Tell me about your experiences going the last week in August

[anotherdisneygal]

Would you do it again?
Is it hotter than hot?
Is it packed?

 

[MyMagicKingdom]

Its definitely hot, its definitely packed, but I would still do it again! My parents always planned family vacations at the end of August so my first 4 WDW experience were at that time. Last year, my husband and I went in the beginning of June and it was still hot, but it seemed slightly less packed. We're planning our next trip for next year and we're hoping to go in September or October. If you do go in August, I'd try to get fastpasses to the more popular rides right away. Its not fun standing in line for 2 hours in super hot weather if you can help it! Either way, I hope you have fun whenever you do go!

 

[anotherdisneygal]

We usually go in May and/or the week after Thanksgiving. But I've been there for Christmas and in July (and in January and February too). I'm curious since we are going next month and I figure we'll book the Bounce Back offer - I was thinking of August.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!!!! Did I mention HOT?!?!?!?!!
That being said, we had a FABULOUS trip!!! We are trying April, we'll see if we ever do August again after this one?!

 

[anotherdisneygal]

I'm starting to think it might be HOT in August.

What about crowds - insane? As busy as Christmas?

 

[perfectparanoia]

I'm starting to think it might be HOT in August.

What about crowds - insane? As busy as Christmas?

It WILL be hot. We are going then and you need to be prepared. Lots of places have AC and you will need to take more breaks than normal.

The last time I went at the end of August was in 2000 so YMMV. It was a group of four adults and we went for 6 days and did and saw everything we wanted to at AK, MGM, EPCOT, MK, IOA and US. Most things we did twice!

So, not that crowded. Most kids in Florida are back in school and the heat keeps people away, too. I would compare the crowds to early May (if you have been then).

Also, nothing is as busy as Christmas.

 

[The House of Mouse]

We've been at WDW last week of August for the past 2 years. I have only been to Disneyland at Christmas, so that's my comparison. We find the crowds at the parks quite manageable. But, it has been free dining, which we took advantage of, this makes it harder to plan your meals, because TS are booked up. It is quite warm, but quite doable, plan some down days to relax by the pool or float around Castaway creek!

 

[ratlenhum]

We were there during the last week in August last year. We're doing it again this year.

Yes it was hot but we got into a routine.

Breakfast, walk around and do a few rides. When we got hot, we'd go to a show. Just sitting in the AC for a few minutes helped. Get a cold drink, walk around and do a few more rides. We'd eat lunch indoors to cool down again. Follow the same routine until dinner. If there is a ride you can get wet on, go on it!!

Just stay hydrated and I REALLY REALLY recommend moisture wicking socks. Not only were our feet dry when we were sweating all over, but we didn't get blisters. I also think that having dry feet helped us feel "not so hot" even though we were sweating.

It was packed but not as bad as I thought it would be with the free dining plan going on.

 

[sdmom]

Hmm, so, is it more crowded in early August before kids go back to school or late August during the free dining?

We have a 40% off pin and don't want Free Dining so, we are just trying to figure out which is better crowd wise.

any thoughts?
thanks!

 

[Ioansgirl]

We went the last week of August last year and I thought it was great. We got to the parks at opening and just walked on to any ride we wanted with barely any wait at all. We did have little ones with us so we didn't always do the large popular rides. We never waited more than 5 minutes for the buses back to the resort and only once did my DH have to stand on the bus due to crowding and that was in the evening right after closing. I was prepared to be overwhelmed by the heat but found it not that bad at all. I am trying to convince DH we need to go back again that time this year.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Last year we were there the 3rd week in August and yes it is hot, but that depends on what your definition of hot is. I live on the east coast in Virginia and we have hot humid weather, so I found Orlando to be very similar, so the heat didn't really bother us, we just drank lots of water and slipped into AC buildings when we got really hot. The crowds were a bit heavy but it was also the 1st week of Free Dining too, so we expected it. We are going the last week in August this year instead so I'm expecting the temps and crowds to be similar, maybe a bit less crowded, but we are planning to have a great time.

 

[sdmom]

We went the last week of August last year and I thought it was great. We got to the parks at opening and just walked on to any ride we wanted with barely any wait at all. We did have little ones with us so we didn't always do the large popular rides. We never waited more than 5 minutes for the buses back to the resort and only once did my DH have to stand on the bus due to crowding and that was in the evening right after closing. I was prepared to be overwhelmed by the heat but found it not that bad at all. I am trying to convince DH we need to go back again that time this year.

Thanks! and good luck!

 

[thepwa]

Always liked going last week of August.

Yes it is hot.

I think it is not as crowded as earlier in the summer because a lot of kids are back in school, but everything still seems to be open late.

Of all of the summer weeks, that has been my favorite.

 

[lovetoscrap]

That is when I am thinking of going if we go this year. I look at the Resort Rates to judge crowd level-- that is "Value" season, which means it is when Disney expects the lowest attendance. So I am certainly hoping for the crowds to be manageble. Free Dining may be going on and could affect things, but I still think it would be okay. We prefer to get up and get to the parks early and tour a few hours then rest and maybe go back after sundown.

I actually would really prefer to wait until late Sept or Oct, or even the beginning of Nov to go but can't do that with the kids in school.

Did anyone mention that it will be HOT??

 

[YukiPhnx]

The last week of August is considered value season, so the crowds are much lighter

It's definitely hot, but there's plenty of places to cool down and stay out of the sun. Especially since most lines are nice and covered