When in summer is least crowded?

[bethbuchall]

We usually go to WDW in May. Now the kids are too old to take out of school, and we want to go some time during the summer of 2006.

Our schools don't get out until late June (around June 26th). I was planning to go the last two weeks of August, but now I found out ds will need to be at cross country practice starting around August 15th.

I am more concerned about crowds than weather. Is there a better time to go during July/early-August or is it all about the same? Are the crowds enough lower during the last two weeks of August that I should try to talk to the coach about missing practice (which may not even be possible)?

Thanks for any help!

Beth

 

[Bob P]

Hi Beth,

Well, the last two weeks of August are the least crowded of the summer in my opinion.

Crowds start building in early June, get close to unbearable July 4th week, then taper down slightly as the summer goes on. But many Florida schools are back in session by the middle of August so that's when the crowds start to get smaller.

We went a couple of years ago in Augustwhen our son was on varsity cross county and he told the coach he would run in the gym or outside every morning. Maybe that will help?


Good luck,

Bob

 

[bethbuchall]

Thanks, Bob! This will be his first year running at the high school level (he ran two years of modified), so I'm not sure about the coach and the rules. I guess after he runs a while this year, I'll have a better feel about it for next year.

My daughter's birthday is during those last two weeks also, and she'd really like to be there ON her birthday. We'll see what happens.

Beth

 

[Danthesand]

Beth, we've done the third week in August several times and are doing it again this year.

As Bob observed, crowds start to decline in the later part of the summer as schools open. It's not just Florida systems that affect things; by the third week in August, crowds are down significantly because the entire Sunbelt is back in session.

Normally, the period right before Labor Day is when things hit rock bottom, but Disney threw a curve ball at that this year when they made the "free dining" offer to anyone booking a room at rack rate starting 8/21. From what these boards are suggesting, that last full week of August this year may be busier than normal.

 

[jwfla422]

Based on past experiences I would definitely recommend the last 2 weeks of August if the summer is your only option. Crowds definitely diminish around this time (based on past trips). Some are claiming this year to be busier this time because of the dining promotion but remains to be seen as there still seems to be plenty of availability at the resorts.

My dd actually starts back at school this Monday (yes, practically the middle of the summer) and many FL schools start back by mid August. Based on your opportunity you may have no choice but to do during "peak" time, however I'd lean toward August rather than July.

Just based on the fact that WDW added extra time on our "FL seasonal" passes starting 7/22 (they did this last year) leads me to believe that attendance isn't where it should be. The normal blackout period for us in the summer begins in early June and usually continues until mid August..but they've lifted the last few weeks of this period 2 yrs in a row now. I take that as a signal that they have plenty of availability at this time which makes for less crowds than the earlier part of the summer

 

[Letsbgoofy]

My son has played football for the past few years and ruined our last week of August vacation. His coaches are very serious about being at practice when it starts mid August. He isn't playing this year - yeah! We'll be there 8/31-9/5. We went the last week of June last year, it wasn't as bad as I was expecting.

 

[grinningghost]

We're summer WDW lovers, and we went the last week of August last trip. I didn't feel the crowds were any smaller, but I attributed that to the fact that the parks closed early - making everyone be in the parks during the day.

For my money (and it's only my opinion), mid-summer is better. The late park hours, coupled with fireworks and parades running more frequently is a wonderful trade-off for the perceived larger crowds. And like I said, I didn't really feel the crowds were much different in late August than they've been in mid-July.

 

[bethbuchall]

Thanks for the info! I know that dd will be pushing hard to be in WDW on her birthday. We'll have to sort out all the other facts and see where we stand!

How much worse is it than mid-May? Just for a little perspective...

Beth

 

[MonorailNate]

We typically go in mid to late June but have been the end of July before. Yes, it's busy, but if you do your research and utilize fast pass you won't have any problems. We never wait more than 10-20 minutes for anything and we do everything. The parks are open late so we always get there when they open, leave when it starts getting crowded and hot (1-2 pm) go back to our resort, then return to the parks in the evening. We've always had a fantastic time in the summer!

 

[dvcgirl]

Well, it's much more crowded in August than in Mid-may, even the last two weeks. I'd say that in mid-may 20-30 minute waits are the norm whereas mid August you're talking about 40-60+.

The key to visiting in July or August is to arrive at the parks early. I'm not a big fan of EMH at all, but if you're early risers I do advise you to hit the morning one. See as much as you can in that first couple of hours and by 11am make your way out and head to a non-EMH park. Hit the most popular attractions *early*. Splash, Space, BTMRR, Fantasyland favs, Test Track, Mission Space, Soaring, ToT, RnRR......because if you don't hit them by noon-2pm in the summer, fast passes run out.

The other key....stay hydrated, get in the AC to cool down much more than you think that you need to...and go back to the resort for pool breaks each afternoon.

 

[Danthesand]

Well, it's much more crowded in August than in Mid-may, even the last two weeks. I'd say that in mid-may 20-30 minute waits are the norm whereas mid August you're talking about 40-60+.

The last two weeks of August are "crowded"?

We've done the following during the third week of August:

- Walked onto Tower of Terror at 2pm.
- Walked onto the Haunted Mansion at 11:30am.
- Walked onto Pirates at 4:00pm
- Walked onto Test Track at 9:30am.

In fact, making judicious use of Fastpass, we never waited for more than 10-12 minutes for anything (that 12 minute wait was for the Timekeeper; we got into line between shows).

Moral: one sees dramatic declines of crowds by the day starting on August 15th, and one would have to be repeatedly re-riding Space or Splash to be waiting 40-60 minutes for any attraction.