How bad is the heat in August?

[AllTheWorldsAStage]

We are planning our first Disney trip this year. One week that fits our schedule is in mid-August.

We will have our two kids (ages 5 and 3) and plan on visiting the parks before noon or after 5:00 PM. I imagine the heat is unbearable during the afternoons, but how is it during the mornings and evenings?

Another possible week for us is the first week of January. I know travel expenses are generally higher around the holidays, and cost is a consideration for us.

Also, I am not willing to pull the kids out of school for a week to go during the "slow" periods. I know this is a popular option, but it won't work for us.

Bottom line, is August an option for a family with small kids, or will we just be miserable in the heat?

 

[kelscross]

I'm from Ohio and the heat/humidity is bad but we can tolerate it as it is the same as it is at home during the summer. It rains every late afternoon though so bring a poncho!!

Have fun!

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

We are from Texas so we are used to high summer temps.

But---

we have gone to WDW twice over the week of July 4th. As long as we got to the parks at opening, had a plan to minimize wait (Unofficial Guide for us!), and returned to the hotel after lunch until early evening, we were fine.

We usually did a PS for lunch.

 

[Briarprincess]

It can be somewhat brutal, but if you take your time, take lots of breaks and drink lots of water, you'll do just fine. My family goes every summer the last week of August. I'm very heat sensitive, so we've learned a lot tricks about keeping cool. Take time out and look in stores, even if you know you won't buy anything, look around because they're all air conditioned. In EPCOT, visit Ice Station Cool, because the whole first area is like an ice box. Buy water, at least one bottle in the morning, but don't keep refilling it. The water from the fountains isn't always the coldest so buying a new bottle works best . In lines, make sure you have a few napkins and douse them with water and put it on the back of your neck if you start getting over heated. And if you start feeling dizzy, or light headed, sit down where ever you are, even on the curb on Main Street. The last thing you want with little ones is one of them getting sick. For food, don't over eat. And no milk if it's going to be really hot because it messes up your stomach like you wouldn't believe.
Lastly, if a problem should arise, take advantage of the First Aid Stations. I know I got really sick in front of the Tea Cups one year, horribly sick actually. Within literally seconds of me getting sick, there was someone there to clean up and someone else to get me help. I ended up passing out and woke up in First Aid where they were great about everything. They explained what happened, told me what to do for the rest of the day so it wouldn't happen again, then gave me a full LARGE bottle of water and a free meal voucher to make sure I got food in my system.
But honestly, I would say go that week in August because the crowds really aren't bad and there are so many ways to keep cool in such a hot place. :

 

[stacy6552]

With kids that age, I would go over the summer. The parks are open the longest, so when your kids tire you can go back to your hotel with comfort knowing that there will be plenty of time to go back and see everything.

We went in August and had a great time. We followed a bunch of tips from this board....

Retire to your reosrt in the afternoon, nap or swim, but take a break from the heat and the corwds.

Bring spray deoderant for your feet and a change of shoes. Change them after your break.

Bring Bottled water with you. Freeze it over night and drink it as it melts throughout the day.

If you have long hair, dont dry it. Tie it up on your head and it will help keep you cool.

Hats, bring them, wear them. Bring loose clothes.

Bring those misting fans. We got ours at the Disney store for much less then we saw them at the parks. They are cleaner sized bottles that you will with water with fans on top of them. Get one for everyone, but only take a few with you each day, so if one breaks, you can replace it easily.

 

[NotUrsula]

Your sig. says Midwest, which could cover a lot of climate territory. How hot are summers where you live (what's the heat index and the dew pt., most specifically?)

Depending on where you live, you might find that Orlando summers are no worse than what you are used to.

 

[vmkids]

I hate being hot so here is mine...
Get one of those little self fans and plenty of good batteries. Take with you a little ice pack thing like for a lunch bag and freeze it. I just stick this on my bac, or shoulder, or in the cleavage area! It truly helps. I also take a dry wash rag to wipe off the sweat. Go and have fun though.

 

[AllTheWorldsAStage]

I live on the shores of Lake Erie, so there is usually a cool breeze blowing all summer long. Orlando in August doesn't sound TOO bad, given the responses so far! Thanks for all the advice, and I love to hear from anyone else on this topic.

 

[ricapito]

I go the first week of January almost every year and have yet to be burned by bad weather. On average it is 70 and sunny, now and then it will touch 80 and we can use the resort pools. Crowds are reasonable. Costs are low for this week too. I wouldn't go any other time.

 

[Coach Rick]

This March will be the first time I ever have been in a month other than August. We prefer August as the crowds aren't to bad, and it is a great way to cap the summer. As I have told everyone hot is hot, but at least being at Disney kind of tempers it a little. 90 there or 90 here, given a choice, give me Disney at 90. This last trip I bought coolbars for everyone. They have these little synthetic beads in them that absorb water, and hold the charge for a couple of days. You wear these around your neck, and they definately keep you cooler. The spray fans work great also.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I found the greatest thing through QVC last August for Disney World. it is a fan/mister combination that you wear around you your waist and the fan blows air up your back under your clothes which escapes by your neck. I have a tendency to sweat on the back and causes heat rash that is annoying and itchy. whenever you want, you can push a button on the front of the belt that goes around your waist and it will mist cool water through the fan and cool you down even better. I thought that it would be uncomfortable when I sat down in the theaters but I would just turn off the fan and it wasn't bad at all. I will always take it when i want to tour the parks in the summer.

 

[alicenwonder99]

I've been to WDW 3 times: mid-August, the first week of December, and the first week of January. I would NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER go in August again. I am someone who really hates to be hot. I never imagined it could get so uncomfortably hot. We just went last month and we were lucky that we got 80 degree weather. It was a very comfortable warm. But a few days after we left, it got to be cold and rainy. So, if you go in August, you know it will be hot. If you go in January, you don't know what kind of weather you'll get.

Mary

 

[Princess Wannabe]

About 8 years ago, I was hospitalized for a severe case of heat exhaustion (thank goodness it wasn't heat stroke), and I am extra-sensitive to the heat now.

With that being said, we took our teenage sons to WDW 2 years ago, in August. I'm not sure what I was thinking; obviously, I WASN'T thinking, to plan a trip in August!

The plans were made; rooms paid for; so I needed to be prepared for the heat.

The BEST tips:
1. Get out of the parks in the afternoon, if you can. There was one day in particular where DH and the boys stayed at MK, and I rode the monorail back to the Poly by myself, JUST to get out of the heat. I spent the afternoon in the pool, and also laid down in my NICE air-conditioned room! I then met up with the family later after I had cooled down....

2. Take advantage of any air-conditioned shows/rides in the afternoon...or anything that gets you wet! Those were wonderful!

3. Use the water mister/fan that people here have suggested; it was nice. I also used the 'magic' beads that are in a bandana, and after you get them wet, they stay cool for hours. I wrapped those around my neck, which was nice.

In all actuality, it wasn't as brutal as I thought. Each & every single afternoon, without fail, it would rain, which turned out to be a blessing:
Not only would we cool off, but the crowds would all disperse and leave the parks; there was one day when we had Epcot practically to OURSELVES all afternoon...it was bliss!

Just be heat smart and you'll be okay!

 

[Schmeck]

August is also hurricane season - be prepared for that as well. I hope they don't get a repeat of last summer!

 

[LovePug]

3. Use the water mister/fan that people here have suggested; it was nice. I also used the 'magic' beads that are in a bandana, and after you get them wet, they stay cool for hours. I wrapped those around my neck, which was nice.

These two things are wonderful! I especially liked the bandana type since it didn't tie up my hands and I actually thought it worked better because it stays cool around your neck for so long. I actually had to remove it when we went into an air-conditioned area because I'd get cold .

Going to the parks at opening, leaving in the afternoon, and coming back at night its definitely the way to go. Besides, the parks at night just can't be beat .

 

[Toni300z]

we went in August 2004, and it was sooooooo hot. OMG It was my 1st trip to Disney, so we did not get to do as much as we would ahve liked to. We had 3 kids (ages 7 and 9) and they complained about how hot it was too. We would go in the evening after 5PM to try and beat the heat, but ughhhh. It was so humid. LOL It was 106 almost every day with the heat index thrown in there! I WILL NEVER EVER GO IN AUGUST EVER AGAIN. Especially now with Hurricanes coming in back to back.

We just came back last week for Two weeks in February (Feb 6 - 20) and the weather was AWESOME. 75 to 80 for 10 days out of the 14. Great time to go and THERE WAS ABSOULTELY NO humidity!

 

[Nicolepa]

Well, my first trip to WDW was in August and it was HOT. That said we always go in September, the weather is stil HOT but it's great. The one thing we do for the kids that is a lifesaver is buy juice boxes and freeze them the night before. In the morning I put them in a small cooler and then when I get to the park I pull one out for each kid to start thawing. By the time they are hot the juice is melted but still cold. While they are drinking that one I pull out another and repeat this all day long. In the hot months I bring probably 6 boxes per kid per day.

For the adults I freeze a water bottle 3/4 full for each adult and then you can add water all day and it will stay cool. Surprisingly there will be ice most of the day.


As long as you all keep hydrated I think the weather is bearable. Also take advantage of the Air conditioned rides (Small World, Pirates, any of the indoor shows at MGM etc.)

 

[monorailsilver]

I love the summer. My family always went the end of July/beginning of August for many years.

I brought my husband in August 2002 & he was dreading the heat but after we were there & he knows how I am, we were fine

We went to the park early, either ate lunch in the park or at the Poly when we took our mid-day break & went back to the park at around 5 til closing.

I have never had a problem with the summer heat in Florida. We also bring water bottles with us to the parks.

Oh & I am used to the heat & humidity due to our summers here in southern CT.

Kerri

 

[mom23boys]

We are going August 19-26 this year. We know it will be hot, but in Philly it is brutall sometimes. We are at the swim club almost everyday, and everynight they are playing till it is dark.

I love the heat the hotter the better for me. I do worry about my DM, she will be with us, but I told her there are plenty of places to sit at the parks in air conditioning to escape the heat and maybe if it is too hot she will stay back at the pool.

We plan on parks early, go to SAB (BCV) and maybe parks at night or maybe back for a swim.

If you are careful, drink plenty of water and use a small hand held fan, you should be okay.

 

[beattyfamily]

We usually go in Oct or Dec but my girls and I did an "extra AP" trip this past August. We went the last week of August.

I knew going that it would be hot and humid but nothing prepares you if you aren't used to it BUT you really do adjust and get somewhat used to it. You are on the right track by saying you will go early, leave and then go back. Leave when it starts getting really hot or have a nice lunch.

Bring a face cloth or two from your resort to wet down throughout the day with nice cold water. My 5 year old loved that. We had the misty mate but got tired of carrying it. We had the misty fan but got tired or holding it. The rags really worked.

we froze water each night and brought it along. We lathered up with sunscreen in the AM and did fine.

We took lots of A/C breaks in the shops. That really helps!

We brought our ponchos and did need them but it mostly rained around 4:00p - 5:00p. It actually didn't rain our Fantasmic night thankfully!

You can do it if you know it will be hot and go at a slower pace and take our advice! It can be done with lots of fun!

It took my 5 year old a couple days to adjust. She was miserable the first day. It made her fall asleep right in the middle of the Beauty and the Beast show on our first day!

On the other hand, crowds weren't bad at all! Enjoy!