Is August as bad as everyone tells me?

[busymomma123]

We are planning our second trip to WDW this August 18 - 24. Can't Wait!!!
The free dining suckered us in to go in August before the kids start school. Lots of people are telling me its miserably hot there at that time. I know you can't control the weather, but we were there in May last year and thought it was hot then. I am starting to get a little nervous, just wondering if anyone else can give me some feedback. Thanks

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

Yes it is very hot in Florida in August. The good thing about your dates is that many schools have begun so the lines should not be that long. Remember it rains a lot in the summer so be sure to pack your rain ponchos from the Dollar Store. Drink plenty of water and take mid-day breaks and you will be fine. Oh, and pack lots of sunscreen. Have fun.

 

[janice1234]

Hi, this will be our 3rd late August trip. It is unbelievably hot and humid. But if you plan for the weather, you will have a blast. We try to hit the parks first thing in the morning, and leave by noon. We go back to the hotel to swim,and hang out.Then we go back out around 5pm, hit the parks have a nice dinner, and watch the fireworks. Also drink plenty of water, you can never have enough water in the heat. I am sure you will have fun.

 

[gonemousin']

Here's my take on the weather. We're going in August for the free dining too - this will be my second trip in August in addition to a July trip years ago. We also went last May and it was very hot and very humid...as humid as any FL summer day has ever been IMO. The difference is...we left Connecticut in May and entered the heat of Florida with no advance acclimation. Every time I've gone in the summer, adjusting to the weather never felt difficult, since I was coming from a hot, humid Connecticut summer (CT is downright miserable at times in the summer)...the weather wasn't much of a change. I'm not sure where you live - if you're coming from a more temperate state, you may definitely feel more overwhelmed by the heat and humidity.

 

[dsnymomof4]

I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but HOT doesn't even describe it! It's the combination of high temperatures and high humidity -it's just so sticky, even at 8:00 in the morning! And you would think that when the sun goes down, it would cool off a little - no. Just be prepared to do a lot of sweating and make sure you drink plenty of water. Also, take an afternoon break back in the pool and hit the air-conditioned attractions to cool off. By the way, even with the heat, it's still a great time to go. That's why we are braving the August heat once again this year! Have a great trip!

 

[momto2girls]

I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but HOT doesn't even describe it! It's the combination of high temperatures and high humidity -it's just so sticky, even at 8:00 in the morning! And you would think that when the sun goes down, it would cool off a little - no.

I agree. It would be a disservice to you to sugar coat it. It is Africa hot! Seriously brutal! I used to live in Florida and we stayed inside as much as possible in August.

If you are miserable in hot weather, you will hate it. If you don't mind being hot and sweaty, you'll do fine. If I were going in August (not that I plan to ), I would go to the parks first thing in the morning, stay a few hours and head back to the hotel before lunch. I would hang out inside the resort until early evening and enjoy the parks again when the sun isn't as brutal.

 

[Stitch1404]

We are going to be at WDW from July 23-August 6th and I am so worried!! Both of my kids have red hair and pale skin. I am afraid they are going to get cooked. I guess we will have to plan carefully. I know I can make my DD6 wear a hat/visor, but there is no way DS1 will keep one on. Are the pools even cool enough to be refreshing or is the only break from the weather when you go inside?

 

[mama4]

I was born and raised 2 hours from Orlando. We NEVER go to disney in the summer. I know we have the luxury of living close by so we can make more frequent trips but if you are flexible on your months, I would choose high crowds and cooler weather over going during May-September months. October can be a little better and we will try it on our next trip but we have always gone first week of April and although the crowds can be high, the weather is perfect for us. Honestly, we have not been bothered at all by the crowds on our past trips (it's always the 1st week of April- our spring break) and we would continue going in April but my oldest ds's birthday is 4/7 and he doesn't want to spend his bday or spring break at disney anymore . I wish I could trade bdays with him because mine is in June. If it were in April, I would insist on a disney bday every year!!

 

[made75]

i've gone several time in august, as well. for little ones in strollers, little fans or the bottles with the fans help a little... okay, not that much. it's brutal, but there are less crowds. i love the heat, so it doesn't bother me much, but my mother melts.
just remember to take dollar store ponchoes, insect repellant, etc. it will rain almost everyday, but not for long and the bugs are the size of small children.
have fun.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

It is so awful in the parks that last august we did USF/IOA only because had their annual passes so didn't mind doing only a few hours a day : and did waterparks. Didn't add on WDW even with free dining because my family can't take the heat. May can be hot,June is hotter and August veers between scorching hot and sauna steamy.
But i would still go if that was the only time posssible.
Consider special clothing made to cope with sun and sweat.

 

[Sammie]

Have to agree with everyone else, if you thought May was hot, you will think August is brutal and its peak hurricane season.

 

[mickey mommy]

Hi, this will be our 3rd late August trip. It is unbelievably hot and humid. But if you plan for the weather, you will have a blast. We try to hit the parks first thing in the morning, and leave by noon. We go back to the hotel to swim,and hang out.Then we go back out around 5pm, hit the parks have a nice dinner, and watch the fireworks. Also drink plenty of water, you can never have enough water in the heat. I am sure you will have fun.

This is exactly what we do as well. Most of our trips have been in the heat of either July or August!

 

[jennifer293]

We went in May last year and it was hot but not SCORCHING!! We are going in July this year and here is our plan: In the AM we will get up and go to a water park or the pool and then come back to the room and get showered and changed and go to dinner and then hit the parks after dinner. I know it will still be hot, but possibly not as bad once the sun goes down.

My babies are very pale as well but I just keep them coated in SPF 50 and I reapply about every 20 minutes.

 

[JESW]

It is waaaay beyond hot! The humidity is what kills you. If you thought May was hot, then august is completely off the charts! And the pools are just as hot so not refreshing. We go then because we can no longer take the kids out of school. DH won't leave the room much and prefers to use it as a working vacation. We have dinner reservations every night and last year we missed a couple because dinner time is a popular time for the nasty thunderstorms they usually get every day. And last year we just beat hurricane katrina home.

Not trying to scare you away, but it is VERY extreme in Florida in august! And now with so many people signing up for the free dining plan, if you don't want to just eat fast food I would suggest you make dining reservations NOW.

Jill

 

[melomouse]

Here's my take on the weather. We're going in August for the free dining too - this will be my second trip in August in addition to a July trip years ago. We also went last May and it was very hot and very humid...as humid as any FL summer day has ever been IMO. The difference is...we left Connecticut in May and entered the heat of Florida with no advance acclimation. Every time I've gone in the summer, adjusting to the weather never felt difficult, since I was coming from a hot, humid Connecticut summer (CT is downright miserable at times in the summer)...the weather wasn't much of a change. I'm not sure where you live - if you're coming from a more temperate state, you may definitely feel more overwhelmed by the heat and humidity.

I totally agree with gonemousin'! Depends on where you're coming from. We have been vacationing mid-to-late August for years. Prices and crowds are reduced, tho I don't know how FDP will impact this.

PLEASE do not listen to the folks who try to discourage you. I understand that people are trying to "cue you in" but it's different for everyone! I got lots of support on these boards a few years ago on our first trip. You just have to pace yourself, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and lots of reapplying of sunscreen.

Pools at the resorts are crowded in the afternoons but it's refreshing. Sometimes we went to the pools late morning, hung out and didn't hit parks til late afternoon, and then continued into the night. We freeze the water bottles to go and refill as needed. I have never bought a mister fan, tho they were suggested.

There's also almost everyday a summer rainstorm that passes thru - also refreshing - we've done these with and w/o rainponchos. Carry a change of clothes for the little ones.

There's plenty of AC attractions and shops to pop in and out of. I've been to WDW April, 2 Octobers and 3 Augusts. Next trip is late September - I still expect it to be "too warm" by NY standards!LOL!

I hate heat, but I'm in WDW and I don't mind it somehow. My kids complain about hot days here in summer, but not one peep in Disney! My mom came from hot Texas with us one August to WDW. Amazingly,she was fine! If you've ever been in Houston in the summer - now THAT is hot!!!

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Everytime I finished up another bottle, I felt rejuvenated enough to keep going.

EnjoY! Don't let anyone rain on your parade!!!!

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

f you do well in extreme heat you'll be fine, if not then hope for cooler temps.

Not even free dining would get me to ever go to WDW in August again (did consider it though ). I was absolutely miserable when we went in August. I can't even describe it. I personally don't do well in extreme heat or humidity though.

DH on the other hand thought is was O.K. He would have liked it cooler of course but he handled the heat fine. (as sweat dripped nonstop off his face)

I always laughed at the vacation planning videos when they suggested going back to your hotel to swim midday and then head back to the parks at night. Usually I am out of my room by 7am close down the parks, then head to DTD until it closes. Well, when we went in August we were back at our hotel every day to swim or even nap. I just couldn't handle it.

Thats me though, I don't do well in those conditions. Hopefully you will get cooler temps and breezes. If not, I suggest buying a fan/spraybottle thing to spray yourself while standing in line. It helped a little. PLUS with your dining you will get to spend a lot of time in an air-conditioned resteraunt. That should help too.

 

[Cinderella]

It is hot and v humid. When we visited in August once - it felt so bad walking around that I vowed not to return again for a long time! But, I would still do it again - especially for the free dining.

There's plenty of coping strategies. Take fans with you, especially ones attached to misters or those squirty bottles. As one of the other posters mentioned - cheap ponchos are a must. They are so expensive in Disney, and if there is a downpour, you don't want to risk not being able to get one - when it rains, it rains hard.

Do have long rests in the afternoon to swim and sleep. At least the parks are open later, which give you more time to have a rest.

 

[ChristusG]

I have lived in FL my whole life.....we live 2.5 hours from Disney. We have been in the summer only a few times and will probably never go again. It is miserably hot. If you just step outside, you begin sweating.

 

[holden]

We went last Sept. 9 and it was uncomfortably hot (for me anyway). Even though the free dining is tempting, we are hoping that Oct. will be a little cooler this year. I coped by drinking a lot (water, that is), reapplying sunscreen, wearing tank tops with built in bras (thank you j.crew) and enjoying no waits for any rides! Really the only park that I had to leave was Animal Kingdom. It felt hotter there than any other place. We stayed about 2 hours and then left. Even little DD was not enjoying herself there.

Just know what you're in for, wear only cotton, and have fun!

 

[jjjbennett]

Sorry double post