so what if there's a hurricane....

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

or rain in general if we switch to August for our vacation? Anyone dealt with this? Anyone gone in August and had great weather? We are looking at August 27-Sept 3. Should we just stick with October? I would rather do August(free dining and DD's bday) but not if we're gonna be sitting in our room the whole time or walkin around in the rain all day. we went in August 1999 and I don't remember it raining at all, but maybe my memory is not good. Tell me what you think.

 

[nhpooh]

We went those dates last year had a great time, only one problem. Hurricane Frances made a visit, the only day that was bad was the day it hit. No rain any other day, maybe a shower in the afternoon, but not rained out. Even the day Frances was around we had fun at WL. The staff was wonderful. Go for it and have fun.

 

[disneyholic family]

October is also hurricane season, isn't it?
The main problem i see with the September dates is that they fall on Labor Day weekend. I would think that's a more crowded time than Oct. 1. No?

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

Yeah but Dh vacations are already picked and it's either August 27-Sept 3 or October 16-23. First we had the August ressie then I cancelled it and changed to off site and I was never really happy with that(felt like I'd be missing something since we've always stayed at Disney) and now the free dining is really making me think about it. We spend alot on food and it works out better for us to do it than not. We've done October 2x and never had any weather issues.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Ok. Here we go.

I've been to Disney during this time and until mid July. Weather is fantastic - out of 10 days, I would say that we had 1 day of rain and a few days of Thunder Showers. The rain was refreshing.

Hurricane Season lasts from May 1 - November 1st. The end of October is beautiful weather and low crowds.

We were there during a hurricane. It rained each day for most of the day. However, during the worst part of the storm (the eye) past over WDW, it was the most beautiful day with a calm constant breeze. Who would hav thought?

 

[carol1231]

My choice would be to go in August and stay on-sight. I'm not a fan of staying off-sight (unless going somewhere other than WDW). So what if it rains, it rains in October too. I've never had the opportunity to take advantage of the dining plan, but when it's free, that sounds like a good deal. Food is a big part of the expense.

Good luck on your decision. You and your family will have a wonderful time no matter when.

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

We're all booked up to arrive on August 28th.
Hurricanes had better look out, cuz my family is way too determined to have a Disney vacation than to be stopped by an ole storm!

 

[ophie]

Remember too... last year was an anomaly. That's never happened before. It's pretty unlikely that it'll happen again. Hurricanes hitting Central Florida are, historically, pretty rare.

Orlando weather almanac

Central Florida Storms

Sustained wind of 45mph once every 3 years
Sustained wind of 60mph once every 6 years
Sustained wind of 75mph once every 9 years
Sustained wind of 90mph once every 30 yrs​

 

[ktink]

We were there last year the week after Frances when Ivan was lurking and we didn't know which way he was going. Well the weather couldn't have been prettier. And we're booked for 9/4- 9/10. They say WDW really makes up for anytime lost during the Hurricanes. So don't worry about it just hope for the best. That's what we're doing.

 

[newholidayx2]

Id rather have a day to relax at a Disney resort than the alternative (not go)

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

WE've gone every Aug for the last 3 years. Beautiful weather. There is an afternoon storm but that's par for the course. They didn't last very long.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

It appears to me that most hurricanes blow through Florida pretty quickly. Where they take to malingering is a bit farther north.

 

[MNmom]

We are also arriving on Aug. 28th - Sept. 3rd. We went last year during the same time and had a great trip. Very very hot. The heat got to us more than the threat of hurricaines. We had one afternoon of a quick shower and it is quite funny to see Minnie and Capt. Hook dancing during the MK parade in the POURING RAIN!!!!

We left WDW on the last plane out of MCO before they closed the airport for 2 days (Frances) and it was really interesting to watch how they prepare for hurricaines. Thank goodness we had a driver take us to the airport because they had removed ALL of the signs on the freeway to the airport. We would have had no idea where the exits were or which terminal was which. Absolutely everything was taken down and secured on the ground.

We can't wait for another fantastic trip in August!!!

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

We are also arriving on Aug. 28th - Sept. 3rd. We went last year during the same time and had a great trip. Very very hot. The heat got to us more than the threat of hurricaines. We had one afternoon of a quick shower and it is quite funny to see Minnie and Capt. Hook dancing during the MK parade in the POURING RAIN!!!!

We left WDW on the last plane out of MCO before they closed the airport for 2 days (Frances) and it was really interesting to watch how they prepare for hurricaines. Thank goodness we had a driver take us to the airport because they had removed ALL of the signs on the freeway to the airport. We would have had no idea where the exits were or which terminal was which. Absolutely everything was taken down and secured on the ground.

We can't wait for another fantastic trip in August!!!

So even after that you're going back again? Is this the only time possible for you or do you just love this time?

 

[Aevalin]

Now I don't get to go late in the year because I'm married to a teacher...but here's how I look at it...

I live in Nova Scotia. East Coast of Canada. 2 years ago we were hit by hurricane Juan, which was pretty devastating (and we were unprepared because we usually just get the tail ends of the storms here). If it's going to come and get me here, I figure I'd be just as well off at Disney having fun. The only issue that would concern me would be flights there and back if there was large scale power loss (we were without electricity in parts of our province for 4 or 5 days). The reality is tho, that Florida is better prepared for these things than we ever were. So go. The hurricane season on the Atlantic is like half the year - the other half you have to worry about snow storms on the way to the airport if you're up where I am

 

[snowglobe girl]

We're going the exact same week that you are going. I'm slightly worried, but agree that what happened last year was very rare and not likely to repeat. I've been in August, Sept, and October and never noticed any difference in the rain. If it rained any, it was in and back out within no time. We were going to go in October, but just can't pass up the free dining. It saved us nearly $900 by going two months early. Go and have fun

 

[wednesday]

Just an FYI, Hurricane season is actually June 1st until November 30th. Trust me I know, we were hit 3 times last year.

 

[Disney Daddy et al]

Hi,
My family and I go every August and I can honestly tell you that no day was wasted or ruined due to poor weather or hurricanes. Having back up plans such as Disney Quest or Dinner Theater, Cirque du soleil, etc. are always a good idea. We went to Universal (I know !! Blasphemy lol ) right after Hurricane Charlie and had most of the park to ourselves. 2 days later we went back to the MK and found wait times exceptionally low. I guess I will always see the glass half full at Disney..... "Cause that my friends is where the magic lives"
Good luck and best "WISHES"

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

Just an FYI, Hurricane season is actually June 1st until November 30th. Trust me I know, we were hit 3 times last year.

THanks for correcting that. I was just going to post a link to the National weather Service info board. It used to be from 6/1 to 11/1 but they;ve extended it in the last few years.

 

[goofy4tink]

We've been to WDW in late/mid August for the past two years now. In '03 the rain was incredible. We were there for 9 days. The first 3 days were hot but beautiful. Then the afternoon rains started. There were even tornado sightings in the DTD area. The rain didn't stop after an hour either. My dd lost her huge fear of thunderstorms.....the storms were unbelievable. It would rain from 3:00 until early evening. But, hey...it was warm and the rain cooled us off and the parks emptied out.
We were there again, same time frame last August. H. Charley arrived the same day we did. We lost 1/2 day in the parks since they closed them about an hour after we got there. We lost our PS's that night because they shut down the restaurants early. It was an adventure going through the hurricane at the Contemporary. The CM's were terrific. It was really interesting to see how little damage WDW sustained while outside it's borders there was devastation everywhere!!! We were in MK the next morning at 9:00. AK was closed for 1/2 a day since they have many more trees and sustained more tree damage.

If you are already in WDW and a hurricane comes, you should have no problems. The big problem is going to be getting in and out of Orlando since the airport shuts down.

We would go again at that time. We leave in 4 days and are hoping for decent weather.