Hi there (First Post!)

My wife and I are taking my mother in law, Sister and Brother in Law, and their two kids (12 & 13) on their first WDW adventure (and for my mother in law her first non-UK holiday) next month!

We're going on the 16th of August and just wondered what the crowds will be like? Am I right in thinking that US schools start to go back for their Autumn terms by then?

Many thanks!
Darryl.

Traditionally school districts return to session the Tuesday after Labor Day, which is the first Monday in September. There are plenty of non-standard situations out there but this year September 2 is probably the closest to a "standard" first day of school going.

Actually, schools in the Southeast return to class before Labor Day (which is September 1 this year). Some school districts here in Georgia will begin the first week of August.

The school districts in the Northeast will begin the day after Labor Day.

The crowds for your trip beginning on August 16th will not have the Southeast families there as their kids will have just started back to school. That's good in that they can easily drive to Disney World in a day (maybe a long day, but a day). But you can have the families from the Northeast making a vacation right before their kids have to go back to school. However, they have to drive much further and with the price of gas over here (I know, we have it easy compared to you), those families might decide to stick closer to home.

The crowds shouldn't be too bad because it will be HOT so prepare everyone for that. I mean hot and humid. Plan to drink plenty of water - water and not as much sodas as water is the best to rehydrate you. Always have water available for everyone. Large bottles of water in the parks cost $2 and small ones are $1.25. You can also take in your own water bottles, use the water fountains for refills, and/or get free water at any counter service restaurant.

Wear sunscreen everyday no matter if you think you need it or not. Carry rain gear with you everyday no matter if you think you need it or not.

It sounds like a horrible time but it's not. If you are prepared, you will be just fine and have a great time.

Hey

Ive been twice in august once off site and once on site at disney. The crowd levels are pretty good, i can say that there was not much excessive queing for the attractions, apart from Fantasmic which always seems to have to queue at least an hour before but even then if they have two showings on the catch the later one.

Are you staying on or off site? The transport system in august was very good too, most buses do get full but you dont wait very long for them.

We're going on the 16th of August and just wondered what the crowds will be like?
Last year we went around this time and it was a more crowded than expected. Some attractions had huge wait times. At times Soarin' was a 2 hr wait... Test Track was 4 hours!! FastPasses run out early, so... plan ahead.

And ADR's are a must for any TS restaurant.

Hi there (First Post!)

My wife and I are taking my mother in law, Sister and Brother in Law, and their two kids (12 & 13) on their first WDW adventure (and for my mother in law her first non-UK holiday) next month!

We're going on the 16th of August and just wondered what the crowds will be like? Am I right in thinking that US schools start to go back for their Autumn terms by then?

Many thanks!
Darryl.

Hi Darryl,

The kids in our area (northern New England) tend to go back at the end of August but not THAT early. . .but they also don't tend to vacation in FL that late in the summer (we're more Fall and Winter visitors when its snowy here. . .)

hope that helps!

:)

I am in Oklahoma and my boys start back to school on August 21. So there probably won't be many midwest kids there after that time.

I don't know how hot it gets in the UK, but I agree with the above posts about being prepared for the heat in Florida. Most of the lines waiting for rides (at least the ones we encountered) are shaded and some are air-conditioned, so that helps some!

Have a fun visit!

I'm about 2 hours south of WDW in Palm Beach County and we start school on August 18. I'd expect the weekend you arrive to be very busy (I know many people go as a "last weekend off before school" trip).

Just take it easy and remember to drink lots of water.

I can't recall hearing about anyone starting school on the 16th. It's always been the week before Labor Day. This year school starts here in Connecticut on Aug. 26th.

reporting in from the west coast, we head back to school starting the 18th of August. schools out here are starting 3 days later this year and will be out a little later this spring(june 3th instead of may 30th)
West coast I don't think effects WDW as much as DL.

I think you will find it very hot, but with very manageable crowds.

If you can handle it, I would recommend getting to the parks at opening, to beat both most of the heat, and most of the crowds.

I don't know how hot it gets in the UK, but I agree with the above posts about being prepared for the heat in Florida.


NOT VERY!!!!!!!

Its tiring the heat, but being British we dont see the sun so love it, however, we are also silly in that we forget to keep hydrated and use sunscreen and a hat. These are vital survival equipment when in Florida. Have them ready and your armed for a great visit.

I can't recall hearing about anyone starting school on the 16th. It's always been the week before Labor Day. This year school starts here in Connecticut on Aug. 26th.

The Southeast is much different. I just talked to a teacher last night and her daughter's mother-in-law (a teacher) starts on August 1st. The woman I talked to starts back August 18th. And my country's school starts back August 11th. And then everyone gets out in early May. This was done years and years ago so the kids could be home to help with the summertime farm duties. However, it has been discussed to move the start and end dates back.

When I lived in Pennsylvania, however, it was written in stone that the first day of school was the day after Labor Day and we got out somewhere around June 15th.

T

When I lived in Pennsylvania, however, it was written in stone that the first day of school was the day after Labor Day and we got out somewhere around June 15th.

That's our schedule (from PA). I've gone in late August, and almost all the people I encounter seem to be from PA/NJ/NY, judging from accents. Lots of people from other countries.

Hi there (First Post!)

My wife and I are taking my mother in law, Sister and Brother in Law, and their two kids (12 & 13) on their first WDW adventure (and for my mother in law her first non-UK holiday) next month!

We're going on the 16th of August and just wondered what the crowds will be like? Am I right in thinking that US schools start to go back for their Autumn terms by then?

Many thanks!
Darryl.

Im also from the uk and we only vissit disney this time of year becouse the crowds are smaller, the queues are alot better as the kids go back earlier in the states, i will be there from the 23rd Aug until the 7th Sept.
Hope you have a good time, i know you will.