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Post by TexasChick on Mar 9, 2023 9:17:42 GMT -5
Somehow, I let my kids talk me into going to WDW right before school starts back in August. I have always avoided going from July through September because it is sooo hot. There are a lot of special events including one at Typhoon Lagoon which my kids have been begging to go back to since we went in 2018 or 2019 for a MM event. DH even said he’d join on this trip because he loves the wave pool at TL so much, AND there is a DAH event at EP while we are there. Per the norm, we are going for a 4 night/5 day trip. We plan on doing the MM event at AK, DAH at EP, and H2O Glow Night at TL. Since it’ll be so hot, the plan is to go early, leave when it starts to get hot around lunchtime. Have pool time, lunch, and/or relaxing time indoors until maybe 5-6pm or so when we will go to dinner. Then get back to the parks around maybe 7pm or later. Definitely a bigger day break for us, but I think it’s too hot in the afternoons to stay then. It seems that the heat does keep the crowds a bit more manageable. Here’s to hoping on that! Any tips or tricks from those of you who’ve gone in these hot months would be appreciated.  |
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Post by brp on Mar 9, 2023 9:24:28 GMT -5
Yes. Cheers.  |
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Post by johnb on Mar 9, 2023 9:43:22 GMT -5
We've been going in August because it works for DD's school schedule. We do exactly what you described. Yes, it's hot. Wear hats, drink more water than you think you need. In my head I'm thinking "pool by 2 PM."
Do more of the less crowded, sit down in AC attractions, like Philharmagic, CoP, Tough to Be a Bug, etc.
The last few trips we've had a rental car, which helps with avoiding the wait at bus stops and also cranking the AC so we cool off faster.
Not sure where you're staying, but if you have easy access to a Speedway (one across from the Boardwalk; one near Disney Springs), they sell cases of Dasani for $8-$9.
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M2JRA
One Bedroom
Posts: 232
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Post by M2JRA on Mar 9, 2023 10:31:19 GMT -5
Yup, you are nuts. But! You know August will be hot and crowded and rain every afternoon. You'll plan accordingly! As the only MagicOwner currently on the 2023 Meet & Greet thread with a trip in July, let me tell you that you will still have a great vacation. Parks are open longer, F&W at Epcot, DAH, H2O at TL and MM fit into your dates, and most importantly -- the timing fits for your family. Plenty of reasons to go! My one piece of advice is a lesson learned on our trip last summer: be careful with the temptation to try to both open and close the parks with a long break in the middle when it's hottest. This IS the best strategy for beating both crowds and high temps, but burning the candle at both ends will wear you down quickly if you do it for successive days. Our group was DH, our 3 DDs (late-teens/early-20's), and me, and in our everyday lives we can function pretty well with ~6 hours of sleep a night so we thought this would be fine (plus we could nap during the lengthy break in the afternoon!), but between the heat and walking we were exhausted and it was not enough. So, this summer we are modifying our strategy to stagger our park time better. We really enjoy the evenings, so are only going to open parks on 2 days: our first full day (we won't have done parks on arrival day) and the day after we do AK (which closes early-ish). Like you, we're planning a DAH party and considering the TL H20 Glow party and won't buy park tickets for those days so we can sleep in and have resort time. We are arriving to parks in the mid-afternoon a few days, but we are hoping that the more 'solid' sleep the night before will help us enjoy those days more, even if we are broiling. Another thing we do if we have a day where we don't plan to go back to the resort for a mid-day break is to plan an ADR for late lunch (1-2pm) and take advantage of the A/C for awhile. Oh, and we found that the cooling towels work amazingly well! You will create a plan that works for your family and have a great time. |
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Post by alwaysdreamingdisney on Mar 9, 2023 10:45:03 GMT -5
Just have to plan your day around the heat, humidity and RAIN!!! We had spend several late August to early September trips with our kids at WDW. Bring ponchos as it WILL rain at some point and wear shoes that will dry quickly as the water gets to be ankle deep or higher during a deluge!
We would plan for a nice long table service meal during lunch time - either early around 11-11:30 OR 2-3 to avoid the restaurants being super busy and enjoy the AC. We aren’t fans of the pool parties so pool time midday weren’t an option. Have fun and enjoy!
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Mar 9, 2023 10:49:51 GMT -5
A few years back, driving a hot hot school bus, the company gave everyone a golf shirt with the logo on it. I finally gave it a try one day, instead of my usual cotton t-shirt.
The phrase "game changer" is what happened, and now my wardrobe consists entirely of sweatshirts for half the year and golf shirts for the other half. And I found wearing them to Disney made all the difference in the world.
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Post by BWV Dreamin on Mar 9, 2023 10:56:59 GMT -5
Yeah!!! Actually August is not as crowded as you think. I have watching my favorite YouTuber ( Super Enthused) and she always goes to F&W in early August. It looks dead in Epcot at that time. Lots of schools are back in session or will be so I think it’s a great time. I’m trying to talk my DH into an impromptu August trip if I can find some distressed points.
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Post by TexasChick on Mar 9, 2023 11:11:43 GMT -5
Thanks everyone. If we have a super late night, I know that we won't get up early the next day to rope drop. I have learned from so many Disney trips that the day is just so much more enjoyable with sleep! I think realistically, we will not be waking up early when we do any after hours events. I would love to say that my plan of stay late and wake up early will be implemented every day, but I know it won't.
We went last year in June, and it was maybe 94 degrees on the hottest days which felt like the surface of the sun! As you all know, we live somewhere very hot in the summers, Houston, so we just tend to be indoors every afternoon unless we are in a pool. Looks like ya'll agree to stick to that strategy in August at WDW. Thanks for all the tips for those of you who have been during these hotter times! I really appreciate them.
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Post by swat08 on Mar 9, 2023 11:32:08 GMT -5
No you are not nuts. We go for 9 nights in August most every year and love it. We spend our days at the pool or 1-2 times at water park. Although water parks has diminished as DS has gotten older. We will go to the parks at night for ADR and rides. We will plan usually 2 ADR breakfasts and on those days we will hit the parks early and then pool for rest of day and then Disney Springs in evening. We just take it easy and don't spend all day trying to make it around a park - it's too exhausting and will suck the fun out of it lol! We will do the late park ticket events if they are offered - they are great way to ride everything we want in cooler weather, lower attendance, and my DS can get a bunch of ice cream. We don't try to cram everything in on one trip because we know we will be back. We decide what is important to us for that trip and we make sure we do that.
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Post by john2247 on Mar 9, 2023 12:17:42 GMT -5
We live in South Louisiana and one year we thought WDW could not be worse than here. Boy, were we wrong.
We went in early August, and it was unbearably hot and rain almost everyday. Our schedule was about the same as yours and we found out it did not cool down in the evenings due to the amount of concrete. Once it warmed up it retained the heat. The only advice I can give is hit the parks at rope drop and leave about noon. Water Parks were great this time of year.
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Post by TexasChick on Mar 9, 2023 14:21:06 GMT -5
We live in South Louisiana and one year we thought WDW could not be worse than here. Boy, were we wrong. We went in early August, and it was unbearably hot and rain almost everyday. Our schedule was about the same as yours and we found out it did not cool down in the evenings due to the amount of concrete. Once it warmed up it retained the heat. The only advice I can give is hit the parks at rope drop and leave about noon. Water Parks were great this time of year. Thanks. It’s definitely the plan to take advantage of the paid after hours events to reduce crowds and time we spend in the parks after the daily warm up. We have bought our tickets to H2O glow night at TL, so we’re looking forward to that. It’s good to be warned that it doesn’t cool off as much as you'd think at night. Thank you for sharing. |
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Post by krisephillips on Mar 9, 2023 14:41:45 GMT -5
This is an annual trip time for us too for the same reasons (kids/schoo). We will also sometimes try to hit the MNSSHP during this trip also during this trip since they have been having them mid August. You have the right plan!
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Post by pooh bears mom on Mar 9, 2023 14:43:33 GMT -5
I love disney in august, especially since food and wine has started early - by august most of the venues are open. I have found august is no hotter than june or july, but it is less crowded. we always used to go in august, until the kids started college, then they had to be back early. Between that and vacation times we go now for 4th of july - but would switch back to august in heartbeat:)
The rain cools things off and only lasts 5 minutes - usually
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Post by lovindisney on Mar 10, 2023 13:36:35 GMT -5
Yes! When my kids were little the only time we could not find summer camps were the last 2 weeks of August. So, we went to Disney. It was brutal.
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Post by Wiltony on Mar 10, 2023 14:45:08 GMT -5
It was oppressively hot when we went and I swore I'd never do it again. I'll probably do it again, though. Who am I kidding.
Water, cooling towels, hats, and frequent dips into A/C buildings. Get used to feeling damp all the time.
Interesting anecdote: My wife brought a sweatshirt because she was always *freezing* when we would go indoors for long periods of time (like for meals). I thought it was crazy to carry around a sweatshirt in sweltering heat, but she said it was worth it. Even the kids would ask for it occasionally when they got cold inside the buildings. She fumed and was frustrated, but she handed it over to keep her kiddos comfortable at her own expense. Typical sacrificial mom, she is.
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