Late August vs Easter/spring break?

[jerseyjersey]

We're really wanting to go back to WDW this year, but with work, school and sports schedules, our options seem to be either spring break, which for us is the week after Easter, or late August. I know the crowds and prices will be a lot lower in August, but temps (and humidity) will be so much higher. We've been to DL when it was 100 degrees in Anaheim, but I've heard the Florida humidity is a whole other thing. OTOH, I know our spring break week is a very popular one, and crowds are predicted to be huge at that time. If anyone would like to weigh in, I'd really appreciate your thoughts!!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We've gone the last week of August for the past 5 years and we will be back this year! Yes, it's hot, but if you've done DL in 100 degrees, you will probably be fine! We go to the parks early and leave shortly after lunchtime to relax and swim at the resort. We then typically get dinner and start touring again after that (around 7 pm or so) as the sun is going down. Honestly, sunset and after sunset, you'll get some of the most comfortable temps I've experienced in Orlando, at any rate. Just be prepared for rain almost every afternoon and, of course, it's hurricane season, so watch the weather forecast. The only time we were affected by a hurricane was the year Isaac hit and that only meant we changed our flight to get down to FL EARLIER as we were heading down from NYC. So, bonus for us! It will be cheaper and less crowded in August, but you will also, most likely, have shortened park hours. We've also done spring break and, yes, it's very crowded. We typically leave the parks after lunch during that time as the crowds really build and can feel like wall-to-wall people.

 

[msb578]

I'd say late-August for the better crowds. However, I found absolutely no relief from the humidity at any time of the day. Sunset, sunrise, midnight... nothing. But I'm accustomed to summer lows around 60°, so that could just be me

 

[jerseyjersey]

Thanks for the reply, DisneyWishes14! We're from the NYC suburbs as well, so I'm hoping that means we have a similar tolerance for the temps and humidity! That's the same week we're considering, since school here doesn't start until after Labor Day, and the crowds are predicted to be nice and low that week. Have you found the crowd levels to be very low when you've been there that week?

 

[jerseyjersey]

I'd say late-August for the better crowds. However, I found absolutely no relief from the humidity at any time of the day. Sunset, sunrise, midnight... nothing. But I'm accustomed to summer lows around 60°, so that could just be me

Thanks, msb! I don't love super hot weather, but low crowds plus low rates are very tempting, vs being packed in during spring break.

 

[luvmyguyz]

We went August 24 to 30 last year, and the crowds were much lower the last couple days we were there. It was really hot, but the only day that was extremely uncomfortable was our day in AK. For the most part, the other parks have enough shaded and air conditioned areas to make the heat manageable. We did take a few mid day breaks, too, which helped.

We've decided to do the same week this year but we'll be staying until September 2, with the hope that we might catch MNSSHP and/or F&W festival. We're willing to brave the heat again if it means lower crowds and possibly catching the MNSSHP before the kids go back to school.

P.S. - we're from south jersey, so we're probably accustomed to the same kind of weather as you.

 

[stephd219]

We visited both those weeks last year, and we are visiting both those weeks this year, so I think they're both great.

Weather was better in April. Crowds during our April vacation are usually moderate, but I'm scared this year with Easter the weekend before. August was so hot, but definitely not as unbearable as I expected.

 

[adisneyaunt]

I'd choose August in a heartbeat. You can handle the heat/humidity ( per ur post). Crowds are lower, options are typically better overall and deals for dining, rooms etc are typically better as well.
Prepare for the hot, the on/off rain and Enjoy..bet you ll make it s repeat time for a visit.

 

[julieFitz]

Went for Spring Break in April 2016 and also late August 2016. I prefer the lower crowds of August. It is HOT so be prepared to sweat and make sure you hydrate and reapply sunscreen. We were able to get all the ADRs at the exact times we wanted in Aug and the lower crowds made for a more relaxing vacation. Pools are more crowded in August at the resorts as more people take afternoon breaks from the heat. We are planning to go again this August because of what a great time we had compared to April!

Editing to Add: This August Food and Wine starts on the 31st so if you time it right you might be able to try that as well!!! That's our plan

 

[Parker Clan]

This will be our 7th August in Disney. Low crowds are amazing and the heat is manageable! do it!!

 

[Dug720]

I'm going the next to last week in August. I had booked a cruise, then decided on a land-based trip AFTER I bought airfare - which means it's a longer land-based trip than I've ever done before (not counting when I got stranded thanks to the Christmas blizzard). But I figure that will work to my advantage with the heat/humidity (as long as I hydrate I'm fine, so I'm not worried - I'll just make sure I carry my water bottle) as since I've got 2 days in each park and can do 2 more partial days (I don't bother with Studios at all anymore - I would love to meet Moana (who may not even be there in August) and take my time at One Man's Dream, but I'm not wasting a ticket just for that - ergo there are THREE parks as far as I'm concerned) AND I'm solo, I can take my time and not feel the need to do the whole commando "must do this NOW" thing.

 

[ariane37]

I live about 90 minutes north of NYC so have the same temps as you, OP. I despise the heat and sweating. DESPISE it. Now that my kids are older I avoid going outside once it hits 80 unless it's absolutely necessary. Yes, that means I do NOT enjoy any outside summer recreation lol. Back in 2014 we knew we had to start switching up the times of the year we did our family Disney trips as oldest DS was entering Jr. High and we didn't want to be taking him out of school for a week at a time anymore, so I grudgingly agreed to an Aug. trip-and I'm the Disney fan in the family yet they had to convince ME. I assumed I would hate it and be miserable, but the opposite occurred and we've been back every Aug. since I still hate the heat with a passion but will do it for Disney lol, I simply adjust our vacation to the weather. We go late Aug. also since school starts after Labor Day so crowds are low and we haven't had issue with feeling that the parks close too early. We've never gone spring break but have gone the last 2 years over Thanksgiving week, and while those trips have been great the boys complain about the crowds at times. The lower Aug. crowds win over the weather since it means less complaining from everyone, even me!

 

[Boski]

Another vote for August here.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Tough pick! I would go with August probably. As to the weather, which is hotter than the hottest hot, there are also daily lightning storms. So the hours you can be out touring are less per day.

 

[Amii]

I went the last week of August for the first time last year. I would pick late August over Easter week any day. It was extremely hot but we got lucky and it only rained once for about ten minutes. Some days we went to the parks early and went back to the hotel about noon and swam or hung out. Other days we stayed in the parks most of the day but about noon we did inside attractions and ate during the hottest part of the day.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Thanks for the reply, DisneyWishes14! We're from the NYC suburbs as well, so I'm hoping that means we have a similar tolerance for the temps and humidity! That's the same week we're considering, since school here doesn't start until after Labor Day, and the crowds are predicted to be nice and low that week. Have you found the crowd levels to be very low when you've been there that week?

Yes, crowds are very manageable. For the more popular rides, you will still see longer wait times as the day progresses, but not anything like spring break where, the time we went, the standby line for BTMRR was up to 3 hours long!

 

[Ava]

We went in late August 2015, and are going back this year Aug 27-Sept 3. It's hot and it rains most afternoons, but I think the low crowds and lower prices make it worth it. I'm trying to be more thoughtful in my planning this year, and do the most important outdoor attractions in the morning so we don't miss out on anything due to rain. I'm also not specifically planning a break every day. I know a lot of people swear by an afternoon break in the heat, but last trip half the time when we went back for break the pools ended up being closed due to lightening in the area so then we just had a grumpy kid sitting in the hotel. Now that we no longer have a napping toddler, we'll just decide as we go along if we want to go back to the hotel or stay at the park through the afternoon.

 

[jerseyjersey]

Thank you all so much for the replies! I think we are going to go for August, and especially after checking resort availability and pricing again this morning-prices are so much lower in August, and so far every one of our hotel options is available-plus we're still more than 180 days out, which is sure to help with those hard-to-get ADRs. And it seems there's still a good chance for a code to come out for that time period, as well, so it can only get better as far as pricing. Thanks again!

 

[brockash]

We're really wanting to go back to WDW this year, but with work, school and sports schedules, our options seem to be either spring break, which for us is the week after Easter, or late August. I know the crowds and prices will be a lot lower in August, but temps (and humidity) will be so much higher. We've been to DL when it was 100 degrees in Anaheim, but I've heard the Florida humidity is a whole other thing. OTOH, I know our spring break week is a very popular one, and crowds are predicted to be huge at that time. If anyone would like to weigh in, I'd really appreciate your thoughts!!

Have you done Disney around Easter before? If so, and you were okay with the crowds, then I'd say Springs because the weather is much much nicer, however for us, we can't deal with the crowds. We do end of Aug./beginning of Sept. every year and yes it's pretty darn uncomfortably hot a lot of the time and for us, the rain is more annoying, however the crowds are much lower and it's cheaper than Spring, so that's what we do.

 

[jerseyjersey]

Have you done Disney around Easter before? If so, and you were okay with the crowds, then I'd say Springs because the weather is much much nicer, however for us, we can't deal with the crowds. We do end of Aug./beginning of Sept. every year and yes it's pretty darn uncomfortably hot a lot of the time and for us, the rain is more annoying, however the crowds are much lower and it's cheaper than Spring, so that's what we do.

Thanks brockash! I've been before during Easter week, but it was over 10 years ago, and pre-parenthood, so we didn't mind standing in lines and were happy to play, eat and drink our way around the 'World. My 6 y/o doesn't always love being in large crowds for extended periods, though he did fairly well when we were at Disneyland on a 7-8 level crowd day, so I do think the Disney factor helps to offset the crowd-disliking factor to some extent.

I did notice that several of the crowd calendars call for much higher crowds the week before Easter vs. the week after, citing that the majority of school districts have break the week before. I'm not sure how reliable that info is, however, and I'd hate to find out the hard way once we're there that every day is really a 9-10. I'd definitely prefer the weather in April, just not sure it's worth the trade off!!