Switching late June vacation to mid August - Bad Idea or OK?

[moose81]

We had previously booked a WDW vacation for late June, which was supposed to be the week before summer camp started for my kiddo. Just found out that the camp schedule has shifted by a week and now we will be vacationing for the first week of camp but have a stray week in mid-August unaccounted for. So I am thinking about moving our WDW vacation to mid-August instead.

I just checked and we can book the same resort and room for the same price, plus flight prices look similar. I know weather will probably be worse in August, but I am hoping crowds would be about the same, or possibly even less since it will be only 2 weeks before Galaxy's Edge opens.

Is there anything else I should consider? I'm really leaning towards changing our dates, but just wanted to make sure I think it through.

 

[Tink_83]

The only risk I see is that August starts hurricane season which can put a damper on the trip (although it probably does clear out the parks if one hits!). I’m not sure that would keep me from moving it but it is something to consider.

 

[Ashley Marie]

Humidity will likely be worse in August.

But if that week works better for your family's schedule, I'd switch.

 

[monkyby87]

The dates are close enough together that I don't think one is going to be better than the other, aside from the weather aspects as other posters have mentioned. SWGE still won't be open when you go either way, so you don't have to worry about that.

 

[cmwade77]

Just keep in mind that there are most likely going to be all sorts of previews/soft openings for a few weeks before Galaxy's Edge opens, many of which will not be available to the general public, but more for AP Holders, CMs, paid previews (I expect a lot of these), etc. and that may add to the crowds.

 

[Darcy03231]

We've gone mid to late August for years and we've found it to be less crowded then as a lot of kids are back to school by mid-August.

 

[cmwade77]

We've gone mid to late August for years and we've found it to be less crowded then as a lot of kids are back to school by mid-August.

But this year all bets are off, especially if that turns out to be when Rise of the Resistance opens.

 

[LSUmiss]

The only risk I see is that August starts hurricane season which can put a damper on the trip (although it probably does clear out the parks if one hits!). I’m not sure that would keep me from moving it but it is something to consider.

Hurricane season starts June 1st.

 

[Tink_83]

Hurricane season starts June 1st.

True i guess I was thinking of when it peaks, which is August through October... but yes it does start in June

 

[hammie59]

Been 2x in June and 2x in Aug. I actually prefer mid to late Aug for slightly lower crowd levels. Both months seemed just as hot IMO. However, our past 2 trips in Aug were very wet, one of which included a cat 1 hurricane. That being said, it didn't impact our trip much. This year will be tricky though, now that they’ve announced that GE is opening 8/31.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Bad idea, just terrible. Stay away from Disney mid August!!

Just kidding..Im going mid August and would love nothing more than to have the park to myself! Difference are June has better weather, mid August has smaller crowds. Now with the announcement of Star Wars Land opening Aug 29, Im thinking it could go either way. People will wait for the opening, or people, like me, will make a mad dash to get there before it opens to avoid the crowds.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Nevermind. Someone replied to a comment already. No need to harp on it.

 

[Peppermint Ice]

Bad idea, just terrible. Stay away from Disney mid August!!

Just kidding..Im going mid August and would love nothing more than to have the park to myself! Difference are June has better weather, mid August has smaller crowds. Now with the announcement of Star Wars Land opening Aug 29, Im thinking it could go either way. People will wait for the opening, or people, like me, will make a mad dash to get there before it opens to avoid the crowds.

I know I would be one of those folks mad dashing before GE opens, but I used to think I was the only one who thought that way.

 

[moose81]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I got worried that the rooms might start to sell out or that the prices would go up so we went ahead and booked the August dates. Fingers crossed that the crowds aren't insane (and no hurricanes of course). I would have preferred June but this really made the most sense for us. We also apparently saved a little money with the date switch, so that helps it go down easier.

 

[mckennarose]

Have fun!
We're contemplating moving our September trip to Mid August to AVOID the SWGE opening. September and August seem similar in weather, and we like to go in September so we're prepared for the humidity.

Just keep in mind that there are most likely going to be all sorts of previews/soft openings for a few weeks before Galaxy's Edge opens, many of which will not be available to the general public, but more for AP Holders, CMs, paid previews (I expect a lot of these), etc. and that may add to the crowds.

/\
This is my concern too. We were there the week before Pandora opened and it seemed a lot more crowded in the parks. We have been going in May for the past 6 years and that May was definitely different.

We're going again in May so I will get my Disney fix for the year, but the rest of our family was supposed to come with us later in the year. I'm hoping it works out so we can get our two trips in, but honestly I'm really concerned with the magnitude of crowds for SWGE.

 

[Selket]

Free dining was offered for some or all of August - I have a trip planned mid-Aug and have free dining booked. I don't know if that will affect the crowds. I'm sure some people may try to get in a last minute trip towards the end of August hoping for soft openings for Star Wars and before their kids start school. My August trips have generally been what you'd expect weather wise (hot, humid, shower/thunderstorm every afternoon but short).

We had one August trip where it monsooned with thunder storms every single day starting around 3pm and went until bedtime. Not hurricane related. At the time my kids were little and we had planned to take afternoon breaks and use the pool at AKL but it was always closed. I do mean it never reopened because thunder storms kept rolling through up until late night. We finally had to re-do things and hit the pool in the morning some and trudge through the monsoon the rest of the day lol! I think that was a wacky weather pattern but something to think about if you really want/need to do the pools and/or water parks you might plan some mornings for that.

 

[hammie59]

Have fun!
We're contemplating moving our September trip to Mid August to AVOID the SWGE opening. September and August seem similar in weather, and we like to go in September so we're prepared for the humidity.

I was actually disappointed that we couldn’t book late Aug this year (my kids go back to school mid Aug). We had to settle for last week of July and 1st wk of Aug (free dining). I guess I’m thankful now cuz I don’t want to be anywhere near that SWGE madness.

 

[mousestruck]

My motto is do what works for your family and make the best of it! Every time of year has its pros and cons. I do recommend travel insurance, however, because of hurricane season. We've gone a few times in August and did have to change our plans once due to a hurricane.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I've been in August and yes it's hot and humid but very doable. I would switch especially since it's before Star Wars land opens. I don't want to be anywhere near Disney the end of August until about 2025!

 

[Nick6300]

We visit in mid to late Aug very frequently because it's our anniversary, And yes, it's very hot, but I can tolerate the heat better than most... but we typically end up leaving the parks early when the rain persists. Believe Aug is the highest rainfall month. Usually ends up where at least 1-2 nights of going back to the hotel before dinner and few other days of being wet with ride shutdowns.

However, it doesn't stop us from going every Aug, or any other time of yr... we just aim for as late as we can in Aug. or even better, during early Sept. I can't recall the exact days of school returning but I think Hillsborough and Orange Counties were 2 separate weeks in early/mid Aug, with Fri night/Sat still seeing a bump up from locals after school starts in early Aug.

The 7pm Halloween party nights at MK begin Aug. 16, 20, 23, 27, 30, and of course it will pick up for the beg. of stays prior to the grand opening of GE (i.e. the wknd before, on 8/24)