Low crowds but heat?? Is it worth it?

[NicholeB630]

So I am thinking about the next time we take our trip. The first trip we ever took was very short and the end of Feb the weather was so cold and windy! Then we went this past December the 2nd week so crowds weren't to bad and very manageable but again it was cold. We had one super nice days then the rest of the week days started in the 40s and cold and didn't get to warm and nights were cold also. Christmas party night we were bundled up in a blanket. I really really want to go when its not cold and actually feel good outside but crowds are our biggest thing. We refuse to go during school breaks and when its the most crowded. I've been looking into Sept this year the crowds are a 1-3 the first few weeks and it looks amazing. I would love to go when the crowd level is a 1. But I worry about the heat. I hate the cold but I also hate sweating just standing outside because its so hot and humid. We are in VA so we have 100 degree days with humidity. I know that in Sept it will be pretty hot and humid. Is it worth having such low crowds but dealing with the heat? Our kids would be 4 and 7 when we went again and my husband and are I 31 and 40 so were not unable to stand the heat or anything. Who has been this time of year and was it just not fun being so hot all day long? Any advice would be great. I've love to go and it be like 70 and sunny but I know that's never going to happen ha.

 

[craigkerstiens]

We've been in September a few times, most recently I recall it being extremely comfortable. But it can vary based on the year. Even when It's hot it can be very manageable with shade and enjoying some of the indoor attractions, we often love jumping into the air conditioning of Muppets during a really hot day. The one park I'd say that does get incredibly hot and doesn't have as much shade as others is MK, so I'd plan to do it in early mornings.

As for advice, I'd probably aim to fastpass indoor things for that early afternoon spot or just expect to do a little shopping indoors or relax in a lounge when it's especially hot. Or consider some afternoons at the pool, when it's that warm the pool becomes especially appreciated.

 

[NicholeB630]

I would love to go and the weather be nice but with our past luck we seem to never get great weather on vacation. One time we went to Punta Cana and it was COLD. So cold we couldn't even swim I mean that doesn't typically happen. Then last Disney Trip like I said was cold the weather forecast literally changed the day we got there and for the worse. I just picked up daugther at bus stop its 93 degrees here and sunny and I was dripping in sweat just standing outside so I dont know if it would even be enjoyable walking around a park in this heat

 

[NicholeB630]

We've been in September a few times, most recently I recall it being extremely comfortable. But it can vary based on the year. Even when It's hot it can be very manageable with shade and enjoying some of the indoor attractions, we often love jumping into the air conditioning of Muppets during a really hot day. The one park I'd say that does get incredibly hot and doesn't have as much shade as others is MK, so I'd plan to do it in early mornings.

As for advice, I'd probably aim to fastpass indoor things for that early afternoon spot or just expect to do a little shopping indoors or relax in a lounge when it's especially hot. Or consider some afternoons at the pool, when it's that warm the pool becomes especially appreciated.

We are def rope people so I can see how first thing in the mornings would be good!

 

[scrapquitler]

We have been in September and early October several times (and we are going the second week of Sept this year). Yes, it's hot. It's humid. But if you plan around that, it's manageable. We get up and go to the park. Plan for inside things when we start to get hot (Hall of Presidents, anyone?), drink plenty of fluids. Take a break in the afternoon when it is the hottest outside, then go back to the park in the evening.

We think it's worth the trade off for the lower crowds.

And We've been there in December when CT was warmer than Orlando, so I can certainly feel your pain on being there when it was cold.

 

[SweetMissy]

We've gone in the heat....April and May and IMO, not worth it. It's miserable. We found ourselves rushing through the parks to get back to the resort pool. We've gone during crowded times and I would take crowds over heat.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I took my son last year the second week of September... 9/10-9/15 or something like that. He was 4 at the time. Just a boys trip. MNSSHP had just started the week before, F&W hadn't started yet (which I think is key). Yes, it was hot... that late summer oppressive heat kind of hot. BUT...while the parks certainly weren't empty by any means, the crowds were noticeably lighter than previous trips and I was amazed at how much ground we could cover, meaning we could hit alot more rides in smaller windows than in any other trip. This meant we could head back to the hotel in the afternoon for rest/pool/etc and be perfectly content with what we had accomplished. Also did Blizzard Beach one day (Poly pool was closed at the time so we had passes) and it was awesome, had never really considered the water parks before frankly.

In short, we LOVED this window in September and would do it again in a heartbeat. We tried to make this year work but schedules didn't work out, had to do late Oct instead.

Caveats to the above... from Atlanta so used to the heat... being with a 4 year old, we were certainly at a slower pace, didn't need to spend all day in the park, etc. The balance of park in the AM, resort in the afternoon, and sometimes back out in evening worked very well for us.

 

[keepswimming76]

We've gone in September a few times, the second to last week, and it's pretty much always hot, and certainly humid. And you are guaranteed those late afternoon showers. But it's still a great time to go. It's nothing like summer heat and crowds.

But it is Orlando and the weather is definitely hard to predict. We did an early December trip in 2012 and it ended up being very humid. We wore shorts every day. Meanwhile, my sister visited the month before in November and they had a cold week and were wearing jackets each day.

 

[NicholeB630]

I took my son last year the second week of September... 9/10-9/15 or something like that. He was 4 at the time. Just a boys trip. MNSSHP had just started the week before, F&W hadn't started yet (which I think is key). Yes, it was hot... that late summer oppressive heat kind of hot. BUT...while the parks certainly weren't empty by any means, the crowds were noticeably lighter than previous trips and I was amazed at how much ground we could cover, meaning we could hit alot more rides in smaller windows than in any other trip. This meant we could head back to the hotel in the afternoon for rest/pool/etc and be perfectly content with what we had accomplished. Also did Blizzard Beach one day (Poly pool was closed at the time so we had passes) and it was awesome, had never really considered the water parks before frankly.

In short, we LOVED this window in September and would do it again in a heartbeat. We tried to make this year work but schedules didn't work out, had to do late Oct instead.

Caveats to the above... from Atlanta so used to the heat... being with a 4 year old, we were certainly at a slower pace, didn't need to spend all day in the park, etc. The balance of park in the AM, resort in the afternoon, and sometimes back out in evening worked very well for us.

This is good to hear! I like that more can be done in the am with low crowds then take a break! We experienced a super low crowd one morning in Dec rope drop at 8 am and we got on 12 rides before like noon it was great!

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I think in all my years of going to WDW that I've tried just about every month, except November. We've gone in December and had beautiful weather, not too hot/not too cold...perfect! Our last trip in April, found it uncommonly hot, almost humid at times. But in July, August, and September, it has always been unbearably hot and humid. For us, that's not enjoyable.

 

[NicholeB630]

I think in all my years of going to WDW that I've tried just about every month, except November. We've gone in December and had beautiful weather, not too hot/not too cold...perfect! Our last trip in April, found it uncommonly hot, almost humid at times. But in July, August, and September, it has always been unbearably hot and humid. For us, that's not enjoyable.

Thats what I worry about but when we went in Dec it was so cold and windy I felt bad for my kids some mornings because it just was so chilly and windy then in Feb when we went the same thing super windy and cold. We've yet to be able to enjoy the pools or go on the water ride at MK and AK so I think we are just gonna try and hope its not horrible.

 

[kj2mom]

We went in July this year (after previously loving October) because friends of my children were turning 13 on the 4th of July and they wanted to spend their bday in MK. I was very afraid going in but since we had no choice (can't change their bday) I set my mind to expect the crowds/the heat and the craziness. I was soo, soo pleasantly surprised! Sure, it was hot (in the 90's and humid each day) and some things were crowded but we planned by getting there early, having water bottles and drinking constantly, making an ADR for lunch so that just when we started to get hot we had an hour/hour and a half in a cool, relaxing restaurant then we had our three fast passes scheduled for after lunch so we could just go right from ride to ride. We would then do some shopping and by then it was dinner time when we could cool off/relax again and then the sun wasn't nearly soo blazing and we could keep on with our touring. I don't regret going during the summer at all and if I had the opportunity to go in Sept I would do it in a heartbeat. Just prepare for the heat and have fun!

 

[Happyinwonerland]

We have done 2 trips is the summer heat ( late july/early august)and we have gone in early december when it was chilly and rainy. Give me the summer heat any day. To stay cool we try to alternate, 1 indoor attraction for every 2 or 3 outdoor. sometimes we just browse through a gift shop or 2 to cool down. it really isnt that bad. But I am pretty go with the flow. i dont get too bent out of shape over a little discomfort

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We are leaving for WDW on Sunday and this will be the 5th year in a row we've gone down the last week in August. Yes, it is HOT!! Last year, apparently, the heat index was higher than Orlando had experienced in years. As other PP's have mentioned, our best strategy was to go at RD and get out of the park by 1:30/2:00 pm, go back to the resort, rest and/or swim, eat dinner and then go back to the parks as the sun was going down. As long as you get out of that midday heat, it's fine. The evenings are wonderful in terms of temps and the parks are always so fun at night! I have such fond memories of doing the Pirate adventure in MK with DS last year in an almost empty Adventureland. It was so magical!

 

[Momof3WDW]

We have gone in September for the last few years. The weather is hot and humid, but not unbearable. Probably into the high 80's daily. I worked at Disney in the heat of summer outside and it wasn't as bad as that.
The afternoon showers were nice. and we always alternated indoor attractions, QS, etc to help manage the heat. My husband does not handle the heat well at all. As soon as he steps outside he is sweating. So he may have a different view point than I.
We have also traveled in the end of January - I found this cold for me (I don't want to be wearing a sweatshirt and jeans on vacation), Beginning of May - this was perfect weather for us. Not humid but warm enough for shorts, Beginning of December - not warm enough to swim, but warm enough you didn't need a sweatshirt during the day.

 

[jessicar82]

We go every Sept. It is hot but nothing we can't handle. I would much rather be hot in low crowds. We went in March a few yrs ago and the weather couldn't have been more perfect but it was sooooo busy. We agreed that we would never visit during that time again.

 

[NicholeB630]

Thanks all. I def think we will just deal with the heat. Maybe we will get really lucky next year and it will be nice and not too humid, we deserve nice weather for once at Disney after our past two trips. One thing that will be a pain is sunscreen. I know I know people say you should wear it anyways even if its 60's but we just dont we obviously use it in the summer on our kids and when its hot so we would have to use it then. Just another thing to do haha.

 

[jahber]

It's really hard to predict the weather in September. Usually it's when we locals start going outside again--it gets up to maybe 90, but the evenings can sometimes cool down, especially if we have typical rain patterns. When I was a kid, my mid-Sept birthday was the last pool party of the year (we are wimps!). But last year it was 100+ for days and days on end in September. It. Was. Awful. I went to Disney on one of those days with visiting friends and I just couldn't believe it! How do people do it, go to WDW in that?

Well, you just plan for the heat, drink a ton of water, and enjoy the shorter lines. Just remember, though, those crowd levels are adjusted based on last-years' actual crowd levels. A 1 crowd this year just means it will be the least crowded day. It will almost certainly be more crowded than a 1 crowd last year because attendance is rising (and I can speak from experience, significantly more crowded than 2 and 3 years ago). Given that info, is it still worth it for you? Only you can decide. It may very well be!

 

[NicholeB630]

It's really hard to predict the weather in September. Usually it's when we locals start going outside again--it gets up to maybe 90, but the evenings can sometimes cool down, especially if we have typical rain patterns. When I was a kid, my mid-Sept birthday was the last pool party of the year (we are wimps!). But last year it was 100+ for days and days on end in September. It. Was. Awful. I went to Disney on one of those days with visiting friends and I just couldn't believe it! How do people do it, go to WDW in that?

Well, you just plan for the heat, drink a ton of water, and enjoy the shorter lines. Just remember, though, those crowd levels are adjusted based on last-years' actual crowd levels. A 1 crowd this year just means it will be the least crowded day. It will almost certainly be more crowded than a 1 crowd last year because attendance is rising (and I can speak from experience, significantly more crowded than 2 and 3 years ago). Given that info, is it still worth it for you? Only you can decide. It may very well be!

Yeah I know it changes every year and crowds rise and thats ok with me. I'll keep looking till next Sept crowds are up then book our trip accordingly. Anything below a 4 and I'd be happy. Our 2nd week in Dec trip was very manageable and that whole week was like a 4/5 then Saturday was a 6 I think at AK and it was the most crowded day and not as enjoyable but the other days were great. Especially RD days at MK. So knowing it will be even less crowded than that week and still one of the lowest times of the year we will be happy. I'd like for once just not have to wear jackets and be cold on vacation there and actually use the pools.

 

[englishteacha]

This past February was an anomaly! It was warmer here in Maine than it was in Orlando! (I had friends who went during Presidents' week and we were in the 40s and Disney was in the 30s!)

As a teacher, we've always had to travel when school is on break. We have been several times in June (yup, hot) and twice in August (also hot). We drank a lot of water, took breaks in the AC whenever possible, and a few times left parks early and came back after dark. To add to the heat, it was busy. Not unbearably so, because we planned ahead, but I'd LOVE to go when it's slow, even if it's hot. I'd even take chilly and slow, because we're from Maine and anything over 40 is comfy.