is it going to be that bad in july!!!!

[lesleybax]

went to WDW in oct 1999 and we met with ques then, admitidly the longest was about 45mins. going in july this time and see that the park attendence is off the scale compared with oct will we spend all our time at parks in line? if so how many rides would expect to do in a day?
any advice greately recieved

thanks
lesley

 

[wayneg]

Hi lesley
We go to Florida 3 wks every Oct. Half term and 2 wks before it. Last Oct was busiest we have seen, started busy but by the last week (our half term) longest Q was about 15 mins.
As for July we went for 2 weeks last year Long Long Q's upto 90 mins on some rides. Weather Good until 3pm every day then horrible until late evening (EVERY DAY) probably worst storms I have ever seen.
This year we are doing 3 wks Oct & 1 wk Xmas to New Year (busiest week of year) If some cheap flights come up for July we will be there again.
Hope this helps
Wayne

 

[lesleybax]

thanks wayne
wish i could go as much as you do you
bet you find new things to do all the time whats your fav
lesley

 

[debkorb1]

July can be an excellent time of year to go - the parks are open longer, less rides are down for Rehab and all the parades and shows run more often.

The key I think is get to the parks EARLY - try to arrive at the car park at least half an hour before official opening, but I think 45-60 mins is a good idea. Hit all of the big attractions early, stop at noon, go for a big afternoon break at your hotel and go back after 5pm.

If you really want to plan thoroughly and know the best way to tackle Disney during July, get Bob Sehlinger's 'Unoffical guide to Disney'.

 

[kipper]

JULY LAST YEAR AND JULY THIS YEAR.THE PREVIOUS POSTING IS RIGHT GET THERE EARLY AFTERNOON BREAK THEN BACK FOR THE EVENING.BUT ALONG WITH THAT MAKE BEST USE OF FASTPASS FOR THOSE RIDES YOU DO NOT MISS AND MAKE A PLAN FOR THE OTHERS. PRIORITISE THE RIDES IN ORDER AND MAKE A BEE LINE FOR THOSE FIRST THING. NEW RIDES WILL HAVE THE LONGEST QUEUES FOR SHREK LAST YEAR I SAW 175MINS WAIT ON THE BOARD ,NOW AS GOOD A RIDE AS IT IS ITS NOT WORTH THAT TIME SO GET A FASTPASS.IF YOU CAN GET TO BUSCH GARDENS THE QUEUES WILL BE LESS THAN DISNEY AND ITS WELL WORTH THE TRIP IN MY OPINION.
WHATEVER THE QUEUES ITS STILL WORTH GOING BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER EXPERIENCES OVER THERE.
THEME PARKS SRE NOT THE ONLY PLACE TO HAVE QUEUES NIETHER, WE LIKE GOING TO GOLDEN CORRAL AND AFTER 6.00 IN THE EVENING THE WAIT CAN BE AS LONG.

 

[signtalker]

SORRy but i cant be postive about July, although the heat and humidity were bearable(in our book), the weather was another matter, we had torrrential thunderstorms and rain starting after lunch and continuing for hours(not just a half an hour as we'd expected!).
You do try and compensate and do(insidey) things but this did spoil our holiday and we would never go again at this time of year

SORRY
Jules

 

[JohnnySharp]

Sorry Lesley but in my opinion visiting Florida in the summer months can be difficult both weatherwise and crowdwise.

Touring any theme park can become a bit of an assault course during this time.

The problem is that's when the school summer holidays are which does make things difficult when you have children.

Apologies for being so negative - just my views, I am sure there will plenty of more positive one's for you.

 

[signtalker]

Apologies for being so negative

Thats what this board is all about, people giving negatives as well as positives!

I have to agree with Johhny and be negative Im afraid!

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Hi Lesley.

Been twice before in june/july, it is busier than usual, but bearable, to us, not to others.
The weather is a little unpredictable, we was lucky we had a few thundery storms, and rain but it never ruined our days in the parks or any days of that.

We get to the parks around 10am, I find getting there first thing too much for us, as we have a 4year old, we come home for tea or just to freshen up and then go back for the night shows and parades.
I would pace yourselves, drink plenty fluids, You will have a great time, we are going again on the 20th june for 4weeks. so it can't be that bad!! just depends on how you are and what you expect, and what you can cope with

 

[allie5]

A similar topic is running on another thread, apologies if my post sounds familiar.

Another one in "It did spoil our holiday" camp Im afraid. The weather was horrendous, unbearably hot in the morning and then vicious thunderstorms afternoon and evening. Crowds were sometimes so bad that even walking round became a chore. It didnt help we had two very small children who hated the storms...we would never go at this time again.

To be a little more positive, if the storms dont worry you, then stick around in the parks. The crowds disperse rapidly during heavy rain, and most rides become walk ons. If you can get to the parks EARLY, then you can get the big rides done then. If you want to see a parade, then be prepared to stake out a spot up to 2 hours beforehand.

Planning is the key to every successful WDW holiday...even in July you can still beat the negative points by being prepared. You have the advantage of lighter evening, longer hours, more shows and parades and less ride closures.

Have fun.
Allie

 

[GarryK]

Lesley

Count me in the positive camp on this one ! We went for 3 weeks last year in July after going in October in 2000 and 2001.

I shared your concerns about crowds and weather but had no problems with either. My DDs are 12 and 10, had been before, so were able to handle the bigger crowds. Yes, it rains but we found it's pot luck if you get caught - e.g. we left the MK @ 2.30 and returned @ 6 pm one day and in between there had been a mighty thunderstorm. We missed it even though we were @ the hotel pool right outside WDW in Kissimmee !

Agree with previous posters about getting there early and most definitely about Busch - it's great and relatively quiet.

We're going again at the same time in 2005.

Garry

 

[gilld]

We've been a few times in July. The humidity does sap your energy and you really do need to be up and out early in the morning but it is do-able.
Personally though, I'd choose May or September when the crowds are smaller.

 

[lesleybax]

thanks everyone for your comments.

i suppose it depends on who you are and your tollerance level as to weather july is good or bad will just have to see for ourselves!
as our sons are older and doing GCSEs and the like and i'm afraid like many we're governed by the school holidays.
as my husband is a london cabbie he is used to hussle and bussle and untill about 10 years ago we lived in london.

in oct we had weather problems a hurracaine, and three of the coldest days florida had seen, so the locals said (it was freezing)

still pros and cons aside it still can't come quick enough i think i'm more excited this time as i know what to expect.
because however much someone tells you about WDW untill your actully there you have know idea


lesley

 

[Minx]

Hi Lesley.
We go July/August every year, again governed by school holidays. My children are teenagers too. It is very crowded and hot but your sons will cope no problem. If my lads are getting a little restless in the parks we send them off to do what they want to do, we keep in touch with walkie talkies then me and DH can have a sit down somewhere and chill a little before we meet up with them again.

We do try to leave the parks about 3-4pm and go back to the villa and have a swim, then go out for tea before going back for the evening.

The weather is very unpredictable, we have had some excellent years with very little rain then we have had some terrible years were it seems to have done nothing but rain (2001 we had 8 days sunshine in 3 weeks the rest was torrential rain). What ever the weather you will enjoy yourself.

Dee

 

[yorkshiregirl]

Posted a similar reply to a recent post. We have been the last 2 mid-July's with teenagers and found it hot but bearable. Get there for opening, come away for a rest in the afternoon and miss most of the storms and then go back until park closing. Plan each day and pack lots and lots of drinks.
You are there to enjoy yourself at the end of the day not rushing around working which would be dreadful. Stop in the cool areas and pace yourselves. There are some lovely areas to stop and enjoy just being there especially in EPCOT, watching the crowds go by which can be busy but we were never overfaced. Again you are on holiday and although the teens found it hard to consider the novel idea of being up early in the morning they saw it's benefits and went along with it well. We did plan in some non park days so we could have a lie in or 2
Work or school committments may mean hot busy days but I would rather go then than not at all.

 

[Dodge34]

Maybe this seems of topic but I need to know the meaning of :

DH
DS
DD
...
I'm french canadian so I don't know much about that, I figured out those are short names for family members (daughter, son's...) but can't figure out exactly what they mean if someone could write something for me. I'm in the process of getting some better english knowledge, but the usual names are not learned yet.

 

[steve404]

Dodge,
I asked this a few weeks ago try this link which shows all abbreviations. http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm

Steve.....................

 

[Stratocastermagic]

We're getting ready for our third visit to WDW - all of them in July/August. Like others who have responded, we have no choice: three kids in school and my wife is a teacher.
As others have said, getting to the parks early is the key - helped if you're Disney resident by 'early magic hour'. We too are devotees of Sehlinger's 'Unofficial Guide'. We have wonderful memories of 'doing' many of the major attractions in MK before breaking for mid-morning coffee! Also of strolling onto Spaceship Earth and doing a couple of other things at Epcot before stopping for breakfast.
Coming from UK means that the time-shift works in your favour for early morning starts - especially for the first few days at least.
We had thunderstorms in the afternoons, but never ones which lasted for long. And, coming from NW England it's actaully quite pleasant to experience rain that is warm - and with a themepark poncho you don't get any wetter than you do at Shamu stadium!!! Besides which, if you're doing early mornings and stuff in the evenings (fireworks, parades, dinner etc), the afternoon is time for a nap - by the pool if the weather is bearable or anywhere that's air-conditioned!
Don't be put off by the negatives - we'd all love to do WDW when no-one else is there and the weather is cooler, but we don't have the choice! It's still possible to have a fabulous holiday in July/August.
Enjoy!

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

We've been in July twice - 2000 and 2003
Yes July is extremely hot and humid - and on our first trip in July in 2000 I stepped out of the airport and immediately regretted it - it was soo hot. The parks were busy - but manageable if you make use of Fastpass, and avoid busier days, which really does make a difference. We survived the two weeks - and last year we decided to go back in July again - so it couldn't have been that bad! We arrived at the parks as early as we could - and usually left by mid-afternoon to go back to the villa, or do some shopping ir whatever. The good thing was - Spectromagic was on every night, sometimes twice and MK open till 10 or 11 at night!

The rain and thunderstorms don't bother us - they can be spectacular at times.

Cath

 

[expatscot]

Don't worry too much about the rain - quite pleasant in the heat of the day! Although in july 2001 (a very wet July!) we came off the water ride - it was raining - so we went into 'Posiedon' to keep out of the rain - the air con made us freezing and yes you've guessed it when we came out looking for a heat - yes it was raining!!!

Got back to the hotel and into bed to warm up ( felt just like being back home!)

Seriously though don't let it worry u we always go July/August and I agree the storms can be quite spectacular!