Is August that bad?

[have2getaway]

The last time we went to Disney was in January we stayed at the Polynesian and loved it. We are now considering going in late August, but are very concerned about both crowds and heat. Is August really that bad? It would be a considerable savings for us to go in August which is the only reason I’m considering it.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

I will say yes and no. Ever since the older children started college we had to go mostly during the summer. We go every August (late in the month). We have been there in August when it is extremely hot and other years it is tolerable. Once we went during Spring Break when it was in April - that year it was so hot and so crowded. We will never do Spring break again. So that being said the end of August is not that bad. The end of August is definitely less crowded than the beginning of the month. We take breaks during the day with TS meals with air conditioning. We swim late at night when it is not that hot and not sunny. We enjoy DW in August - but I know some can't handle the heat. I hope that helps somewhat.

 

[CAS239]

It's really busy and ungodly hot. But you can make any trip good.

People taking last minute trips before school starts back up and you're dealing with temps in the 90's with high humidity. Plenty of sunscreen, water, and hats will be your friend

 

[mister morrow]

my family and i usually go to wdw during august now since my siblings and i are all in high school-- making it more feasible to go then. we go during the last week of august into september. the crowds are actually very low during the week and get larger during the weekends, but the heat on the otherhand can be awful at times; you just have to know when to take breaks.

i highly recommend going to wdw during august!

 

[have2getaway]

It's really busy and ungodly hot. But you can make any trip good.

People taking last minute trips before school starts back up and you're dealing with temps in the 90's with high humidity. Plenty of sunscreen, water, and hats will be your friend

Ummm, not sure we will be able to do it. We live in way upstate NY, where the schools sometimes shutdown because the temps are -30. On our trip in January, we had to leave the park so the kids could swim because they were complaining of the heat, which wasn’t quite 80 degrees. We were quite spoiled that trip with next to no lines. Our boys have some sensory issues, and the crowds might be too much for them as well.

 

[missbrooke06]

The heat is one thing. The humidity is really rough. I was taking at least two showers a day.

 

[mousehockey37]

Ummm, not sure we will be able to do it. We live in way upstate NY, where the schools sometimes shutdown because the temps are -30. On our trip in January, we had to leave the park so the kids could swim because they were complaining of the heat, which wasn’t quite 80 degrees. We were quite spoiled that trip with next to no lines. Our boys have some sensory issues, and the crowds might be too much for them as well.

The end of August is hot and sticky. It's also the start of peak hurricane season. It storms just about everyday and makes the humidity from hot and sticky to hot and almost not tolerable.

With what you've said about being from extreme upstate NY, it's a change. A big change and if you're going to do it, just keep in mind what others have said. Frequent breaks, lots of water, sunblock, sunblock, sunblock.

Also keep in mind this year that Food & Wine and the MNSSHP are also underway at the end of August too. So crowds will tend to gather at Epcot and MK on certain nights.

 

[FrankDIS72]

August is usually the hottest month in Florida. It also tends to rain at the same time every day (usually in the afternoon). Rain is so frequest in August that you can almost set your watch to it.

 

[mamamelody2]

Well, I've done lots of research into best times to go, and we're going August 30-September 8. One big reason is because we can go for 9 days, but the kids only miss 4 days of school. Also, crowd levels are generally about the lowest of the year. Not that they are LOW, but LOWEST. Also, you're right, rates are lower then. It will be blazing hot, but we have been twice in September and we can handle it. If it saves a lot of money, I say go for it!

 

[chiisai]

I hope not, OP, cuz that’s when we’re going.

Used to March/April weather. Going to have cooling towels, good coverage hats, and mist fan. We will do rope drop until noon/one, and then come back a few evenings.

Will try to have enough for second set of clothes each day; may require a visit to laundry facility.

May need to adjust evening expectations of it’s just too hot.

 

[mousehockey37]

I hope not, OP, cuz that’s when we’re going.

Used to March/April weather. Going to have cooling towels, good coverage hats, and mist fan. We will do rope drop until noon/one, and then come back a few evenings.

Will try to have enough for second set of clothes each day; may require a visit to laundry facility.

May need to adjust evening expectations of it’s just too hot.

The nice thing is... if you're packing light clothes that are like athletic shorts and tank tops, there's plenty of room in the luggage. It's when you get to the cooler months that packing for Disney get a little trickier. It's all in your mindset as to dealing with the Florida heat. Sure, not many like it, but there's a lot of things I'll tolerate on vacation as compared to being at home (ie, heat, rain, etc).

 

[FrankDIS72]

Also, go to the dollar store and buy a lot of disposable ponchos. You'll need them in August during the rainy season. You can buy one at Disney, but they will cost you about $10 (vs. $1 at the dollar store). I usually have a backpack with 10 or so ponchos when I visit Disney.

 

[bryanb]

In my one experience going in late August, I was surprised at how it wasn't busy at all. Apparently, I arrived on the first day of school for most school aged children. A cast member told me that it had been a zoo just the week before, with people getting in their last minute vacations. But almost overnight the crowd levels plummeted out (as did many seasonal cast members who went to go back to school).

It was really hot and humid, and the weather was dramatic at times with thunderstorms, but I've also learned to embrace that as part of the WDW and central Florida experience... and it becomes kind of fun. Just make sure to over hydrate!

 

[rg35]

Also, go to the dollar store and buy a lot of disposable ponchos. You'll need them in August during the rainy season. You can buy one at Disney, but they will cost you about $10 (vs. $1 at the dollar store). I usually have a backpack with 10 or so ponchos when I visit Disney.

I have Disney ponchos that are over 10 years old that I use both at home and at Disney.

Over time it's cheaper to buy a better product and reuse it rather than buying disposable junk (and creating more plastic landfill waste).

 

[rg35]

We either go to Disney in late June to early July or the end of August. Both months are hot (it is the summer in Florida, after all), but I'd say August crowds are lighter, especially as you move towards the end of the month. By that time of summer many school districts around the country are already back in session.

 

[NH-to-FL]

We are now considering going in late August, but are very concerned about both crowds and heat.

The later in August, the lower the crowds. But even in early August the crowds are not holiday heavy.

But for us, the heat in August is just too much to make park time enjoyable. But then we are northerners and not used to tropical humidity. DW is particularly sensitive to the heat. We made a quick trip down in mid August two years ago. DW almost succumbed waiting for rope drop at Epcot one morning. Never again she declared.

Everyone is different. If you are used to temperatures in the 90's with dew points in the mid 70's then late August will work for you.

 

[Trinity88]

We’ve been at the end of August twice. And we’re from Ontario Canada, so not used to heat/humidity quite like Florida in August. But we found after the first day or two we started to adjust a little. We had cooling towels, mist fans, lots of water, and daily afternoon breaks. Crowds were great, we don’t start school until Labour Day, but a lot of US schools start earlier. So that last week of Aug is very manageable crowd wise. My advice would be to plan for the heat, including knowing that you will tire faster. Drink more water than you think you need (believe me, I felt so sick and almost passed out the first day because I didn’t drink enough). You can definitely do Disney in Aug and have a great time!

 

[UncleMike101]

We've gone in May, June, July, and August.
The mean temperature during the days is only a few degrees different from late May to August but the humidity can be worse later in the Summer.
No matter what month we go it's hot as h*** and rains a lot.
We've been using Thermos stainless steel insulated water bottles filled with water enhanced with powdered hydrating mixes to make our water more effective at maintaining our fluid and salts levels.
The bottles are excellent at keeping ice all day and if necessary we pour in another hydrating mix and a bottle of ice water to replenish during the day.
I've been using one of the light weight Frogg Togg jackets that seems to allow body heat to escape.
The dollar ponchos seldom last more than one day and are just as much of a PITA as the Frogg Togg jacket to pack around between rain storms.
In the future I'm going to take a "cooling towel" to put on my neck and see if that makes my time in the Sun more tolerable.

 

[chiisai]

We've gone in May, June, July, and August.
The mean temperature during the days is only a few degrees different from late May to August but the humidity can be worse later in the Summer.
No matter what month we go it's hot as h*** and rains a lot.
We've been using Thermos stainless steel insulated water bottles filled with water enhanced with powdered hydrating mixes to make our water more effective at maintaining our fluid and salts levels.
The bottles are excellent at keeping ice all day and if necessary we pour in another hydrating mix and a bottle of ice water to replenish during the day.
I've been using one of the light weight Frogg Togg jackets that seems to allow body heat to escape.
The dollar ponchos seldom last more than one day and are just as much of a PITA as the Frogg Togg jacket to pack around between rain storms.
In the future I'm going to take a "cooling towel" to put on my neck and see if that makes my time in the Sun more tolerable.

If you don’t mind sharing, while I saw somewhere else the salt pills/chewables for electrolytes, I’m interested in what the name is of the hydrating crystals you use?

I’m also going to purchase some cooling towels.

 

[chiisai]

What kinds of shoes do you wear? We always wear sneakers, but that sounds hideous in the rain. Are there supportive sandals?