What time each day in August does it start to cool off? (Orlando vs. NYC)

[Parker Clan]

We are sailing on the Aug 4 Disney Dream cruise and were thinking of spending a few days in the parks before hand. That said, we have only ever been to Orlando in the winter and are not sure to expect.

I've read many posts about what the days are like (especially early to mid afternoon) but am having trouble finding out when the real "relief" starts to come in each day.

Is there a noticeable difference in heat and humidity by 5PM for example? Or is it oppressive even up until 9 or 10 PM?

Any feedback is really appreciated as this helps determine when we might come down and for how many days pre-cruise, and of course what our schedule would be. A family member does get heat sickness so we will be moving very slowly on those pre-cruise days no matter what, and only doing Fastpasses. (We are also a bit concerned even about the heat in Nassau and Castaway Cay).

On a side note, we are from the NYC/New England area so we have definitely experienced muggy summer days, just not sure how those days compare to an Orlando summer day. In NYC and New England you can at least start to expect some relief in early evening.

Truly appreciate the feedback of this wonderful forum ...

We go every August and the last couple years even at night it was oppressive. Locals were telling us they hadn't gotten a lot of rain and even the short showers weren't cooling anything down. Late in the afternoon when we were there with the heat index it said 106 on my weather app.

 

[LAE7]

Is there a noticeable difference in heat and humidity by 5PM for example? Or is it oppressive even up until 9 or 10 PM?

I applaud your optimism!!

 

[Cuchman]

It doesn't cool down at all in August. You can be out at 2am and you'll still feel the heat and humidity.

It might not be mid 90's at 10pm, but it'll be high 80's

It doesn't start cooling off until around November or December, then it won't be chilly until Jan/Feb

I agree - I say the coolest time is generally very early morning - and it can still be oppressively hot, so plan accordingly. We generally go the end of August and/or beginning of September and the heat is just something we accept.

I also agree with the poster that said that, in the evening, at least you don't have the sun beating down on you so it can be easier to be in the open. But I completely agree with CAS239.

 

[mamamelody2]

I agree with PPs, it does not "cool off" in August. We were there late September last year and it didn't really cool off. No matter how late/early, the humidity was quite oppressive. Add the blazing sun mid-day, and I was close to a panic attack a couple times, LOL. Pop into an air-conditioned shop or show if you feel that coming on! I'm not great with heat, though. Some people do just fine.

 

[DOOM1001]

I know it probably wouldn't work but I would have no issue if during the summer months all the parks didn't open until 4pm and stayed open until 6am.

 

[bettybooplove]

Everyone has different tolerances to heat. Some people from cooler areas think it's warm when it's above 70 degrees. I think that's sweater weather.

To answer your question it's very hot between noon and 5pm. It never really cools down. It's just warm and humid at night as opposed to hot and miserable during sunlight.

 

[Perelandra]

October

That was funny! And true.

 

[Marshel]

http://www.sunrise-and-sunset.com/en/sun/united-states/orlando/2017/august

Surprised that even in August, sunset was after 8 most of the month, then again I live in Central time zone so that skews everything when it comes to comparisons.

 

[DisneyOma]

We are sailing on the Aug 4 Disney Dream cruise and were thinking of spending a few days in the parks before hand. That said, we have only ever been to Orlando in the winter and are not sure to expect.

I've read many posts about what the days are like (especially early to mid afternoon) but am having trouble finding out when the real "relief" starts to come in each day.

Is there a noticeable difference in heat and humidity by 5PM for example? Or is it oppressive even up until 9 or 10 PM?

Any feedback is really appreciated as this helps determine when we might come down and for how many days pre-cruise, and of course what our schedule would be. A family member does get heat sickness so we will be moving very slowly on those pre-cruise days no matter what, and only doing Fastpasses. (We are also a bit concerned even about the heat in Nassau and Castaway Cay).

On a side note, we are from the NYC/New England area so we have definitely experienced muggy summer days, just not sure how those days compare to an Orlando summer day. In NYC and New England you can at least start to expect some relief in early evening.

Truly appreciate the feedback of this wonderful forum ...

No comparison - August in Florida is brutal. I live in MA and go to WDW in August. It's always nice to come home after a long sweaty trip!

Hi everyone, thank you so much for this helpful feedback. As the OP, I was wondering, do you all feel like the AC in the Disney hotel rooms can keep up with the August heat - especially at night while sleeping? I have read some posts about the new thermostats that have motion sensors and shut off the AC at odd times, like the middle of the night.

We've never had trouble keeping the room cool, even at night. We stay at Pop Century.

It cools down some after it rains - and it will rain pretty much everyday. I have to say that we love when it rains - we put on our rain ponchos and hit the rides (that are open). The ride waits do go down after it rains as well. We are from NYC and started going in the summer once the older ones started college - since the schedules were off. We don't mind it now - we just take it slow and have sit down midday meals.

We've never felt that it cools down after an August rain - quite the opposite actually - it gets more humid as the heat from the pavement releases into the standing water from the rain, and makes pea soup around everyone...

 

[jedi jen]

What time does it cool off in August?......

 

[mom2rtk]

The afternoon rain will fool you into thinking it's going to cool off.

Don't fall for it.

 

[mikebb]

Cool off in August??? Hahaha you're funny. We live down here and it does not "cool off" until October. I will say, though that a muggy summer day/night in the NE is basically the same as Orlando, I've been in NYC where is unbearable in August, and in FL where it's rather pleasant. A lot depends on how you're dressed and what you're doing.

 

[dreiwhit]

I was thinking November.......

Joking aside, our our week after Thanksgiving trip in 2016, Orlando was having record highs. On our second to last day in the parks, it was 85 degrees with high humidity. Only on our last day did the temps drop into the 60s for a high with much lower humidity.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Cool off in August??? Hahaha you're funny. We live down here and it does not "cool off" until October. I will say, though that a muggy summer day/night in the NE is basically the same as Orlando, I've been in NYC where is unbearable in August, and in FL where it's rather pleasant. A lot depends on how you're dressed and what you're doing.

NYC is hot in August especially with all of the concrete. The one difference here is we do cool off more at night, minus the "heatwave" weeks

 

[CTPoly425]

Thanks everyone, this is the OP here. Just wanted to show my appreciation for all of the feedback. While some of the posts did indeed scare me a bit as a New Yorker, the one thing I have to admit noticing is that no one said "DON'T GO" or "reschedule your trip!"

To be honest we started thinking of going in September after the first few posts, but I'm not sure the small difference in temperature/humidity between August and September would make enough of a difference to go through the headache of rescheduling.

 

[maltdizzy]

To be honest we started thinking of going in September after the first few posts, but I'm not sure the small difference in temperature/humidity between August and September would make enough of a difference to go through the headache of rescheduling.

September just as humid as August (more humid than June or July), and only begins to cool off around the end of the month.

Plus, if you were looking to reschedule a sea/land trip, mid-August to mid-October is peak hurricane season in the Atlantic, September is a less predictable time plan a cruise out of Florida, that's why prices get cheaper and why no West Caribbean cruises get schedule then.

 

[Pigletpal40]

We are sailing on the Aug 4 Disney Dream cruise and were thinking of spending a few days in the parks before hand. That said, we have only ever been to Orlando in the winter and are not sure to expect.

I've read many posts about what the days are like (especially early to mid afternoon) but am having trouble finding out when the real "relief" starts to come in each day.

Is there a noticeable difference in heat and humidity by 5PM for example? Or is it oppressive even up until 9 or 10 PM?

Any feedback is really appreciated as this helps determine when we might come down and for how many days pre-cruise, and of course what our schedule would be. A family member does get heat sickness so we will be moving very slowly on those pre-cruise days no matter what, and only doing Fastpasses. (We are also a bit concerned even about the heat in Nassau and Castaway Cay).

On a side note, we are from the NYC/New England area so we have definitely experienced muggy summer days, just not sure how those days compare to an Orlando summer day. In NYC and New England you can at least start to expect some relief in early evening.

Truly appreciate the feedback of this wonderful forum ...

October

 

[disneydreamer781]

August? Never! I also don't find it "cooling off" after it rains either. It actually feels more humid after a shower. September is on the way also and that month may very well be the hottest month in FL. At least it's the steamiest from my experience.

 

[Marshel]

September just as humid as August (more humid than June or July), and only begins to cool off around the end of the month.

I'm from TN. so am used to hot and humid. I had a trip a few years back that started around 9/20 and it had already started to cool off some back in TN. Arrived on a Saturday afternoon and had the day all planned out; it was brutally hot and humid. By the time I hauled all my stuff out to the rental car at the airport, and even a longer haul to my room at the All Stars that overlooked the pool; I was soaking in sweat. Plans changed to a pool day and a late trip to MK solely to see the fireworks. If you're coming from some place cooler, it does take a day or so to adjust back to the heat/humidity.

 

[mamamelody2]

Thanks everyone, this is the OP here. Just wanted to show my appreciation for all of the feedback. While some of the posts did indeed scare me a bit as a New Yorker, the one thing I have to admit noticing is that no one said "DON'T GO" or "reschedule your trip!"

To be honest we started thinking of going in September after the first few posts, but I'm not sure the small difference in temperature/humidity between August and September would make enough of a difference to go through the headache of rescheduling.

Yeah, September isn't much different. Definitely not worth the hassle of trying to switch everything around!