How busy are the parks in August

[o.t.4disney]

Hey everyone,

Do you think the parks will be over crowded during the second week of August ?We went during the first week of December last year and had virtually no waiting for any rides. I'm thinking that we got to spoiled for August. I guess we can always do the water parks if it is too hot and there are long lines.

 

[Loubon]

We just went this year from 8/9 - 8/17. Lines weren't bad if you plan right. A few things like Test Track, Peter Pan etc which always have lines but we just did Fastpass for those. Everything else was practically walk on. Weather was okay (lots of passing showers). Only time the heat got to us was in Animal Kingdom probably because it is so open and not a lot of air conditioned attractions to pop into.

 

[TLinden16]

I went August 13-23, 2003, and I found the crowds to be very overwhelming. I'm used to going in the off season (usually September, May, or December), and the difference was very noticable. I remember looking out over Frontierland, and just feeling so overwhelmed by the number of people there. Even with making good use of the fast passes, we still missed out on a lot of things while we were there.

We went to Blizzard Beach one day, and the lines there were worst of all. We waited close to a half an hour to get on the family raft ride. My nephew waited about 45 minutes to get on Summit Pulmit, and my niece waited a half hour for slush gusher. Even the smaller slides like the toboggan racers had 15 minute waits. We had a hard time getting a tube on the lazy river, and the wave pool was close to wall to wall people.

I think I just found it overwhelming because I'm so used to having the parks to myself travelling in the off season. I knew it would be crowded in August, but it was a lot worse than I had expected it to be.

Karen

 

[Montana Minnies]

I agree with Lou, it's all in the timing and planning. We have always gone in the summer since it is the only time we are able to vacation. My sister and I were there in July and I was prepared for the heat, rain and crowds, but it did not seem as bad to me as it did the last time we visited, which was 1988. We took the tip of taking an afternoon break and it really did help.
We will be going back Aug.3-13,04 with 8 other family members. We are really looking forward to it.
I would love to visit sometime during the off-season. Montana winters can get rather brutal, sometimes windchill factors of -70 degrees. When that happens I just think, "Oh to be at WDW!"
So in spite of the heat, rain and crowds we have a lot of fun I hope you will too!
Who knows, maybe we will end up in the same line together.

 

[DVC-Don]

This past summer we were at WDW the 3rd and 4th weeks of August. The third week was packed. The 4th week the crowds were much smaller.

 

[goofy4tink]

Like Karen, we were there the third week in August. The crowds were pretty intense. I usually go late Oct-early Nov and was prepared for some rain and more people.....man, was I off-base!! It poured buckets for the last 5 days of our visit. Yes, it was very unusual for them to get that kind of rain but it still hampered our plans. The crowds weren't too bad up until 11:00 a.m. After that they got pretty big. If you plan right, you should be okay. I think the FTP really brought a lot of those people out. Get to the water parks at opening!! I have a picture of the wave pool at 9:30 and it is not crowded in the least. Then I took a picture, at the same spot 2 hours later. Yikes....wall to wall people!!! Would I go in August again? Sure, but I would plan for a lot of early mornings!!

 

[NHDisneyKid]

TLinden, I totally agree with you!! I was there the same time this past August and I was totally overwhelmed, SOOOO many people!!
My boyfriend and I tend to go during the off-seasons as well, but we went with my family this past summer and a cousin of mine is still in high school, so we were forced to go during her vacation. It was like torture for us, lol...
BUT, I remember being little and going on my own school vacations and the lines were always a couple hours long! So I guess it's just what you get used to...
We won't go again in August though!! Too hot and too crowded! (You know, I say that now, but we'll probably be there in August again, dealing with the crowds and the heat and loving it)

OH and Ray and SCOTTY do RULE at Jellyrolls!! They're by far our favorites to see!!

sarah