How HOT is HOT??

[Aliceacc]

I'm going in August with my 3 kids. My friend is on the same flight with her two. Her sister is going the week before with her 4 kids. My daughter's friend will be down there for part of the same week. My sister and her 3 kids are going down 3 weeks before I do.

Summer is one of the busiest times of year at Disney. I have never been there at any other time of year.

Yes, it will be hot. It's Florida in summer. You know the drill: keep hydrated, dress appropriately, hit the AC when you need to, get indoors or into the pool at mid day, be careful of sunburn.

You'll do great and have a wonderful time!

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

Well, let's put it this way - - - my DH used to work near blast furnaces in a steel mill and when we went to WDW in September (2000) it was so hot & humid that he wanted to go home after 3 days!

But, we went again in September (2002) and it wasn't as hot - - still hot but not as bad. But it was pretty rainy.

 

[jeanninepl]

I am a teacher so we can only go in the summer.

We are going in July and I am sure it will BE HOT. That's why I really made sure I chose a resort we would really enjoy. I figure we will head to the park really early and then again after dinner.

We are staying at the Poly and I am sure we will be there at the pool late morning til early evening. I have one day where we are going to enjoy Evening Magic Hours at the Magic Kingdom. I figure we'll get there after 8pm, have dinner at the Crystal Palace and stay til 1am. Therefore, the next day I planned NOTHING and we are sleeping late and enjoying our resort all day.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

We are planning a trip to WDW from 7/31-8/5...It is me, my DH and twin 2 year old DS's...plus my in-laws who live in southern FL and my parents from NY. (We are also from NY).

My inlaws are scaring my DH and I into not going during this time due to the "intense, unbearable, dangerous" heat.

My plan was to do the parks in the early morning and early evening and spend mid-day at the hotel - we are staying at the WL. My DS's both nap between approx. 12:30-2:30. So during that time, we would also be napping or hanging by the pool.

We know there is no way to do everything on this trip and don't plan on it...we are just going to go with the flow - although I did make my ADR's for dinner every night.


ARE WE CRAZY?

Thanks-
Heather

HEATHER- we'll be there the first week of August!!!! And guess what????? I'll be 35 weeks PREGNANT!

 

[dawgsgirl]

Is there any reason you planned to go in the summer? I would pick another time of year if possible. The kids would enjoy it much more in the cooler weather.

 

[hmballz]

MomNeedsVacay - you are my HERO!! I think we can manage and just play everything by ear...we will do only what the boys can handle...we have all been there before (except for the boys) - so no need to do it all this trip...

for those who asked...we need to go then since my mom is a guidance counselor (the grandparents really want to be there...

Thanks everyone for your honest replies!!

 

[LoveKermit]

To add my 2 cents....

We went last mid-August with a 7 month old. Buy a squirt bottle/fan. We bought ours at Target when we did our baby supply run. MUCH cheaper than the parks. DH would fill it with ice in the morning. Then, when we stood in lines, we'd squirt each other to keep cool.

Your body does adjust to the heat. We had the same issue in Mexico. And don't watch the weather. I think it's worse if you know how hot it actually is.

I don't think it rained any afternoon. We had one storm coming out from dinner at EPCOT. We ran to the monorail. Before we got to MK, it was done. It never even rained at MK. Be prepared for rain, but it may not happen.

And we did what everyone else did. Out early (up anyway). Lunch. Pool. Naps (for everyone )--the heat drains adults too. Then shower and back out. But we stayed at the Poly and by the time we walked to TTC to go to dinner, we were sweaty. But it was a clean sweat. Better than the sweat of all those that had been out all day. Eww....I can't do that.

 

[tink1969]

I will never, EVER, go to Disney World during the summer months again.
I've been once in July, years ago, and it was disgustingly hot. Then I went just last August and I thought I was going to die. We were all melting and spent most of our time seeking shade; air conditioned stores, water rides, etc. We travelled with another family and all of us were so grumpy at each days end. Sure you make the best of it, but when you get bad headaches every day from the sun/heat, (kids included) it makes for a kind of not so memorable vacation.
And don't forget.......everyone in Disney World becomes sweaty and stinky in humid weather. Not so nice when standing in long lineups!

 

[Tam1067]

We've been three different times in July. We're going August 6 this year. It's hot, but if you do the early morning/rest/later evening thing, you'll be fine. Drink lots of water and don't push yourself. Really, it's not that bad.

 

[Chkysbak]

Hot is when you are in Iraq, and its 135 degrees at Noon. Anything lower is great with me. Even when I went on R&R in Qatar, it was 120 with 60% humidity. Sweating actually helps the cooling process.

Florida will be Hot, but nothing like that... Thank GOD

I would recommend (military people will get a kick out of this) HYDRATE & MOTRIN.

 

[iheartdisney]

I would recommend (military people will get a kick out of this) HYDRATE & MOTRIN.

And plenty of rest. Don't forget to rest! (as if)

 

[frdeb1999]

We go every year during this time frame and yes it is hot....but nothing you can't stand. We do the EMH and stay til right after lunch....head back to resort to swim and relax....then head back out in the evenings. We have a wonderful time.

 

[Tara8595]

So do you guys just miss all the day parades in favor of naps? I'm just working on my schedule for a vacation over labor day with a 15-month old. We definitely want to take breaks, but I would guess he'd really enjoy the parades and new 'block party'.

 

[msr709]

Suggestions for the kids, put a sheet (not a blanket) in the stroller to line it so they don't have the plastic against their skin and maybe a towel underneath the sheet. And do get at least one Mister Fan (Target or WalMart sell them cheap) and fill with Ice when you leave the room by the time you get to the park it will be water but at least it will be cool. Take washcloths and put them in water the night before and then into a plastic baggie and put in the freezer (if you have a refrigerator) and keep that in the strollers to wipe the kids down every now and again. Bring them water also. You can always ask for a cups of ice from any of the food places in the parks. I bought those scarfs that you immerse in water and they stay wet all day to put around your neck and found that they help a lot. I don't enjoy the heat but have to go in summer this year because I'm taking my niece and nephew whose parents don't want to pull out of school. We're planning the same as you, visit early in a.m. and leave around noon and come back late afternoon. The wet washcloth in the back of the neck and forehead works wonders. HTH

 

[fla4fun]

My bit of advice would be, make sure you aren't waiting in line in the sun. If the line is not in the shade (preferably, it's indoors in A/C), don't wait. Any time you have to stand in the sun, you'll be miserable. Although I primarily rely on a rain poncho to keep dry (and if you can get a nylon one that breathes, you won't get so hot in it either), I do take a light colored umbrella to use for shade. Drink more than you think you could possibly need to drink, and as much of it water as possible. You'll be amazed at how much water your body will use to keep cool. Water rides during the day help to cool you down as well.

I would second the advice of the person who said not to book as many ADR's. There's just something about stuffing yourself with food, and then going out into 100+ degree heat that is extremely unappealing . I find that if I eat light meals, and eat them more frequently, I feel much better in the heat.

I don't do too many Disney summer trips, but as my annual pass is up for renewal in August, I sometimes do a long weekend to get it renewed. You just do what you have to do to stay cool.

 

[Lynne M]

So do you guys just miss all the day parades in favor of naps? I'm just working on my schedule for a vacation over labor day with a 15-month old. We definitely want to take breaks, but I would guess he'd really enjoy the parades and new 'block party'.

You'll have to see what works best for you and your little one, and how you and he tolerate the heat. The parades seem to take place in the hottest part of the afternoon. On my first trip, many years ago, my friend and I wanted to see the MK parade. It was the second week of October, it was in the 90's, and after standing in the beating sun for about a hour (waiting for the parade and during the parade), I very nearly passed out. I can't imagine what it would be like in August or early September.

After that, I decided I'd rather see shade and a/c than any daytime parade.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

So do you guys just miss all the day parades in favor of naps? I'm just working on my schedule for a vacation over labor day with a 15-month old. We definitely want to take breaks, but I would guess he'd really enjoy the parades and new 'block party'.

Yep. Like PP just said, the parade takes place during the hottest time of day, and its not only parade time but also take into account the hour prior to the parade staking out your spot.

Keep in mind that you CAN'T do everything this trip. Disney will always be there. It will give you an excuse to come back in the cooler months so you can see the parade.

Also, when you take an afternoon break, you will refreshed for the evening....so just catch the night time parade.

 

[nurse.darcy]

Okay, so I was there this past August. . .It was hot, but not unbearable. Wore a hat daily and drank excessive amounts of water but it never rained the entire 8 days we were there. HOWEVER, we live in the golf course communities of Palm Springs/Palm Desert/Rancho Mirage/La Quinta. It can be 125 in the shade here. Humidity is a problem for the last few years due to the number of man-made lakes that have been built.

 

[guelde96]

We were there July 27, 2007 and what we did was early morning into the parks, we made ADR's at CRT to get into the park extra early. We stay at MK until 1ish, eat lunch at the pool at our resort, swim, then shower, head back to MK for dinner adr at 7p. Make sure you work the EMH in your favor. MK closes at 2a during the summer EMH hours.

So by taking a 5-6 hour break in the day, you are still gaining time on the back end.

We get some serious heat and humity here in chicago in the summer.....it wasn't anything that we couldn't handle. Don't fret about it, you'll be fine.

Also from the Chicago area. I would have to disagree. We do get some serious heat and humidity but nothing like Florida. We may get this kind of weather for a day or two, maybe a week at most but rarely. We went to WDW last September 21-30. Even after reading about weather on this board I thought we could handle it. Boy was I wrong. It was like vacationing on the sun. Hot and humid is a huge understatement. I would never go back that time of year and we did not have the crowds that will be there in the summer. If you could go at any other time of year I would.

 

[loco4dis]

I've been in July and will be going again this June. It is mighty freakin' hot.

Here is what I learned:

--You will spend $20 a day just keeping yourselves hydrated. You can't imagine how much you will want to drink, drink, and drink. You can't carry all the water you'll need but can refill at the parks. Refill your water bottles every chance you get.
--Powerade and Gatorade, which taste just nasty in the real world, taste amazing coming off of an ice mound in a Disney park when it's 98 degrees. Ditto for popsicles. You'll never see so many grown people enjoying these "kid" foods.
--Take hats for everyone! The sun is an unrelenting beast and there's little shade. Consider some kind of light cover for the stroller, too.
--Buy those little water misting fans at Wal-Mart before you go. They are $20 in the parks and you'll want one. You'll want one so badly you won't believe what you'll be willing to pay for it. And they do really cool you off.
--When you head back to the resort mid-afternoon to take a dip in the pool and cool off, the pool will feel like a warm bathtub. You will not feel cooled off until you will take a cold shower in the room.
--Everyone will be really exhausted at the end of the day, far more so than on vacations where intense heat isn't an issue.
--Rain is your friend. Until it's over. Then it's your steamy enemy.