So tell me, what is August *really* like?

[mamatojon]

We have gone to Disneyland in August, but never WDW. The two times we went to WDW it was in February, a little too cold for me most days. I'm from WA state where the weather doesn't get above 90 more than a few weeks out of the year, but I seem to handle the summer in CA alright, I'm thinking that I should be okay in FL? I don't want to be totally miserable. Are the mornings/evenings bearable? In CA it seems to really cool off once the sun goes down, but I have no idea what FL would be like.

I don't mind the crowds really, at Disneyland there are always crowds in the summer too, heck we've even gone New Year's Eve and had a blast. When we go to CA we usually do a big commando trip too, staying about three to five days total and opening and closing the parks. I was thinking that if we went to FL in August we could spend a couple of weeks there and take things more slowly, we just bought points in DVC so I wouldn't mind just hanging out some days too, I was thinking that might make things a bit easier to deal with if we didn't try to cram everything into a shorter trip.

We are going this upcoming January, but I was thinking that in 2007 we might try for the summer... my son is starting school this year and I don't mind pulling him out of Kindy, but after that I'd like to keep him in as much as possible. I wish we had year round school out here! That would be sweet.

 

[jomf]

We went in August a few years ago having been before in October, July and at Easter. August was hotter, more humid and rained most afternoons. Having said that we found it fine ( Even from the UK the heat was not too bad). The crowd levels were better than Easter ( by far) and July. About the same as October ( our half term time).

 

[stemikger]

I went for 10 days last August. It was HOT!!! But truthfully, I dealt with it a lot better then I thought I would. You just have to use common sense and you can't do the parks commando style. Take breaks and go back to the resort in mid-day and take a swim.

The only park I found really bad was Animal Kingdom because there weren't as many places to get in the shade. We had to leave early because of the heat. The other parks are very doable because there are so many air conditioned places to go to get a break from the heat.

You literally can set your watch to the afternoon rain showers. However, they don't last that long. I thnk around 3:00 p.m. it rained every day for about 30 to 45 minutes. The night time is actually nice. Although still hot that intense sun is not on you and there were some nights were there was an nice breeze.

The best advice I can give you is take breaks, drink lots of water and take it at a nice pace. Even though you will miss stuff, you will enjoy what you do see. Have fun. I'm going back again this August so as you see it couldn't have been that bad.

Another quick tip that helped me. Before you go to the parks take a washcloth with you and put cold water on it. I put it on my head and used it on my face and neck throughout the day. It really helped. I would periodically go to the bathroom to put more cold water on it.

 

[LeftCoaster]

August in FL is not like August in California. It'll be 90 degrees with 90% humidity. It will not cool down like it does here in California. It will cool down some but, nothing compared to California.

 

[MKCP5]

We are going this year in august for the 2nd time. It is AFRICA hot then. I manage it fine. My Dh has a harder time, but we work our day aorund air conditioned rides, longer a/c shows and sit down restaurants in the middle of the day for a break. It is 93 and humid at 2 in the afternoon and 93 and humid at midnight. That does not change If you can mange the heat it is much less crowded and alot of fun!

 

[auntpolly]

I don't think the crowds are all that bad and I can take the heat, but the rain made it a little more difficult. Usually I like a little rain at WDW (quick bursts that clear out the parks a little) , but both August trips we were there the rain was torrential and didn't let up. And I hate those ponchos!! Running around the whole time in those stinkin' things - yuck!

All in all though, if I am at WDW, I am never having a bad time!

 

[goofy4tink]

We've been to WDW twice in August now...both times from about the 13th on for 8 days. In '03 it was rainy and hot. Incredible thunder storms. But, we really enjoyed ourselves and found it wasn't all that bad. So, we went again in '04. Yep, we went with H. Charlie. Now that was humidity!! It isn't so much the heat that did us in, it was the humidity. It was just a wall of wet that you couldn't see. But, that was due in large part to the weather system that brought those hurricanes in in such rapid succession.

My advice for summer touring.....start early every day. Get out of the parks mid-day and eat lunch and swim at your resort. Change you footwear. Head back out to a park for dinner and more touring. Always have a poncho handy..especially after 2 pm!!! While I love the Mickey ponchos, for .99 you can buy a disposable one at home. For what you spend for one Mickey poncho you can buy about 6 of the throw away ones and then you can just chuck it in the trash, rather than carry it around all wet and such. Or if you rather the nicer Mickey ones...keep a gift bag and you can stuff your wet poncho in the bag and hitch the bag onto a fanny pack belt or backpack strap.
Drink plenty of water, whether you are thirsty or not!!! Take frequent park breaks and just sit down on a bench and people watch. Try to have one nice sit-down table service meal a day....either breakfast or pref. dinner. You need to replenish your energy stores and you can't do that grabbing a quick hot dog at Caseys.
Take time to stop and smell the flowers, literally! You may miss some stuff, but at this time of year it's important to take your time and not rush around like a chicken with it's head chopped off!! You'll just get tired and aggravated.
All in all, it's not a bad time to go....have a good time planning.

 

[cocowum]

It is AFRICA hot then!

LMAO Eddie Murphy, Right?


We are going in Aug too. Last year we went in late June, early July and it was HOT at 8:00 am it was already in the mid 80's. So start early! Drink water and remember... A day at WDW is better than a day anywhere in the world!! Have fun

 

[Leota]

No doubt about it, August is Hot! I don't mind it - but DH refuses to ever do August again. DS & I are going this August again, as I want to do some water parks & it wasn't hot enough for me to do them in April. I like it HOT.

It doesn't cool down a whole lot at night, but the absence of the sun beating down on you makes a big difference & doing the Parks early in the AM & late in the PM works really well. Taking a nice, long afternoon break for swimming & napping & eating is essential for us. Drinking lots, using sunscreen, using cool bandanas around our necks & taking advantage of A/C, shade & wet rides are also necessary. AK is only doable for us in the summer for a couple hours at a time, it is at least 10º hotter there than elsewhere with less opportunities to cool off.

 

[Stitch Inside]

Quote:
Originally Posted by MKCP5
It is AFRICA hot then!

LMAO Eddie Murphy, Right?

I believe that was Matthew Broderick in Biloxi Blues, but still funny.

 

[DisneyMim]

We've been doing August for at least 13-14 years now. It's the only time we can take two weeks at a time (hubby is a teacher). Yes it is hot. Yes it is humid. We did June/July years ago and have found that August is less crowded (just our opinion). We really don't mind the heat. It's something that people have to see for themselves. Some people mind it more than others. We also go during other times of the year. We were there in March and needed sweatshirts. I found it too cold!! We haven't done commando style touring in years, we have APS and just go with the flow. I think this is why August doesn't bother us. We like to swim and in March we couldn't go because we found it too cold. Even in April we didn't want to stay at the pools for that long. My daughter wouldn't even go in! So I guess you could say we like it hot hot hot!!! It's not for everyone, no time is, thank goodness or we'd never get a room! You have to do what is right for your family.

Good Luck and Have a Wonderful Vacation!!!

 

[Harambe]

DH likes it hot, too, so after we were there early Sept. last year, he said he wants to go during hot weather, instead of taking the chance in January, like we used to do. I don't like the heat, but it didn't take long to adjust to the heat/humidity - by the end of day one, we were all set.

Bring extra clothes or plan to do laundry. Your clothes will be drenched (especially your bra! LOL!).

See you there! Aug.21 - 29!

 

[Danthesand]

What people aren't mentioning here is the crowd dynamic.

The first few weeks of August are still high season, but on or around the 15th things start to change as the Southern school systems all open. Those families disappear, and the crowd levels at the parks start to shrink. How much so?

Well, during the third week in August of 2001, we walked onto the Tower of Terror at MGM at 3 in the afternoon.

Yes, walked on, and that was pre 9/11.

 

[goofy4tink]

As for the crowd dynamic...in '03 we thought we would be going when it was less crowded....15th on for a week or so. Well, Disney released the now famous Fairy Tale pkg and a ton of people took advantage of it!! No, it wasn't prohibitively crowded but it was crowded enough. Fairly lengthy wait times for the attractions. Then last year we arrived the same day as Charlie. Well then....the schools closed in central Florida and guess where everyone went? Yep, DisneyWorld. As soon as they could get out of their houses and travel, the kids came. I would say that by Tuesday after the Friday storm it was getting crowded!! And now with that free dining going on...well, Disney is trying to keep the parks/resorts filled!!

 

[CuteKatCar]

This year, throw in the free dining package from 8/20 to 10/4.....I think it will be more crowded. There is a thread somewhere - did I start that? that asked if the free dining was making people change their minds and come during the free 6 weeks. There were alot of yes answers (I told my DH (who didn't want to go in the heat) that it would be less crowded the last week of Aug) . We'll have to wait and see. We'll still have a blast!!!!!!!!

Anna

 

[Worfiedoodles]

This year will be our first time going in August, so I was very interested in this thread. I am the commando of the family, so I am definitely going to have to tone it down. I am determined that we are going to have a relaxing vacation.

 

[mamatojon]

Okay, I'm getting I'll have to adjust my expectations and not compare FL to CA. I think we will at least try it, our other option is to go during spring break when it is cooler but we would only be able to stay one week then and with the horrible crowds we probably wouldn't get to do much.

I'm really hoping that with 13 or 14 nights there we would just be able to take it easy and not stress about doing everything all day long, thus making it easier to justify going back to the resort or eating sit down (A/C'd) meals. Usually our days are so full we just can't see doing stuff like that.

Thanks for all of your input, keep it coming!