Summer crowds? REALLY BAD or managable?

[sylw]

This is my first year as a teacher, so we're forced to go in the Summer (or other busy times) from here on out. (I'm thankful that I have a job, just afraid that Disney will never be the same for us ) We have been in September, October, and several times the first week of December. My husband is upset that this will be our first trip in a long time when we will not get to hear the "Once Upon a Christmastime at Christmas" song, but I am more concerned about having room to walk and breathe. I know it's still Disney and I;m sure people will read this and think "If you think it will be that bad, then just don't go" but I just want to hear from people who go in the Summer to get an idea and orepare myself.

Thanks in Advance for your tips!

 

[RivaLJ]

I too am a teacher and travel to WDW during the summer. I tend to go the second half of August. The crowds are not too bad at all. Just have a plan.

 

[flortlebap]

The last week in august is fine it's pretty hot though!

That would be the week I'd choose, anyway.

 

[GreenDog]

You can go in summer. We do and do quite well. You have to have a plan. Know the crowd estimates and use common sense on that, especially if you are not using EMH. If you are not then go to a park that does not have EMH. Whether you use EMH or not, regardless of which park you go to, MAKE ROPE DROP. Just get out of bed and do it. By 10:00 A.M. we have been on several rides, usually the big ones and it makes the rest of the day as crowds get bigger so much more managable because you are not trying to get on rides that everyone wants to be on. This past August we went for 10 days. Our longest wait was 30 minutes, that was once. Generally we waited less than 15 minutes. We did rope drop at MK (8:00 AM) and we rode SM, BTMRR and POTC all before 9:00 A.M.

 

[stamot]

Hi fellow teacher! Im a teacher and also my husband. We always go to Disney when is high season due to out work. We had been at Disney in summer several times and we even spent our summer honeymoon at the parks. You need a plan. There is crowds, not as much as you think. You will find a lot of tour groups. We use the Touringplans.com, we are always at the park before it open and ride the most popular rides first. You need to be prepare for rain almost every afternoon and is going to be really humid and hot. We buy ponchos at the dollar store so when it stop raining we can throw them out because is hard ti fold them back how they were. If you find a day that would be rainy all day go to the AK park because is usually empty during rainy day and the animals are out because they love to get wet. Drink a lot of water!!! very important!

If you have any other question you can send me a PM. I have a lot of information that can be helpful.

Enjoy your trip

 

[mlittig]

First of all, congratulations on your new teaching job As a fellow teacher, I too am locked into going during school vacations or summer As long as you know that summer is hot, hot and hot PLUS extremely humid, you should be o-kay The best thing I have learned is to go to the parks early as in rope drop, do what you want and leave around lunch time or a little later to go back to your resort to swim or rest Then you will be refreshed to go back to the parks for dinner and stay as late as you want As mentioned, drink plenty of water and remember, you can get free ice water at any counter service restaurant The crowds are manageable and do lessen as you get into August Happy planning and I hope your trip is magical

 

[Cant wait for Disney]

hi! I have to agree with all the pp's. Summer is different than fall/winter, but if you have a plan, you will be fine! We usually do June trips and even survived this last one with a 10 month old in tow .
I would say that personally, I find the summer heat worse than the crowds. Yes, there are times when there are lots of people, but with a good plan, afternoon breaks and some patience, it really isnt that bad! I would just prepare yourself for the heat! Hit the mornings and evenings in the parks and allow yourself some AC/pool time in the heat of the day so you dont get too exhausted. You will have a great time, happy planning!

 

[MainMom]

I went at the end of July with 3 kids. It was fine. We just did rope drop every day and took afternoon breaks for naps. (The heat really drains you.) Then we would go back to a park for the evening parade/show/nice dinner. It was a good time and I would go at that time again.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

My husband teaches at a university and is a volleyball coach, so we have to work around his schedule (as well as our kids in school). We went a few years ago the first week of Aug. It wasnt too bad. We NEVER made it to rope drop, but we were still able to ride just about everything and were able to get FP for quite a few things. We never stayed at the parks until closing either...except 1 night we went back to MK after dinner at Poly.

It was extremely hot though!!

 

[tndisneyfan]

We usually go in the summer. We find it to be very manageable. I think the earlier you go the better. We have found that after Memorial Weekend, every day that goes by the parks get a little busier.

We usually get up early, do the rope drop thing the head back to the room when the crowds pick up or we get tired. Then we rest at the room and come back later in the evening when it's not quite as hot.

 

[MikeSF]

Been once when I wasn't a teacher, and never going again during the Summer.

That said, you could always have a *cough cough* sick day on a Monday and/or Friday and make a weekend trip of it, but going for a week long vacation? Sorry to say, you're stuck with spring break, winter break, and summer break, all pretty lousy choices. Best chance you have is if your school doesn't start until later in the than everyone else. I'm lucky in that I don't start until the 3rd week of January so there's a window during the 2nd week that I probably 99% of kids are back in school by then.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

The last week in august is fine it's pretty hot though!

That would be the week I'd choose, anyway.

Absolutely!

I too am a teacher and travel to WDW during the summer. I tend to go the second half of August. The crowds are not too bad at all. Just have a plan.

We love the month of August!

You can go in summer. We do and do quite well. You have to have a plan. Know the crowd estimates and use common sense on that, especially if you are not using EMH. If you are not then go to a park that does not have EMH. Whether you use EMH or not, regardless of which park you go to, MAKE ROPE DROP. Just get out of bed and do it. By 10:00 A.M. we have been on several rides, usually the big ones and it makes the rest of the day as crowds get bigger so much more managable because you are not trying to get on rides that everyone wants to be on. This past August we went for 10 days. Our longest wait was 30 minutes, that was once. Generally we waited less than 15 minutes. We did rope drop at MK (8:00 AM) and we rode SM, BTMRR and POTC all before 9:00 A.M.

We LOVE the end of August! It's our favorite time of year to go. Yes, it's HOT but not unbearable for us, the low crowds more than make up for the heat.