please tell me some pro's & cons for visitng WDW in august

[Misty89]

we would like to take advantage of the free dining plan....if we can. we are from WI, that is whats holding me back from being sold on this. we are only in thinking about stages right now....next week we might have anouther date picked out..( summer is a good option as far as no school )
but please list the pros and cons of going to WDW in august....good and all the bad looking at august 16- august 19th, ( 3 nts)


thank you cant wait for the replys >)


Tina

 

[McKelly]

Tina-

The dining starts the 21st. I PM'd you too!

Kelly

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

Pro's

We went last year the week starting August 9. It was the week Florida schools started back and the crowds were lite. I liked going that time of year because every morning when we walked thru the gates of MK there were 15-20 characters stationed around the circle for the opening. My kids were so excited to see some of their favorite characters first thing. When we went in November, the characters weren't out in the front of MK at park opening like they were in August.

Con's

It was very hot and humid. The weekends got crowded but I'm sure weekends are always busier than weekdays.

 

[CarnotaurDad]

Pros:

Guaranteed swimming weather
Sun is up longer than most other time
Late park closings

Cons:

Crowded
Easy to get cranky when its that hot and humid

 

[WDWendy]

This seems like sort of a silly pro, but it's too hot to over-indulge in food. I ended up losing 5 lbs. when we went last year in the summer heat!!! It was just too warm to work up much of an appetite.

 

[Sleepy]

Pros:
Late park closings

Cons:

Crowded
Easy to get cranky when its that hot and humid

After around Aug 15, the parks start closing earlier.

Even though it may be crowded and hot in August, it is still not nearly as crowded and hot as July. We were thee in July a few years ago. What a mistake. it was so hot I could not stand it. Never saw somany tour groups in my life! I actually prefer mid to late August.

 

[tortoni]

We have gone in late August for the last three years. I always say that we will not go again in August for one reason--rain! We have been there when the rain last most of the afternoon, not a lot of fun for the kids. But, the kids are out of school and it is a little lighter than July for crowds, so August it is again this year. With the free dining this year, there's an added advantage.

 

[CarnotaurDad]

Ahhh...you are correct. I should have prefaced that I was comparing August to December. It is so sad when MK closes at 6 PM!

 

[cjsmith]

Pros-
Not as crowded as schools here in Florida go back anywhere from Aug 9 to Aug 16 as well as other Southern schools and those in California.
Hey, no matter what, it's Disney!

Cons-
It is incredibly hot and humid in August here in Florida, one of our worst months actually.
It is still very much our rainy season and you will get rain almost every day. Hopefully they won't last for long and the sun will come out and dry everything. Bring a rainjacket or umbrella & it won't bother you.
It is hurricane season so be prepared that in the event of one your plans may be altered. Just go with the flow and deal with it and you'll be okay. Realize that Disney doesn't do the weather, Mother Nature does and Disney tries it's best to take care of all of their guests. Hopefully nothing will happen this year and we'll get through like we did the 5 years prior to last year!

 

[Misty89]

you all are making it sound very tempting.......so are the airlines LOL

soooo..how hot and humid ? remember we are from WI



Tina

 

[Jaycee's Mom]

About how long does it usually take by bus to get from ASMov back to MK, Epcot or MGM - just need to plan accordingly to make it back in time for AR's at 3:30

 

[mellbe113]

Tina,

We are from Minnesota so same as you weather wise. We go every year around the third week of August and let me tell you, it is hot. Feels like we are carrying around a fifty pound weight on our shoulders. Out of eight days, it probably rains three days in the afternoons with maybe one thunderstorm.

On the plus side, when it rains, it cools us down a bit and some people actually do leave the parks. I have never been any other time of the year so I don't know how the crowds compare, but the Florida kids are back in school I believe, so thats something.

Anyway, we hit the parks early, go back to the hotel for a swim in the afternoon, and go back to the parks in the evening if we feel like it.

Have fun

 

[2MuchOhana]

Tina:

I grew up in Racine, WI. Honestly I do better in the Florida heat and humidity than I do here in St. Louis!

Don't get me wrong it is hot and humid there. Generally speaking in the 90's during the day. The rain was almost like clockwork around 2 to 3 PM. At least it was when we were there. If it wasn't raining too hard it was a nice way to cool off!

The parks are open later in the summer time so you can take advantage of some down time in the heart of the day if you find it too uncomfortable. Also, going on rides or seeing the shows during that time is another option!


Jodi

 

[SteinsLaFemme]

I've gone to Disney in the last week of August or the first week of September and found the crowds to be low. It's very hot but the lack of crowds make up for the discomfort. I get to the parks when they open, see everything with very little wait and spend the afternoon at the pool or water parks. It's great.

I am concerned that this year may be more crowded because of the free dining plan promotion!

 

[MEK]

3rd or 4th week of August. I am heading back this summer last week of August.

Pros- Reasonable crowds, good park hours, resorts are quiet, lines for rides are short compared to June, less school aged children, rain every afternoon - cools things down, close drive to the beach (try it - the beaches are awesome).

Cons - Rains every afternoon (bring many disposable ponchos), hot & humid (no worse than anywhere else on the east coast that time of year - I have no idea what the weather is like in WI ), possibility of hurricanes ( have dodged them all so far)

Seriously - the worst heat is between 12 and 2pm. Bring lots of water in a back pack. Go back for a swim in the afternoon and return to the park in the evening. The evenings are perfect - better than the midatlantic sticky, disgusting evenings.
_________________________________________
I LOVE AUGUST!

 

[disney0928]

After around Aug 15, the parks start closing earlier.

Even though it may be crowded and hot in August, it is still not nearly as crowded and hot as July. We were thee in July a few years ago. What a mistake. it was so hot I could not stand it. Never saw somany tour groups in my life! I actually prefer mid to late August.

Uhmmmm, how much earlier? Anyone have hours from last year, or previous years for late August? We'll be there 8/23-8/29, spending my B-day with the mouse!

May have to alter quite a bit of planning...........

Tia!

 

[Sammie]

In late August the MK can close anywhere from 8pm to 10 pm. Sometimes it will be open till 10 on weekends but close earlier during the week. MGM and Epcot will not close as early.

 

[jjan]

Here are the hours... http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...MKCalendarParkHoursMonthlyViewPage&date=82005


During your time period MK is open usually from 9am-9pm sometimes 9am-10pm and then EMH on top of that.

 

[disney0928]

Thanks for the link, I had no idea they had released hours that far ahead! As always,

Just can't wait!


Back to O.P. I have heard from so many others, and those on this post, that crowd levels outweigh the heat factor. We're sold!

 

[KyMattDisney]

We went late in Aug. last year...

PROs...the crowds seemed lighter and the parks were still open late

CONS....our vacation was right between the 2 major hurricanes that hit the Orlando area....we felt lucky to be between the 2, but wouldn't chance it again....