Thinking about July

[lynzi2004]

We have only ever been to WDW in April. Absolutely perfect weather, occasionally heavier crowds depending on Easter and Spring Break but we have always been able to accomplish whatever we wanted. Our group will be DH, DD5, DS 4, and I'm currently pregnant and this baby would be around 18 months. DD will be starting school this fall. I am not opposed to pulling her out of school but I did get to looking at resort prices for this July (we would be looking at July 2019) and my goodness rooms seem to be so much cheaper during the summer! That actually surprised me. I know it will be super hot and rain almost every day. With a touring plan of rope drop, pool (2-5), and then park close I'm guessing it will be doable. My question is how are the pools during the middle of the day? If everyone does the same scenario, is there any point in trying to swim? Also, is summer crowds equivalent to Spring Break crowds? We would most likely be staying at either Poly or WL. Probably the week after July 4 or last week of July.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

We went last July after the 4th and it only rained one afternoon and one evening (over an eight day trip). The crowds were actually much lighter than I had ever experienced. It was definitely hot, especially in AK and Epcot, but we were fine with a combo of early mornings and afternoon ADRs or AC attractions.

 

[Shanti]

We have only ever been to WDW in April. Absolutely perfect weather, occasionally heavier crowds depending on Easter and Spring Break but we have always been able to accomplish whatever we wanted. Our group will be DH, DD5, DS 4, and I'm currently pregnant and this baby would be around 18 months. DD will be starting school this fall. I am not opposed to pulling her out of school but I did get to looking at resort prices for this July (we would be looking at July 2019) and my goodness rooms seem to be so much cheaper during the summer! That actually surprised me. I know it will be super hot and rain almost every day. With a touring plan of rope drop, pool (2-5), and then park close I'm guessing it will be doable. My question is how are the pools during the middle of the day? If everyone does the same scenario, is there any point in trying to swim? Also, is summer crowds equivalent to Spring Break crowds? We would most likely be staying at either Poly or WL. Probably the week after July 4 or last week of July.

We've been the past two Julys and yes, the resorts have been cheaper in July than during other seasons. The crowds have been lighter, too, outside of Independence Day week. In fact, the crowds in late July 2016 were lighter than crowds in any trip we've taken since January 2009. Nothing like Spring Break crowds at all.

We like to spend summer trips at resorts with great pools (such as Yacht/Beach Club, Polynesian, Boardwalk), and have not had a problem with excessive crowding. There will be people, but nothing crazy. No 30-minute lines at water slides or anything like that. In our experience, out of the feature pools of the three resorts I listed, the Poly volcano pool is the most crowded, followed by the Boardwalk crazy clown pool, with Stormalong Bay at YC/BC being least crowded, undoubtably because at the latter you have to scan your Magic Band & prove you're a resort guest to get in. Wish they did that at the Poly, because we're headed back there in early August. Not worried about it, though. As I said, I've never seen terrible crowding at any WDW pool. Animal Kingdom Lodge also has awesome pool offerings, fyi. You might want to consider that, too.

 

[Klayfish]

Like PP, we're July veterans too. Been there the last two, going again this year...probably 6 or 7 Julys over the past 15 years. We stay offsite. You don't need to do a mid-day break if you'd rather do rope drop, stay in the parks to do what you want and then call it a night. Most of the rides are in the air conditioning. If you use common sense, such as doing the indoor stuff during mid-day, it's not a big deal. Not saying there's anything wrong with afternoon breaks...not at all. But it's not something you HAVE to do.

 

[Cinderella94]

We love July - 4th of July week to be exact. We do rope drop, pool time in the afternoon, and dinner in a park/at a resort and then park in the evening. The pool is crowded but not overly so. I think that most people who vacation in July are people who don't visit Disney very often (or ever) and may be more inclined to enter the park maybe not for rope drop and stay all day and not leave time for pool time.

Not everyone, though, of course. Just thinking in terms of largest numbers of people.
Lots of people are not "rope drop people" and will be in the park when we're swimming.

 

[lynzi2004]

Thank you for the replies everyone! We have typically been rope drop to close people, but throwing a baby in the mix I have no idea what will happen! DS found a love for the waterslides on our last trip and he would have swam all day if we would have let him! Your replies are getting me super hopeful! Maybe I can get DH to consider next July instead, but I'm not so sure with a 7 month old

 

[minniegirl19]

It will be busier probably crowds you have seen during spring break time. Last year wasn't bad because of the Olympics. A lot of the southern Americans didn't come up like normal so I wouldn't judge off of last years crowds

 

[Westcoastwild]

I went in July. I enjoyed it. The lines have a/c, rain clears out the crowds, and as long as I stayed hydrated and took it slow, I was fine.

I will disagree with others though. I think it would be hellish with a toddler. The heat and rain does not kill me- the high, high humidity was brutal. And if your other child likes slides, it may also be a bad time to go. The pools aren't very refreshing and it's really unpleasant to swim in the afternoon. The shallows where little kids would wade felt like a hot bath by 1. (I do burn though, and maybe it would make a difference if I tanned.) I am a water person and the fact that I literally could not stand the pools longer than 5 minutes in the afternoon was a bummer. It is the first time I have ever wished for indoor pools, including mountain resorts in winter.


If you do go, I would go for more days than you have in the past. I definitely think taking it slow and easy is the key to going in the summer.

(For reference I went in late July. It might be better earlier.)

 

[Selket]

I typically go spring break and around the 4th of July (in the parks just after the 4th) and spring break is by far more crowded. That doesn't mean you won't have waits in July and the weather is way hotter overall. With the new Avatar area opening in AK and other things planned - I don't know how it will affect the summer crowds this summer - and what might affect them in 2019. I've been to WDW with a toddler (18 months - and a medical issue kept him from being able to stand and walk by that age - so he had to be carried/strollered) but it was fine. I've never had the luck with the whole "going back to the room in the afternoon to swim and/or nap" thing with the kids. They never slept and it took well over 3 hours (more like 5) to get the bus back, change, swim, bathe, etc - the pools are much nicer in the morning or evenings.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

We went the last week of June in 2015 and the last week of July 2016. I would gladly stay that time of year over, say, what we just experienced the first week of April this year. It's still summer crowds, but we found it far more manageable overall. Plus as you point out, it's materially cheaper. Summer is the value season price wise for WDW resorts. Mid-July-August has among the lowest rack rates of the year at places like Poly. Compare that to April which has among the highest.

So yeah, July/summer has a lot going for it if you plan accordingly and don't mind the heat.

(I know you didn't ask, but I vote Poly - especially with kids you ages. Nothing beats the convenience of the monorail at that age.)

Have fun!

 

[Klayfish]

If DS likes water slides, then I'd suggest planning a day to go to either TL or BB. He'll love either one. Our kids love them as much as they love the 4 main parks.

I agree that it's a bit harder with a toddler, but really not that big of a deal. We went when our twins were just turning 1 and our oldest had just turned 4. We had to use common sense to keep them protected from the heat, but otherwise it wasn't hard...well, no harder than having 3 toddlers is on a normal day.

 

[lynzi2004]

I don't know how to individually quote things but thank you for the replies! Ease of getting around with the stroller and monorail is why the Poly is on the top of the list! I would like the Contemporary for the super convienience but it's just so plain and the Poly pool looks way cooler!

I hadn't thought about the water park but that might be a great idea! The older two need to grow a few more inches to be tall enough for most of the things but I don't think it will be an issue in a couple years.

We are from Missouri and although it's far from Florida heat and humidity, we get our fair share and so I hope it will be doable.

Btw, we were there the first week of April this year as well and although the "fringe" hours/EMH were great for crowds, I agree that the middle of the day was more crowded than I expected!

Thanks again!