per day. Maybe TMI, but you'll sweat-wet whatever you are wearing, right down to the skin. Bras in multiples, too. As mentioned previously, things don't dry in 24 hours in that kind of humidity, even in the room.
2. Powdered electrolyte sticks, like Propel. I have trouble drinking large quantities of water and find it more tolerable with flavor. The added electrolytes are a plus as you are going to sweat a ton.
3. Frog-toggs poncho. About $6 at Walmart. It's made of a more paper-like material than the cheap dollar ponchos or the Disney heavy plastic ponchos. I swear those plastic ponchos are like a sauna... and who needs to be trapped inside your own personal sauna when you are already in a sauna?
4. Neck fan. It blows air up onto your hairline and cools your head a bit. Yeah, it's ambient air, but moving air is cooler than still air. We don't like the mist fans.. you are already wetter than a fish, and it's too humid for the mist to evaporate and provide any cooling effect.
5. "Frozen" washcloths. Wet a wash cloth, put it in a ziplock with ice, and then put all this in a bigger ziplock and into an insulated sandwich bag. VERY refreshing to wipe down with a cold washcloth, mid-day. If this is too much bother, bring the washcloth anyhow. Get a cup of ice water from a counter service place and use that to wet the washcloth.
6. SUNSCREEN. Sunscreen STICKS for fast swipes to noses, lips, and ears when you aren't "into" doing the whole douse-down while waiting in lines.
7. Walk thru the gift shops as much as you can. They are airconditioned.
8. We plan a big sit-down meal to be part-way thru our park day. An hour or so in air conditioned splendor is rejuvenating.
9. If you MUST use the pool, search out the quiet pools. The feature pools are just too warm... it's gross, especially when you remember that about 2% of the kids in that pool didn't bother to rinse off their stinky, sweaty bodies before getting into the pool. Quiet pools usually have fewer kids in them, and are less hot than the feature pools. I never thought it'd happen, but those pools are as warm or warmer than the air- definitely NOT very refreshing.

I cannot emphasize the above enough! Especially #1. Even brining multiple pairs/day. we end up doing laundry half-way through or towards the end because I just can't bring all that stinky, wet laundry back, especially if we get caught in a downpour because nothing dries. We also pack individual packs of deodorant wipes for a refresh in our park bags (TMI but they help). We also find a UV umbrella helps when waiting in queues outside or in the sun for afternoon parades/shows. And for any wheelchair/scooter users, bring a towel to sit on because a) the seat can get hot b) your thighs/backside can get very sweaty sitting all day c) for renting a manual wheelchair. get a wheelchair cushion to sit on. I was absolutely miserable at DLR without my custom wheelchair cushion (left it at home) sitting in those park chairs for 4-days. It was just sheer torture!

 

[Wood Nymph]

I always bring really small umbrellas. Totes has a small umbrella that is only 6 inches long when collapsed. They aren't large enough to hit people in the eye as you walk past. And high winds will destroy them. But they are great for light rain. Ponchos are hot and take time to put on. An umbrella can keep you dry until you can get out of the rain.

I've used the umbrellas for shade. It really helps when the sun is beating down.

 

[DeeBee3]

We've gone the last few years. It is brutal and not comfortable but you prepare and make your plans accordingly. Just make sure to drink water more than you ever want. We always do water stops even if we don't want it. Mix in the indoor attractions throughout the day and take food breaks inside.

With a 14 year old you are not so bad because she is capable of telling you what's going on in her body as opposed to a toddler. If one of you has had enough, just leave the park.

 

[jkh36619]

Heat doesn't bother me as much as the late afternoon BO everyone is omitting.