July/August: are we crazy???

[CruisingCamper]

Hello,
We have camped and visited WDW many times but never during the summer heat and crowds... How hot is it? It has to be cooler than our regular lake camping vacation in Louisiana during those same weeks, right? DH is worried it will be too hot and crowds will be crazy. I can't imagine the crowds being worse than Spring Break last month.

We love the fort! We will be there July 25th until August 8th... Unless a job that I have applied for happens.. Maybe they will still let me vacation

Please just give me your comments about summer camping at the fort. I told him we would be fine... We will be camping in a MH with two A/C's... He said that we wouldn't have those ACs while we were standing in line for rides.

 

[YanksDa1]

Hi there. I have visited WDW in mid August through the end of that month. It is the worse time of the year to go. Not because of the heat, but because of severe lighting storms! So severe that disney will close their 2 water parks when the storm comes through. They will also temporarily shut down the 4 theme parks too. This happen to us in 2003 and 2007. I vowed to never again visit Disney during the last 2 weeks in august. You also lose a good portion of your day pass. Disney will most likely not give credit for that day closed as it states on the back of the pass that Disney has the right to close the parks without issuing credit for the lost day(s).

As for your case, you will be traveling to WDW when there will be more frequent thunderstorms. It should be expected to be very humid! See if you can put a window A/C through the opening of your tent door and place a couple of 4x4 under the outside side of your A/C to deal with the heat. I think your biggest challenge will be the threat of thunderstorms, but I don't think the storms get as bad like the lighting storms that we've experience in mid-late august. But you should prepare for lots of rain and possible closings!

 

[tiggerdad]

Been there August 3-10 in 09' and yes it is hot, but comparable to Louisiana. The crowds will still be up, but some schools will be starting back shortly around that time, so maybe it will help some. There are thunderstorms, but usually come up fast and go away fast. I think the longest amount of time we lost was about 30 minutes, and it was a heavy storm. We just go into a store or eatery and pass the time.
I did travel back in June of last year and took some damage to the camper, but that was my fault for leaving the awning out. Any of the summer months yield the possibility of storms, but like I said they are not typically all day storms, they usually pass quickly. If you are tent camping you will have to get advice from others, I have not tried that at the Fort.
Look at it this way, if it's your only time to get to go, then go. Have fun!

Sent from my Desire HD using DISBoards

 

[North of Mouse]

Hello,
We have camped and visited WDW many times but never during the summer heat and crowds... How hot is it? It has to be cooler than our regular lake camping vacation in Louisiana during those same weeks, right? DH is worried it will be too hot and crowds will be crazy. I can't imagine the crowds being worse than Spring Break last month.

We love the fort! We will be there July 25th until August 8th... Unless a job that I have applied for happens.. Maybe they will still let me vacation

Please just give me your comments about summer camping at the fort. I told him we would be fine... We will be camping in a MH with two A/C's... He said that we wouldn't have those ACs while we were standing in line for rides.

We have gone to Disney many times in the summer, but it is *hot*. We just got back from 10 nights at the fort, and we decided summer is *out* now for going there. It was even hot this trip - mid to upper 80's already with 55-75% humidity!!

I'm a south LA girl, and no, FL is not cooler than LA summers, may be even hotter We are also in a MH with AC, but like your dh, it doesn't help you in the parks Trust me, it is really miserable there in the hot sun and concrete walkways getting from place to place.

As for the thunder storms, that would be the least of my concerns. South LA has TS's nearly every day in the summer - you learn to deal with it - no different in FL.

And yes, it will be *very* crowded those weeks - sorry. Hope you can work something out!

 

[bama_ed]

CruisingCamper,

I see in your signature you were at WDW in Aug 2009. So being in a motorhome with 2 AC is probably not much different than being in a resort.

Is it hot? Yes.

Does it affect the guest experience? Uh huh.

Should it stop you from going? Not necessarily.

If that's the only/best time you can go, do it. If you have a cooler time of year you can go, do that (unless it's a crazy time like Christmas week). You may want to come back to the Fort mid-day to cool off or take a nap. Then return to the park you were in that morning.

You'll probably experience daily rain showers.

Note in my signature I AVOID the summer time because I have alternative times I can go. I lived in South Florida for a while. Just set expectations accordingly if you go then and have fun.

Bama Ed

 

[iheartpeterpan]

I went to the fort in July last year in a popup. It was HOT, but it totally was bearable, in fact we were chilly at night with the one A/C running. Crowds are high in the summer, but are not as insane as they can be (ie, Thanksgiving, Easter Week, Christmas). It is totally doable.

I am a teacher so I have no choice. I almost always go July/August, and always still have an absolute blast!

But, it is hot... and humid.

 

[Disneyaddictz]

When we lived in south Florida we tried to do all the water parks in the summer because of the heat, another good time to go to the parks was after 3. Bring a fan cool clothes and expect the heat, you're still in Disney!!!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[CruisingCamper]

Thanks for the wonderful comments I appreicate all the advice. I did talk with DH last night...he's just really not into it for these dates. Maybe bc we just went for Spring Break and the weather was wonderful But the crowds were so heavy.

I made my ressie so now I'll give it a month or so and see what we decide as we get a little closer to the dates.

I am also looking for a job and that may keep me from going anyway...Don't you wish we didnt have to have thoseBut to travel to Disney...they are a requirement, unless you won the Lottery!