how hot,crowded, miserable is August?

[Ms. WDW]

When the chlidren are in the lower grades most schools will allow parents to pull them out. However as they get older, it's frowned upon. DS is in a Catholic High School here, and trust me. I don't even think of it anymore!! That's why we have no choice but to go in July or August.

I've been in both months. Yes it's hot, usually it's crowded, but I have to say it's never miserable. It's WDW!!

You can always make the best of your days if you plan them out. I don't mean planning to the point of not having fun. But know your family. Know when they're ready for a break. Have an early lunch or head back to your resort (if possible) for an afternoon swim, nap or whatever! I never spend the entire day in a park anymore. Afternoon breaks are a must for us.

I've been so many time during the busy summer months, well, I don't think I'd know what do if the parks were NOT crowded!

 

[murph103]

We have never been ones to take the kids out of school no matter what age. DD is in high school and there is no way that we'll take her out of school for a week now. She would miss so much. DD is in 1st grade and I think that he would miss too much also. So we're going in August. We live in Maryland and are used to hot and humid. And it's August....it's supposed to be hot.

 

[DizMare]

We've gone the last four years either the second or third week of August. Last year I said never again. It's hot, and it tends to be crowded, but I could deal with that. The thing that I hated was the daily, torrential thunderstorms. (They weren't an issue the first two years due to the drought). I just hated scheduling our days around the bucketfuls of rain every single day. And most days it wasn't just a cloud burst, but instead an hour or better event.

(Plus I felt guilty - poor Florida so needed the rain and here I was complaining! )

So, if it were me, I'd take my little one out of school at a time when I could enjoy cooler, dryer weather and lower crowds (and prices!) There is nothing he is learning in kindergarten that you can't get him caught up on in a couple of hours, especially since he sounds like a smart little fellow.

 

[BAST]

We will be going in August (17th through 27th) this year with our two DD's, 4 and 6. I too feel stuck in that I do not want to take them out of school and view this as the best time to go - seems to me that June and July will be even worse in terms of heat and rain, and especially in terms of crowds.

I would appreciate any advice on this - is June/ July better or worse than late August?

Thanks.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

we have been going the last 4 - 5 summers. last aug it was the most crowded i have ever seen, prob. because of the fairy tale pkg. its usually crowded , but if you take your time , we usually go back to the hotel and swim or have lunch some where. also last summer we were there also from the 13 - 23 and let me tell you , the RAIN RAIN RAIN was un-bee-leivable. if i were you i would take my child out of K class if poss. we took our kids out of school until they reached middle school. thats why we go in Aug now, dd is 15 so its hard to miss. but be prepared for the HEAT and RAIN. have fun.....

 

[DBH]

In 2000 we went the last week of August. The crowds were very manageable. Yes it was hot but we are use to it and have learned to pace ourselves.

When our son was in Kintegraden we took him out a week but we probably will not do that again since he is in the 6th grade.

Have fun

 

[Selket]

Originally posted by jubileegirl
I suspect that many of the crowds in WDW in August are also Brits!

Yes, I forgot to mention that as another good reason to go in August! I met several Brits!

 

[lUVTOGO]

We were there in August, the 2nd thru the 12th. I went expecting the worse, as I said I would never go in the summer,( my girls dance school were dancing in the Magic Kingdom on August 6th) and I was pleasantley surprised!! Sure it was hot, and it rained 8 of the 10 days in the afternoon, sometimes for 2 or 3 hours!!But with Fastpass, afternoon swim breaks, and a lot of cooling off shopping, we had no problems!! In fact we are going back in July because my daughters are in 5th and 3rd grade, and when we took them out of school in November, there was too much work to be made up. But I would have no problem taking them out of school again for a vacation if it's only for 3 or 4 days!!

 

[njcarita]

my wonderful parents tortured us by going to disney and miami every year during the last 2 weeks of august. I still remember how hot and miserable we were at the park- we were okay at miami beach its suppose to be hot!!!

unless i won a free disney trip that had to be taken in august - i would not go if i could choose another date.

my children are in private school and i have taken them out every year for out disney trip- just got back yesterday from our most recent trip.

we have never had a problem with the school- in general i have found that private schools are more lax than public school in missing school days.

 

[*Fantasia*]

We were in WDW April, June and Aug last year. Aug were definitely hotter than April. It was hot and humid, but we were able to tolerate it. We drank lots of water and took breaks and swam. We always kept ourselves cool. I don't mind hot. I do better with the heat than the freezin' cold weather. Would I do August again...sure...I have no choice...we're moving to Orlando!

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

I've been the last week in August and although it IS hot and humid, I didn't find it crowded. Maybe lots of schools have started by then.

Same problem here, DS is now in 1st grade. Pretty sure we're going to take him out for a week in May rather than waiting for summer. I'm ok but rest of family doesn't do well in heat. If your family can handle it and you plan your days well I think it's doable in summer. But if you can take your child out without problems another time of year I'd take that option first.

Good luck!