Summer Travel

[GWhitten98]

We have been twice before with the kids (pre-school age) and plan to go again in 2017 or 2018 during the spring or fall, but would like to squeeze in a summer trip in 2016. We would mostly likely drive and so we go Sunday to Saturdays with at least 5 (possibly 6) park days. Our summer is pretty open between June 20th and August 20th. So for summer travel is there a better or worse time to go?

 

[newdeal]

look at the easywdw crowd calendar...End of August is best because some kids are already back in school

 

[alliecat523]

With that whole time being busy, I would lean more toward June as it won't be quite as suffocatingly hot as it is in August. You also MIGHT not see as many crowds with those schools that run longer in the year.

 

[AshleyLovesDisney]

Honestly, I think you'll be fine whenever you go. We went on our honeymoon in mid-July, so basically the exact time you're not supposed to go, and it was crowded, but it wasn't terrible. With a good plan, you can do everything you want and more. The only thing we didn't get to go on was 7DMT, because this was in July 2014, so a couple months after it opened, and the line was always at least 100 minutes. Just remember to pack a lot of drinks and keep hydrated because it is really hot.

 

[mshanson3121]

We went the end of June/first week of July, right before 4th of July. The crowds definitely built the closer you got to the 4th, but with the exception of July 3rd at AK, it was very manageable. The first two hours were definitely the best, waits were all under 30 minutes at MK (except for the typical biggies which built quite quickly). It was hot, yes, but again, manageable as long as you drank lots, we also used Frogg Toggs. My understanding is humidity will be worse in August, but crowds will be better.

 

[AL_Girl]

We've been once in summer the end of June leading up to July 4th so I don't have any other time to compare it to...but it wasn't bad. We left July 3rd and our last day in the park we could definitely see a rise in guests. And honestly the heat wasn't bad either. I know that can change from year to year but it wasn't near as bad as I was expecting.

 

[cmorris303]

I feel like as long as you have an open mind and realistic expectations, you will be fine. It will be hot, but cooling towels, ice water, and indoor rides help you cool off. There will be crowds, but fast passes help a lot. You may need to take a midday break, but you'll get to use the pool. It will rain, but that's what ponchos are for. We heard horror stories before the first time we went in August about the heat, crowds, and rain but honestly it was nowhere near as bad as people said. We expected all of this and planned for it and love going in August.

 

[aretha30]

We go in August every year. It is hot, rains just about everyday, and crowds are heavier; if you have a plan and are flexible you should be fine. We go at rope drop, take a break during the hottest time (around 2-5 or 6) and stay until close (depending on how the kids are doing we may leave earlier). We take advantage of PM EMH (for MK and Epcot) since we stay on site, this helps us get so much more done without waiting in lines. We also build in break days; this year we are building in water park days since our boys wanted to stay at the pool more last year. We've noticed that no matter when you travel though during the summer (we have gone in July) the crowds, heat, rain are about the same.

 

[AshleyLovesDisney]

It will rain, but that's what ponchos are for.

Yes, this!

We chose umbrellas, bc I don't like the feel of ponchos, but we were totally fine. In fact, I liked the rain because it helped cool things down a little.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

look at the easywdw crowd calendar...End of August is best because some kids are already back in school

Early June also works as some kids are still in school BEFORE Summer break.

Also, June has potential for high temps ranging from 80-100, whereas August is more like 90-100+.

 

[GWhitten98]

Honestly my kids are out June 2 and we would love to skip the last day and go then, but I have a huge annual audit June 14-16 at work that my bosses would frown on me taking vacation during the weeks leading up to it... I am still temped to book it and then ask for forgiveness after.

We are defiantly a rope family and normally take advantage of morning EMH so I think that bodes well for us. We normally don't take an afternoon break, but normally wrap our day up by 5-7pm so a break and then returning to the park might work. Or hitting Epcot every evening after pool time might also work well. We could do dinner and one or two things and then go back to the hotel. I think we will being staying at an Epcot resort.

 

[Hootch]

We have gone multiple summers. It will be hot and rainy. Crowds will fairly heavy. Nothing like Christmas. You might get a little cooler weather but there is no guarantee.

My recommendation is to go at the early part of your opening.

Hit rope drop. Applying sun screen while waiting for rope drop saves time.
Plenty of fluids.
We almost always take an afternoon break to get out of the heat. A swim or nap followed by a shower improves mu mood for the evening.
Check into a water park. They have areas for younger kids.
Many of the resorts have movies screening in the evening. There are also pool games most days.

Appreciate the ability to plan that far in the future. We have to wait for our kids' schedules to finalize before we can plan a vacation.

 

[Goddesstree]

We are defiantly a rope family and normally take advantage of morning EMH

Do you stand there with your hands on your hips, feet spread apart?

OP, we have been going to WDW and Universal the 3rd week in August for years now. We try to book a great rate at a value (under $100 a night this last trip) and love the morning EMH and extended park hours. We do have to check to make sure we are not booked too late in August, as WDW shortens the times at some point in August.

 

[ArwenMarie]

If you are a rope drop family that will help! As far as the afternoons, don't count on swimming with the daily lightning storms. They close the pools a lot in the afternoons but a nap is nice too lol. Staying at an Epcot resort really helps though, you can just scoot out after the storms. One of our best trips was a week at Beach Club in August. Your best bet is to get your must-dos done in the morning and everything else is a bonus

 

[GWhitten98]

I took the plunge an booked Aug 14-20 at the Polynesian. We will do 5 park days and one water park day. We have never stayed at the Polynesian, but the pool is supposed to be one of the best(next to beach club that is) Also figured since the majority of our time will be at MK and Epcot being on the monorail would make it easiest to maneuver.

 

[skateshome]

I took the plunge an booked Aug 14-20 at the Polynesian. We will do 5 park days and one water park day. We have never stayed at the Polynesian, but the pool is supposed to be one of the best(next to beach club that is) Also figured since the majority of our time will be at MK and Epcot being on the monorail would make it easiest to maneuver.

Congrats!
The only problem with staying on the monorail is that you will never want to stay off the monorail on future trips. LOL!!!

 

[Sytrace]

That is great! Orange conty public school students go back to school on August 15th. I am pretty sure Osceola and Seminole counties are usually the week before or the same week as Orange. You should have a fantastic trip crowd wise.
It will be super "just stepped out of the shower into the oven" hot. Stay hydrated, bring some frog togs and have fun. Expect late afternoon storms...usually start anywhere between 2 and 4 PM and will blow over quickly, but find shelter when told to do so immediately as lightning strikes are extremely prominent in the summer months.
We loved the Poly when we stayed there in January. Enjoy!

 

[katt789]

HONESTLY,

Do what you can in that last week of August, even if it means the kids start school a few days late, those first few days usually aren't much & if you can afford to miss it, do it.

2 years ago, that week was perfect and you wouldn't have even known it was summer! Last year it was still pretty crowded til Sept, but check the crowd calendars, and even if they're all red, you can pick what parks to do. STAY CLEAR of Mk on Fri/Sat/Sun!