Tell me about WDW in JULY??

[nkosiek]

It's going to be hot, you acknowledged that. You understand that. You've already won that battle. If you pretend like it won't and that you can do everything full bore, that's when you lose.

We go every year in July (teacher here, and wife has blockout periods when she can't travel in August). I've noticed the last few years that the crowds aren't nearly as bad. Last year we went in June and I felt that the crowds were worse around the 15th of June than they were the previous 2 years around the 15th of July.

The week after July 4th, tends to be slow-ish. Crowds can still be there, but it's not Christmas week or even mid-June. We tend to avoid the EMH park(s), which certainly helps with crowds. We don't mind 2-3 hours in the morning if we do rope-drop, but after that we are back at the resort for a few hours.

AK is disgusting due to the trees trapping humidity and the slightly narrower walkways, but if you get there in the early, I love a good safari, show, and a trip on a banshee before heading out.

As bad as AK is, I find EPCOT to be just as bad due to it being a concrete jungle with almost no shade. That said, the pavilions in WS all have things to do in AC, and it's still a nice stroll.

Be prepared for some decent rain once a day. It can be a quick heavy shower or a bit longer. Tends to, but not always, be between 2-6.

The shows at the parks are great to beat the heat, but if you aren't in the parks when they are going, no big deal. I know we miss some of the EPCOT stuff in WS because we may not be there while they are operating (we tend not to be there from 1pm-4, unless we are staying in BWV/BCV and want France's ice cream).

We've been down some weekends in October and December and felt things were much more crowded, the difference is the heat.

 

[bwvBound]

It's not the heat, it's the humidity that has sworn this Pennsylvania family from every going back to WDW between June and September. We found we were going to the parks early morning, then leaving at lunch time, going to the pool, having dinner, and then returning to the park after sundown. Effectively, we got between 4 and 6 hours of park time per day.

We might try for 2-4 hours of park time in a single day ...

 

[bwvBound]

It's going to be hot, you acknowledged that. You understand that. You've already won that battle. If you pretend like it won't and that you can do everything full bore, that's when you lose.

We go every year in July (teacher here, and wife has blockout periods when she can't travel in August). I've noticed the last few years that the crowds aren't nearly as bad. Last year we went in June and I felt that the crowds were worse around the 15th of June than they were the previous 2 years around the 15th of July.

The week after July 4th, tends to be slow-ish. Crowds can still be there, but it's not Christmas week or even mid-June. We tend to avoid the EMH park(s), which certainly helps with crowds. We don't mind 2-3 hours in the morning if we do rope-drop, but after that we are back at the resort for a few hours.

AK is disgusting due to the trees trapping humidity and the slightly narrower walkways, but if you get there in the early, I love a good safari, show, and a trip on a banshee before heading out.

As bad as AK is, I find EPCOT to be just as bad due to it being a concrete jungle with almost no shade. That said, the pavilions in WS all have things to do in AC, and it's still a nice stroll.

Be prepared for some decent rain once a day. It can be a quick heavy shower or a bit longer. Tends to, but not always, be between 2-6.

The shows at the parks are great to beat the heat, but if you aren't in the parks when they are going, no big deal. I know we miss some of the EPCOT stuff in WS because we may not be there while they are operating (we tend not to be there from 1pm-4, unless we are staying in BWV/BCV and want France's ice cream).

We've been down some weekends in October and December and felt things were much more crowded, the difference is the heat.

Lots of great tips and suggestions here, thank you. The one that truly surprises me is the info about AK's trees trapping humidity. I would have thought, "Trees: Good!" Now I have something new of which to be aware. Thank you!

 

[nkosiek]

Lots of great tips and suggestions here, thank you. The one that truly surprises me is the info about AK's trees trapping humidity. I would have thought, "Trees: Good!" Now I have something new of which to be aware. Thank you!

I think it's because of the type of trees. It may just be the flora period and not necessarily the trees, but the humidity always seems worse there. Not unbearable, just worse. It's still AK and that park as far as I'm concerned is the most underrated.

 

[kniquy]

we'll start with lowered expectations ... and wary of heat.

We too are planning a July trip, despite my better judgement (not until next year). I gave my kids and DH the choice - Go in April, better weather BUT we could only do WDW or go in July and stay for 10-14 days hitting Universal, maybe sea world and still doing a week at WDW. They voted and July won. We are going with the plan to take it slower, sleep in, pool time, parks in evenings, a few RD days and one water park day. For us who only go every other year it makes it tougher to plan with the intention of taking it slower. But I am gathering all the tips I can from the boards with ways to handle the heat -- Water, water, water and more water.

 

[Murron]

Starting in June and peaking in July are also the chanting tour groups. Never bothered us, but some have seen it as a nuisance. Other than that, I agree with everyone else...heat/humidity, frog towels, lots of hydration and rest in the afternoon.

 

[jarestel]

I think heat affects different people in different ways, so opinions about others experiences might not be too helpful in any particular situation. IMO though, it's quite doable as long as you plan around your own personal limitations. MK is the easiest park to manage in the summer because there are so many places where you can duck out of the heat for a few minutes. OTOH, EPCOT and AK, which require lots of walking and are constructed with large areas of cement walkways are for the heartier folks. It helps to be night owls too, since once the sun goes down (though still hot), it's much easier without the sun beating down. Good luck!

 

[BillPA]

We were there July 2018 from June 27- July 6th. It wasn't all that bad, and I really don't like hot-humid weather. We were at CCV and had lots of pool time and park time, early in the day and again later on around dinner time until closing. Crowds were heavy but not so bad that you couldn't get on rides, most big rides had 30-60 minute waits, but with FP planning you could avoid the longest lines. the studios and AK were the most crowded, MK was fine and EPCOT was all but empty. Had a few days at Typhoon Lagoon, thanks to DVC deal on Platinum Plus APs. Our 'kids' and G-kids really like the July trip and would rather go again in the summer than our normal Fall or Spring trips. They liked the longer hours in the parks and the ability to swim all day. We did have rain most days, but only for about an hour. All in all a very enjoyable trip.

 

[bwvBound]

I think heat affects different people in different ways, so opinions about others experiences might not be too helpful in any particular situation. IMO though, it's quite doable as long as you plan around your own personal limitations. MK is the easiest park to manage in the summer because there are so many places where you can duck out of the heat for a few minutes. OTOH, EPCOT and AK, which require lots of walking and are constructed with large areas of cement walkways are for the heartier folks. It helps to be night owls too, since once the sun goes down (though still hot), it's much easier without the sun beating down. Good luck!

LOL, glad you started with that opening sentence. MK is our least favorite park, walking is "my thing" and I'm not a night owl ... and even being from a later timezone doesn't help me much as I reset to Eastern immediately. (It seems that my physical body is in the Pacific timezone but my body clock runs on Eastern.) Yep ... different people, different ways. I must remember to slow my normal pace.

 

[bwvBound]

We were there July 2018 from June 27- July 6th. It wasn't all that bad, and I really don't like hot-humid weather. We were at CCV and had lots of pool time and park time, early in the day and again later on around dinner time until closing. Crowds were heavy but not so bad that you couldn't get on rides, most big rides had 30-60 minute waits, but with FP planning you could avoid the longest lines. the studios and AK were the most crowded, MK was fine and EPCOT was all but empty. Had a few days at Typhoon Lagoon, thanks to DVC deal on Platinum Plus APs. Our 'kids' and G-kids really like the July trip and would rather go again in the summer than our normal Fall or Spring trips. They liked the longer hours in the parks and the ability to swim all day. We did have rain most days, but only for about an hour. All in all a very enjoyable trip.

Wow ... quite hopeful! Thanks!

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

We were in your shoes last summer--couldn't believe we were considering a July trip. I also read a ton of comments about the heat, the crowds, and the tour groups. Now maybe our trip was a fluke, a random adventure of pure luck and/or providence, but this is what we experienced:

July 12-21, 2018
1. THE HEAT: We were in the upper 80's most of the time. We had thunderstorms about 5-6 times which cooled everything considerably. Two evenings I walked into the parks (around 5ish) with a light rain jacket--it was in the low 70's! Humidity was the same as previous June trips we had taken and those trips were 95-98 degree trips--much hotter!! Our weather was better in Florida than back home in the Midwest.

2. THE CROWDS: We have been DVC for ten years and pass holders for 5-7 years. We had manageable crowds--definitely smaller than we have had for the months of June and October, our normal touring times. I would say the crowds were less than the ones we had experienced for the previous 3-4 years. We were happily surprised! However, we still had some issues with getting FPs due to glitchy MDE app/website and I don't think the parks were staffed as well as they should have been. I have agreed with some here on the Disboards that the summer months of July/August might have become the "off season." This year though, who knows? But they are offering free dining which again suggests that they need to get more people booked and into the parks.

3. THE TOUR GROUPS: Yes, they were there more than we have ever experienced. As far as clogging the system, we had no problems with them. We just went the opposite way. Behavior was very good except one group of boys that we rode Star Tours with. They were obnoxious to the CM and during the ride, let's just say we were "fogged" multiple times by excessive gas--I think it was a game with them.

Overall, it was a great trip and we are no longer afraid of going in July. I hope that if you go then, you will have as marvelous of a time as we did!

 

[bwvBound]

Awesome! Thank you! So glad for your happy experiences! (Except for the, um, 'fog' ... lol)

We were in your shoes last summer--couldn't believe we were considering a July trip. I also read a ton of comments about the heat, the crowds, and the tour groups. Now maybe our trip was a fluke, a random adventure of pure luck and/or providence, but this is what we experienced:

July 12-21, 2018
1. THE HEAT: We were in the upper 80's most of the time. We had thunderstorms about 5-6 times which cooled everything considerably. Two evenings I walked into the parks (around 5ish) with a light rain jacket--it was in the low 70's! Humidity was the same as previous June trips we had taken and those trips were 95-98 degree trips--much hotter!! Our weather was better in Florida than back home in the Midwest.

2. THE CROWDS: We have been DVC for ten years and pass holders for 5-7 years. We had manageable crowds--definitely smaller than we have had for the months of June and October, our normal touring times. I would say the crowds were less than the ones we had experienced for the previous 3-4 years. We were happily surprised! However, we still had some issues with getting FPs due to glitchy MDE app/website and I don't think the parks were staffed as well as they should have been. I have agreed with some here on the Disboards that the summer months of July/August might have become the "off season." This year though, who knows? But they are offering free dining which again suggests that they need to get more people booked and into the parks.

3. THE TOUR GROUPS: Yes, they were there more than we have ever experienced. As far as clogging the system, we had no problems with them. We just went the opposite way. Behavior was very good except one group of boys that we rode Star Tours with. They were obnoxious to the CM and during the ride, let's just say we were "fogged" multiple times by excessive gas--I think it was a game with them.

Overall, it was a great trip and we are no longer afraid of going in July. I hope that if you go then, you will have as marvelous of a time as we did!

 

[TexasChick123]

Yeah ... we go to 120 here (SoCal High Desert) but it is a dry heat! I'm just not used to the heat+humidity combo. Nor the heat after sundown. I'll expect both to be draining. I'll plan to move like a sloth rather than my typical 10 miles of daily walking at WDW.

I've been in "dry heat" many times, and it is crazy hot too. If you can handle 120 degrees, then you can handle heat and humidity. We drove through west Texas to get to Colorado last year. It was 106 degrees with 10% humidity. It felt like someone just had a huge blow dryer on me the whole time. It was miserable! Don't get me wrong, 90-100 degrees with humidity isn't pleasant, but you will be better equipped to handle it than someone who lives in a much cooler climate. Just make sure to stay hydrated and take some "sun breaks". You'll be fine should you decide to go in July.

 

[Castillo Mom]

I’m too tired to read the entire thread, so I may be giving you advice you’ve already received. July is doable and not as bad as August temperature-wise, you just need to have a plan of action.

Get to the parks early, take a break in the air conditioning for lunch. Better yet, go back to your resort to cool off at the pool for a few hours, take a shower and put on fresh clothes, then head out to a nice sit-down dinner. After dinner, head back to a park. When touring the parks, be sure to alternate outside attractions with air conditioned ones. Try to avoid wearing fabrics that don’t breathe such as polyester. Oh, and stay hydrated! If you follow these guidelines, you’ll be fine.

 

[Sdisney2019!]

Are the pools insanely crowded in afternoon? Or when are they most crowded? Asking about beach club or polynesian in july

 

[DisneyRegulars]

We’ve been the last two August’s and actually found them to be some of our most relaxing trips! We were super lazy. Stayed in the room and relaxed or swam in the mornings and afternoons. Didn’t venture into the parks until about 6 or 7 each night. Our son is super sensitive to heat, so going out during the heat of the day just wasn’t an option for us.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

Are the pools insanely crowded in afternoon? Or when are they most crowded? Asking about beach club or polynesian in july

We found the pools are pretty uncrowded until about 2:00 pm as most guests are in the parks in the morning.

 

[Sdisney2019!]

We found the pools are pretty uncrowded until about 2:00 pm as most guests are in the parks in the morning.

Thank you! I have been wondering about pool crowding after I read some where about people soup....and I have rescued 2 children (nephew, my 6 yr old son who can swim) when in a "resort" pool so do not think i would venture out if it was soooo busy. Last summer I also had them pull out a child 10 feet from me at our local pool...life guard right there (grandparents were "watching" him)....so obviously my own pool issues.

 

[Darklord77]

Visited in July a few times. Usually go late May-early June. No huge difference in my opinion. Once you get to 95+ heat index it's all the same feeling. We duck in and out of air conditioning to cool off, leave the parks around lunch time, etc. Out of all the times we have went in recent history, mid-July was the least busy in my opinion. The South American tour groups are also starting to behave now. We saw many groups and none were chanting, clapping, or yelling.

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

Visited in July a few times. Usually go late May-early June. No huge difference in my opinion. Once you get to 95+ heat index it's all the same feeling. We duck in and out of air conditioning to cool off, leave the parks around lunch time, etc. Out of all the times we have went in recent history, mid-July was the least busy in my opinion. The South American tour groups are also starting to behave now. We saw many groups and none were chanting, clapping, or yelling.

I totally agree with Darklord77's assessment.
I also want to add that we do our touring differently in the summer months. We sleep in, hang out around the resort/pool, and don't head into the parks until 2 or 3. This really is a wonderful way to beat the heat. Typically you only have 2-3 hours of extreme heat which is doable. Then we stay out late and close the parks down. Honestly the summer tours are more relaxing than when we go in the fall and rope drop every morning.