Is it really that hot in August?

[nhpooh]

I guess my family is the exception -- we recognize it's hot and humid, but if you stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and proper clothing, it's no big deal. Disney is always blasting cold air out of the buildings, and personally, I think one of the best feelings in the world is walking out of the heat into the cool fun of Pirates of the Caribbean or the Haunted Mansion.

Someone mentioned thunderstorms -- yes, there is often thunder and lightning involved, but typically these storms roll through in less than an hour on summer afternoons, and cools things off considerably for the evening. If you absolutely don't like heat and humidity, then I guess that time of year is not for you.

I suppose we locals should consider ourselves lucky that there are so many who can't tolerate the summer weather here -- late summer/early fall is the best time to visit the parks for many of us. We like the heat, and the parks are nearly empty. I'd much rather deal with 95 degree heat at 100% humidity than elbowing my way through 40,000 other people in MK.

I am with you on this one. I am not a local but love the summer weather. Some day I will be a local and will the love your weather.

I have been to Florida in July and August, I didn't mind it at all. I was outside down there more then up here during this time. It has been getting pretty hot up here in the 90's with high humidity.

So for us too going in August is much better then going when it's way to and humid.

 

[eliza61]

As every one else said it's going to be hot! But I'm from NYC and it's hot in the city too (that's why they're called the dog-days of summer). I'll give you my reasons why my family and I always go the last 2 weeks in August.
1. The southern schools are back in session, so the crowds tend to be lighter. No more 90 min waits to get on any thing. I can deal with the heat, I'm too impatient to wait.

2. The parks are still open late, usually 9:00-10:00 pm. That means we can hit a water park or the resort pool during the heat of the day and still hit a theme park when it gets a little cooler.

3. Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream. It just taste better when it's blistering hot outside.

Don't let the heat scare you, follow the tips from all the previous posters and pack your bags.

 

[Tricialiv]

We went the last week in July in 2004. It was way to hot. When you stepped out of the air conditioning it about took our breath away. Our next trip was 12/05 and we enjoyed it much more. The kids really didn't like the heat either, I was surprised they were so miserable. They were 3 & 6 at the time. But it is Disney, and if met August or not at all I would go! Have fun

 

[TAKitty]

We just canceled our August trip b/c we realized that the weather will be too much for us. Going in December now.

When we went this past Dec. it was sticky and not very warm. I actually had on long johns during the MVMCP!

 

[heidica]

OP - Thanks for asking. I was wondering this too, but I want to see if someone can compare June & September vs August for me. I have been to WDW in June and several times in September and found both months very hot, but I was able to survive. If I can handle June & September, can I handle August?? Does the heat peak in August or September? And is June only a tiny bit cooler than August or all the summer months hot and it doesn't matter?

 

[rejobako]

OP - Thanks for asking. I was wondering this too, but I want to see if someone can compare June & September vs August for me. I have been to WDW in June and several times in September and found both months very hot, but I was able to survive. If I can handle June & September, can I handle August?? Does the heat peak in August or September? And is June only a tiny bit cooler than August or all the summer months hot and it doesn't matter?

Maybe I'm not the right person to respond, because as I said, the heat doesn't typically bother me, but frankly there's typically not much of a difference between August and September -- the first cold fronts don't usually make it down this way until October/November, and before then, unless there is a hurricane in the area, I can predict the weather for you within a few degrees between June and September:

"Lows in the mid to upper 70s, Highs in the mid-90s, with a 50% chance of afternoon thundershowers."

That forecast has not been given the seal of approval by the American Meteorological Society, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Here's a chart showing Orlando weather averages by month.

Orlando weather averages

You'll notice that June through September only vary by two degrees at most for average high and average low. It starts to drop significantly sometime in October. The rainfall averages are also fairly steady for those four months of June-September.

Believe me, if you can handle June, or especially September, you won't notice anything appreciably different in August.

By the way, I know there's a lot of people who think it regularly tops 100 degrees during the summer heat waves down here, but as you'll see in the link I posted above, Orlando's maximum ever recorded was 100 degrees, back in 1998. As many people like to say, it's not the heat, it's the humidity.

 

[heidica]

Rejobako - Thanks for the link on Orlando weather and thanks for the reply. I figure that if I can handle September and June that August will feel the same to me - HOT! I find it interesting that June (on average) has more rain than the other summer months.

 

[cgcruz]

We went last August during the free dining promo. It is very hot and humid, but didn't seem any worse than our hot and humid days of summer here in Virginia. We are going back this August and the free dining plan makes it so worth the hot weather! I'll admit though, weather wise our March trips are more enjoyable. But disney anytime is great!

 

[rejobako]

I find it interesting that June (on average) has more rain than the other summer months.

Me too, actually. I've lived here most of my life, and it seems to me that the rain peaks later in the summer.

 

[JulielovesDisney]

I've been down there in August, and I'll be there this August too. I can't handle heat that well. My face gets flushed, I sweat bullets, and I get cranky from the lack of energy I have from the heat yanking it out of me. But I find it manegable in WDW. All the stores and restaurants have the A/C at about 20 degrees (atleast it feels like that!). You can just walk past a store and you feel the icey blast from inside. And instantly you're refreshed!

Definitely take afternoon breaks, or hit the long, inside, A/C'd shows then. And bring a portable fan/spritzer bottle with you. They help tremendosly!!!

 

[glennsgirl762]

We're going in August also. We got the package with the free dining, it will be our first time going in August. I couldn't pass up a deal like that! We went the third week in June 1999 and yes it was extremely hot and humid and rained every afternoon for about 15 min. but it's summertime and it's hot just about everywhere. I live in New Jersey, near the water and we've had our share of hot and humid days. It can get to 100 + degrees sometimes.
If it get's that bad, I guess you can spend your days by the pool and the nights at the parks. That's what we'll do also if the days are that bad.
So go and enjoy your trip. Have a wonderful time