Late August Question

[ginadv]

Hi All,

We're heading back to WDW on August 24th for a week of free dining at Pop (our first time there!) and I have a weather question.

We're Rope Drop people and plan on that afternoon break every day (especially as it will be hotter than Hades at that time of year). I'm concerned that late afternoon thunderstorms will foil our plans for daily pool time during our breaks. It'll stink if we head back to Pop to rest and swim each day right when it's t-storm time!

Anyone have any firsthand experience with this?

Thanks!

Gina

 

[czmom]

I would love to know the answer to this too! Great question.

 

[theclarks53158]

Oh great question! We are checking in on Aug. 26th at POP and we were thinking a similar daily timeline.

 

[bdoyledimou]

I have gone end of August about 7 times -- the rain generally starts at 3 pm and ends at 3:30

cools things down for 35 minutes then it gets hotter than hot again.

we just napped or grabbed a bite to eat.

 

[Kimberle]

We go in late Aug all the time. Weather happens when it happens. We've had rain all different times during the day. By noonish, you're going to be wiped out with the heat. Head back for a swim. You should have plenty of time. Note, they only close the pools when there is lightning or it's raining so hard they can't see the pool bottom. We did lots of swimming during a tropical storm a few year ago.

 

[Grandmatoniko]

We went in late August a few years ago and the rain wasnt too bad, except once. It was midafternoon and it downpoured for a long time, we were stuck in a store in Epcot in Canada. I wouldn't let the rain ruin your plans. Oh and one other time that trip it downpoured at night and we were on the Indy Speedway in MK and we were drenched but had a blast anyway!!! Have a great trip

 

[goofyintoronto]

I have gone end of August about 7 times -- the rain generally starts at 3 pm and ends at 3:30

cools things down for 35 minutes then it gets hotter than hot again.

we just napped or grabbed a bite to eat.

Yup, this is correct. Ive been in August a couple of times and the I noticed the weather is like clock-work....3pm every day it rains. But it stops quickly. By 330pm-4pm it will stop. Never fails.

On another note, looks like we're vacationing at the same time! we're also going to Disney on Aug.24. Originally we had POP booked, love that resort, but i switched it to CSR (staying at ASMo for 2 nites first thou).

Have a good trip!

 

[amcnj]

Well weather is predictably unpredictable. While you are most likely to find a rather brief rain, there are days when it lingers and you get light to moderate rain the rest of the day. The good thing is being so warm, being wet actaully feels refreshing! Then there were the years with summer drought and there was no rain at all. Or stretches influenced by a tropical storm or hurricane where it rains for several days in a row for most or all of each day. So plan for running into some and working around it, but you never know what you might find.

 

[jakeybake]

Each year we stay at the Beach Club at the end of August. I agree with the previous posters. Usually rains around 3:00 or 4:00 and for an hour tops. Part of the day is overcast and it usually looks like it could rain at any time throughout the day so if you are looking to get a sweet tan then you might be out of luck !!

We absolutely love going in August. Of course the weather is hot but not any warmer then June or July. A great time to go and just enjoy your resort pool as much as possible. We have been many, many times so we don't feel the need to go commando all day which helps.

Jay

 

[ats360]

I have been wondering this since we booked our trip. We usually go in July and it's been sporadic with rain. Last year we had a lot of rain, whereas the year before it only rained for a half hour one day.

Either way, fingers crossed any big storm systems will steer clear (or at least wait until between 3 and 7am)

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

We have gone twice in late August and only got rain for one afternoon of each trip. We could see the clouds around 3:30 but they just passed over us and the rain fell somewhere else. We are keeping our fingers crossed for the same thing this August.

 

[stepdisney]

This is our yearly vacation time. We've been going during this time since 2005. If you leave the park at noon, you will have plenty of pool time. We usually skip breakfast except for yogurt or nutrigrain bars at the bus stop and are at the park at rope drop. We ride what we want and have an early lunch each day about 11:00 either at the park or at the resort. We swim, nap, chill, or resort hop and shop in the afternoon. We manage to swim ever day and when it rains, we take naps and explore resorts. It works well for us and we will be there at the end of August again this year.

Enjoy!!

 

[tallen429]

Hi All,

We're heading back to WDW on August 24th for a week of free dining at Pop (our first time there!) and I have a weather question.

We're Rope Drop people and plan on that afternoon break every day (especially as it will be hotter than Hades at that time of year). I'm concerned that late afternoon thunderstorms will foil our plans for daily pool time during our breaks. It'll stink if we head back to Pop to rest and swim each day right when it's t-storm time!

Anyone have any firsthand experience with this?

Thanks!

Gina

I didn't read the replies but among other trips we have gone in very late August for the last 4 years because our kids don't start school until after Labor Day. I can really only remember one or two "wash out" afternoons. I do remember, however, quite a few moments each trip when the pools would closes temporarily if there was lightning. IIRC, the staff said there had to be no lightning for 30 minutes in order to re-open the pool. We never had a day that our swim time was totally ruined.
We ALWAYS hit rope drop, take advantage of low crowds, eat luch and take a break for several hours in the afternoon. It is a great plan and we always do everything we want to with lots of time to relax, cool off, and enjoy.

 

[pigletto]

Everybody else has covered it. We've had maybe two days in 3 trips where we couldn't use the pool at all because of lightning. It's isn't the norm though.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Living in FL for the last 22 years and in Aug/Sept we get hard rain and storms every single afternoon, usually between 2-4pm. Sometimes they are 20 minutes and sometimes they are 2 hours.

 

[ginadv]

Thanks everyone!

Love the statement, "weather is predictably unpredictable!" That says it all.

But I'm very encouraged by all the positive replies. On our last day in Epcot last July it was gorgeous all morning and we were probably the last folks to ride Test Track before the skies just OPENED UP. The water was literally up to my shins over on the path by Imagination. We were drowned rats and it rained for the rest of the evening. But we got beers and chips in the UK, wandered around the WS and watched Illuminations in the rain on a virtually empty Rose & Crown patio accompanied by the Hat Lady. Gotta love it.

Christine, I love to read your dining reviews. Hope you and your son have a great trip!

to everybody!

G.

 

[Sue M]

Looks like quite a few of us will be there then. We always go late Aug and aside from tropical storm Faye, we haven't had much prob with getting in our afternoon swim break. Only one trip while at por did the main pool seem to be closed a lot due to lightening. No rain. Many just used the quiet pools. The lightening has to be within 10 mi I think of WDW and pools close. If I see it or hear it I'm outta there.