We are thinking of late July/early August...

[Aristocath]

for a trip to WDW. I have been in early August before (before kids) and the heat wasn't an issue, hurricane Erin was. Now we are a fimily of five, with three boys who will be 8,6, and 3 if we go then. Tell me why you hate/ love going this time of year.
As a side note, the heat is not really a big factor for us. We are from Texas and we know how to work around the heat. Our last trip to the World was in May 2002 and the temps were in the 90's everyday and theonly bad crowds were Saturday night at the MK for Specromagic. Is early August a little less busy than mid-July or mid-June?

Thanks, Cathy

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

We went last year the first week of August and it was packed! We're used to the heat as well, since we are from southern Ga., but even to us it was almost unbearable. I will never go back during that time again! The good things were: the parks were open later, E-Ride nights, 2 Fantasmics, 2 Spectro parades. But, I did here from a lot of people here on the boards that it drops off considerably after the second week of August because the kids are back in school. Don't know if that helps much, but that's my experience.

 

[noladave]

I have to echo KM's comments. We went in July/August 2003, and it WAS PACKED AND HOT. We live in New Orleans, and we know what hot and humid is. Kids tend to dehydrate quicker than adults, and we found frequent breaks a must. Afternoon trips to the pool, along with just taking a break at the resort. Night time was great, although again, very crowded. Planning ahead, and using FP is an absolute necessity.

We (DW & DS11, DD6) agreed to never go back (at this time), and that's why we are trying this February. I can handle wearing a jacket, if necessary, and we think that the crowds will be much smaller.

To give you an idea of wait times, once the crowd rolled in, I never saw any lines less than 60 minute (most with 100+) waits. We never did do the race cars (can't remember name) over by tomorrow land, as the line was never small.

Last comment (sorry, I see that it's long), the bus waits. We stayed at ASMu, and waits after MK let out, or when we got hit with rain at AK, were quite extensive.

Good luck. A lot of people go to the parks at this time, so it's not ALL bad.

 

[dzneelvr]

Good: extended park hours--don't forget how the Parks free up the last 2 hours or so when most families with smaller children have called it a day; all attractions up and running (very few renovations during the summer); fastpasses; naps and swimming at resort mid day for a break; additional shows for most special events such as WISHES

Bad: heat, lines (use fastpasses and you'll never have to stand in a line again), daily torrential rain showers (again, if you have $1 rain ponchos, this can be a fun time--just continue on like the veteran family you are and get to shows and inside rides when most folks are wimping out and going back to their rooms)

As you can tell, we love the summer and there is truly a positive that can come from each supposed "negative". Frankly, I am spoiled and wouldn't want to go any other time (except during the Holidays when all the Parks change their decor) because there is just so much to enjoy.

 

[tracy51]

Astrocath - From Arlington here

It sounds like you are planning to go around the same time we are. Ours is tenatively scheduled for July 30 - Aug 6. It our first family trip. We are kinda stuck in with that timeframe - DBF doesn't get his vacation until the end of July and DD usually starts school around the middle of August. We've had some of the same concerns about going in the summer and have heard crowds lessen around mid August, but with DD's school, we have to go before then. For the ages of your boys it sounds like your in the same boat.

I haven't been to Disney in years. I did go a few times at this time of year, but I was a lot younger. We know its going to be hot & crowded so we have already decided that we are coming back sometime (maybe years away) since we won't see everything. With that in mind, we have agreed to head back to the hotel (staying onsite) whenever we get too hot or it gets too crowded for our liking to just relax by the pool or something. We know we are going to have to wait, but we're prepared for that. I'm sure we won't waiting in line as much for something at Disney as we do as Six Flags. I mean - we'll be at DISNEY!

For us, we are mainly getting our mind set that its going to be hot/humid and crowded and to keep a slow pace and just enjoy being there and with each other.

 

[CamColt]

We went last year at the end of July(18th-25th). Surprisingly the heat wasnt too bad, but we had a bit of rain the beginning of the week. At times we found it crowded and other times it wasnt bad. We always get to the parks for opening, use EE at AK & MK and use FPs. We got to ride everything we wanted(some more than once), with minimal if any waits.

BTW, Im another survivor of Hurricane Erin in 1995.

 

[bobcat]

We love going this time of year. We have visited twive during the last two weeks of July and twice during the first two weeks of August. Not a huge difference in the crowds but we did have more rain in August.

What everyone said so far we have found true, but there are ways around the negative. The grand pri ride always has a wait so unless you get there at opening you will wait even in off season. FP will help with the crowds and lines. We go early, take a break at the pool in the afternoon, and head back late afternoon/early evening and we miss a lot of the crowds that way. We take advantage of the airconditioned rides/attractions and that helps us beat the heat. And my favorite is that we stay for 10 days so we can slow down and not wear ourselves out trying to see everything in a couple of days in the heat.

 

[Meredith'sMom]

I agree that it is hot and crowded there (and I grew up in FL--I know from hot) but DH and I had a terrific time on our honeymoon there last year (July 27-Aug 4). We knew what to expect but wanted to go to Disney, and our wedding was when it was . . . so there you go. I will saw that using the Unofficial Guide touring plans was awesome. I called DH the vacation Nazi, but it was worth it. We were up early, riding the best rides first, enjoying leisurely lunches and afternoon breaks at the hotel, riding Splash Mountain 10 times at e-Ride night, etc. It was a blast. With proper planning it can be done.

 

[WDW LOVR]

There has been some good advise in replies.

We enjoy going in summer even though it's crowded. We've talked about this many times before, but since AK was opened, we've never been to a park that we thought was unbearable crowd wise except when we went to MK on Easter weekend or mistakenly went to a park that had an early morning entry that day.

With a little planning you can miss the EMH days, use fastpass, swim during the heat of the day, enjoy the later hours and extra shows and generally have a great time. If the choice is going in August or not going, GO!