Summer - Never Again!

[jcvalenti]

Unless I can escape for a Food & Wine weekend, I always go during the summer because it's the only time the kids and their cousins can do it (too many school activities any other time of the year).

We have made several 10 - 14 day trips in June, July and August in the last 15 years. Some have been crowded and full of rain, some not quite as crowded with rather mild and enjoyable weather. All have been a blast. You just have to accept the Florida weather in the summer for what it is, and prepare accordingly. A great poncho, lots of sun screen, a cooling towel and an insulated cooler to bring your own bottled water are all important. Accept the fact it is too hot to be outside for 12 straight hours, and plan on a trip back to your hotel or rental at midday to swim, shower and relax. Check the sky occasionally and when a thunder storm is clearly rolling in, that's the time to find some indoor activities.

I generally even appreciate the storms - tends to clear the crowds out a bit.

 

[Linda T.]

The last several years my family went the end of July and we really liked it. Yes it was very hot and humid. And yes it did rain in the afternoons a lot, but that was ok. We would go to the parks at rope drop and then by early afternoon we would head back to our hotel to swim and relax. Then in the evening we would head back to whatever park we had planned and enjoyed the evening festivities there. This year we are visiting the world right after Christmas because we wanted to see the lights. But I don't think you can beat Disney in the summer.

 

[edk35]

The last several years my family went the end of July and we really liked it. Yes it was very hot and humid. And yes it did rain in the afternoons a lot, but that was ok. We would go to the parks at rope drop and then by early afternoon we would head back to our hotel to swim and relax. Then in the evening we would head back to whatever park we had planned and enjoyed the evening festivities there. This year we are visiting the world right after Christmas because we wanted to see the lights. But I don't think you can beat Disney in the summer.

Some of our best trips are the summer ones. IT is nice because there are NO school schedules, we love to do the same schedule as you. We LOVE THE PARKS AT NIGHT. When we go in Aug. the crowds are NOT bad at all. Now last Aug. when we went...the old FP system was still in affect... so we shall see how things go this Aug.

 

[Disney Dad 88]

I was wondering when we would have the annual Never Again In The Summer thread...I love this every year. Somehow 19 million people live and work here with suits and ties, in and out of the heat and humidity every day. You can tell who the "veterans" are in this thread. Pace yourself, drink a lot of water, and take a break. Rain is always a unpredictable, we went for two weeks with none, and this week it's rained everyday. Hit things early and have a back up plan for rain, and most of all have fun.

 

[joannamet]

I love this thread. Last time we went to Disney in the fall but DDs school schedule makes summer a better time for us and DH really wanted to be there in summer when there are longer hours and fewer closures. We're morning park people so napping at the resort during the afternoon storm sounds like it will work for us just fine.

 

[ArwenMarie]

It's fine when it rains. People expect that. It's when the rain doesn't stop for the rest of the day that it's a drag (not talking about bigger storm systems but the daily ones)

 

[smraynor]

We also stopped the summer trips. It's easier to get the kids out of school for a week and at least be able to enjoy the parks and not feel like we are melting.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We are going on our first summer trip in about 5 weeks.
DS is in high school now so our fall trips are a thing of the past.

9 days , 8 nights. We plan to take our time. No commando like our past trips.

 

[North of Mouse]

Somehow 19 million people live and work here with suits and ties, in and out of the heat and humidity every day. You can tell who the "veterans" are in this thread.

To hear you tell it, all these people stay out in the summer heat and humidity like people do when touring the parks. I'm also a deep south girl, love it, but I 'do not' tour parks in the summer with the high heat and humidity.
You don't stay out in it with suits and ties on either.

People that live/work in the south do not stay out in it all day (for several days). That's how we can enjoy it. You definitely do 'not' acclimate to it or get used to it - just learn how to live with it. I speak from experience.

So all you folks from cooler climes - don't feel bad!

 

[Josh Hendy]

If you have to go in the summer because you're a teacher, don't worry! (I was going to say 'don't sweat it' but ...)

We've only been to Orlando in the summer, between last week of June and 2nd week of August.

We've never seen rain before 2pm on any visit. We've never been rained on except after we've done an entire morning of touring and then had a leisurely lunch. It can be a drag if you have plans for the afternoon or evening (e.g. water park or seeing Fantasmic) and it's raining heavily, but that has happened to us only once or twice in 5 summer visits to Orlando.

So the strategy for dealing with heat, rain and crowds in the summer is ... be there at rope drop! Do your bestest touring before the heat, rain and crowds hit the park, then relax and (no pun intended) chill in the afternoon!

 

[edk35]

If you have to go in the summer because you're a teacher, don't worry! (I was going to say 'don't sweat it' but ...)

We've only been to Orlando in the summer, between last week of June and 2nd week of August.

We've never seen rain before 2pm on any visit. We've never been rained on except after we've done an entire morning of touring and then had a leisurely lunch. It can be a drag if you have plans for the afternoon or evening (e.g. water park or seeing Fantasmic) and it's raining heavily, but that has happened to us only once or twice in 5 summer visits to Orlando.

So the strategy for dealing with heat, rain and crowds in the summer is ... be there at rope drop! Do your bestest touring before the heat, rain and crowds hit the park, then relax and (no pun intended) chill in the afternoon!

Plus at Disney....there are SO MANY places to pop into..to get out of the heat. To me...I am just as excited about a summer trip to Disney as a trip in Nov. or Jan. It is NOT a game changer for me whatsoever. SO for all of you posters going for the first time in the summer..... go early, drink a lot of water and enjoy the pools/water parks in the heat of the day....then go back for the evenings. Trust me it will NOT RAIN every single day of your trip to the point of ruining it for you. I have been too many times in the summer and YES it rained but NO it never ruined a trip.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

This thread is making me nervous. We've never been in August and are going the last week this year. I've been thinking we'd be OK because we've dealt with feels like temps of 98 degrees and 80% humidity up here over the past week and I've started taking long walks in that to get used to it. This thread is making me think what we've been dealing with will feel like a winter wonderland.

Twice during summer visits, it was actually SO cool, that we wore long pants at night! That surprised me!

Just like most anywhere in the lower 48, temps vary.

Not much sense in worrying about something you can't control.

No matter when one plans outdoor activities...there's always a chance the weather won't cooperate. We've had bad and good weather in pretty much every month we've been to FL. It happens. Great weather also happens.

If you get a great weather day- use it! Go swimming!

 

[My2Pixies]

We went mid August two years ago during a tropical storm. We invested in panchos before we went and knew well ahead of time that rain was in the forecast. We found that we were able to hop on the bus easily to head back to the hotel for a break because everyone else was holed up in a store or restaurant waiting for a break in the rain while we were in our panchos splashing our way to the exit lol. We made the best of it. At least the rain broke the humidity somewhat, there's always a silver lining!

 

[epcotgirl22]

We did a summer trip when I was growing up, but now that I get to make the decision (and since I do not have any school schedules to consider) I would always choose fall. Late October last year was perfect, no rain and no mist fans needed.

 

[Gottahavemorecowbell]

Late October last year was perfect, no rain and no mist fans needed.

I agree! We were there the last eight days of October. If we somehow had been given the ability to control the weather, I don't think we would have changed a thing. Just perfect!

 

[Cliffside]

Just returned from a great trip. We were there 7/1-7/8. I was very nervous about going in the summer based on posts I had read. But we had a fantastic time and the weather did not impact our enjoyment at all. We did get there early, drank a lot of water and returned for an afternoon swim. We only had one afternoon where it poured and it interrupted our plans. I will certainly return in the summer if that fits our vacation schedule best.

 

[Ametista]

Summer is for beaches and water parks. Spring and fall are for Disney/Uni/Seaworld parks. The only exception is a night at MK starting at 6 pm or so after it starts to cool off and staying til midnight.

 

[FINFAN]

If our park days get washed out by rain, I'm just going to remind myself of this past Chicago winter. We were out used car shopping with DD at least 5 different weekends ,so cold your face hurt just going in/out of work. How we said Disney needs to come out with a movie called "Melted" to change the weather lol ~and that rain is going to feel like my morning shower to me I'll take throwing on a poncho any day over hoodie, hat, scarf, down parka,2 pairs of socks, boots , gloves...just to get inside and have to take it all off again, and then put it all back ON again to warm up your car so it will start.
However, I am not a fan of wet clothes and then being blasted by A/C, so I bring a change along and we leave them in a locker in case our ponchos don't do the trick

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Summer is for beaches and water parks. Spring and fall are for Disney/Uni/Seaworld parks. The only exception is a night at MK starting at 6 pm or so after it starts to cool off and staying til midnight.

Yea its easy to say Disney is for spring and fall when you have no kids, your kids are little or they are grown.

With a high school sophomore this year , there is no way I could pull him out of school for an extended period of time. We always did our trip to WDW in September, October, November.
I always said as long as I could I would pull him but when he entered high school , I knew it came to an end.

Sometimes for whatever reason people can only visit in the summer. You just do your best for what you have to work with.

 

[NashBridges]

Yea its easy to say Disney is for spring and fall when you have no kids, your kids are little or they are grown.

With a high school sophomore this year , there is no way I could pull him out of school for an extended period of time. We always did our trip to WDW in September, October, November.
I always said as long as I could I would pull him but when he entered high school , I knew it came to an end.

Sometimes for whatever reason people can only visit in the summer. You just do your best for what you have to work with.

We also refuse to pull our high schooler out for trips and thankfully he wouldn't want to miss school either. Early mornings at the parks, afternoon naps and swims and evenings in the parks. No rushing, no panicking, it is what it is.

This year, we are also going in December for the first time, son and his girlfriend are joining us. They have a week off school due to a school club trip they aren't going to. Looking forward to going that time of year as well.