Tell me about July and August please? Thanks!

[Astrid]

We're thinking already of hiring a villa for next year but we think we are going to have to choose July/August as we are restricted with Pete's daughter's GCSE exams.

I have never gone at this time of year and must admit to being a bit worried (1) about the heat and (2) about the crowds!!

We think we are going to be looking at 2 weeks sometime between the end of June and the middle of August.

Has anyone got any experience of going at this time of year and have you got any hints or tips for us.

Many thanks!

Astrid

 

[mkingdon]

If you can...go the last 2 weeks in August when the US schools have largely started their new terms.

Yes it is hot, but crowds are lighter and let's face it, you are in WDW...so how bad can it be.

Have a quick skip though my trip report from last year for a flavour of how it was. Bear in mind though that last year had freak levels of rain and that amount of rain isn't the norm.

HTH

Craig

 

[allie5]

We did June 19th - July 5th last year, and it was OK the first week, but after that the crowds were huge. The weather was terrible....baking heat in the morning, then torrential rain and storms in the afternoon. Our children were scared of the storms so we couldnt take advantage of the parks clearing out at this time.

I have heard things improve towards the end of August as the crowds are lighter. With careful planning and early starts you will be fine. Also, if you dont mind the rain, then stay in the parks, as they clear out to virtually empty whilst the storms are overhead.

Have fun!

Allie

 

[debkorb1]

Mid Summer is hot and crowded - there is no denying it. But there are pluses - the parks are open longer, parades and fireworks are on every night, few rides are down for rehab and a busy park full of happy people can have an amazing atmosphere.

Still, you MUST have a plan - if you do, you'll have a great time, if not it could be an unhappy time.

My tips (there are just so many)

1.) Buy the Unoffical Guide to Disney by Bob Sehlinger - it is a frank view of Disney designed for the consumer and a really fun read. It covers everything you need to know about Disney and Universal, especially if touring at busier times of the year such as the Summer.

2.) Drink LOTS and LOTS of water and slap on the suntan lotion.

3.) Arrive at the parks early - about 45 mins to an hour before opening. Hit the best rides early (queues will be 10-15 minutes rather than 2 hours), leave about noon for a break and go back to the parks early evening.

4.) Make Priority seating booking for your favourite restaurants now!

5.) Use FASTPASS as much as possible.

6.) Read Disboards every day until August.

7.) Avoid the parks on July 4th if you go at that time of year.

Enjoy the planning

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Yep, have been at the end of june going into july, last year went on the 8th july.
Have to admit the weather is HOT, and very humid, we experienced lots of thunder storms (remember being in the car on I-drive when all the lights went off for a few seconds, that was scary), but I agree there is lots of plus's, of going at this time.

We wouldnt choose any other month, make sure you drink plenty water, and use plenty suntan lotion, and pace yourselves.

Happy Planning

 

[angel659]

Hi

I have been a few times at different times of the year. I went in August and the weather was so hot the sweat was pouring down our faces. The parks was so busy 2 hours for Splash Mountain and the bigger rides. I would recommend that you either book it in October next year when she start the senior school. The weather will be alot more bearable and the ques are shorter. You can enjoy the atmosphere.

We have been in early June/July and again the weather was so hot. It was cooler than August, but the ques are much worse. You have the american kids off and obviously UK and other countries are there aswell. There are lots of groups of Brazillian kids walking around with flags and cutting into ques and generally being annoying.

I went this year in May and the weather was 88-91 and we had about 10 minutes of rain for 1 day. In August we had a thunder storm vertually everyday.

People are right its Disney and if it really is the only time to go, its better to be there than not at all.

I would buy a guide and see there tips that what we used and it gave you the busier days for each park and we found it very useful. Drink lots otherwise you will get dehydrated. Visit the waterparks later in the afternoon, so people would of been there and want to get changed and go to a park or something.

I hope this helps.

Michelle

 

[SimonV]

I can only reiterate the point about drinking a LOT of water in Florida in the summer. Avoid, tea, coffee and alcohol (except, perhaps for a reviving beer in the evening ) and use the air-conditioned attractions at regular intervals. The combination of heat and humidity is truly debilitating and you need to take things pretty slowly where possible. The last two weeks of August are also markedly different from the first two in terms of crowds, but you do at least get later hours to enjoy everything. And buy a cheap water-spray fan - they are great while you're queueing!

 

[matty624]

Originally posted by allie5
We did June 19th - July 5th last year, and it was OK the first week, but after that the crowds were huge. The weather was terrible....baking heat in the morning, then torrential rain and storms in the afternoon. Our children were scared of the storms so we couldnt take advantage of the parks clearing out at this time.
Allie

I don't know about the children being frightened during the storms, I was more than a bit worried on a few occasions whilst driving in them last year. We've had bad storms every year we've been, always going in July/August, but last years seemed particularly bad!
And I agree with you Michelle. I seem to have a permanent water fall coming out of the top of my head. And yet dw never seems to sweat, abnormal if you ask me!!!

 

[expatscot]

We have always gone in July and August and never found the crowds or weather to be any worse than expected - good research using Simon's book!! Had a villa out at Kissimmee over the fourth of july so spent the day at home with the BBQ etc. The stores were full of 'party' food, flags etc to make your party fun and we watched all the neighbours' fireworks!! One family even had swing boats and pony rides in their garden!!

Having moved to the South of England we are taking advantage of the later holidays and going last two weeks in August. Will be interesting to see the difference.

Enjoy it whenever you go, but fourth of july is great - just avoid the parks etc!!

 

[juliebro]

I seem to have a permanent water fall coming out of the top of my head. And yet dw never seems to sweat, abnormal if you ask me!!!

Have your never heard the expression

'Horses sweat, men perspire, but ladies just glow!'


Julie

 

[Miffy2003]

Julie, you beat me to it! But I've always said pigs rather than horses (?!!)

Astrid, I've only ever been in August (last 2 weeks) and have found the crowds fine, particularly when parks open - you are looking at 45+ mins on Splash Mountain by lunchtime but I think that's par for the course.

It will be really, really hot but again we found getting to the parks early and then having a good break in an air conditioned restaurant later refreshed us. Failing all else, head back for the pool and return in the evening. The parks usually have longer hours until the last week of August (and then we often go to Epcot for the evening). The almost guaranteed rainstorm in the afternoon gives a bit of welcome relief from the humidity.

I have to say, the choice between not going or going in July / August would be a no-brainer for me (I've been wanting to say that for months but never found the right place before!!)

I think I've just repeated what everyone else has said, but hope that helps!

karen

 

[Astrid]

Thanks everyone for the replies! I was having serious reservations about July/August anyways as I'm really no good in the heat and having read all what has been written I think we might have to think again about when we go.

I'm tempted towards the end of September but Kylie will have started college then so not sure how they will react to two weeks out for her. My only other thought is to go the two weeks of the Easter hols which, even though I know from experience will be crowded at least the heat won't be as bad, plus the school hols here in Hampshire are such that the Easter weekend falls right at the beginning of the holiday which might pan out better re the crowd levels.

Hmmm .... have to put our thinking caps on again methinks!!

Thanks again guys!

Astrid

 

[matty624]

Originally posted by juliebro
Have your never heard the expression

'Horses sweat, men perspire, but ladies just glow!'


Julie

I must be a pig or a horse then...
Ian

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

We always always have to go at that time of year as I am a primary school teacher. Yes it's hot, but the storms are blissful in cooling everything down and they mostly last about an hour - some days it can be all afternoon. It's fine, just be sure to drink lots of water and don't wear yourselves out racing to get around everything at once.

 

[UKDEB]

We've been twice during the summer months - last week July/first week August and last 2 weeks August/first week September. I really don't remember having problems with crowds; my overriding memory is of rain. The last 3 days of the July/Aug trip were completely washed out by continuous rain. During the Aug/Sept trip, the storms started around teatime and set in for the evening (I'm sure it can't have been that way for the entire 3 weeks, but it seems that way looking back).

This year we're going for 3 weeks in July. I'm not too worried - as everyone says, it's better than not being at WDW, and we'll follow all the advice about water, rests, etc. I think the reason we've never been bothered by crowds is that we buy APs and dip in and out of the parks rather than doing 12 hour days . And I feel much more relaxed now we've extended the trip from 2 to 3 weeks. That's my top tip - see if you can twist Pete's arm!

 

[JohnnySharp]

It can be difficult during the summer months - as stated previously - fly drive prices are too high, weather too hot and crowds high also.

Just difficult if you have children because the natural time to take them is in the school holidays.
Personally would never visit during the summer anymore, yes the parks are open longer but it is just too hot for us.
If anyone can stay all day at a theme park during the summer then I applaud you - they are brilliant, but we have to have a mid-session break irrespective of when we go.

There is no bad time to go to Florida though, just some more preferable than others - everyone has their own ideas, just stick to what suits you best.

Astrid - the one thing that can help you in the summer is that if you rent a villa you can relax a lot more when you are not out and about much more so than if you were staying in a hotel.

As for Brazilians with flags, all wearing bright green t-shirts no doubt, once stayed at a 'Days Inn' hotel where we were the only 'non-brazilians' on the floor. Never met such an ignorant horrible bunch of kids in my life, it was a nightmare...until I threw a bucket of water over them....

Brazil 0 England 1

 

[juliebro]

...until I threw a bucket of water over them....

LOL!!!

Lancashire 1 Brazil 0

Julie

 

[JohnnySharp]

Hey Julie,

yes 1 up for Lancashire.........looks like we are both out there the same time next March.

Can't wait.

 

[angel659]

That made me giggle. I stayed at the All Star Sports in June/July and the hotel was full. They would jump ques, shouting, take over the buses and generally rude and annoying.

Welldone for the bucket of water, wish I was there!

Michelle