Last week in August?

[cruisinpan567]

Has anyone gone to DW the last week in August? We are going to POR that week and we are wondering what to expect as far as crowds for that week. We have been spoiled and have always gone the week after Thanksgiving which usually not that crowded. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[spidet1964]

I go the first week of Sept (labor day week). I here that the last week in Aug is crazy crowded though.

 

[Disneylover99]

Has anyone gone to DW the last week in August? We are going to POR that week and we are wondering what to expect as far as crowds for that week. We have been spoiled and have always gone the week after Thanksgiving which usually not that crowded. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

We have gone the last two weeks of August for the last three years. The crowds are average, but it's super hot so we rope drop everyday and avoid early afternoon heat by doing indoor attractions at each park. It's never been too crowded for anything in my experience.

 

[serene56]

I go the first week of Sept (labor day week). I here that the last week in Aug is crazy crowded though.

I am guessing it depends on what you are used to.
When people say crowds are low-- there are still quite a bit of people in the parks.

We have been the last week in August and felt the crowds were low. In recent years free dining was offered the last two weeks in August-- maybe that helped the crowded feeling. But if that was crowded--- whooo i hate to see other more crowded times.

Most kids are back to school in the last two weeks.

It will be hot. It will be humid. It will rain

 

[jazzyscoob]

We went the last week in Aug last summer and will be going again this summer. We never made RD but got to each park at least 40 mins after opening and left anywhere between noon and 4 then back around 7. Never had a problem.

Growing up we would go the second week in Aug and that was horrible. I swore I would never take my kids in Aug. I was very nervous last summer bc heat and crowds do not work for me. We had a great trip and never waited longer than 30 mins.

 

[MyMagicKingdom]

We've gone the last week in August twice and thought crowds were really low both times. For instance, we got on EE after waiting for 10 mins in the regular line...no fastpass needed...obviously its not like this at every single ride, but its quite convenient, especially when compared to every other summer month. It's suuuuper hot though but we didn't mind it too much because we got free dining, cheaper rooms and pretty great wait times for rides for the most part. Plus, we're from Syracuse and we'll definitely take warm weather when we can!

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

All three of our trips have been the last week of August and we're going again this year. First time we went was 2007 and the parks were not crowded AT ALL! Then we went 2010 and 2011, and I think more people were onto the free dining thing so there were more crowds, but still nothing like what I hear for other times.

It is very hot, but I can deal with heat if I don't have to deal with crowds too. We've always done everything we wanted and never waited too long for things. I refuse to stand in a 60-minute line or more!

Once, we got to walk right on to a waiting raft at Kali River--no wait whatsoever. When we came around, still no one waiting, so we got to just stay put in our raft and go around again. This time around there were a couple people waiting, so we had to get out, walk aside so they could get in, and then get back in the next raft. We rode three times without waiting more than 30 seconds total!!! Rode 5 more times that day because the line was always so short. And this was August--when it's hot--when you get wet and cool off!!! The kids were in heaven!

 

[maddiebee]

Is there a huge difference between the second to last week of August to the last week? We'll be there Aug 18-22nd.

 

[ellie'smom]

In the last 6 years ,we have gone 2 times in early June and 5 times the last few weeks in August. June has always been much more crowded. People just starting their vacations and lots of schools already out in the South.
Late August I find a lot of Northerners, like us, and Northern Europeans. That is I believe because our children go back to school in early Sept. The school schedule in Europe seems to similar to that in the North of the U.S. . I can't definitively say that but I strike up a lot of conversations with different people while at Disney and since most are parents like myself, you talk school . Last year it was not very crowded at all in late August, and we had a great time. 2011 was much more crowded during those same two weeks. 2011 free dining was released earlier and ran for a much longer time if memory serves me right. Last year free dining started on the 24th of August and the crowds... much lighter. This year we are booked for those same two weeks and expect the crowds to be even lighter because free dining is unavailable during this time period.

 

[MyMagicKingdom]

Is there a huge difference between the second to last week of August to the last week? We'll be there Aug 18-22nd.

It gets less crowded as kids go back to school. I think southern states go back earlier...someone correct me if I'm wrong...but up here the kids go back around the first week of Sept. Whenever we've gone in August we've always run into several people from Syracuse because they were getting in a cheaper, less crowded vacation before their kids had to go back to school too.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

This year we are booked for those same two weeks and expect the crowds to be even lighter because free dining is unavailable during this time period.

Just an FYI--we're going 8/25 to 8/31 and we have Free Dining. It's not a public offering, but there have been a whole bunch of PINs that went out that include those dates. I still don't think it will be as crowded as when there is the free dining, but not as small crowds as I was first thinking.

 

[maddiebee]

Last year free dining started on the 24th of August and the crowds... much lighter. This year we are booked for those same two weeks and expect the crowds to be even lighter because free dining is unavailable during this time period.

This is my hope! While I was bummed that the time we're going was almost completely left out of any deals, I was hoping that it would lead to smaller crowds! On the other hand, I'm worried that deals weren't going to be offered because it was already so busy!

 

[Elisa]

I had my vacation booked from Aug 24th to Sept 1st and was so disappointed to not get the public free dining offer, so I tried to console myself by reminding myself that it will be super quiet there that week because FD starts Sept 2nd! But then I got the special pin. WooHoo!!!!!! I know it will be moderately busy but nothing like the summer. I don't mind the heat because there are so many places to go inside. I know since many of those pins went out for August 25th that it will a bit busier but nothing like the next week. I think I've got the best of both worlds!

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

I had my vacation booked from Aug 24th to Sept 1st and was so disappointed to not get the public free dining offer, so I tried to console myself by reminding myself that it will be super quiet there that week because FD starts Sept 2nd! But then I got the special pin. WooHoo!!!!!! I know it will be moderately busy but nothing like the summer. I don't mind the heat because there are so many places to go inside. I know since many of those pins went out for August 25th that it will a bit busier but nothing like the next week. I think I've got the best of both worlds!

That's my thinking too!!!! We go from 8/25-9/1 on the free dining PIN. I'll take the heat over the crowds any day!