June/July Advice needed

[Claddagh]

We had booked to go to Jamaica at the end of January but with one thing and another we don't think we would be able to afford to go away so soon after Christmas. Plus, we are not beachy people and think perhaps two weeks would be too long, so we plan to go again sometime in the future but only for a week. SO, we reckon we will financially be able to afford a holiday in June/July which as it happens is when my friend and her family are going for the first time

Can anyone please tell me what the weather and crowds are like end of June beginning of July? I know that the 4th will be crazy and am prepared for that but is it really really bad or is it manageable? I have read that it gets really hot but how hot is really hot? We would probably go out early in the morning, head back to villa/hotel around lunchtime and head back out later when it has cooled down a bit. What do you think?

I honestly feel more excited now that we MIGHT be going back to Florida than I did when we WERE going to Jamaica! How weird does that make me!!

 

[disneyholic family]

well weather is a relative thing....
we live in an even hotter climate than orlando, so it's not all that bad for us...
but for those of you from the UK, i would imagine it feels just about like hades would....as for "cooling down" in the afternoon....that's kind of funny....it doesn't really "cool down", although once the sun is down it's not so bad..

the problem with orlando, more than the 95 degree heat in july, is the humidity (also about 95%).....it really is incredibly hot and humid...

having said that, we go every july and enjoy it despite the intense heat and humidity and despite the crowds....

you're right that if you get to the parks before opening and then leave at about noon, you'll be ok.....the crowds and heat are the most intense from about noon to 5.....

by the way, the parks have longer hours in the summer, so it is possible to come back in the evening...

the truth is, any time you go to WDW, you'll have fun....despite the crowds, despite the heat...

 

[Hilary]

Even though most of us here are more used to the UK climate than Florida temperatures, we all have different comfort zones, so my take on July in Orlando might not be the same as yours.

We went in the summer for the first time this year and the four of us all reacted slightly differently to the heat/humidity. DH was pretty uncomfortable a lot of the time we were inland (the Orlando part of our trip) but had no problems on the coast. DD1 was just a bit uncomfortable if she stayed out in the sun too long anywhere. I was okay as long as I was out of the direct sunshine and could 'top up' on water and a/c frequently (easier in the theme parks than on the coast). DD2 was ... well, she's a teenager, so it's difficult to tell

There was only one occasion when I thought "never again" and that was when DDs and I had to walk from the main Epcot entrance to the Boardwalk to meet DH. We hadn't left ourselves enough time to do it comfortably so, stupidly, we hurried over and I really thought I was going to pass out by the time we got there! As long as we took our time doing things, we were okay

Personally, I found the heat wasn't as bad as I thought it might have been. It hasn't put me off going again in the summer if there was no other time we could visit, but I wouldn't choose the summer if there was an alternative.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We actually like going when the weather is hot, to a degree anyway, we have been twice this year and in March it was pretty cold, especially in the mornings.
Our Discovery Cove trip was ruined by the weather, my little lad was freezing when he came out of the water.
Going in late August we found the weather very hot, we did adjust after a few days but the crowds were light so we were quite happy.

It's a long time since we have been June/July, I wouldn't have thought the crowds will be too bad but it will be very hot, I personally would avoid July.
When we were there in August the locals were saying it was unbearably hot this July and you would think they would be used to it so....the only thing I would say is that the weather I think is becoming more unpredictable, the average temps. in March when we were there were 80 degrees, yet it was struggling to reach 70 a lot of the time.
The only guarantee is June/July/August will be hot.

Whenever you go, the best approach to adopt at the parks is to get there early, break for lunch and if you feel up for it return late afternoon/early evening. A rest in-between is essential though.

 

[wicket2005]

This site may give you an indication of crowd levels http://www.touringplans.com/BestDays.htm.

We went this year a couple of weeks after you are intending to go and loved the heat. The humidity was very strong though, we were dripping most of the time but quick cools off in any water area helped with that.

We had only went in February before when the rides were mostly walk ons and stay ons so faced a July holiday with some trepidation because I had read all about horrendous lines and stifling heat. Accordingly I planned our park visits to be on the quieter days, thereby, making the most of our days. We were all extremely surprised to find that lines were not a problem at all PROVIDED you get to the park before it opens. I would imagine the same principle would apply to earlier in July too. We managed to get all the rides we wanted to do within a couple of hours or so with barely any lines or walk ons, then we usually hopped somewhere else. Crowds tended to build up by dinnertime but we usually had a few fast passes to use up before we left. Water rides are particularly popular in the heat and had the longest lines of about 60 minutes in the afternoon, in the mornings they were walk ons and at dinnertime about 20 minutes so it really does pay to get there early, makes for a much more relaxed day.

We certainly managed to do everything we wanted to do in a park very quickly which left time in the day to go and do something else.

We also found an ideal time to go to the water parks is at tea time. No problems at all going on things and hardly anyone there. The majority of people leave for tea. We just kept the swimming things in the car and jumped into a water park if we fancied it for a couple of hours.

We did have a very enjoyable holiday and as I said we were all surprised at the shortness of the lines so much so that we have booked to go back at exactly the same time next year.