How bad is it to go to Disney third week in August ?

[maryj11]

We just returned from going memorial day week and now I'm already trying to plan our next trip I know I have the Disney blues Anyway we cannot go when school is in session.
School starts the last Monday in August so we were thinking of the 3rd week in August next year or is the other weeks just about the same crowdwise ? How bad are crowds ect.. ?
We have gone Labor day week several times so we know how hot it can get. Memorial day week seemed as hot as Labor day week to me but oh well we take a spray mist fan and drink lots.
We were thinking of going the week before Thanksgiving but I hate for our girl to miss school so we changed our minds to August or should we go Memorial day week again ?

 

[wvgoofyfan]

Anxious to see the replies on this...

 

[amcnj]

As you'd expect, it is hot, humid and often a chance of a thunderstorm. But I think the crowds are better than earlier in the summer, as some places have already returned to school.

 

[dbramer]

As I am a teacher, we have to go in the summer. That being said, we are planning a trip for August 2015. I think we are looking at 8/9 - 8/17. Historic crowd levels show it to be 4 to 5 that week, but it is the "dog days."

 

[georgina]

I was there last week and didn't think the temperatures were that bad! I was surprised by the number of afternoon rain showers though. We went mid-August last time, which I thought was hotter, but had quite a few days with no rain (unusual). Given a choice of Memorial day or August, I would choose May due to better weather conditions generally. As far as schools out, around here school runs until mid-June and starts back up the week before Labor Day. Personally I didn't think there was a huge difference in the crowds between those 2 times of year. The later in August you can go, the more the crowds would decrease, but then sometimes park hours decrease also.

 

[Maggie Lizer]

The last time I went in August, it was hot and humid and it rained every afternoon (huge, one- or two-hour thunderstorms). And the rain never cooled anything off, it just made things worse, IMHO. I rememebr changing my shirt at least once each day because I got so sweaty and felt gross. But the crowds were low, and the buildings have a/c, so we managed.

I think all in all it was OK, but AK darn near killed us. That place just felt so oppressively hot and we spent a couple hours at the COnservation Station solely for the a/c.

 

[disneycrazy2004]

We have been there in August few times. It is hot, humid and rains almost every day....but we love it. We go for the last three weeks in August and we find the last week is much better than the first two crowd-wise. We just came back from Disney - were there for Star Wars Weekend over Memorial weekend and found the crowds to be very similar to the ones in August. Having said that, we love it and going back this August for the last two weeks. With the right planning it could be lots of fun and if the rain does not scare you, the rides empty out during a rainstorm

 

[Albytaps]

As you'd expect, it is hot, humid and often a chance of a thunderstorm. But I think the crowds are better than earlier in the summer, as some places have already returned to school.

This is true.

I was there last August and it was hot, but not as hot as some summers... I remember 1 July walking out of a store felt like walking into an oven. Walking by an open door felt heavenly as the cool air blew onto me.

I don't think any time of the year is really slow anymore.

 

[Mikie]

My sister is an August traveler and she says the later the better. Crowds do lessen as many schools return and many people don't travel the very last week right before school. I'd definitely check park hours though to see if that affects you. I remember going one spring where the first few days of our trip were still "peak" time, accompanied by noticeably larger crowds, later park hours and higher prices; last half of that trip was totally off-peak, cheaper, much fewer crowds, but fewer parades, fewer fireworks, earlier park closings.

 

[JennyDrake]

This is true.

I don't think any time of the year is really slow anymore.

DITTO! DITTO! DITTO!

The "slow" times of even 5 years ago are no more.

Expect waits for "moderate" to top attractions to be 50 min + from open til close.

It will be hotternhell, but is bearable w/ RD and midday break. NO break in the humidity at night. Thunderstorms may last 30 min or can last hours--we were POURED upon for 6-8 hours every day in mid/late August 2012.

Try at day at the water park!!!

 

[suffieldhockeymom]

Hot and humid, thunderstorm most afternoons. We bring a hydration pack in our backpacks that we fill with ice at the food court and make lunch ADRs around 1-3 to get a nice break from the heat and rain (we usually luck out and it storms during lunch).

 

[skywaywaver]

We did it in 2011. We also did a quick overnight in 2012 during that week.

It is hot, it is humid, it does rain. I don't think the crowds are much less than they are at other times of the year. If they are, the heat and humidity cancel that factor out, IMO. Also, isn't that when free dining starts? That influx tends to balance out the lack of visitors from school starting in Florida.

That being said, will I take a Disney trip that week over no Disney trip? Heck yes! We are taking a bit longer of a trip this time and are depending on mid-afternoon breaks. I would love to take the kids out of school late September one year but we'll have to see.

In conclusion: is it terrible? No. Are the parks empty? No. Is it Disney? Yes, so that makes it wonderful.

 

[heidijanesmith]

We went in August 2012 and liked it SO much better than in July.

The later in August you go the better the crowds get.
There were NO big tour groups in August when we went, compared to the massive amounts of tour groups in July.
The daily thunderstorms seemed to start around 3-4 and worked out well with our touring schedule as we would swim then rest in the hotel room until the sun went down for night time touring.

August does seem to be hotter than the surface of the sun and the humidity so high. We would rope drop, break and then back out for night touring to help with the heat. We would wear two outfits a day and I did laundry mid week.

I liked touring in August for the crowd levels and long park hours.

 

[biondagirl]

We went from August 9th to August 18th last year. It was PACKED. It was HOT. And we'll be doing it again next year. LOL We have to with the kids being in school. We used to pull them out, but they're getting too old to miss too much.

I'd like to start our trip next year the third week, so I'm curious about other people's experiences, too.

 

[Karbase8]

I have went the past 3 years the third week in August. I am going again this year for a split stay at Universal then arriving at Disney the 19th and leaving the 24th. The weather is hot and humid, however last year the weather was nice and comfortable in the evenings. You do have thunderstorms one evening we were washed out at the MK, but other parks in the area were dry, for the most part we just keep touring and bring ponchos when needed. The crowds are moderate. The EMH at MK that friday evening at the end of the week after 10pm I find practically empty I know things have changed with the MB and FP plus. The major attractions Soarin, TT, now the Mine Train, Toy Story will still have huge waits. The shows we were able to get in like Fantasmic, Indiana Jones, but we were at least 20-30 minutes early. I really like going at that time as I don't like to pull my son out of school alot of the Southern schools are back to school already, so you see alot of Boston, NY and Philadelphia tourists. It is definitely doable. Breaks during the day help. Or doing a late start one or two days and staying the evenings help. Or you are in and out of air conditoning. Or a table service lunch. It can be done! I say go for it! I had a friend who only did October trips, I have brought her over to August and she only does August now.

 

[robinb]

I think it will be less crowded than in the past since Disney has moved free dining to 8/31 and I think the Florida kids will already be back in school.

 

[PartOfYourWDWorld]

We went that week two years ago and are doing it again this year. The crowds aren't bad, especially as it's not the end of summer yet. It's the heat that's the killer. We take midday resort breaks, which I think is our saving grace from the heat. The hottest trip I've ever had BY FAR was in June 2004 though.

 

[6loversofdisney]

As far as crowds, I didn't think they were bad at all during that timeframe. As far as heat, yes it is hot but we are not complainers. We are always in and out of rides and don't spend a lot of time sitting on benches in the blazing sun so it never bothers us.

 

[Jazzerfan]

I agree with most of the posts here. I prefer the last week in August and have always managed just fine. Lesser crowds, good deals, heat & thunderstorms manageable. As noted as well, Free Dining doesn't start until 8/31 so I agree it might sway the crowd level even lower. My kids are teens now so we can stay up later which is always a perk and nice when MK is open til 1am.

 

[litlpixie]

We are August-goers I have been there in every month except for November and December. 3rd week of August has been very good to us! Expect and adjust to the heat and humidity and you can have a great time. We tour early, keep hydrated, swim ALOT carry ponchos w/ us, and try to stay in the shade! We have never found the crowds horrible when WE go, I've certainly seen ALOT worse (Easter and July)

Enjoy!