What about the crowds in mid to late Aug?

[Amyality]

Hello all,
We are planning our first family trip to WDW (2 DS age 1 and 4 plus DH and myself) August 17 thru 24th 2003. We are hoping crowds will not be as heavy due to school beginning. Does anyone have experience at WDW this time of year?
Thanks and Best Regards,
Amy

 

[Mouseteacher]

Welcome, Amy - We were there last August - 23rd-28th and it was wonderful! Low crowds / we could walk into any dining spot without a problem / pools weren't crowded / lines were no more than a 15 min wait (we didn't need FP). I would go at that time of the year again if it worked! Lucky you.

 

[PartyOf5]

about this same timeframe and it was wonderful! We decided to give this month a try so we wouldn't have to take the kids out of school and we loved it! We are going back again this year during the same time so it couldn't have been too bad!

 

[4our4kids]

Amyality, we will be in the world the same time as you (16th - 25th). I'm hoping for low crowds and low temps! HA!
Have a great time!

 

[Blondie]

We'll be there from the 17th to the 22nd. We are also hoping for low crowds and no rain!

We went one year from th 21st to the 28th and the crowds were very tolerable, not bad at all. But it was extremely hot and humid!

 

[Amyality]

Thanks everyone for getting back so quickly...instant gratification! Cool! Glad to hear it sounds like the theory actually has merit! See you all in passing and have a WONDERFUL time!
Best Regards,
Amy

 

[*123JOANNA123*]

Sorry to hijack, but does anyone know what the crowds are like second week in August- still as busy as midsummer?

I know there are some late openings and such, so I'm guessing it's going to be busy!

 

[bobcat]

We have gone around the 8th to the 17th the past two years and found the crowds to be very managable. As our trip goes on we usually start to notice a slow steady drop in the crowds.

 

[*123JOANNA123*]

Thanks bobcat! My ds doesn't start school till Sept 1st, but we ended up booking flights etc for 8-22 August- we'll need a week to chill at the beach and a week to recover from the jetlag before school starts. From what I've read it looks as if I should have done the Disney week second, but it's all done and dusted now. It's good to hear some positive comments!

 

[Camping Griswalds]

The thing I'm worried about is how the fairy tale package will affect crowds!! We went two years ago in Aug for the last 2 weeks of summer. By the end of the two weeks literally noone was in the parks. It was like it isin Jan. However the third week was crowded. Especially at night. Even then though it was only the weekends that were psycho. We're going this year the 16-23 of Aug. I am worried how the fairy tale packages will affect everything. I think even Disney can't really predict acurately since they have had such a good response to the package. I guess we can only speculate. We are going regardless

 

[Amyality]

That is a good point, we only got the idea to go oursleves this summer because of the Fairytale package. I was beginning to feel a bit smug... Oh well, at least we won't know anything else! (Have not been to WDW in a loooog time and I'm the only one who has ever been in the family)
Must sleep....will check back in.
Amy

 

[caitycaity]

we're also going the 16-23. we would not be going this year if the ftp wasn't offered.

i hope it won't be too crowded, but if it is, we will deal with it. we've been to dl at christmastime before and we still had fun.

 

[*123JOANNA123*]

I thought about that too, but doesn't the FTP apply only to a certain percentage of the resort rooms?

The other thought I had was that I think one of the main things the FTP has done is make people spend more time at WDW. People will be more likely to do an offsite day, or do the parks leisurely if they have more time, so it might just balance out (go early, take breaks). While attendance in the resorts may be up and they may be more crowded, the parks may not just be as stuffed as you might think.

Just some thoughts.....

 

[PaulaJ]

I'm hoping the ftp only brings park attendence back to 'normal" summer crowds. It was offered because attendance was down, wasn't it? We usually go mid-late aug. and have always found the crowds very tolerable, but we still rely on 'which days/which park' planning tips.

 

[Corinne]

Hi Amy:

We always go to WDW in the summer, usually in August. Unfortunately, we can no longer go that late, since our boys go back to school the last week of August. It is great because all of the schools down South are back in session, and although the parks generally close earlier, the smaller crowds allow you to get much more done is less time. Have a magical trip!

 

[disneyluver91]

I'm going that exact same time! August 16th to the 25th! See you there!Where are u staying? Don't forget, LIME GREEN!

 

[harperwi]

We'll be there the last week of August this year for the first time. We've always gone on off-season before. I have all the same concerns about the FTP too, but....

Keep this in mind:

1) As someone already pointed out, the FTP is for only a percentage of the rooms, so that doesn't mean they'll be filling up the resorts, and in fact I called last week to see how much the FTP would be for my same dates at another resort, and I was told there was still availability there. So even a week ago they still hadn't sold all the FTP rate rooms yet.

2) The FTP is no longer being offered. That means that there shouldn't be any huge surge in August bookings going forward, at least not compared to the last few months' bookings anyway. With that in mind, Disney should have a pretty good feel by now how many resort rooms will be booked up for all the months of August, and if they feel they're exceeding expectations, they may very well increase closing times (well, for the MK anyway).

Personally, I think the worst case scenario we'll encounter is what others have experienced during the busiest August in years past, and from everything I've read, even the busiest isn't that bad, especially toward the end.

Jon

 

[goofy4tink]

I would tend to agree with Jon. Also,if people couldn't get to WDW mid to late August because of school, then all the terrific deals won't make a difference to them. It may be a tad more crowded in July, but I'm hoping that from the 16th on it won't be too bad due to schools going into session. I think that whats booked now is what's going to be booked in Aug. Not too many folks booking at this point. See you all there. Be on the look-out for those lime-green Mickeys!!!!

 

[drp4video]

We have gone in August for the past three years. We have been there the first, second and third week. Lower crowds in the third week, but not bad the first and second.

We are going August 8-August 18 this year. We are staying at Disney all the nights, but booked the FTP and will do it the fitst 7-then Universal. I am hoping that it won't be too crowded again. IN the past, we had to wait no more than 15 minutes on a ride-except for Rockin Roller Coaster-so we did fast pass. I think we waited a while for Peter Pan too.

IT is hot, and humid, and it will rain every day in the afternoon sometime, a torrential downpour-but then it will clear up. We invested a lot of $$ in bottled water as drinking fountains are far and few between. Plus, by the time we found a fountain, the kids had already lost their water bottle so we could not refill.

As we are regulars, we have this down to a science and can ususal do each park in one day. So with a 7 day pass, we may opt to skip a day or two-hang out at the pool-possibly others with the FTP will do the same, and it won't be as crowded as we fear.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

We'll be going down Aug. 13-24, by all accounts it seems we really shouldn't worry too much about the crowds. Hot and humid, sure, but it will be here at home too!
Keep cool, stay hydrated, take a midday break.
It is nice to read everyone's opinion on this time of year.