Really, the truth, how bad is the summer?

[anonymousegirl]

I can just about deal with the heat. The humidity is worse for me (coming from dry heat California). Some things that work for me:

I start the day as early as possible! Be at the front of Rope Drop, and I am out of the park by 1130 latest. Back to the room for a swim, then lunch, then a nap in our cool room. Then, and this is the important thing--a fresh set of clothes!!! and then hit the park again.
For some reason, after 5pm the heat/humidity seems easier to handle. Stay until 11pm or later.

Using the fridge, I freeze wet washcloths and put them in zip-lock baggies. Around 10am, I wipe myself down with the now soft/melty cloth and use the baggie to take it back to the room. Super refreshing!

I used to hit the pools again for a midnight dip, but I understand the pools close now by 10pm.

 

[ArielSRL]

That's definitely not our experience with summer. Sure, MK hours this past summer were a few hours shorter (usually at the end of the night), but it definitely didn't feel just as crowded. In fact, the past 2 summers especially have been quite light. We've walked around FutureWorld and AK at night and wondered if there was a fire drill that we didn't hear about. In HS, we walked up for Star Wars fireworks 5 minutes before they started and had a fantastic view...then literally walked right on TSMM. The only place consistently crowded is the hub in MK at fireworks.

We felt this way the first week of June, even at MK at night! I think a lot of it was the fireworks were at 9 this past summer and people totally cleared out of the backs of the park leading up to the fireworks (staking out their spots) and then most probably leaving after they were over. We stayed til closing (11pm on Tues and 10pm on Friday...we did the fireworks on our first MK night) and the place almost felt deserted. And it worked out perfectly, because MK at night is my most favorite touring anyway.

We closed down most parks (even with a 3 and 5 yr old) because we did the midday rest thing, and it truly was a wonderful time to be in the parks!

 

[ashmac8]

The last two summers I have been in July and this summer I was there June and July. Playing nice with school schedules means summers. Yes it is hotter than hell. But I am going again this June and very much looking forward to it. We typically rope drop a park until lunch, then hang poolside from 12:30-4 and then head back to a park for dinner, fast passes, and evenings. This has worked really well for us. I went over Thanksgiving and actually missed the pool time. It was warm but not hot during that trip.

 

[3kidz4dis]

The last two summers I have been in July and this summer I was there June and July. Playing nice with school schedules means summers. Yes it is hotter than hell. But I am going again this June and very much looking forward to it. We typically rope drop a park until lunch, then hang poolside from 12:30-4 and then head back to a park for dinner, fast passes, and evenings. This has worked really well for us. I went over Thanksgiving and actually missed the pool time. It was warm but not hot during that trip.

I had to laugh out loud at the "hotter than hell"...ugh!! We went to Mexico in July and walking around Tulum, I said the same thing! I am just trying to wrap my head around this being a voluntary vacation

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

This year, we went to WDW from the end of June to mid-July and again over Thanksgiving week. We didn’t go into the parks on July 4 (stayed CL at Poly and enjoyed the resort that day), but overall, November seemed much busier than July (even the weekend before Thanksgiving week, which if I remember correctly was quieter than the latter part of the trip). Prob the most crowded I’ve ever personally seen wdw (and MK in particular) was May 2015 during the 24-hr opening (we could barely move and just decided to leave the park, which we’ve never done before).

Of course, it was a lot hotter in July. We’re not originally from, but now live in, S TX, and there’s no way we can swim at wdw anytime but summer. Fall and winter are just too cool for us (it’s nice walking around weather, but too cool to wear shorts all the time or go swimming). Obv everyone’s heat/cold tolerances are different. It did rain a few times in July but mostly short downpours. It also rained in Nov, but those tended to be longer-lasting, cold and drizzly type showers. (I think the rainiest month we’ve ever been was October.)

 

[MrsInsG]

We've gone for two extended mid-late August trips in the last few years. Yes, it's hot and humid, but we were expecting it and so it was something we simply dealt with. Both trips were 10-12 days allowing for more down time and a more relaxed pace. We're from VA and it really didn't seem all that different than summer in DC.

 

[philbrody]

Actually is not really that hot. Low 90's, nothing like the southwest gets in the summer. The humidity is a totally different story. Can be oppressive if you don't plan correctly and hydrate. If you plan early mornings and late nights it's manageable. Also try and plan around less crowded indoor attractions if you are out during the heat of the day. Hall of Presidents, Carousel of Progress, and used to be Ellen was awesome for this.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

Actually is not really that hot. Low 90's, nothing like the southwest gets in the summer. The humidity is a totally different story. Can be oppressive if you don't plan correctly and hydrate. If you plan early mornings and late nights it's manageable. Also try and plan around less crowded indoor attractions if you are out during the heat of the day. Hall of Presidents, Carousel of Progress, and used to be Ellen was awesome for this.

I'm originally from New Mexico, so the heat never bothered me. Now the humidity? That was a different story. I've lived in New England now for 20 years and am now use to the humidity.

 

[zebrastreyepz]

I'm from Oklahoma where our summers feel like a blast furnace and we couldn't deal with it last July.

The humidity did us in.

We went home two days early.

 

[North of Mouse]

Miserably hot and humid. Feel like a hot wet blanket over you all the time. Hate feeling wet and sticky all day. We used to go a lot in the summer, but no more.

And, I'm a deep south girl that absolutely loves the summers, but--------we don't stay outside 'all' day at home trying to have fun like we do at Disney (same as we feel about cold, damp and windy). We love April.

 

[PamNC]

To me, and in my experience, August is not that crowded, particularly mid to late August. Heat, humidity - yes - it's there and in full force. But that's what water, swimming pools and getting drenched on certain attractions is for. I'm from the south, NC - so I'm used to it. Doesn't phase me.

 

[Texans_loyal]

we did August once...never again. I couldn't handle the heat and I'm from Texas!

 

[Oshay1]

For the last few years, we have done several trips in late August because we combine this with dropping our son off at College (UCF, Go Knights!). So like people have said, it is HOT and HUMID and as long as you can deal with that, we find the crowds are not that bad and we feel that it is less crowded than during the prime summer months of June and July.

 

[Summer2018]

I am not sure where to post this question, but we are trying plan a trip with our 3 college age kids before they go to back to school on August 20. We own DVC and I am seeing that there is availability in August in most resorts. We are from the northeast and understand heat and humidity but adding in the crowds, sounds a bit unpleasant. Is August any better with the crowds?? Also, DVC Hilton Head looks available and is an option. A totally different vacation but is this a better choice? Give me the honest lowdown on the summer. We only have been in May and November. Thanks!

We have gone in the summer 3 times, and our next trip is this July too. I live in the northeast, where our summers get hot and humid, sometimes hotter than central Florida. I would rather be hot in WDW than at home. We hit the parks in the morning, take a pool break or air conditioned nap, then return to parks or have a fabulous dinner at a deluxe resort restaurant. I could never do it if we went all day long without a midday break.

 

[Micca]

It's not an ideal time to go. Sure the crowds thin-out near the end of the month, but your kids need to be at school on the 20th, which means you're probably going mid-month. Would your group be willing to get up early, hit RD, and get out the parks by Noon? Then return later in the evening to close the parks down?
My hunch with college-age boys, getting up early on vacation is not their idea of a good time. You could also consider a strictly night time schedule for the parks, but then you have a chunk of time to fill during the day. If you think everyone would enjoy hangin' at the resort, using the pool, maybe take a nap then that might work. As I said, it's not an ideal time to go. I try to avoid the peak crowd times, but dealing with your sitch I think I'd almost opt to go during a school break (when it will be crazy busy) when the weather is better. Then you can at least strategize to mitigate the huge crowds.

 

[GeneralTso]

The truth? Can you handle the truth?

It is miserable. It is hot and humid and you will wish you did not spend thousands of dollars to feel this awful.

 

[knkmom]

Our first trip to WDW was in late June 2009 and it was so hot and humid we all got sick! We're from So Cal and we don't have humidity. Triple digit heat is something we are use to, the humidity, nope! Every trip since we've gone in early May!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

The truth? Can you handle the truth?

It is miserable. It is hot and humid and you will wish you did not spend thousands of dollars to feel this awful.

This is how I feel. We used to do summers when our kids were younger. Then we started going over fall break. Maybe that spoiled us! We went back summer '16 due to college schedules. Never again! I cannot handle feeling miserable before even getting to the turnstile at rope drop. Our next trip will be Thanksgiving 2019. I can handle crowds better than I can the heat!

 

[hertamaniac]

I live local to WDW and have visited once in June-August. I love the heat and humidity, but not coupled with crowds.

To those not acclimated to central Florida weather, I have seen it drain eager families down to nothing within 2 days. I'm sure there are families that don't feel that same effect.

 

[Tomh]

New Yorker here, and we visit every year in mid to late August. It certainly is hot, and humid, but the crowds thin out, especially later in the month. The heat is manageable, the par hours are still pretty long. I honestly think it is a fine time of the year to visit.