LAst week of August? Crowds? Heat Extreme?

[3DisneyBuggs]

The wheels are in motion to plan another trip. I got a bright idea of spending 2 weeks in Florida. We would stay at our timeshare one week, enjoying the pool etc. Then hopefully free dining will be offered again and we can spend a week onsite. I would like the WDW part to be the last week of august, going into LAbor DAy. Are the crowds more manageable? We came back on the 7th and the weather was 90 everyday. Is it much worse the end of August?

I should say I will miss MNSSHP but DS will be going into 4th grade and the work this year is a lot. So a heads up on the crowds etc will be appreciated!

 

[disney momma]

we did free dining the last week in august this year and the parks seemed empty--not sure if this had to anything to do with hurricane ernesto warnings...we walked onto almost every ride. some parks later in the afternoon got crowded so we did fast passes for anything over a 15 minute wait.

the heat was pretty bad, but we're native floridians so we're used to it. it was uncomfortable but worth it because of the low crowd level.

hope this helps

 

[kaybird]

We have been several times in August, this year the 23-30, leaving before Labor day. The crowds were low, only Monday seemed busy, most everything were less than 15 minute waits, and FP was easy to get and use, but not needed for the most part. Short showers nearly every day, Ernesto cleared the park for us on our last day and we had a grand time in our ponchos sitting on a bench watching wishes.

It is hot, but so was Kansas, my theory-if you are going to be hot anyway, you had just as well be at WDW!!!!

 

[fivefordisney]

Yes, it is hot, very, very hot! We loved the smaller crowds, though. We didn't do any water parks, but vowed to if we ever decided to go in August again.

I think if you leave the parks midday for a "pool break", it's much more bearable.

 

[Cookie Princess]

We were in WDW near the end of August (8/18 - 8/27) this year and the high temps each day were between 90 - 93. We also had a rain shower just about every afternoon or evening for an hour or so.

We toured the parks in the morning (early entry) and then returned to the hotel around noon. We would swim and rest at the hotel, and then return to the parks at night. We were expecting to melt, but it wasn't too bad. We had a misting fan that we brough to the parks with us. We hope to go again at the same time next year.

 

[LorlovesStitch]

We were also planning on going the last week in Aug. for 10 days, fully anticipating the heat. However, I just found out that the day care I work in is blacking out the last week in August for vacation time. So, we are now thinking of going in mid August instead. Will this have more of an impact on crowds, or will it still be low? I am still hoping for free dining, though!

 

[donac]

I have gone both times and like them both. The last week is quieter but the third week is not bad )I have done this a couple of times. Yes it is hot but we like to spend the afternoon either in the ac or the pool.

 

[MassMom94]

The two times we've visited (2003 and 2006), we've been the last week of August. We had a wonderful time both visits. This last time, park hours were longer, more attractions were open (e.g., Carousel of Progress) and both Wishes and SpectroMagic ran every night instead of just once. But crowds seemed lower, perhaps due to Ernesto?? Whatever, we were very pleased! I would definitely recommend this week. I suspect crowds are greater than what you experienced going in September/October, but they are still very manageable. We never waited more than 15 minutes for anything and many rides were walk-ons (but that was using the usual touring strategies of getting there early and taking advantage of FP). I don't think the heat is any worse the last week in August compared to September. And we didn't have any love bugs, either.