When is It Too Hot?

[sheilafri]

I may cancel my GotG AP Preview trip next week. It is forecast to be mid-90’s and I don’t think I’d enjoy it. I have the luxury of being able to go when I want (although it is quite a drive) and I like it when it’s cool, as in November to February weather.

What is your ideal time and weather for visiting or do you have a choice?

 

[CarolynFH]

We prefer November through March for weather. That said, we had an opportunity to book a week at SSR in July, and we took it, mostly in hopes of riding GotG! However, we don’t plan to enter the parks until 4 or 5 PM - we just ride new things and our favorites and no longer go from park open to close.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We go in August..because it's hot. Waterparks are your friend.

 

[Brett Wyman]

We wont travel to WDW between early June and early September. For us its just too hot to travel during those times. And even early June is challenging, but sometimes that's just our only window. We are always out of the parks and back at the pull by 1pm if we travel May or early June.

 

[hhisc16]

We have visited WDW in each season except summer on purpose...
We head to Disney beach resort for summer trips.

 

[JBelle19]

Summer is our only option until our kids are out of school, so summer it is. We are Alabamians, though, so we should be mostly okay, as we are used to the heat. We do plan for resort breaks mid-day this trip, and we haven't ever done that before. But, Mom and Dad aren't spring chickens anymore!

 

[gorkt]

My husband can't tolerate the heat - born and raised in new England. We went in June for our honeymoon and was basically asked never to do that again. All of our family trips were in November/December, and since my kids will be in college next fall, we are going in early January. I think our cut offs for temps are mid October through mid April. I think daytime temps much about 85F would be too high. We shoot for 70s during the day, maybe low 80s.

 

[dez1978]

We are going in a week so I guess we'll find out soon enough lol

 

[acgardne]

We went in May 2019 when it was upper 90’s every day and not a drop of rain. Honestly, we only found being in the parks bearable until about 11am and then again after 6 pm. The asphalt gets so hot that my feet were overheating in sandals. I don’t know how people do full days in that heat.

My ideal would be never entering a theme park when the temp is over 80.

 

[DL1WDW2]

You should consider keeping your GotG reservation since that line will be a million times more pleasant than a later date.
Remeber you will be able to get a nice ice cold drink at the new Connections just before you get in line and immediately afterwards too! It’s about as perfect as it will ever be.

 

[Her Dotness]

There truly is no ideal time for weather, or maybe the WDW weather pixies just hate us.

We've had a January trip with record low temps 4 of the 5 days we were there. And, I don't mean low-50s which is pool-closing range. Ohhh, no! Lows were freezing with windchills in the low 20s. There even was snow on the ground at MCO for the first time in 30 years.

Then, there was Christmas in 2015 with record highs all week--like upper 90s to low 100s. Even CMs were openly complaining that was not normal.

Just go at the best time for your schedule and hope for tolerable weather.

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

We've been 3 times in July but last year just about did us in and my husband asked not to do that again for a long time. I got sick from the heat one day and had to go into Pecos Bill's for a/c and water for a few minutes until the nausea went away. This year we're going in November lol.

We went once in January and the weather was really variable. Warm one day, cold and rainy the next. Definitely pack for both temps if you go then.

 

[_19disnA]

I would never go in June/July/August as Florida is typically too hot/humid to walk the MILES it takes to get around Disney parks with all of the paved concrete walkways. Even for those who live in a warmer part of the country, I doubt you walk miles or do your most strenuous outdoor activities at those times of the year.

 

[sheilafri]

My husband can't tolerate the heat - born and raised in new England. We went in June for our honeymoon and was basically asked never to do that again. All of our family trips were in November/December, and since my kids will be in college next fall, we are going in early January. I think our cut offs for temps are mid October through mid April. I think daytime temps much about 85F would be too high. We shoot for 70s during the day, maybe low 80s.

I like your thinking.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

My husband can't tolerate the heat - born and raised in new England. We went in June for our honeymoon and was basically asked never to do that again. All of our family trips were in November/December, and since my kids will be in college next fall, we are going in early January. I think our cut offs for temps are mid October through mid April. I think daytime temps much about 85F would be too high. We shoot for 70s during the day, maybe low 80s.

I'm from New England too, but I feel exactly the opposite. I don't want to be in Florida in October/November/December because I LOVE New England seasons and Fall/Winter activities. I don't mind Florida in summer because summer is supposed to be hot. Summer weather in November is off-putting to me.

For us, beating the heat is more about how we spend our days than when we choose to visit. We're up early and in the parks until lunchtime, then we spend the hottest part of every day in the pool or our rooms, then back to the parks in the evenings.

 

[Genie+]

Our choice is Oct-early Dec and April after Easter through early May.

 

[disneydreamer781]

We usually go from late October to mid-December. Even going during those times we weren't guaranteed comfortable weather. Our last October trip was so hot and humid that I literally got very ill for a couple of days. Last week, we just got back from an early May trip and the first few days were comfortable and very breezy. Unfortunately, our 2 park days during the week were very sunny and hot. Not very humid but still hot. The hottest trip we have taken was prior to 2013 and was from early to mid-September and I told DH...NEVER AGAIN! Even an early June trip in 2015 had us feeling lightheaded and nauseous! If I ever had the courage to do another summer trip, it would probably be more of a staycation. We probably could tolerate that. It's doing the parks in that weather that wipes us out!

 

[DeeBee3]

No matter where I am, if it's over 80, I am too hot. I prefer 70s with a breeze. We lucked out in early April this year and had a beautiful weekend where it was 70s in the day and 50s at night. I was chilly at night, but with long sleeves I was fine. When we were leaving, it was up in the 80s and I was too hot.

I am "used to" humidity in the summer and I hate it. It's gross and I don't know how all you southerners deal with it! I stay inside in the middle of the day. We were at Disney in August (only because we had last minute schedule issues) and we definitely took breaks in the afternoon. By mid-morning I was toast.

I would much prefer being slightly chilly walking around Disney than sweating. If I was just sitting, I would prefer it to be warmer. Walking around all day I need it to be cooler.

 

[k5xs]

We avoid June-August.

Did a trip in July once a few years ago. I recall vividly our lurching from shop to shop in Disney Springs trying to stay in any way cool. And the parks were just not fun from opening until about 7pm.

Never again.

 

[wabbott]

Way back in the 80s when we made a half dozen trips to WDW, it was always a summer trip. Even though some of the trips were before we had kids, we liked to take advantage of the extended hours. Loved me some Main Street Electrical Parade! We even went over a July 4 week once.

Almost as regular as sunrise or sunset, an afternoon thunderstorm would brew up. We put on ponchos and stuck with it. Our feet got wet, but so what. The storms mostly emptied the parks of people, and afterwards the temps were milder.

In our last couple of years of WDW (2019, 2020, 2021) visits, we've gone in the spring or fall, and wouldn't likely do a summer trip, even though we live in the South and are somewhat acclimatized.

But using ponchos and walking in the rain is a strategy if summer is the only time you can go.