Last Week of August

[cd&kids]

I know it'll be hot...I know it'll rain every day for a little while....but please share your experiences otherwise if you've visited the last week of August. We were thinking of arriving the last Saturday in August...leaving Saturday of Labor Day weekend to go home.
Crowd-wise and overall experience-wise, would love to know what you think of this idea if you've gone.
Thanks!!

 

[madscrapper]

Hi,

We went the same time last year and were pleasantly surprised - so much so that we're doing it again this year.

Yes, it's hot - but the humidity isn't any worse that where we (and you) live. Our favorite time is mid-September but it's getting harder to pull the kids out of school for a week. The crowds were very manageable. We generally went to the MK at opening 9:00 and left when we were wilting, usually 2:00. The pools at our resort were empty mid-day, then we went back for dinner at the parks. Somedays we didn't go to the parks until 4:00.

As you can see we're not a commando-style family. But we did manage to do what we wanted and still take a much needed break from the heat.

Jeannine

 

[cd&kids]

Thanks, Jeannine....kind of what we wanted to hear! We also would go "off times" like mid-September, but like you said, we just can't pull the kids out of school anymore. Last week of April turning into May was our favorite time, along with mid-September.
So maybe we'll see you now that the time of year sounds right. Now, we just need to find a few thousand dollars. Any help with that?!

 

[Goofy's Muse]

We also went the 4th week of August last year, right between hurricanes. Thought crowds were very reasonable and if you plan around the midday heat and afternoon thunderstorms, you should be fine. We found pool breaks, air conditioned lunch stops and afternoon shows to work well, along with lots of cool drinks. The lower crowd levels did translate to earlier park closings than the rest of the summer which meant adjusting a few PSs once hours were released (e.g., MK closed at 8:30 most nights, Fantasmic was at 8:30 too). Enjoy!

 

[MNmom]

We also were there last year from Aug. 28-Sept 3rd last year and had a great trip. It only rained one afternoon for about 2 hours but we have great pictures of Minnie and Capt. Hook dancing in the pouring rain during the parade at MK

It was very very very HOT. But that didn't stop us Many of the shows and lines are inside the buildings and are air conditioned. We carried ice cold lemonade in a Camelback Hydration Pack that I carried in my shoulder bag and we sipped on that all day. The lack of crowds totally made up for the heat as we were able to go on so many rides without long waits. We enjoyed the pools at the resort (and a nap for my 7year old that hasn't napped in 5 years) in the afternoons and then headed out again latter in the evening.

We had such a great trip we will never go during a busy time again. We are going again this year from Aug 28-Sept 3rd (POP/Poly split) and starting our no-hurricaines chant. That couldn't happen two years in a row....could it

You will love it!!!

 

[magsmom]

Love the last week of August. We have been the last 2 years. Crowds are down-kids down south have gone back to school. You do have the afternoon thunderstorm. It is HOT HOT HOT. We do the parks in the mornings then return to the resort to swim and relax, then go out again at night.

Why am I going July 4? I got a really good rate. If I did not we would be going again in August. We will be going in that timeframe in 2006.

 

[HowieHowie]

We are also from Long Island. We have been going the last two weeks of Aug for the last 7 yrs. Usually leave around Aug 22 and return on Labor day. The good about this is that except the east coast the rest of the states are back to school so the parks are not crowded. Sometimes Splash Mountain has a long line, but just use fastpasses. Bring mister fans and we use Brita bottles and just keep refiling them with water. Since we have been to Disney many times, we sleep late and get there around 11:00-12:00 so spending the day in the parks until closing is not so bad. It does rain and last Aug we experienced Hurricane Frances. Had to stay in hotel for 2 days. Not a lot of fun to end our vacation. We would be going the last 2 weeks again this year, but my son starts college and we had to be home. Going the first two wks of Aug.