Late August Crowds

[MyGirlLovesTink]

For the first time in forever (hehe), we are considering going in the summer. We have never hone in the summer before because we were worried about the crowds, but as my DD gets older, I would like to try and avoid pulling her out of school for a whole week.

What have been others experiences going the 3rd week of August in terms of crowd level?

 

[Accident]

I thought the summer this year was very consistent with the same sized crowds almost the entire time (holiday weekends were a little more in those weeks). It was a lot better than what has been around since the fall started.

Now, Pandora is opening up next summer and that's going to change crowds for the worse in my opinion.

 

[holden]

The third week in August is still pretty crowded. The week after that should be less crowded. It's also incredibly hot.

 

[Parker Clan]

We've done the third week in August six years in a row and we actually find it way less crowded. We take mid day breaks for the heat and hang by the pool. Really enjoy the smaller crowds though.

 

[aviva5675]

seems like last week of the month would be better. But hot, soooooo hot

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

We did the last week of August this year and it was very much not too crowded, though still of course death-defyingly humid.

 

[kangamangus]

It's our first summer trip too! It will be hotter then the sun, but we did Belize second week of September and survived. Very excited to be able to surprise the kids day of and not worry about getting homework done etc...

 

[anniemae]

I thought the summer this year was very consistent with the same sized crowds almost the entire time (holiday weekends were a little more in those weeks). It was a lot better than what has been around since the fall started.

Now, Pandora is opening up next summer and that's going to change crowds for the worse in my opinion.

This is my exact thought. I think all of Aug will be very very crowded due to Pandora.

 

[notrub98]

I think Pandora will create crowd chaos at AK but I don't see it having much of an effect on the other parks.

 

[cmorris303]

We do the third week of Aug every other summer. It is really hot, but I'm sure you already knew that. Crowds are manageable compared to earlier in the summer. We are a large group and can almost always get the ADR's and Fastpasses that we want. We've even had success changing fastpasses once we're there. It's definitely not empty, but the crowds have never ruined our trip or slowed us down at all.

 

[Hockeyfan17]

This will be our fourth trip during that time frame and we love it. The crowds are down from earlier in the summer and it is very manageable. It will be interesting to see what Pandora does to the crowd levels.

 

[tlmadden73]

I only have done last week of August and crowds were great ... but the heat and the rain force you to be a bit flexible with plans.

 

[Tomh]

In 2008 we went in July, every year since then we have gone in August. I find that the crowds start to thin out the third week of August, and a pretty manageable during the last week of the month. The weather is HOT with insane humidity every day, count on an afternoon shower pretty much daily as well. The park hours tend to follow the crowds, so it is not at all unusual to see shorter hours the last week of August, compared to the third week.

 

[MyGirlLovesTink]

I'm not too concerned with the heat as we have been in Sept and I am sure it is pretty much the same. Last Sept it was sooooooo hot, but I can handle that. Just more worried about crowds. Moderate levels aren't too bad, just don't want to get caught in the crazy high level summer crowds.

 

[DisneyDonny]

We have been going in the end of August for the last 3 years, and before that we would take a week off when the crowds were low. In August the crowds are good, more crowded than the off weeks but they are fine. It is also very hot.

 

[TI double-GUH ER]

We found August crowds to be much better than the mid-July crowds. However, the afternoon rain can sometimes impact stage shows, outdoor meet and greets, parades, and such. As someone else mentioned, flexibility is key! (Along with puddle safe footwear!)

 

[lovegrumpy]

We love going the last two weeks of August. Yes its hot but you take breaks and drink lots of water.

 

[BudgieMama]

We also love the final two weeks in August. The crowds get smaller day by day, generally. I'm hoping Pandora opens May/June to give the crazy crowds a chance to come and go, but I'm also bracing myself that it'll be busier this time round!