NEVER again in summer!!

[4Robins]

We are currently on our way back to WV and I must say...we will never go in the summer again! Although we made the trip "doable" by drinking lots of water and taking LONG afternoon breaks, it just isn't worth spending a boatload of money to be miserable. My DH was sick for three days and couldn't ride the bigger rides due to the heat making him nauesated. We've made most of our trips to the World in Dec. And enjoyed ouselves sooooooo much more. Went in the summer this year because we can't take our kids out of school because they are older now. Still made it through the week and had a few wonderful meals and relaxed at the resort (WL).

You should check out the "taking kids out of school" thread!!! We takes ours out every fall for a WDW trip. Last i checked there were no rules saying you couldnt take kids out for a week!!!!!

 

[harleyquinn]

DH and I are teachers and are braving the August heat for the first time this year....and I have to say I am worried out of my mind! We have gone the past 3 Winter Breaks and have had a great time (and great weather 2 out of the 3 times.) This past Winter Break, though, the weather did not cooperate and it was COLD! We were in sweatshirts and long pants the entire time.

The kids really want to go to the waterparks, so this time we have the waterparks and more added to our ticket. We have never been able to go before since the weather in December has not been warm enough.

I would love to hear back from you about how the trip goes. We are the opposite...we've always gone in August and this year we're braving the crowds in order to go in December.

 

[Boog's Mommy]

My family goes at the end of January. We have done so for the past 3 years and we have always been blessed with ncie weather. It has been 76-79 degrees and sunny which is perfect for us. You can wear shorts in the day time and a pair of jeans with light jacket at night. Plus it is "value" season.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

"We will NEVER visit WDW in the summer again!" ...

I mumbled these exact same words as we were leaving WDW last June.

We live in Texas and are used to heat. It was the HUMIDITY that got to us and zapped all our energy. We drank plenty of Gator Aid, took mid-day breaks and returned to the parks after sunset. But, then you add in wall to wall sticky and hot people. It was honestly gross! We normally visit in the Fall/Winter and usually are at WDW for Thanksgiving. So, we know how to navigate the crowds at WDW. Also, summertime is when most novice WDW guests visit. So, you have to put up with people glaring at you as you walk past them in the stand-by line as you glide through the Fastpass line, people aimlessly walk in front of you with a map open and people walking away from restaurant check-in podiums ranting about how they needed a reservation. We love to chat up other families while in lines or on Disney transportation and compare our great vacations. However, I noticed people were more cranky and not very friendly in the summertime. It does kill the "magic" a little. JMO

The only reason we went last June was for DH's birthday. They had the birthday promo and we wanted to make DH's birthday special. However, being at WDW almost ruined his birthday. I won't say it was a wasted trip. We had fun, don't get me wrong. But, we have been at other times and had MORE fun during the Fall/Winter trips. Normally, when we are leaving WDW I want to stay longer. However, as we pulled away from our resort last June, I was glad to be heading home. That honestly saddened me.

Some people like WDW in the summertime and that is great for them. I'll take the cooler months November - February. We went this past February and had "the best" trip ever!!!!! Great weather and low crowds! Coming up, Christmas at WDW. Yes, we are crazy. There will be wall to wall people. But, it will be cool. I CAN handle that!

I hope your next WDW trip is in a cooler month. Sending lots of pixie dust for a magical next trip!

Jennifer

UPDATED:
I forgot, we went during May that year too. It was just starting to get hot. To me, there was a BIG difference between May and June (weather and crowds). May was great! We got to see the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot and didn't make one ADR. We didn't need to. It was a last minute trip. (made hotel reservation on Monday and left on Wednesday.) I'd go back in May in a heartbeat.

 

[3smithboys]

I am just worried about the heat and humidity... I am not a WDW novice... I figured that if we can successfully navigate Christmas Week 3 times then we can manage a week in August! We are a RD, DISboards, TGM lovin' family! We have our ADR's set... Our plan is to get there at RD, hit the highlights and tour for a couple of hours, go back to the resort and rest/swim, and then go back in the evenings...

We also figure there is nothing that we have to see/do. We know that we WILL BE BACK AGAIN.... it is not worth getting sick over. We have to take it easy. I get migraines, so I have to set the pace...staying hydrated is what worries me the most!

 

[3smithboys]

I would love to hear back from you about how the trip goes. We are the opposite...we've always gone in August and this year we're braving the crowds in order to go in December.

I will have to report back and let you know how it went... hopefully, we will all survive and have just as much fun in August as December!!!

 

[harleyquinn]

I will have to report back and let you know how it went... hopefully, we will all survive and have just as much fun in August as December!!!

You'll be fine. You are prepared and that is 75% of the battle. I have nightmares about manuvering a stroller through Christmas crowds. I can't wait to see how it compares.

I'll look forward to the report! We may actually be there at the same time? We're going August 14-20. ETA: Saw your ticker--we will be there together!

(I bet we actually "know" each other from TGM. We're probably both in the AVC.)

 

[mefordis]

We are going last week of August. I am not too worried. We've been there before at that time and had a great time. Two good reasons for going then:
A LOT CHEAPER and I don't have to take my child out of school.

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't blame you one bit. You CAN have fun in the summer at Disney, but it is vastly diminished by the heat.

As crazy as I am about Disney, I can still drive right past it in the summer and pass on going. The magic just seems to fade as the temperature rises for me. It's a shame too, since my kids favorite vacation is visit Sanibel Island Florida.... no short drive from Missouri.

I did finally figure out that we could stop at Disney for one late night EMH on the way home from the beach. But the rest of my Disney fun had to be in cooler times. Last year I got lured into the last week of September with free dining..... and they set heat records that week!

I'm SO excited to be going back again this December. I look forward to Disney in a sweatshirt again.........pure heaven!

 

[3smithboys]

Yes, we are going to be there at the same time! We are going 15-21st, and I am over on TGM AVC too! (But I am here much more!)

Don't worry too much about the Christmas crowds... if you follow TGM's best park days and touring plans you will be fine. When we first started going, our twins needed strollers, so we each pushed a stroller and our other DS walked....and we managed to get through the crowds. Sometimes it got tricky, but that was usually as the crowds were coming in, and WE WERE LEAVING!!!

Since we are teachers and have no choice but to go Christmas week, we have made the best of it - but we have actually loved it so much that we have gone back 3 times in a row!

 

[Dallas_Lady]

What I want to hear is from someone who choses to brave the spring break/christmas break crowds over the summer heat. So far all the teachers I know choose the summer yuck over the impossible crowds.

I'm a teacher and I am having this debate with DH right now. Our spring break is 2nd-3rd week of March each year (it's not tied to Easter). He wants to go then for nicer weather. I want to go in the summer because prices are a bit better. I am wondering if there is really a big difference in crowds.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm a teacher and I am having this debate with DH right now. Our spring break is 2nd-3rd week of March each year (it's not tied to Easter). He wants to go then for nicer weather. I want to go in the summer because prices are a bit better. I am wondering if there is really a big difference in crowds.

Well, Easter is late in 2011. If that's when you want to go, I'd probably go that route. It will still be a full month before Easter. Others will have break then too, but some will have late breaks.

Mostly it depends on an individual's heat tolerance as to which is preferable. I have friends who have gone in July and had a ball. I could never do that.

 

[SnowWhite607]

Our schools have cut back excused absences to 10 for the year and no more than 2 absences in a row without a DR excuse. So even though they havent come right out and said "you cant take your kid out of school for a week to go to WDW" I know that if I did, the absences would be unexcused and we would have to deal with the homework, classwork and tests that she missed and now got a zero for. Different districts do it different ways.....

I figure I can be hot in Louisiana or hot in WDW. For me its a no brainer, if its summer or nothing.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

sorry your trip was bad b/c of the heat. Atleast you now know what it is like there. I've been the in Dec, Jan, Mar, Apr, Oct
and the weather has never been HOT. It's always been pleasant. This year we are going in late Sept to get the free dining. Hopefully it wont be too HOT but we wanted to go when it's warmer out to use the waterparks b/c on our other visits in Oct and Dec/Jan it's do-able but my DH whines that it's too cold. How were the waterparks when you were there? (if you went)

 

[kmvand1]

Ha! "Less than kind?" We just pointed out that most of us don't choose to go in the summer, it's either go now, or don't go at all, so we make the most of it. We aren't miserable.

Now I definitely don't think that summer is "great." I would MUCH rather go at the end of October, but I can't so I do everything I can to make it work. And it does.

I'm sorry if you felt we were mean, you have evey right to your opinion and plenty of people feel the same way as you (with good reason). But not all of us are crazy miserable idiots for going in the summer.

Ummmm, I never said and I quote you "crazy, miserable idiots". That is all your doing.

 

[kmvand1]

sorry your trip was bad b/c of the heat. Atleast you now know what it is like there. I've been the in Dec, Jan, Mar, Apr, Oct
and the weather has never been HOT. It's always been pleasant. This year we are going in late Sept to get the free dining. Hopefully it wont be too HOT but we wanted to go when it's warmer out to use the waterparks b/c on our other visits in Oct and Dec/Jan it's do-able but my DH whines that it's too cold. How were the waterparks when you were there? (if you went)

We did the water parks both times in September when we too went for free dining. It was still hot in September, but the crowds weren't nearly as bad as the summer months, so you were still able to accomplish a lot!

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

We are going in Aug (20th-27th), little nervous about the heat and the crowds and I think my parents(well mom lol) are going to complain a lot b/c of it. We've gone in May twice, and we've always gone in Sept when I Was little, but I was little, in Disney, the heat didn't bother me then, but who knows now.

Why is this thread on here twice?

 

[Mamu]

I hear you, I've never gone in the summer, the way I look at it summer is for the beach.

 

[Sammie]

Sure everyone would rather go when it is less hot and fewer crowds, but that is not an option for everyone.

For one, some can not or will not take their children out of school. Many schools do not allow that, and many parents believe it sets a bad example to the child of what is important, school or vacations that are less hot and less crowded.

Summers can be managable and even fun, you just have to know how to plan the days.

 

[Eric95403]

Going on 3 weeks...thanks for the reminder about the HEAT and crowds. Our last trip we spent 2 weeks surrounding the July 4th holiday. Excellent trip. Just planned everything out and lines were very minimal the whole time. Hoping the same holds true for this trip as well. As for the heat, we don't have humidity here where I live, so that's a killer.

Thanks for the reminder: pack hankerchiefs to wipe off my shaved bald head every few seconds when the sweat keeps pouring into my face. Don't miss that at all.

Wish we could go during the Fall or Spring...have a small window nowadays w/ my DD playing club & high school volleyball. A year long sport w/ a small window from July to mid-August when school starts back up.