Tips for mid August?

[goofy4wdw2]

Other than changing our dates any tips for the heat and crowds in mid August? Will the crowds be slightly better than earlier in the summer due to schools being back in session? We are aiming for 8/17 and after. Are weekends still crazy? Thanks!

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

That is when we go since our kids started college and we can't do Feb break anymore. It is hot and still crowded but not as crowded as earlier in the summer. When we went the real end of August - the crowds were much better. Also the MNSSHP is starting then - so there will be crowds for that.

Our method is to make sure to have a TS lunch ADR. This gets us out of the heat and into AC. On nights that the parks are opened late we sometimes take a break and go back to the hotel to cool off and then go back to the park. We have a cooler backpack with bottles of water - but we could never carry enough for all of us. So we do get free ice water at any CS. We also have 2 to 3 fan misters that we bought at Walmart and carry them around our neck.

The best advice is to bring ponchos - it will rain but don't let that stop you. We get so much done in the rain - especially when the crowds head for the exits - we keep going.

 

[Imamom2]

Four late August visits have been wonderful. Water, ponchos, and several pairs of shoes - it takes a while for wet shoes to dry in A/C and on the balcony in Florida humidity. I have been known to throw sneakers in the dryer at 6 am. Afternoon breaks at resort or lunch in A/C restaurants are a must. Crowds will be heavy at HS for sure but schools are open in the south so weekdays should be ok. Have a wonderful time!

 

[PrincessVi]

I have been twice in that time frame. Crowds are usually not bad at all. The heat can be intense. I would plan on arriving at the parks before rope drop and touring early while it's cooler. Take a mid afternoon break or plan a TS lunch and as many indoor attractions as possible in the afternoon. I often save my fastpasses for the P.M. so we weren't stuck out in the hot sun in long lines. We had a great time just stay well hydrated. I bought a paisley handkerchief the kind you can pick up at Walmart for a buck. I would wash my face with it when I hit the restrooms, rinse it well, and then tie it around my wrist, neck, or hair it was refreshing and dried fast in the Florida heat. I also purchased a water sling at Mousegears it looks like a lanyard but it's made to hold a disposable water bottle. It was nice and compact so I could put it in my pocket when not in use. I like to travel light. Good luck.

 

[jsbowl16]

We go in August every other year and July the other years. August always seems a little less busy. My tip is to do rope drop, take a break from about 1 to 5 and then close the park. This helps to avoid the heat and thunderstorms that happen most afternoons. Each morning and evening, we freeze a bottle of water and take one for each person in our party. This saves between 5 and 6 dollars per person per day and our water is always cold as it melts. It also makes for a great ice pack if you need to sit down and cool down quickly.

 

[pkpope]

Other than changing our dates any tips for the heat and crowds in mid August? Will the crowds be slightly better than earlier in the summer due to schools being back in session? We are aiming for 8/17 and after. Are weekends still crazy? Thanks!

My birthday is 8/18 so of the past 21 years, I’ve been at disney for about 15 of them that time of year. It is my FAVORITE time to go to disney. Mid afternoon showers clear the parks out from out of staters, time at the resort pools are greatly appreciated, and i find that resort rates are cheaper than normal and parks aren’t nearly as crowded.

 

[AprilDreamsOfDisney]

Other than changing our dates any tips for the heat and crowds in mid August? Will the crowds be slightly better than earlier in the summer due to schools being back in session? We are aiming for 8/17 and after. Are weekends still crazy? Thanks!

We've done mid-August and we did a TS Character meal every day for lunch. It really was a lovely long break from the heat. You can stay for a nice length of time and take it slowly. It refreshed us so we could go back into the parks for the rest of the day.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We've done August twice and the best approach for us was rope drop AM park (sometimes EMH), midday break by the pool and PM park with FP+. It always worked great for us.