July vs August

[BriarRose924]

We can potentially travel mid July or mid August next year. Does anyone have advice on which would be the better option? Thanks!

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

We can potentially travel mid July or mid August next year. Does anyone have advice on which would be the better option? Thanks!

In both cases the temperature will be roughly equivalent to that experienced on the surface of the sun. Mid August will likely be less crowded, especially as you get closer to late august, as the Florida kids go back to school.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Late August would be a noticeable decrease in crowds and probably prices. Otherwise I can't think of any way they'd be significantly different, as long as your "mid-July" is at least a week removed from the Independence Day holiday.

 

[PalmettoPath]

Another mark for mid-August (we're there again in 10 days). We rotate between July and August in the summer. July definitely has more tours groups etc. Second half of August is our sweet spot -- also as a bonus we always catch one of the first few Halloween Parties then.

 

[maltdizzy]

We travel late August every trip. Three things to note:

Halloween parties now start mid-August, they will affect crowd traffic and reduce the number of long days at the MK.

Along with the crowds, park hours also decrease after mid-August. They usually get shorter the third week in August, then shorter still on the 4th week going into the school year.

Rain increases as you go into hurricane season mid-August. You'll have the usually mid-afternoon thunderstorm, but may end up with a whole wet day(s) from a band of rain from a tropical storm.

 

[set88]

I would expect mid August to be less crowded - potentially much less crowded depending on how close it is to the second half of the month. In terms of heat/humidity, they'll be about the same. August will likely be a bit more rainy with a slightly higher risk of a major storm.

If those were my choices, I would choose mid August due to the hope of lower crowds. Disney chose August 7th to potentially remove rides from Genie+ because they thought that would be the last day of the "busiest" summer season. So I'd say first week of August and July about the same, otherwise mid August is better. Plan on rain every afternoon but mornings and evenings should usually be clear!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Along with the crowds, park hours also decrease after mid-August.

This point is particularly annoying if you like the parks at night. I don't mind them closing earlier in the winter, because it gets dark earlier. But limited hours when it's still light outside late into the evening means you don't get to be in the parks in the dark very long.

 

[BriarRose924]

Thank you everyone! It definitely seems there are a few pros and cons to each options. I appreciate the advice!

 

[gatorlisa]

Depends on what is important to you. If longer hours are more important, July would be your best bet. If you are hoping for lower crowds, August will be at least slightly better for that. Schools in the south, Florida included, go back to school pretty early, so crowds do go down a bit by mid August. For reference, the major school system closest to Disney starts August 10 this year. Lately, there seems to be less variation in park hours regardless of season. This year it looks like only a difference of an hour, maybe two, between peak summer and mid August into September. It seems that gone are the days of midnight MK closings during peak summer season. Weather is about the same between the two. Hot, humid, daily chance of scattered thunderstorms. Personally, I'd go with August.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

This point is particularly annoying if you like the parks at night. I don't mind them closing earlier in the winter, because it gets dark earlier. But limited hours when it's still light outside late into the evening means you don't get to be in the parks in the dark very long.

This is not happening this year though. I'm going from August 13 - August 20th and MK is open till 11 every non party night. Epcot and HS are open till 9, but they were only open till 9 in July as well. AK hours also seem similar to July.

 

[parasail_of_congress]

This is not happening this year though. I'm going from August 13 - August 20th and MK is open till 11 every non party night. Epcot and HS are open till 9, but they were only open till 9 in July as well. AK hours also seem similar to July.

I was going to say the same thing - we will be there the same time as you, and they recently extended summer hours that extend into August. Pre-Covid, summer hours were slightly longer than they were now, so maybe that's what people are referring to, since mid-August they were slightly shorter.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

We can potentially travel mid July or mid August next year. Does anyone have advice on which would be the better option? Thanks!

I agree with most of the advice on here already but do keep in mind, any tropical depressions/storms are going to be more likely in August and even though most are nothing more than just rain, it's something to keep on your radar.

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

We are going to Disney for the third time the second half of august. It’s hot just like July but it’s not as crowded because kids in the south and southwest - including Florida - are back in school. So it’s the beginning of the slower season.

 

[Ccortave]

I was also going to say August, late August. July heat just seems to be too much