Tips for August?

[wideeyes]

Hi we are going the last week of August and 1st week of september next year and I was wondering if anyone had any tips for dealing with the heat and crowds, what is the best time to visit the parks as we don't plan on spending all day in the parks?

What time of the day are the resturants busiest as we are on free dining?

Thank you.

 

[Kath2003]

It is HOT in August. Very hot.

The best time for visiting the parks is in the morning: cooler and fewer crowds. If you can't make the morning, the evening is cooler but the crowds will be HEAVING.

Staying cool:
- wear a hat. Keeps the sun off your head.
- CONTINUALLY refill water bottles at water fountains. Usually the water is chilled.
- Ice water is free at all CS locations. Use and abuse this fact. We also often asked for a large cup of ice - melts into lovely lovely cool water!
- We booked ADRs for the times when we didn't want to be in the sun. If we had a TS lunch, it was at 2pm. If we had a TS dinner, it was at 4pm. It gave us a break from the heat.
- swim during the afternoon, if you can

Also: be aware that it will rain most afternoons at around 3pm. If you can wait it out in the parks, after about half an hour the park will be virtually empty and the thunderstorm will be over.

The tip we always use is: ride something tall at around 2pm! Seriously. Stick the kids on Everest or the Tower of Terror or Summit Plummit and since FL is almost totally flat, you'll be able to see the storm coming. If you can see it, you have about 20 minutes to get out of there before EVERYONE wants to get out of there and you end up waiting in line just to leave the park, crowded buses etc.

Alternatively, find a nice spot at a cafe and wait it out under cover. Everyone else will head for the exit

If you're REALLY into it, there's no reason why you can't just keep going. They'll close the taller rides during the storm but the smaller rides will still be operating. If you have ponchos and waterproof shoes (jellies, flipflops, crocs or something), the rain makes absolutely no difference.

Restaraunts are busiest around mealtimes! Lunch runs from around 11.30 - 2pm. Dinner runs from 6pm-8pm. Restaraunts and CS locations are very busy during these times.

 

[Miss Stitch]

We went the same time last year and will be doing so again in 2007. Believe you me, I cant handle heat in England, but the found the heat fine, although it was hot. The only time we found any parks busy was the weekends, we got onto most rides except Soaring and Dumbo with only approx 20 mins wait. soaring was about 45mins, dumbo the same. Most of the fastpass stations were closed as they were not needed. At parade time, we found we could just find a space about 15 mins before. Although I heard about the afternoon rainstorms, we only encountered one (think we were lucky), we laid out for the mickey ponchos to find we never used them again. Friends who told us about the storms said they found them very refreshing, cooled them off and only lasted about twenty minutes. We tended to eat quite late, as we didnt leave our hotel till ten and had breakfast there and we had no real problems. Seeing pictures of a busy wdw with main street crowded i realised how lucky we were, which is why we have booked the same two weeks again next year, we may see you there!

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Oooh, I too am going around this time Aug 16th-Sep 06th, can't wait, may see you round!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

The best advice in August is to get to the parks early, if you are like us you will struggle to do anything like a full day without a break - especially if you have children.
Morning's and Evenings are still hot , but slightly cooler.

There is an element of truth in going to the parks when it's cloudy and going to the malls when it's - naturally whilst you cannot plan the weather, you can change your plan for the day based upon the forecast etc

Haven't done the Daft Dining Plan yet - one dissapointment for me is you rely on the light crowds mid August onwards, unfortunatley DDP changed all that so now you have high temps and high(er) crowds.

 

[AndRu]

Haven't done the Daft Dining Plan yet - one dissapointment for me is you rely on the light crowds mid August onwards, unfortunatley DDP changed all that so now you have high temps and high(er) crowds.

Daft Dining Plan .... ROFL Like it

We'll also be there in August and are fortunate enough to have a three week stay so we can take our time. However, we will be following the tips given (early starts, afternoon breaks etc) but the main one would be to avoid in-park restaurants. Period. Far too busy and expensive. Rather leave butties / rolls in a cool bag in the locker and keep going in the parks.

 

[Disney owl]

Think these may have already been said but;
get to the parks early & leave mid-day, we would return at approx tea-time after having a rest/swim

drink plenty of fluids - we keep a coolbox in the boot of the hire car full of drinks & ice., Wonderful after a long day in the parks to come out to a cold drink. Plus drinks bought at the supermarket are much cheaper than those in the parks.

Visit waterparks in the morning as it WILL rain in the afternoon. If there's a storm rides are closed & everyone has to leave the water. Take something for your feet. The concrete floors at the water parks get SO hot. The kids & i swim in old t-shirts . Whatever factor sun cream you use you can get caught on your shoulders. You don't realise how long you spend out in the sun walking around & queueing. You can take a pic nic & drinks into the waterparks.

we found late August fine in terms of crowds & not too busy. But like Johnny says that could have changed 'cos of dining plan. Saying that we are hoping to fit in a visit next year & due to DD starting college if we go it will prob be in August!

 

[jtlover]

As you are staying on disney property take advantage of the early/late park openings during this time of year

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Daft Dining Plan .... ROFL Like it

We'll also be there in August and are fortunate enough to have a three week stay so we can take our time. However, we will be following the tips given (early starts, afternoon breaks etc) but the main one would be to avoid in-park restaurants. Period. Far too busy and expensive. Rather leave butties / rolls in a cool bag in the locker and keep going in the parks.

I mean for some people it obviously works, so I suppose it depends really but for us we rely on the parks being quieter to balance out the discomfort of the high temperatures...my personal worst nightmare is 95 degree heat and packed theme parks = no fun (in my opinion anyway).

Short spells getting there early is the only way to do it.

 

[Netty]

The
Haven't done the Daft Dining Plan yet - one dissapointment for me is you rely on the light crowds mid August onwards, unfortunatley DDP changed all that so now you have high temps and high(er) crowds.

couldn't agree more, we have booked for the end of July.
As said before, make sure you have plenty of fluids and a hat and sunnies are essential!

 

[florida sun]

In August we have always got to the parks early mornings, left before mid-day, taken an afternoon nap or swim and then back out in the evenings. It works well for us that way. Its not so much the sun as the humidity that gets me everytime.

I also agree with Johnny, we used to love the last two weeks of August due to the low crowds, however that seems to have changed to a certain degree now with the introduction of Free Disney Dining Plan, so expect it to be much busier, however Im sure you will have the most wonderful time and I would still pick August over nothing at all

 

[Twilight Terror]

Oh, we're going on 21st Aug - 4th Sept! We went around the same time this year (on the Thursday rather than the Tuesday).

I have a tip for the water parks - buy a pair of scuba shoes (or whatever their technical term is). We picked up some from Walgreens for $5.99 each! We went to BB without them and I actually came away with the odd burn on my feet the walkways are THAT hot!!! Had the scuba shoes for TL and it was a MUCH better experience on the feet! And they come in very handy for walking around the parks during the afternoon downpours too!

It's me, my mum and sister on our trips, and because we're all of a legal age, even in the US lol, we don't bother with the parades and stuff, and that's a good time to do some of the more popular rides. We got around the whole of Fantasyland at MK in an hour! Winnie the Pooh, last two times we've been had queues of 1hr30+, the only thing we had to wait for was a honey pot to come by to get in! It was wicked! Snow White, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Teacups, Dumbo - all waits were literally for a carriage to come by or current ride to stop. So that's a good thing to do.

My sister is terrible with heat, I love it and I'm usually complaining that it's not hot enough. I have been known to wear cardigans/jumpers while away. Anyway, she usually takes a while to adjust to the humidity (cos of asthama) but after that she's usually alright. We tend to take two bottles of water to the park in the morning, drink one before we actually go into the park and then the other shortly after that. Whenever ordering a drink, we always go for the biggest option, not through greediness, but because it helps prevent dehydration. That's what you get for travelling with two nurses!

But yeah, I can't wait! At least this time we don't have to worry about the cost of food and can eat nearly anything we like! God bless the free Dining Plan!

 

[Miffy2003]

My two top tips are: arrive early and drink plenty.

Most of our trips have been in August due to school holidays and we really love it.

The evenings are just fabulous and we love swiming late at night after getting back from an evening at the parks

 

[wideeyes]

Hi, Thank you for your tips, we are stuck to these dates as my sister will be in year 13 so did not want to miss two whole weeks from school, and I did not want my dd to miss so much time at the beginning of the term.

As I have never been before its hard for me to guess how busy it will be, my sister went the first two weeks of September this year and said it was really quiet so I guess she will notice the crowds more than me.

 

[Lizzybear]

Just a tip about ice water: If water is freezing it doesn't hydrate you as effectively as if it it's just 'averagely' cold. Personally I always ask for a bit less ice in my drinks in the US, I don't want half a cup of ice and half of drink!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi, Thank you for your tips, we are stuck to these dates as my sister will be in year 13 so did not want to miss two whole weeks from school, and I did not want my dd to miss so much time at the beginning of the term.

As I have never been before its hard for me to guess how busy it will be, my sister went the first two weeks of September this year and said it was really quiet so I guess she will notice the crowds more than me.

A lot of us are stuck with going July/August too - to be honest it is not the ideal time to go as you will have gathered and whilst crowd-wise generally you could say that from mid-August onwards it will be very manageable the DDP has changed that so it's less predictable now.
Add to that the summer high temperatures hence as many of us have said getting to the parks early is vital, as well as planning plenty of rest - doing the parks day after day in August would be hard work for anybody.

 

[fizz13]

Can't give any more advice than what has been given i think.

Park opening IS the best strategy as you can collect all your fastpasses for later or the evening if you come back.
Drink plenty.
Make all your ADRs before you go and you shouldn't have a problem eating no matter what time you arrive at the restaurant.

Even with free dining i don't think you'll have a problem with crowds as they seem to only be offering free dining to the US if you are staying at WDW from now till Decmber and are rebooking a holiday for the free dining period, doesn't sound like they are going to release it to everybody this time.

 

[Tinker74]

hI claire! Do you really think that the rest of the US won't be offered free ding?
I feel terrible for saying it but I almost hope that that will be the case. It will mean less crowds for us...selfish i know.
On the U.S boards thet still seem to thinking that they will be offered it..some even think this new offer to give it to returning guests makes it even MORE likely.
But I think the same as you...that this it for them as good as it gets.

 

[jtlover]

I doubt they wont give it to the US as well in August - but if they didnt take it up that much this time then Disney might just offer it to the UK?

 

[fizz13]

I think the uk had its chance a couple of months ago, it was released to the uk through several operators but that offer has now finished so its probably too late for us now thinking about it.