How bad is the heat mid Sept?

[DisneyKeepsUsYoung]

I am trying to talk my family into a Mid Sept trip instead of Mid Oct due to the cost savings, (points and 1 child being free vs not). My husband is concerned it will be miserably hot in Sept. Is Oct 1 month later much cooler? Averages online look like about 5 degree difference. Is the humidity a lot different to make Oct feel that much better? I know Sept is rainy season but is it still near as miserable as July and Aug feel?

 

[Judique]

Bad.

But I guess it depends on what you are used to.

After April, I don't usually want to go again until November.

I've been in every month except June.

 

[ziravan]

It's hot.

Every touring plan recommends going at rope drop, staying until 1, leaving and going back to resort to swim or nap, and going back in the evening, around 5-6.

I choose my FPs for 11-1 and leave right after the 1 pm FP.

In this way, you miss the main heat and crowds (and waits) of the day.

Besides, it always rains for twenty minutes a day in Sept, normally mid afternoon. Go back right after the rain and the park settles somewhat.

There are ways to beat the heat. September is a great time to go. Slide down towards the end of the month and you can catch the F&W festival. If you can't catch that the last week of Sept, honestly, I'd go in October anyway, just for that.

Going some other time is no guarantee of avoiding the heat. It was upper 80s for our trip this past mid Dec.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have been hot in September, but am going again. I enjoy pool time, and we will be there for a DVC special event at AK! F&W does not appeal that much to me.

 

[ziravan]

The touring plans all suggest leaving during the heat and crowds of the day. Once AK has evening hours, this will work for all the parks.

The reason it works is because people don't want to get up early on vacation. Hitting a 9 AM rope drop at 8:30 means getting up at 7, or honestly, 6:30.

Who wants to do that on vacation?

So. The average tourist get up at 9 am and hits MK at 11. The difference in crowd size during this two hours? 40,000 after rope drop to 100,000 by 11 and 120,000 on busy days by 1.

So Mr. "I'm not getting up early on vacation" and his family hits MK about 11, waits 60 min in the heat for 1st ride, 75 min (in the heat) for second, uses FP for three more, and 5 rides and 6 hours later, his shirt is soaked through, the kids are a wreck, mom's agitated about dad's short temper, it's danged hot, and I'll be danged if it's not starting to rain! Dad's had enough! Every negative stereotype about Disney, played out.

Bite the bullet, get up early, and ride three rides before the crowds build, use your FPs for three more (and there are plenty of places to get cool indoors, stores ,etc - you aren't waiting in line between FPs), leave, come back at 5 and ride 5-7 more rides as park closes, and you get more done, less crowded, and less hot. And, the 1.5 hour swim and 2 hour nap you took in between refreshed both you and the kids.

Heat (and crowds) can be managed. We take trips year round and don't consider heat (or crowds) a factor in our decision. In fact, we had awesome trips in both June and August of last year. I'm much more likely to hedge to a warmer time to ensure the ability to swim, if I factor temps at all (March instead of January).

 

[ustasmom]

We were there the last week of September. We were miserable BUT we didn't have park hoppers or water parks. We were there for rope drop and left by 1 every day to return around 5 or 6. I said that I would never do that again. I watched temperatures since then. It didn't look like it really cooled off at all until December and still pretty warm even then.

Oddly enough I do have another September trip planned early in the month as to avoid F&W crowds.

 

[ziravan]

You posted in the DVC forum, when the DVC rest area opens in EPCOT, that will be another way to beat the heat.

It would be really nice to give DVC that kind of perk in all the parks.

 

[SugarRush]

We are from cold cold scotland but we always go mid/late sept and cope fine. Plenty water, plenty little breaks from the sun and it's totally manageable

 

[davper]

I went the 1st week in November. It was a hot upper 80s to 90 and muggy. I am from Boston, we count 90 degree days on one hand. I was happy to have had the cool wicking T-shirts and we frequently broke mid-day for breaks

 

[DisneyKeepsUsYoung]

We never manage rope drop with keeping the kids out till fireworks. We usually make it to the parks by 10 though. Honestly, I know we won't go back to the hotel midday. Planning to stay at AKL and as long as the bus ride takes each way that seems like a lot of time lost. I did plan on getting late lunch reservations (1:00-2:00) and saving the long indoor attractions like Presidents Hall, Ellen's energy adventure, or caves on Tom Sawyer Island for the hot afternoons.
We have gone it Jan twice and LOVED the weather. Gone in Dec once and were crazy hot but mostly that was lack of planning and not bringing the right clothes not knowing it would be in the 90's in Dec. Since Dec was so hot when we went we didn't know if Sept is really that much worse than Oct to justify spending more for an October trip.
We aren't that interested in F&W this trip with 2 young kids. I do look forward to the DVC lounge at Epcot and maybe the AK after hours party!

 

[tjkraz]

Thing we hated most about September was the rain. Last time we did a September trip the rain started around 12-2pm every day and continued throughout the night. That cycle repeated itself every day for at least 5 days. Shoes were drenched. Golf courses were unplayable. Everyone was irritable from being hot and wet day-after-day. Just a miserable time to be there.

Granted weather is completely unpredictable but it's right in the heart of hurricane season. Even when central Florida doesn't get hit by a hurricane, those storms often seem to be circling off one coast or the other--bringing rain inland. Really turned us off to September visits.

 

[disprincess2213]

It is so so soo hot! Muggy is the better word. I remember this past September walking out of my room at the Poly and was dripping with sweat by the time I got to the main lobby! And this was at 9am! It was brutal! We also went in December and had a few HOT days as well but they werent muggy like September. I HATE THE HEAT but we go in September because the crowds are noticeably less crowded and we get to spend a lot of time at the pool and with each other! We go expecting the worst (for heat) and hoping for the best! Its a trade off for crowds I guess!

 

[loves to dive]

I don't think weather wise it is going to be that much different in Sept. then in Oct. It's going to be hot and it's going to rain. We are from Georgia so, for us, it's not unbearable or any different than home except we've had a drought for the last few years (we are over that this year). Even with the drought it's muggy here. We don't take breaks, we don't worry about the rain, just take a poncho or umbrella and go about our business. Plan on drinking lots of water and if there is shade, take advantage.

 

[aaarcher86]

I thought it was hot but manageable. We were fine (but hot!) if we stayed in the shade. My younger daughter did get dehydrated and sick. Definitely drink a ton of water.

 

[luckyman_apd]

It's hot. Almost as bad as August. But I don't mind going at any time. The good with the bad. Bad = HOT. Good = Sept park attendance is lower than almost any time other than January. Get up early as suggested above (what we do) and break in the afternoon. You can get more done in the park from 9-10 than you can from 11-1.

 

[RooRach0906]

We love September it is our favorite time of the year to go. Yes, it is hot but we do not feel like it is miserable. We are from Virginia and we feel like the humidity here is worse than the humidity in Florida. As a PP has said it really depends on where you are from and what you are used too.

We take breaks in the park shopping, sitting people watching, and so forth but we do not leave the park everyday just some days. We are not your normal park guest we do things differently and the way it works for us. (This year we are taking friends and will do things differently.)

If you do go September do what works best for you and your family.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

We now travel in May because the heat and hurricane potential in August/September is too much for us.

 

[SuperRob]

We tend to go in September, since it's our anniversary. It's not really the heat, it's the humidity that's the issue. (Yes, it's clichéd, but true in this case.) You'll go outside your air-conditioned villa building and be immediately soaked in moisture. Be careful with wet rides or brief rains, because they'll cool you down, but you'll take a long time to dry out.

Take mid-day breaks to get out of the heat. Go hang at the pool, relax, avoid the hottest part of the day, then get back at it. Make sure to wear something to prevent chafing (I love Gold Bond), and two layers of thin socks to prevent blisters. Always have a cool drink in your hand (remember, ice water is free), and you will do fine. Good luck!

 

[han22735]

We were there this past sept 9-19th and we managed fine. Yea it's hot and humid and there's the occasional rain but I'd take that over having to wear hats and gloves. We missed not being able to hang at the pool on our trip last week. There's so much stuff in A/C that when ever possible take a break inside somewhere to cool down. Also as mentioned above get as much free ice water as you can it really helps.

 

[DenLo]

August, September and October is pretty much the same weather, hot and humid. And maybe a lot of rain depending on the hurricane situation in the Atlantic.