WDW in August - How Hot?

[Tigger too]

Hi FOV,

I am also from New England, now living in Texas.
Remember, it's not the temps (heat), it is the humidity that will be the worst.
That being said, NE in the summer can have some pretty bad spells of heat and humidity. It will be like that, not much worse.
Go - You can handle it !!
I will be there again (7th trip) mid to late August and can't wait. Just take it slow and remember, if you are there after the second week of August, it shouldn't be too crowded. Most people there will be at a WDW Resort for the Free dining, so my suggestion is to avoid the EMH parks to avoid the crowds. Go to the park early and take it slow - everyone will have a great time.
Have Fun !!

 

[goofie4goofy]

I love the heat too, but heat and Florida in August are 2 different things.

I love Las Vegas in July....that's about 114 in the shade. That does not bother me....DRY heat!

Orlando in August is not only hot (104) but the humidity is completely oppressive. Think of getting out of a hot steamy shower and not being able to dry off for about a week. Orlando is hot and sticky, and you do feel it in the parks. In the mornings it is just a warm hazy moist no breeze thick air and it goes downhill from that only to end in an afternoon thundershower which makes the air even thicker. Oh Yeah it feels reall good...espically when you have to keep a layer of sunscreen on besides. The worst is when it is so crowded and you bump into some one and you actually stick to them like velcro, due to the mixture of sunscreen, sweat and humidity.


AGGGGHHH and the damn EPCOT ramp...nothing like climbing that with a sweaty heiny. Oh yeah speaking of sweaty heiny's you will love the ripe stench of the monorail at the end of the day from all the sweaty people...that's a smell you never forget - and seasonal like the Mackinaw Peach. Not being able to dry your hair is fun too.
We had to go to Orlando in August 2 years ago and it was the absolute worst. The only time I was happy was when I was underwater. We swore we would never ever go again.

Sorry to tell you, but it is like being in Disney hell.

 

[Cookie Princess]

AGGGGHHH and the damn EPCOT ramp...nothing like climbing that with a sweaty heiny. Oh yeah speaking of sweaty heiny's you will love the ripe stench of the monorail at the end of the day from all the sweaty people...that's a smell you never forget - and seasonal like the Mackinaw Peach. Not being able to dry your hair is fun too.
We had to go to Orlando in August 2 years ago and it was the absolute worst. The only time I was happy was when I was underwater. We swore we would never ever go again.

Sorry to tell you, but it is like being in Disney hell.

Another New Englander here who always goes in late Oct/Nov/early Dec timeframe. This August trip is starting to scare me. I don't want to smell any sweaty heinies, or I will be spraying folks down with Febreeze - including my family. My hair goes limp in humidity and DH and DS will be cranky! Now, I am used to wearing winter scarfs, but why the heck do we need neck wraps? I hope the heat won't diminish my appetite or there goes the fun of the FREE DDP! Between this and the hurricanes I am freakin out!

 

[goofie4goofy]

Another New Englander here who always goes in late Oct/Nov/early Dec timeframe. This August trip is starting to scare me. I don't want to smell any sweaty heinies, or I will be spraying folks down with Febreeze - including my family. My hair goes limp in humidity and DH and DS will be cranky! Now, I am used to wearing winter scarfs, but why the heck do we need neck wraps? I hope the heat won't diminish my appetite or there goes the fun of the FREE DDP! Between this and the hurricanes I am freakin out!

Sorry there's no way to candy coat it. I am not being mean, just honest. Like I said I can take the heat, but the combo of intense heat and very high humidity makes it unbearable.

I think the neck wraps people are referring to are the ones that are cooled. It wraps around your neck which is a pulse point and it cools your body down.

There are a few tips you need to know about the heat/humidity in Fla. It really is a different kind of heat and you need to take care of yourself.
First of all keep hydrated. Drink water constantly....have at least 1 sports drink like Gatorade per day. Keep upir intake of caffeine down, it is a dieuretic (for every cup of coffee drink an additional 2 cups water) Alcohol has the same affect on your body. Keep you body cool...keep your core temp down by going into AC often or going back to the resort and going into the pool take a break and go back. Wear sunscreen as the sun is very very hot...even if it's hazy you will burn very quickly. Dress in light clothing of natural fibers like cotton. Wearing less clothing is not cooler, wearing loose clothing of cotton will keep you cooler. Eat light, and snack often. Don't overplan, this is not the time to go commando....it just ain't gonna happen. Just pace yourself and mind the heat....it has a way of sneaking up on you.

You will not be able to cover territory in August like you can in the cooler months, which is a very important thing to keep in mind.

 

[DisneyDar]

Get a Blanket. Soak it in a tub of water and squeeze out the excess. Place the blanket in a hot oven, take it out and throw it over your head and breathe deeply.


THAT hot.

 

[DOOM1001]

I went this past sunday and monday 5/28 and 5/29 and Sunday had to have been the hottest day I've ever spent at a theme park.It was 96 and with the humidity it must have felt over 100.Two times I was waiting under the sun, first for the Star Wars motorcade and later for the Guess who concert and I literally drenched my shirt in sweat.Luckily clouds rolled in like at 6pm and eased off the heat but that heat just wipes out your energy!!!So if it was this hot late May I wouldn't want to see July or August, and I'm a floridian who should be used to this, but I don't many people who can get used to the heat+humidity. When I visited Vegas it was in the 90's and it did feel hot but it didn't drain me like sunday at disney with the humidity.

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

I went last August and the worst thing about the heat and humidity is that there was no breeze. It was just hot, sticky and still. It gets hot here in Oklahoma but there's always wind.

 

[KJHawley]

It's hot enough to boil a monkey's bum!!!

 

[firkat]

Get a Blanket. Soak it in a tub of water and squeeze out the excess. Place the blanket in a hot oven, take it out and throw it over your head and breathe deeply.


THAT hot.

Okay, I laughed so hard I woke up my husband! But, Disney Dar, boy do you have it right. That is exactly how hot it is.

NOV, if you can move your trip to another cooler time, say the end of September, then I would do that. If it is a matter of go in August or don't go, then GO!!!!

If you do go in August, you MUST plan for the heat. You obviously are a planner or else you wouldn't be subscribing on these boards. Well, plan for the heat just like anything else. Collect all the advice and use it.

You MUST plan to take a break from around noon to 3 each day at the height of the heat. Go back to the hotel, take a cool swim, rest. Not optional.

You MUST force everyone in your party to keep hydrated.

You CANNOT go commando and you should plan your daily iteneraries with air condtioning in mind.

Disney does a decent job of providing respites from the heat. You will just need to make sure you seek them out.

Take advantage of the later park hours and do as much as you can at night after the sun has gone down.

So, if it is a matter of go or not go, the answer is easy. I would GO!

 

[CindyBella]

Just back Tues. May 30! It was hot and uncomfortable but nothing like what it will be like in August. I swore I would NEVER go in August EVER EVER again. I was so uncomfortable that I couldn't really enjoy myself.

My advice would be to go to the parks early take a LONG break and do not return to the parks until 5pm! That way you can avoid some of the heat.

Also, beware of AK in the summer! It is by far the HOTTEST park. There was a post on this some time ago. As soon as I arrive I can't wait to leave and I LOVE AK!!

Good luck! Keep cool!

 

[kmermaid]

Florida in August?? Flippin' FREAKIN' HOT! HOT! HOT!! It's not stopping us from doing it again this year though!!! I expect that one of my dd's (the 11 year old) will be whiney!!! I already warned her that I can get in an in-room sitter if she'd like!!! I mean it!!!

Hey Jackie can we leave our 11 yr olds together at the pool? We will be there at the same time at CSR! She will be a big pain in butt. But I can't complain since I already got DH not going on this trip!

 

[FOV]

I love Disney. I love all travel. I love NYC in August - but I have *never* worn a neck wrap and I'm not sure even a trip to WDW is worth me wearing a neck wrap for 6 days. Really. Can you imagine the nice family picture in front of the castle ------ with everyone wearing dripping neck wraps? It's like a horror movie!

DD(11) is entering 6th grade. We are going to Costa Rica for 2 weeks during February school vacation and she will miss 4-5 days of school for that trip. I can't take her out of school for a Disney trip. I will *never* go to WDW during x-mas or Easter vacation. Way too crowded for me to even consider.

As I see it - if we don't go to Disney this summer I won't be able to go until June of 2007 - after school gets out. We live in the Boston area so a weekend trip would be too much hassle. The big incentive for me to go now is to catch my youngest ds(5) while he is still "magical." If I wait much longer he will still enjoy himself and love Disney but he won't be so naive and I love that! He enters kindergarten the day after Labor Day so I thought it would be a nice family trip to graduate us all officially out of the preschool years and into the elementary years.

Is it possible to be "magical" while sporting a neck wrap? DD(11) will want to know if Hollister or Abercrombie sell neck wraps. I may have to cancel. The thought is just too horrifying!

 

[NJBILL]

The average daily temperature (based on 30 years) for Orlando is 82.6 degrees in July and 82.8 degrees in August.
I did WDW in the middle of July a few years back with 4 children. It was hot, but not unbearable or even unreasonable.
Keep your self hydrated,use shade whenever possible,and stop for some AC when possible. Based on my experience, it was not that bad!

 

[bbump]

I am preparing for the worst (heat wise)

We have already purchased misting fans at the Disney Store for $7.50 each. The fans are really cute!!! They have Mickey on then and include a shoulder strap so we can accessorize in style!!! (ha ha)
I am planning on keeping the mister bottle with us at all times, drink water till we are peeing every hour, and take alot of AC breaks, even if it means going into the "cheesy" attractions.
(don't think I will be buying a neck wrap....if worse gets to worse, I will just take my water bottle and dump it all over ourselves)

Yup, I am not planning on looking pretty this week. Planning on ponytails or buns for hairdos.

Yet, I am still VERY excited for this trip! We are going with another family (it is their 1st time EVER in DisneyWorld) and this will be our 1st trip onsite with the dining plan.
We have late lunches planned to take breaks from the heat.....
If we have postive attitudes and go at a slow pace we will have fun no matter what.

Also...as another note...
We should be thankful that we are guests at the park and not Cast Members.
CM's must have a hard time staying cool all day long. (especially the characters!!!)

I will post a trip report about our trip when we return to let everyone know how it went in the heat.....


A question to Florida Residents:

Are there chances of the the weather turning cooler if severe storms are brewing as it will be hurricane season????

 

[FOV]

The average daily temperature (based on 30 years) for Orlando is 82.6 degrees in July and 82.8 degrees in August.
I did WDW in the middle of July a few years back with 4 children. It was hot, but not unbearable or even unreasonable.

NJ Bill - I also visited weather.com and accuweather.com to get historical averages. Looks like the average HIGH for July and August is 92, with an average low of 73. I was surprised to read on weather.com that July is slightly hotter than August, but not measurably. When it's that hot who the heck can tell the difference!

Thanks for sharing your experiences with 4 children. My kids are my biggest concern. I really don't want to go if they aren't going to enjoy themselves. If we go I plan to spend the mornings in the water parks.

Water park question - for those who have been in WDW in the summer - are the water parks so crowded you don't get much relief or do you think it is worth it to visit?

 

[lissawynn]

It's going to be hot, but if you do the parks early, go back to your resort and swim or take a nap, then go back to the parks at night, it's managable. Also, buy one of the fan misters at Wal-Mart before you go so you don't spend a small fortune on one at the parks.

 

[NJBILL]

NJ Bill - I also visited weather.com and accuweather.com to get historical averages. Looks like the average HIGH for July and August is 92, with an average low of 73. I was surprised to read on weather.com that July is slightly hotter than August, but not measurably. When it's that hot who the heck can tell the difference!

Thanks for sharing your experiences with 4 children. My kids are my biggest concern. I really don't want to go if they aren't going to enjoy themselves. If we go I plan to spend the mornings in the water parks.

Water park question - for those who have been in WDW in the summer - are the water parks so crowded you don't get much relief or do you think it is worth it to visit?

The temperatures quoted were based on avg daily temps over the last 30 years. Not sure what your information was based on. Obviously, different time periods would result in different results.

 

[FOV]

The temperatures quoted were based on avg daily temps over the last 30 years. Not sure what your information was based on. Obviously, different time periods would result in different results.

NJ Bill - We have the same information. You have to average for the 24 hour period - I just broke out the high and low. 92 for the HIGH and 73 for the LOW would get you an average daily temp of around 82.

Would your kids go back to WDW in July? Would you?

 

[mama4]

A question to Florida Residents:

Are there chances of the the weather turning cooler if severe storms are brewing as it will be hurricane season????

In my experience it always becomes more humid right before a storm. Afterwards, it does usually cool down a little though (less humidity and somewhat of a breeze). I live in Gainesville (2 hrs N of Orlando) and I think the humidity and lack of air circulation might actually be worse here because we are literally surrounded by trees. Could be a little better in Orlando- I have never been in August- I just refuse to since I live so close by. Orlando is still far enough from the coast that I can't see it being that much better than here though.

BTW, if I lived out of state, I would go in August if that was the best possible time for me to go.

Also, for FOV, June is not much better than August so I don't think it's worth waiting until 2007. I think you should go and just be prepared! Take things slow, do as much as possible in the AM and evenings, plan on swim breaks and waterparks if possible, scope out the attractions w/ AC, use fastpass to avoid lengthy outside lines, drink water and make the kids drink water(or at least Gatorade), use misting bottles (skip on the neck wraps- my kids probably wouldn't wear them either), wear your hair up, I like to wear visors in the heat since it doesn't cover your entire head, use sunscreen at all times (that's very important), let the kids (especially 5 yo) get wet in the spray fountains (Ariel's Grotto and Poohs Playful Spot have them) if they want. I even let my kids air dry after playing in them (and this was in April)- just don't let them wet their sneakers or sandals unless they are waterproof. We like Crocs for this reason- they dry within 5 min of going on a water ride. I'm sure you guys will have a great time. 5 is a wonderful age for Disney.

 

[DizWacko]

There are alot of BABIES on this board. Do you realize that thousands upon thousands upon thousands of people visit Disney during the months of June/July/August every single year ????? Do you know that many return year after year after year and spend many, many, many thousands of dollars to do it??

Go on your trip! Dont let these big babies scare you away.

Oh noooo, I am sweating!!!
Oh lord the pain!!

Puuhleeease !!


Simply just plan on slowing the pace down a little bit and you will be fine.

Yikes !!