WDW in Mid-august...am i crazy?

[Rosered]

We originally planned to go to Disney this May but there is no way DD 8 can miss school, so we are looking at mid-August the week of the 13 or the 20. We will be driving down from NY and want to spend a total of 5 days in the parks with some off days to rest. It would be DH, DD8, DD1 and myself. Here are my concerns:

1) Will the crowds be unbearable? We are planning to take it slow and concentrate on what the girls want to do. We will be staying onsite and using fastpass as well as EMH, at least duriing the a.m.

2) Weather? I know it will be really hot but what concerns me is the possibility of hurricanes, especially since we'll be driving down. I know no one can predict the weather exactly but being from up north I don't know too much about hurricane season. Is August an especially bad time, from what I've heard the worst of hurricane season is September and October.

Any advice will be much appreciated. There really is no other time of year that we could go, except for July but I know it'll be even more crowded then.

So what do you guys think? I'm kind of depressed because I was really looking foward to going in May but I'm hoping August is doable.

 

[WIDisneyFan]

You are not crazy at all My wife and I have only gone in the summer (once each in June, July and August) and are headed back this year in July as well. She is a teacher so the only good time for us is summer. In our experience August was the least crwoded of the 3 trips. The weather will be hot, but if you pace yourself and keep up the fluids you will do just fine. As for the weather, it is a safe bet it will rain some (again in our experience was mostly afternoon storms for an hour or two) and on the hurricane topic - all you can do is smile and keep your fingers crossed as mother nature gets to win anyway

and no matter what Have a wonderful trip!

 

[mattsdragon]

Stastically speaking, it's the least crowded time of the year.

 

[rwcmath]

We were there in August, around th 19th and we have another trip planned for this August around the 19th as well.

I do not remember being ungodly hot, but we did have some doozy rainstorms! We had a wonderful day at TL and spent time in all of the parks as well. Our group consisted of 5 adults and 2 10 yr old girls. We did all of the great rides, including Soarin 2-3 times. We never did early hours, but we did night magic hours at MGM. We had 3 nights BWV.

This year we'll have a larger group, 6 adults and a 1, 2 and 3 year old. We're going when our schedules allow. We'll be flying from MA/OH/NJ. We have 5 nights planned this year, we want to take things slow with the young ones.

I don't think the crowds were unbearable, as I said we got to do everything we wanted to do.

rwc

 

[DVCJEN]

Depends on how much the heat and humidity affect you. DH and I are heat sensitive and the oppressive humidity really wore us out by mid afternoon. We won't go in summer again if we can help it.

 

[airtime]

My dw and I did mid-August 2003, and while it was hot, it was not particularly crowded. Keeping water bottles filled and trying to cool off or get shade when necessary kept us from overheating. It's really a pretty good time to go if you avoid the hurricanes and pace yourself to avoid heat exhaustion or dehydration.

Tim, who does not like the heat, but doesn't notice it as much at WDW!

 

[MouseWorshipin]

August is hot and very humid.

We did a mid-August trip two years ago, and I think I drank more water that week than the entire rest of the year.

By 11:15 it is so hot and humid that I have to get out of the parks. I don't know how people can go all day in that. Leaving at that time is great, you can take a break and go back in the late afternoon. Most afternoons it rained, of course. So, we could sludge around in the rain or wait until evening.

Other than the humidity and the rain, we were OK and had a great time. The crowds didn't bother us so much (but we do a lot of planning using the UG and the DIS.)

Have a great trip!!!

 

[windan]

Rosered...We also went in mid August in 2003 and have been other years as well at that time and loved it! Just plan afternoon breaks back at the hotel for a swim & nap (Mostly for the adults ) With the parks being open later you can really spread out your day. Enjoy

 

[ksumn1]

We went at the end of August 3 years ago. We're form Georgia so we were used to the heat but it was very humid. My advice go to the parks at opening. Use fastpass and EMH to do your must sees 1st. Drink plenty of water, slather on LOTS of sunsreen even on your scalp (never had a scalpburn before that trip, never want to again) and remember to stop every so often to rest. Resteraunts, shops, anywhere that's airconditioned. Crowd levels were low so we could do alot before lunch.

As for hurricanes....let me give you some background. 8 years ago D Fiance then and I decided to get married. Christmas wedding. His aunt gets engaged 1 week after us and wants a Christmas wedding, Same day, same church. So we decide to get married earlier on August 27 to stop any arguments. After our wedding DH went to work with my Dad working on power lines. EVERY year for 7 years, I have had to cancel our anniversary trip because of a stupid hurricane, tropical storm depression etc. Because my anniversary is smack dab in the middle of hurricane season. So in my very biased opinion as long as you're not in WDW on August 27 you should be fine.

Seriously, there is always that possibility. But that being said I have read several trip reports from people who were at WDW either before, during, or after a hurricane. And Disney takes it's guests safety very seriously. They are well prepared should something happen. I would not let it be a reason to NOT to go. Happy planning!

 

[byoung]

Go and have a great trip.

 

[TMJR]

I think August is my favorite time out of my options (I'm a teacher...)

It wasn't a bit crowded. Yes, it was hot, but at least packing was easy!

Go, and have a blast!

 

[metsfan11]

First off, your from the Bronx!!! YANKEE FAN!!! im a HUGE Mets fan!!!

We always go the last week in August. It is when Disney makes the transition from summer hours to fall hours. Its great! Not crouded, and of cource, FUN!


GO FOR IT!

 

[leighe]

DH and I have gone in July twice and are planning a trip for this July and we always have a great time!

1. It is crowded but managable if you plan well. We always make PS (sorry, ADR's) for the places we really want to eat and make sure we get to the parks when they open and avoid the parks with morning EMH.

2. Weather - yes, it is hot and humid. Granted we are from Kentucky (commonly called Yucky Kentucky because of our hot, humid summers) so the weather doesn't really feel that different from what we would be experiencing at home anyway. It usually rains most afternoons - but that can be fun! Just put on ponchos and do whatever you were planning. Drink lots of water and spend the very hottest days at your resort pool if you can. We've always been really lucky and not had to deal with any truly horrible weather so I don't know anything about the chances of hurricanes in August.

Don't worry - you'll have a great trip!

 

[jimmalru80]

We can only go June, July and August and we have always had a blast. Get to the parks early, use FP, take a mid-day break and drink plenty of water. Parks are open late, attractions are all open and you will have a great time. After all, you are in WDW!!!

 

[disneytraveler]

Oh oh dont look now but the Calender for August hours for Mgm are completely gone unless its a computer glitch.I went to the disney site and theres nothing there not even a calender!

 

[fanofdisney]

It depends on you and your kids. I can't stand the heat, my head starts pounding and I sweat like mad. My son is the same way, and gets very irritable. So it's a no-go for us, but if you are not as sensitive to the heat, have fun. You can always take a break to swim at the hotel and cool off.

 

[lorli]

This will be our third year in a row going the 3rd and fourth week in August. It was hot, humid, and some very bad rainstorms, but be have never been during huricane difficulties. Since this is our time frame we have asked many questions and have become relatively safe in choosing this time. Have fun.

 

[Rosered]

First off, your from the Bronx!!! YANKEE FAN!!! im a HUGE Mets fan!!!

We always go the last week in August. It is when Disney makes the transition from summer hours to fall hours. Its great! Not crouded, and of cource, FUN!


GO FOR IT!

Actually I'm a Mets fan too! My DH is the Yankee fan.

Thank you all for your advice. I'm feeling better about going in August. We're going to try the week of the 13th. I'll plan to take afternoon breaks and definitely going to take advantage of the EMH, especially for MK.
We are only planning on going to MK, MGM and Epcot and we'll have 5 day hoppers so I'm pretty sure we can cover everything. Actually there isn't much too much DD wants to do in MGM so the majority of the time we'll be in Mk and Epcot.

Thanks again, you guys are great.