How bad is Disney World over the summer?

[Disneyland1084]

Weather wise? My DH and SIL are strongly advising not to make a trip there during the summer. They said it will be so hot you'll feel like you're melting. We've never been to DW and are thinking we'll go in 2017. DH wants to go in the fall. I want to go in the summer. DH and I don't want to take our kids out of school, so the summer is the most logical time. But would we be miserable in the heat?

 

[msb578]

It's very hot and humid with afternoon rain showers most days- no way around it. It's doable if you plan your schedule to fit the heat. A lot depends on your family's tolerance for high heat and humidity.

 

[Sweeney1996]

It's Hot! We live in Florida, though up in the Panhandle, and it's hot, and humid, and well, you could get a rain shower everyday, or not once during your visit.. It just is. That being said, we are going this year the second week of August, due to school schedule, as our daughter is starting high school and swims competatively, so we are fitting it in when we can, when she was younger, we would just take her out of school.

Hydrate, sunscreen, take breaks, plan for wet weather, that is what advice this Floridian can give you.

 

[floridadream]

We went in August last year and it was HOT (unseasonably so). We went into it eyes wide open and even though I like the heat, I thought it was a bit much. We've been to WDW numerous times with plans to return, so it wasn't a big deal. However, if we were to only get there once, I wouldn't recommend the summer if you could swing another time!

 

[kwdw]

I went in August for the first time last year. Mid-day was AWFUL. I'd say 10-4 was just awful. I drank a TON of water, tried to stay out of the sun, did as many air-conditioned attractions I could. The one morning - I was sick from the heat by 11 am - and I'd been doing all the right stuff. IF I were to do it again, I would plan differently. I'd plan on going TO the parks after 3 pm for the first time during the day and staying until close - and I'm normally a rope drop girl! There was definitely more shade in the parks later in the day and that really helped.

If you are really planning "just one major dream trip" to Disney - and your kids can handle being out of school - try between October-April for better weather.

 

[hedberg1661]

Honestly, I have been going for the 4th of July fireworks for the past 5 years and wouldn't miss it for the world. Just know going in as pp have said...it is going to be hot and humid. Is what it is. I suggest taking a slower pace and stay hydrated. This is easily done if you plan on spending a week at the parks. If you want to do this in 4-5 days this may not be the time for you.

 

[ZoZo]

It's very hot and humid with afternoon rain showers most days- no way around it. It's doable if you plan your schedule to fit the heat. A lot depends on your family's tolerance for high heat and humidity.

I agree - some folks can handle the heat and humidity just fine. (I think it helps if you're used to that climate at home.) Average temps in the summer in Orlando can be in the 90s, with very high humidity.

Me, not so much. I'd never go in the summer - I just don't handle heat combined with humidity very well. I've gone on several October trips, and even some of those were too hot for me! (There were days in the mid-to-upper 90s for temps, and high humidity.) Now we've switched to late February, and love it!

So it's kind of an individual thing. Only you will know how likely you are to be bothered by this.

 

[Disneyland1084]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I've been in humid weather before, so I *think* I could handle it. I doubt my mom or girls could. My DH is questionable, but he has already said he doesn't want to go in the summer. So we'll see.

 

[Sue M]

As people said, it's hot and humid. With probable T storm around 3:00. It really does depend on how heat tolerant the people going are.
I have family in Florida so I've gone every August for I don't know how long. And last August was the hottest I can remember, temps broke 100f

We go to the park first thing in the morning and leave parks after lunch. Mid day is the hottest. We spend it at our resort, mostly at pool. Then go back to a park at night.

Wear light weight loose clothing. And drink lots of water. Good to add electrolyte to it. You can drink too much and wash electrolytes from your system and get sick. Happened to a friend in Hawaii. Over hydration!

We love going late August because of low crowds.

 

[joannamet]

I do not tolerate heat well but we went to Disney last July and I really don't remember the heat being a problem at all! Yes it was hot and yes it was rainy but there are so many indoor options that I don't remember ever being miserable.

I would totally go during the summer again.

 

[outahere]

Just my $.02 worth, but we've gone to WDW many times in the summer, and I don't recommend it if there is any way you can go at another time of the year. We moved to FL over a year ago and I will not go in the summer, even though we're only an hour away and have APs. DW and college-aged DS went one day last summer, and only lasted about 3 hours before they headed back home. It's already humid and in the mid-high 80s here and it's only April 7th!

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

We have been in August three times, and it definitely gets hot and humid! However, it gets hot and humid where I live in the summer, and I only find Disney to be slightly worse. We just went for five days in November, and that was so much more ideal for me weather-wise. But August is definitely doable.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We love the heat and go every year in September. But it is very hot. If you cannot handle the heat, you will be miserable. Plus, in the summer it is also very crowded. Heat plus crowds = an ugly mess that I am not interested in.

 

[msb578]

We love the heat and go every year in September. But it is very hot. If you cannot handle the heat, you will be miserable. Plus, in the summer it is also very crowded. Heat plus crowds = an ugly mess that I am not interested in.

Late August is probably the best time to go if you have to choose summer. The crowds calm down significantly as the month goes on.

 

[bookgirl]

I ended up in Orlando last July. I was really only going to the parks in the late afternoon or evening. It was hot and sticky (and rainy). I can't imagine how it was during the day, well I can cause I was running around Wide World of Sports, but the evenings were tolerable in the parks but still hot and muggy when it wasn't raining.

I did one September trip and I can not absolutely can not convince myself to ever book it again, no matter how low the crowds or room rates. It was miserable.
We did morning/evenings with rest in the afternoon and I'm not unused to that climate. (father lived on Galveston for years and I was there quite often). But trying to make a full day in the heat was just not fun or relaxing at all.

 

[Tanooki]

We go every summer because we don't want to take the kids out of school and I don't tolerate the heat very well but it is what it is. Better go when it's hot and humid than not at all! And the Frog Togg cooling towels changed our lives...

 

[chainkid]

One word Horrible. When my son was in school we often had to go in august and it was usually a big disappointment. Everyone was grumpy and tired out from the heat. Much nicer in late Nov-early Dec for us.

 

[nco91590]

August is insanely hot. Like, walk outside and you're already dripping with sweat. They do a pretty good job of air conditioning and there are lots of places to cool down. We always went back to the room to cool down mid day.

 

[msb578]

August is insanely hot. Like, walk outside and you're already dripping with sweat. They do a pretty good job of air conditioning and there are lots of places to cool down. We always went back to the room to cool down mid day.

Note to self for next time: skip the hot Starbucks coffee on Main St at 8 am.

(What you said is totally true about sweating, but the coffee really made it worse!)

 

[grecorj]

Our last 2 trips were the last week of June.

1 trip we had a very heavy all afternoon shower just once and that was it for rain. High 80s to low 90s during the day.

The other trip we had less sun, more sprinkles and lower heat (high 70s to high 80s).

But there are positives to "bad" weather.

One day it was rainy but we toured Epcot WS right at 11. We were virtually alone for the first 4 countries. It was great.

On very hot days people go to the water parks, pool. We do the opposite.

Even tho summer nights can still be warm and muggy, there's nothing more fun hitting rides with very little waiting after the last Wishes until closing.

Hot temps = more ice cream breaks. I'm ok with that!

Rain will bring out the animals on the AK Safari.

Riding Kali River Rapids on a hot day is so refreshing! Worth the FP+.

Bring lots of sunscreen, drink lots of fluids, wear light weight clothing.

PS I'm no fan of hot/humid and I survived, lol!