summer visit to WDW??

[laura001]

I realize that this question has probably been asked a million times, but was wondering if anyone could enlighten me as to their experience in travelling to WDW around the end of August. How did you beat the heat????
My husband is very leary about being there when it is so hot, but there really is no other time of the year that we can visit with our children (age 20, 17, and 13). Thanks so much for your help.

 

[nygrl]

not only is it hot but also crowded in the summer! i hate to bring bad news but there really is no way to beat the heat at the parks while waiting in long lines.. i am sure you will find many people who go in the summer but imo it is brutal. we did it once and would never do it again. the humidity is unbarable also. just wear light cloths and pray for rain to cool it down lol.

 

[LegoMom3]

We went in September just last year - still quite hot!! In your favor is the fact that your kids are older. We went with our three who were much younger, ages 2 1/2, almost-5 and 7 1/2. You've just got to take it slow, drink plenty of water, and many folks will tell you that an afternoon break at your resort's pool is a real pick-me-up. We did that and it helped immensely. If you don't go for that option, try to do the indoor (A/C!!) attractions during the hot afternoon hours, or head for Downtown Disney and do some shopping! It's definitely do-able, just keep the pace slower and be sensible about sun exposure. Oh, and be ready for those 3pm thunder showers!!!
Hope you get to go, and have a blast!

 

[Zoesmama03]

End of August and September in my experience is still a tad hot but a lot more bareable than June/July.

Lots of water Every couple hours its good to browse shops for A/C time. And of course meals can be cool if you chose in door ones.

 

[airhead]

Was it hot? Yeah,but remember everything is AC and tour parks early when its not so hot or crowded! We used Fastpass,Priority seating and all tips we learned here. We will definitely go in the summer again! Summer is a great time to go! The parks stay open late and packing is easier,no long pants or heavy sweatshirts!!

 

[monorailsilver]

Yes it is hot but it is also hot & humid here in CT in the summer.

It doesn't bother me one bit, in fact I prefer the summer. I really don't think the crowds are all that bad.

You just go to the parks early, leave at lunch time, take a break/swim at the resort pool & then go back late afternoon.

You miss most of the peak sun time & usually when you are leaving mid-day the day trippers are arriving.

 

[DebMcDonald]

According to the unoffical quide the end of August is less crowded (5 rating) then the beginning of July (9 rating), does anyone have any experience with this. We are arriving August 19 and leaving the 26. Aren't the kids in that area back to school at this point? Does anyone know what time the parks also stay open until?

I've also heard those spray bottle water fans are a must.

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

I realize that this question has probably been asked a million times, but was wondering if anyone could enlighten me as to their experience in travelling to WDW around the end of August. How did you beat the heat????
My husband is very leary about being there when it is so hot, but there really is no other time of the year that we can visit with our children (age 20, 17, and 13). Thanks so much for your help.

I had the same concern at first(we're going August 27-Sept 2), but then my main concern switched to the rain. People make it seem like it rains everyday in August. Heat I can handle, but rain can ruin things. Someone suggested we pack washcloths in ice and use to cool down during the day. Also, the brita bottle that EVERYONE suggested seem like a good idea to me( we are used to drinking spring water) Have fun, maybe we'll see ya there!

 

[pediatric-rnp]

We're in the process of planning a trip for July 2006, and are also worried about the heat - DH and DS's are redheads and very fair skinned, and feel the heat more than I do. In the past we've gone at Thanksgiving and Easter. I figure if we can handle those holiday crowds, the summer crowd can't be any worse! But we'll do what we did then - get up early and do the parks until lunchtime, return to the resort to rest, cool down, use the pool, etc, and then head out to the parks again for dinner and the evening. And I'll make sure we have PS for each dinner. Fast Pass, and planning time in the A/C indoor attractions are helpful, I'm sure - just need to be organized!

Our kids are 17 & 19 right now, and with the older one is college, their vacation time is not the same except in the summer, and we don't want either of them to miss any school.

 

[janice1234]

we went aug.2003, it was very hot, and yes it rained everyday, but the rain would come down so hard and so fast, it was over before you knew it. the parks are open till 8 or 9 i believe. have fun.

 

[Stitch Inside]

I worked in Tarpon Springs one summer, and can remember that you could set your watch by the 3:00pm thunderstorm.

 

[dixipixi]

Yes it is hot!!! But the crowds really are smaller the last couple weeks of August than any other time during the summer. I do believe school is back in for much of Florida then. Most of the deep south is back in school for at least the last 2 weeks of August. School starts back here between the 15th-20th of August.

We have the same heat and humidity here all summer long. It is necessary even for us to take a break during the hottest part of the day. Without a break, we are worthless by 4 pm. A really good trick is to wet a bandanna, scarf, towel, etc. and keep it around your neck. Those little battery powered fans/misters work wonders as well. We also try to alternate busy days with rest days. A day at the water park or hotel pool can work wonders!! AC is nice, but it is helpful to remember that a lot of people get sick by getting really hot and then plunging themselves into ice cold AC. If you feel like you have gotten too hot, the best thing is to find a shady spot to sit and cool down as much as possible before going in to the AC.

 

[OCDdisneynut]

According to the unoffical quide the end of August is less crowded (5 rating) then the beginning of July (9 rating), does anyone have any experience with this. We are arriving August 19 and leaving the 26. Aren't the kids in that area back to school at this point? Does anyone know what time the parks also stay open until?

I've also heard those spray bottle water fans are a must.

All of our family trips to the World have been in August. It IS VERY HUMID!We all brought water botttles and even had a battery operated fan that was a pain in the neck to lug around. It helped a little. Don't forget the ponchos. It rains almost every day with an occassional hurricane thrown in. Last year we arrived 3 days after Charlie. But it's not very crowded. After the 15th of August, a lot of school districts across the country go back. Like the previous OP, we took advantage of EMH openings, afternoon trips back to the pool and return trips in the evening. We aren't crazy about the weather but like the prices and the lower attendance levels this time of year.