Looking at 2nd-3rd week in August, is it as bad...**decision made, page 5 #81**

[Tuffcookie]

Dan, With you living in Chicago and me in NE Ohio, there is no way I will go to any water park named Blizzard Beach! TL is pretty awesome though. Love their lazy river!

TC

 

[Robertfam08]

We go the first week of September, so the weather is essentially the same. Yes, it's hot...but we've never found it unbearable? Maybe we have a high tolerance. We are from St. Louis, where the summers are thick with humidity...feels like home. We take our afternoon break, which we would do anyway with little ones, and come back to the parks after dinner. Sometimes we swim, sometimes we just rest in the AC. It's a blast! The shorter lines make up for it, and thank goodness many of the lines are indoors and/or shaded. The WORST we have ever experienced wasn't in the parks but in walking back to the car at AK and HS to leave for the afternoon...the parking lots feel hotter than the parks for sure, haha. No shade if you don't take a tram, so the sun is beating down. Obviously not so much an issue if you don't drive yourself!

 

[VAfamily1998]

About how early in the day do you get to that "I need to get into AC" point?
My teens will be going to MK on an EMH morning in August. I wanted to get them an ADR for BOG so they could have a break and get out of the heat, but as of right now the only time I could get was 10:15 am, so they will have been in the parks about two hours, plus whatever time they wait outside before the park opens. Will they be feeling the heat so much by then? Or should I try for a later time?
They looked at the menus and said they don't have a preference for the breakfast vs. lunch meals...but we have a 5:30 Skippers Canteen ADR, so I don't want their lunch to be too late.

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

I've been in August and it's hot, but I deal with it okay. My hands swelled up pretty bad one day from the heat though.

 

[Sarcazm]

Sure it will be hot and humid, but it depends on what you're used to and prepared for. I'm from Texas, so I am used to hot summers. I've been to Six Flags Over Texas many times in the middle of summer.

That being said, I also know how to prepare. Wear a hat. Wear sunglasses. Get little mist fans. Get sunblock. Get as much ice from your hotel ice machine as possible and stick them in ice bags. Take advantage of the free cups of ice from Disney food stands. Fill up water bottles at every water fountain you come across. Preplan air conditioned attractions for the middle of the day. Go back to your hotel for a mid-day nap.

These things come almost naturally to someone who lives in this climate. Just go prepared and I can guarantee you'll have a good time regardless of the weather.

 

[asbyrneva]

We've been in August the last 4 years (week before labor day so sometimes its sept) in a row and a couple times before that. Crowds are much lower - although they have been getting more busy every year. While everybody is talking about heat and humidity on this thread. We are in Washington dc so its a hot and humid here then too. As a matter of fact I did a daily check the humidity and heat between home and Disney and home was the same or worse every single day. We do rope drop in the morning leave around 2, chill, and go back out for dinner and maybe a ride or two and some fireworks. We drink alot of water and plan our park time alternating as much as possible inside and outside attractions. Using ropedrop and fast pass with the low crowds we dont spend much time standing in lines outside. Somebody mentioned MLB - I love baseball but I find sitting at a baseball game in August for 3 hours unbearable but 6 hours at a Disney park is much more manageable.

 

[Disneylover99]

Any thoughts on whether or not to try a water park at that time of the year, if we go then? In all our WDW trips, we have never done a water park. If so, which one, TL or BB? Your thoughts?

.

We went many years in August before hitting the waterparks for the first time last August. They were okay, but definitely not a must do for us. It's not like we felt we had missed out all those years by not going. We preferred TL just for the theming. Mid afternoon August weather is unpredictable, so keep that in mind.

 

[Kriii]

August is not my favorite time to go simply because of the heat, but our family has had several enjoyable August trips to Disney. Our schedule is limited by school, so we have always made the best of it. We've only gone in the summer months of July/August, January and late October so I will leave it to other posters to make crowd size comparisons for you. It can be horribly hot so we tend to go early, take an afternoon break, and head back out in the evening. We take shortcuts through shops when walking, schedule sit down meals for hot times of the day and seek out the rides with AC or a cooler waiting area also. Mainly we go with a positive attitude about the heat and lots of water. I think the families that have the roughest time, from my observations, are the ones who have little ones that are out in the heat for too long. I would also avoid this time if there are any elderly members of your group. I met a lovely couple at Epcot one year, in the bus line back to the resort. We were headed back for a mid day break and so were they. They had flown in from across the country for a family reunion to celebrate their 60th anniversary. They appeared to be absolutely spent at about 11:30 AM on a 90 plus degree day. It would probably have been an exhausting trip for anyone that age, but visiting in the heat could not have helped.

 

[lovethattink]

I think some of the area schools are starting back earlier this year. That should help a bit with weekday crowds.

Everyday in August is hazy, hot and humid.

My oldest son played football in this heat, full gear. I think when you are doing something you love, the heat and humidity are more bearable.

Just something you might not have thought of. Swimming pools aren't as refreshing in August. In fact, by September, my unheated pool's temp feels like a bathtub's.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I would also avoid this time if there are any elderly members of your group.

How about me at 73?

 

[Parker Clan]

We've done that time in August the last 6 years and going again this August as well. It's not bad. If it was that bad we wouldnt keep going back. Yes it's hot, hotter than hot and humid too. But if you're smart and do all the tips everyone else said you'll have a great time. Mid day breaks are absolutely key for us. Low crowds are great. Not sure why this time of year gets a bad rap. It's FL.. It's going to be hot. I went in March this year and the weather was nice, pretty cool actually, but the crowds were terrible!!! Spring break. I'd take the heat any day over ridiculous crowds! That's just me though

 

[Disneylover99]

How about me at 73?

I know many people in their 50's who are more "elderly" then people in their 70's.
If you're in decent health and take proper precautions in the heat, I'd say, go for it!

My dad is 80. He travels quite a bit and is in reasonably good health, but he has some heart issues. I would not recommend DW in the summertime for him for that reason, but any other time in moderate heat, he'd be okay.

 

[higdonk]

Hey August veterans, a question about backpacks in the park in August. I have 3 kids, 14, 11, and 6, so I am not sure I would be able to go bagless. Although we are going to do the morning tour, break at noon, then back for the evening around 5. I got this bag to take:

http://www.eddiebauer.com/product/s...og10002_en__US_EBSite?showProducts=&color=855


It is breathable, water resistant, lightweight etc. Planning on only taking, ponchos, water bottles, pin lanyards for 3 kids, and maybe sunscreen. Doable or figure out how to live without it?

Also, for my touring plan do I need to take sunscreen with us in the morning if I layer everyone before we leave?

 

[maryj11]

About how early in the day do you get to that "I need to get into AC" point?
My teens will be going to MK on an EMH morning in August. I wanted to get them an ADR for BOG so they could have a break and get out of the heat, but as of right now the only time I could get was 10:15 am, so they will have been in the parks about two hours, plus whatever time they wait outside before the park opens. Will they be feeling the heat so much by then? Or should I try for a later time?
They looked at the menus and said they don't have a preference for the breakfast vs. lunch meals...but we have a 5:30 Skippers Canteen ADR, so I don't want their lunch to be too late.

I would say 10:15 is still a good time to be out riding and around 11:00 or 12:00 it starts to get hotter. Maybe try to make an 11:00 or 11:30 reservation.

 

[tigerlilly]

Hey August veterans, a question about backpacks in the park in August. I have 3 kids, 14, 11, and 6, so I am not sure I would be able to go bagless. Although we are going to do the morning tour, break at noon, then back for the evening around 5. I got this bag to take:

http://www.eddiebauer.com/product/s...og10002_en__US_EBSite?showProducts=&color=855


It is breathable, water resistant, lightweight etc. Planning on only taking, ponchos, water bottles, pin lanyards for 3 kids, and maybe sunscreen. Doable or figure out how to live without it?

I looked up the bag you have and I am now thinking about getting one! lol... I have never gone in August so I can't specifically answer if you should learn to live without one. I have gone back and forth on not having one. We are a group of 7 adults (one is 15 and two are 21, the rest are old and old old lol). I feel like we need at least one bag. To hold all the things you said you were thinking about. Then it can be traded off so no one person holds the whole time. Just my thoughts

Love to hear the thoughts of those who are August heat experts

 

[Disneylover99]

Hey August veterans, a question about backpacks in the park in August. I have 3 kids, 14, 11, and 6, so I am not sure I would be able to go bagless. Although we are going to do the morning tour, break at noon, then back for the evening around 5. I got this bag to take:

http://www.eddiebauer.com/product/s...og10002_en__US_EBSite?showProducts=&color=855


It is breathable, water resistant, lightweight etc. Planning on only taking, ponchos, water bottles, pin lanyards for 3 kids, and maybe sunscreen. Doable or figure out how to live without it?

Also, for my touring plan do I need to take sunscreen with us in the morning if I layer everyone before we leave?

I could never go bagless. We always bring sunscreen to reapply even when we plan to leave mid day. We're also a socks and shoes type of family, but we all bring flip flops in case of a torrential downpour because we hate wet sneakers.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Hey August veterans, a question about backpacks in the park in August. I have 3 kids, 14, 11, and 6, so I am not sure I would be able to go bagless. Although we are going to do the morning tour, break at noon, then back for the evening around 5. I got this bag to take:

http://www.eddiebauer.com/product/s...og10002_en__US_EBSite?showProducts=&color=855


It is breathable, water resistant, lightweight etc. Planning on only taking, ponchos, water bottles, pin lanyards for 3 kids, and maybe sunscreen. Doable or figure out how to live without it?

Also, for my touring plan do I need to take sunscreen with us in the morning if I layer everyone before we leave?

When we go in September, everyone carries their own stuff, generally in cinch backpacks. It is too hot to ask anyone to carry a backpack that would sit on your back all day. We have been doing this since our youngest hit 8 years old.

 

[LoveMMC]

We bring this bag
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5035-761/Futura-22-Daypack

It is carried away from the body so is good in heat. Rain cover tucked under for August storms. We had the smaller version but got this size because son has severe allergies/autism.
We always do the midday break so don't find we need to bring sun screen.
We LOVE it and use it year long.

 

[Barnabas T Bullion]

I really don't think the heat and humidity is THAT bad in mid-late August but I have hiked a volcano and barely broken a sweat.

I think you just need to manage your day a little more than normal... along the lines of - waste some time shopping in the AC after some prolonged time outside, planning to see shows in an AC environment, etc.

 

[mousefan215]

Crowds are low. Heat and humidity are high! I'm from Louisiana and September in Disney just about did me in. I found it to be unbearable and made me very tired/ grumpy by mid day. I hate taking mid day breaks, but in Aug/Sept it's a must! Some people handle the heat ok, if you are one of those, then it won't be bad.