July 2007 How Is It

[qanita92]

i am planning to go either july 1-21 or june 25-july 15 which is better and how is it. will it be miserable or doable (hey that rymes) how is it.

 

[BrianD]

It will be quite and humid, so it is fairly uncomfortable depending on where you are from. Crowd-wise, it is the summer so it will be generally crowded. But along with that come longer park hours, so that helps.

Your dates are so close to each other, I don't really see an advantage of one over the other. The rates at the deluxe resorts go down in early July, but everything else is pretty much the same.

 

[jmskinner]

Wow, 21 days! It won't matter when you go because you should have time to do everything you want. We just went for our first trip this past July. It was hot and humid, but we tried to do EMH every morning, have lunch at 1 or 2:00 and then went back to our hotel. We then hit another park that night.

Another thing, plan for rain! It rained everyday on us.

Hope you enjoy your planning and your trip!

 

[Kick Save]

We've been in both June and Aug, and next summer we'll be there with you in July. Based on how this past August was, it will be hot and humid. All the time.

That said, I didn't find it unbearable. We're from central Ohio, where hot and humid is the norm (not quite Orlando H&H, but still pretty brutal in the summer), so I wasn't shocked. We got around fine, drank plenty of water (camelbak backpack for that), and took an afternoon break in the pool every day around lunch.

One other thing I did was wear two t-shirts every day. May sound insane, but it worked like a charm. Basically, you're "insulating" yourself from the heat the same way you would the cold. The small air pocket trapped between the shirts allows the sweat to be pulled away from your body and do its natural cooling thing. I was much more comfortable than past trips where I wore just one t-shirt.

 

[ajcolorado]

We've been there in the heat, humidity, and crowds and we keep going back. We usually do a sit-down meal for lunch, rather than dinner. Some quality sit-down time in the air conditioning and refills on our beverages are just a good idea. It's also good to do inside shows in the middle of the day - or head back to the hotel for a swim & a shower. Throw in a water park day every couple of days to get your core body temp. down.

I definately recommend having a good touring plan - it is the only way to manage the crowds. The three we've used are the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, www.tourguidemike.com, and www.buildabettermousetrip.com. Birnbaum is just not specific enough for the busy season.

 

[nluvwithmickey]

I have to agree, with 21 days at WDW, you will not feel the need to rush the way most people do when they get to spend one week at WDW.

Yes, there will be crowds, it will be wicked hot but the atmoshpere at WDW during the summer cannot be beat. The pools are deliciously warm, the water parks are a must do and the theme parks are open later so I wouldn't be too worried if I were you.

In your case, you can easily spend the mornings in the parks before it gets too hot or too busy and relax at the resort pools in the afternoon before returning for the evenings. Enjoy!

 

[Buttercup Roberts]

I went in the peak of the heat a couple of trips. Here's some tips on what worked for me:

Stay in the shade when you walk from place to place - crisscross the walkways if you need to. Over an 8 hour day in the parks, you'd be surprised how much sun exposure you can avoid.

Wear a hat with a brim. I hate hats, never owned one, finally broke down and agreed to try a baseball hat, and wow, what a difference! Now I always wear a light weight cotton baseball cap in a light color, and pull my ponytail through the back opening. Keeps hair off of my face and neck, and the sun off my face.

Wear good sunglasses. I prefer polarized lenses to cut out all the glare from the cement walkways and waterways.

Wear a hydration pack and take sips on it frequently. Mine has some secure pouches so I just carry what I can fit in there. I put my water bladder in the refrigerator overnight and during all my room breaks. The water stayed nice and cool for a long time, and kept my back cool!

Dress appropriately. I have sleeveless, moisture-wicking, breathable tops, and lightweight nylon shorts that are quick-drying. I am going back this July/August, and am going to invest in some wicking, quick drying sports bras, too. I usually change mid-day or before we go back out again in the evening, if we can. There's something about a shower and a fresh change of clothes that makes you feel so much better in the heat.

Get into all the misters, interactive fountains, and on all the water rides you can. Buy a cup of ice from a counter service restaurant and rub it all over yourself. Stick some down your loved ones' pants. Makes the queues much more fun.

Wear open shoes. I use waterproof "Pretty Leather" Tevas. My husband has a pair, now, too. Same shoe, doesn't have "Pretty" in the name, lol, but it's the same shoe with a couple more manly looking details. I tried going in socks and sneakers one day in July and just about keeled over. The open feet makes a huge difference to me.

You'll never appreciate It's a Small World, Carousel of Progress, Hall of Presidents, Ellen's Energy Adventure, American Adventure, etc. more! Anything over 20 minutes where you sit in a/c will become your new favorite attraction.

Spend the high heat of the day (1 to 3 p.m.) at your resort in the pool or napping in your room.

Skip the big sit down dinners and use any time after the sun starts to sink to tour the parks. It'll still be muggy but you won't have the sun beating down on you.

Finally... sunscreen, sunscreen, and more sunscreen! That includes some kind of lip balm with sunscreen in it, too.

 

[pixiesrule]

It will definitely be hot! But we are from Michigan, and the only diff between Michigan in July and Florida in July is that it usually rains every afternoon in Florida! And those showers can be a big relief sometimes - besides they go as quickly as they come. With our kids involved in sports from late August until mid July, we don't have a lot of options on when we can go on vacation. You just have to drinks lots and take 'hotel breaks' in the middle of the day