what should I expect for late August trip?

[maryloubsw]

Hi all, I am wondering, for those of you who are experienced August travelers, what can I expect weatherwise and crowd wise? We are going Aug 25-31 (thinking it would be the week before school starts but of course this year school decides for the first time EVER it will start Aug 23 grrrr, luckily DD is only in kindergarten). Any thoughts? I know its hurricane season so I'm a little concerned Should I purchase trip insurance?

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Two years ago, we went Aug 17. We were on vacation with Tropical Faye...it rained and rained and rained some more. It got to the point where I didn't want to shower because I was sick of being wet.

Regardless, it was Disney and we had a fantastic time. The rain made most rides walk ons for us.

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

The last week of August is my favorite time of year for WDW. Yes its hot, but the parks are empty. Kids down south are back in school, and northern families for the most have already taken there summer vacations. If it does rain, you won't mind it much if its 90 degrees.

 

[JaxDisneyFans]

Expect heat, humidity and a daily afternoon rain shower. The crowds should start to thin out then. Most FL kids will be back at school.

 

[CandyMandy]

Late August is a "shoulder season" (transition from high to low). As such, it offers not just the previously mentioned benefits of smaller crowds (I wouldn't say the parks are "late January" empty, but they're way quiet compared to summer peak season) but also decently long park hours and show schedules (they get cut back right after Labor Day, which is also when a ton of refurbs start).

The downside of late August is killer humidity and as others have observed almost daily thundershowers. What I have also noticed during our two late August visits (did them before we moved from CT to SC) is for whatever reason there were quite a few UK tourists there. That's not a real downside unltil you hear your flat, nasal American english grating against the lyrical voices of the Brits on that late night launch back from HS or Epcot!

 

[n2mm]

Two years ago, we went Aug 17. We were on vacation with Tropical Faye...it rained and rained and rained some more. It got to the point where I didn't want to shower because I was sick of being wet.

Regardless, it was Disney and we had a fantastic time. The rain made most rides walk ons for us.

Hey, you beat me to it.

Yes we were there too. Stayed at the BCV in a 2 bedroom. We pretty much stayed at the resort for 2 days because we just could not stand the rain anymore. When you go in August and September you have to remember, someone is most likely going to deal with a hurricane, whether big or small, it will cause you some inconvenience. We never used SAB that trip.

Went last year too! Stayed at the BCV again too! It was so hot. We arrived on Friday and it was pretty calm, then on Sunday the free dining started in WDW....OMG, the place was packed. (I did read that things calmed down a couple of weeks later, it was the first week of Free Dining that was the worse). The lines were long, it was hot, but we've done August before and knew that. Well, needless to say, that was our last August trip as the family decided, no more August for us. So enjoy!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Stayed at the BCV in a 2 bedroom. We pretty much stayed at the resort for 2 days because we just could not stand the rain anymore.

Thank you for staying at your resort. (Thank goodness you were in a two bedroom!) It was our first visit (minus the ones from our respective parents) and we fell in love with Disney- DVC members now. I am a bit frightened of July this year though. No waits in Aug and no waits in Feb...I think we are due long waits.

Sorry to highjack the thread! I couldn't resist!

PP made a good point - look out for free dining time unless that is why you want to go then.

 

[n2mm]

Thank you for staying at your resort. (Thank goodness you were in a two bedroom!) It was our first visit (minus the ones from our respective parents) and we fell in love with Disney- DVC members now. I am a bit frightened of July this year though. No waits in Aug and no waits in Feb...I think we are due long waits.

Sorry to highjack the thread! I couldn't resist!

PP made a good point - look out for free dining time unless that is why you want to go then.

Forgot to mention, since we stayed around the resort for a couple of days, the life guards were playing games with the kids in the lobby. My grandkids went down and played some board games. There were other activities too like learning how to make towel animals. It was nice having the kitchen and space during the ugly weather. We stocked up on snacks and food prior to the storm coming "just in case". While Fay was damaging, she just would not leave. She came in, went over, turned around, came back over, and repeat, dumping lots of rain. A couple of days it was just dizzle and we walked over to EPCOT for a few hours.

 

[Goofy DVC]

If there is free dining, and there probably will be, make any reservations early or you may have problems getting almost anything. That happen to us last year after we planned a last minute trip to BLT. We had problems making reservations to pretty much anywhere.

 

[JVL1018]

Love that time. Crowds are low, even with free dining because most people from southern states are just back in school and don't want to pull the kids out yet, and it seems to be more than a few northern schools start in August, now too-and the ones that don't tend not to want to go away right before school starts.

Yes, it rains, but often it was a quick shower in the afternoon. It's hot, but I'd rather be hot in WDW than cold, that's just me though. There's lots of air conditioning to be had, so it was fine for us.

 

[Harlemgirl720]

I go every August. The last hurrah before my son goes back to school. It does rain a lot. Even though its only for a few minutes. Then it looks like it never rained at all. Great pool weather. We usually go to the parks in the morning, come back to the hotel in the early afternoon and then back to the parks in the early evening. Works even better when there are EMH at certain parks so the park hopper passes definitely work in these instances.

It can get brutally hot so make sure to drink plenty of water and stay in the shade or go to an attraction that is indoors with AC.

 

[lovedvc]

The last 2 weeks of August are my favorite time. It does rain alot but who cares you are in Disney. There are no crowds. This past summer it was so empty my DH and DS came off of Soarin and walked right back thru the exit to get back on. Yeah I know they shouldn't have done it, but they did and the CM's didn't say a word. This year we will be going in July for the 1st time. I know it's going to be rough. My motto is gonna be "Been there, done that, I'll be back". I am not going to let it get to me.

 

[beccasmom]

We were @ WDW in late August last year and are doing it again this year (have done it before years ago too). It's not my first choice ---heat & humidity = -- but we have too many activities to make any other time feasible before school starts again.

Crowds are very manageable. Remember to pack for the weather - although every time we visit in summer I am astonished how humid it can get in Orlando (it gets that way here in PA too, but doesn't usually last as long! ). .

 

[anbouk]

Like everyone else said, lots of humidity, rain, and possible hurricanes! As long as that is ok with you....you'll be fine! August crowds are increasing though each year, because of FD.

 

[UConnJack]

I HATE heat and humidity.

That said, I somehow let my wife talk me into going down the last week of August this past year and I really liked it. Crowds were low, the parks were open late, and it was great pool weather (we stayed at AKV and BCV). And we got to see the Space Shuttle take off! It was hot and humid of course, but since I had already resigned myself to the fact that I was going to be sweaty and tired, it didn't end up bothering me much. We took it slower than usual, went early in the AM and came back in the early afternoon, used the pool, and went back out at night.

However, I must say that we have never taken a collection of such disgusting pictures of ourselves before. We are slicked in sweat in every picture, and every day was a "bad hair day". We look like we we miserable, but we we actually just fine.