Jun/Aug Crowd Calendars - UG vs. Everyone Else!?

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Hi all!

Over the years, I've used everything from UG/TP to TGM (back in the day) to UndercoverTourist to easyWDW -- to help pick when to schedule our trips. I'm now adding ************** to the mix. I don't use these religiously for day-by-day planning, but do think they've been helpful for deciding when to go. I think the different sources have each ebbed and flowed some in terms of accuracy over the years - at least from our experience. Sometimes they agree almost exactly, sometimes it's a so-so match between calendars.

Next year will be the first time we go for an extended trip in the summer. Not thrilled about that, but this is when we can do it. So I am trying to pick between mid/late Jun (17th-28th) and mid/late Aug (10th-21st).

• While easyWDW, UT and ************** suggest late Aug is better (6.3 avg fr Aug vs. 8.2 for Jun),
• UG says the opposite (8 for Aug vs 6.7 for Jun).

What is your experience with mid/late Jun vs. mid/late Aug? Are they basically just as bad (!!), so no use worrying too much about the crowd calendar discrepancies? Anyone feel that UG is SO MUCH MORE ACCURATE that I should go with them over the other 3 who agree? Any advice would be welcome -- thanks!

 

[supersnoop]

Late August will have much lower crowds. Early June might be similar, but late June will be much more crowded.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Late August will have much lower crowds. Early June might be similar, but late June will be much more crowded.

Thanks so much for your response! I modified my post to show exact dates... it's really more like mid/late Jun and Aug... does that change things from your experience?

 

[supersnoop]

Thanks so much for your response! I modified my post to show exact dates... it's really more like mid/late Jun and Aug... does that change things from your experience?

Yes, that makes a big difference. I'd say it's pretty much a toss-up, with a slight advantage to the last few days of the August trip.

 

[barbliny]

I think it's pretty much a toss-up also. You're not getting the true advantage of late August crowds with dates prior to the last week in August and a late labor day again. We just came back on the 19th and it was crowded!! and very hot, very humid and it rained a lot. I would give the upper-hand to the weather in June - it's not as hot and not as rainy as August.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Thanks for the responses so far!!

I'm just so surprised that the average crowd level listed by easyWDW, **************, and UT are so similar for both Jun and Aug, and DO show a difference... 6.3 average for above dates in Aug vs. 8.2 average for above dates in Jun. And then there's that UG practically flips those (6.8 Jun vs. 7.8 Aug).

My ASSUMPTION PRIOR to looking at these calendars was that it would be a toss-up between these two sets of dates...

 

[Hootch]

From a crowd perspective, I would say August would have a slight advantage, though not a huge one. June will have a likely weather advantage. This is usually when we go though I have lived there at times and have visited in August. Both will be hot. There is a higher chance of rain but a significant difference. Looking at rack rates for next year, it looks like Value and Deluxe resort rates will be 10+% lower in August. Moderates do not have as much savings.

http://www.mousesavers.com/2016-disney-world-room-rates-season-dates/

 

[maryj11]

Just returned August 19th and wow was it hot. Storms almost every day. If it wasn't storming we had at least some sprinkles of rain. Terrible down pours and lightening 2 of our days. The storms did not last all day though maybe an hour or 2. The pool was closed several times because of lightening. Crowds were not to bad except afternoons, then it would get really crowded and hot. Tuesday the 18th was the most crowded day at MK with a 10 crowd level on touring plans! The best plan for August is to arrive at opening go back to your resort for a break and return in the evening. I'm thinking of going in June next year and hoping the weather will be a little better. We did go Memorial day week the year before and it seemed a little better then August. Less crowds and better weather.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I've never been in June, but just got back from a mid-August trip (15-22). Most days after the first 2 hours I felt like this ----->

Exceptions were when we had torrential rain the evenings of the 15th & 20th.

I'd just say to consider that if you're hoping for lower crowds in mid-August. The big drop-off seems to be moving to the last week.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Thanks all for your accounts!

Sounds like my assumption BEFORE looking at crowd calendars was probably about right... expect crazy crowds for either of these periods... with Aug MAYBE SLIGHTLY edging June out on this front, but not by much. To the extent that rain scares people out of the parks, maybe that's not so bad... we usually ride those out and stick around.

We would DEFINITELY be doing rope drop, early EMH, back to the hotel for a chunk of time, then back out in the evening. No desire to wander around in peak sun and peak crowds!

If anyone else has any June/August comparisons, ALL input ALWAYS welcome!