Hello all, we just finished planning most of our 2008 WDW trip. We will be staying at Wilderness Lodge for the last week of July. This will be our 3rd year in a row we are going to WDW, but our other trips were in March and May. My daughter is now in school so we are tied to the summer vacation schedule. With a 4 and 6 year old we hit the parks ealry (using EMH) and we are very efficient, planning out most of the day. The lasy 2 years were a blast and our kids, who were pretty young, loved it.
Knowing the summers are very busy, I was wondering if we'll still have as good a time as previous years. We like to hit the parks early and then the hotel for a swim and nap. Then maybe an evening event in the parks. Naps are essential to our family! Any thoughts or observations? Is it really BAD in the summer? Please share your experiences and tips! :D

I think that with the days planned as you're doing them, you'll still be able to see and do enough to get your money's worth. But the one thing that really damages a summer Florida vacation for me is the HEAT. With temps in the high 90's and humidity almost the same, it' really very very unpleasant to be out and around feeling sticky and sweaty all the time. Disney does run some very good air conditioning, but it feels like little islands of oasis surrounded by a whole lotta hot! Take your time, take advantage of morning and evening hours, and spend the afternoons back in your hotel, and you should survive nicely.

Good luck!

Were going the last week of June. Is the heat the same as July and August or slightly better? Thanks:)

Yes it does sound like your plan is exactly right for the conditions.

One thing I might mention.
I have known two different families with children about the age of yours who had a child become dehydrated.
When I took my nephew, who had become dehydrated on an earlier trip with his grandparents, we talked a lot about how important staying hydrated is and I kept an eye on his water intake and reminded him to drink.

June should be slightly better than July -but not necessarily noticable to someone not from the South! A lot depends on the individual week, and what the weather is doing then.

And I just want to repeat the hydration thing. If you aren't going to the restroom regularly, you're not drinking enough water!

Were going the last week of June. Is the heat the same as July and August or slightly better? Thanks:)

Not quite as hot, but still really hot.

We have been several times in early June and the temps ran about 92/93. That really doesn't sound all that hot, but it is the humidity.:eek:
One thing I found is that it did no good to try to do makeup or hair as the makeup dripped off and my hair stayed plastered to my head.
Not too attractive, but everyone else is in the same boat, so hey, you know?.:)

And I have found that it is better not to get too hot, thirsty at all, or hungry as in the heat any of those will do me in.

Yup, we know about the hydration factor and will be pushing water on the kids! We also picked up some of those little water squirter fan things and they worked well in May. Keeps you a little cool.

Heat aside, how bad are the crowds?

Were going the last week of June. Is the heat the same as July and August or slightly better? Thanks:)

As someone who lives in the hot humid south (Dallas), and as one who's visited Florida just about every time of year, I don't even like mid-May on forward through maybe the last week or 2 of September. It's all just too blazing hot!

Heat aside, how bad are the crowds?
My sister and I went a couple years ago for a long weekend the last weekend in July. We were focusing primarily on one attraction (Millionaire), which was indoor, so we didn't fare too bad with the heat, and the crowds weren't horrid, but like I said, we really were focused on Millionaire. We went to the MK after the last Millionaire show on Saturday and rode Buzz without an excessive wait on the Fast passes (I think we got the fastpasses, got some dinner, and they were ready, or close to it). But trying to get across the hub right before Spectromagic was insane. I think it was an EMH evening - and we did not stay around because it was just too crowded for us.

BUT, I think with hitting the parks first thing, taking an afternoon break, and trying to do more 'show' like things in the evening, you'll be in ok shape (relatively speaking).

Again, with the plan you're on of opening and closing parks and taking the afternoons off, I don't think crowds will be too much of a problem for you. Just be ready to change your plans if you get to an attraction and there's a 90 minute wait for it - simply skip it and come back later when the line isn't so long (or get a Fastpass!). I think I've gotten good enough at the park storming to where it doesn't much matter how big the crowd is - I can still have a good time and see lots of stuff.

I know what you mean about hot and humid.
I live in Memphis.
Very hot.
Very very humid.

Before I go to WDW I walk outside daily to try to stay acclimated.
I also work in the yard a lot.
Well, it always needs it and it does help me to have been dealing with the heat.

If there is an attraction that you are having trouble getting on, you may want to try to hit it right during the parade. Usually the crowds let up for a bit at parade time.

We have went in mid-late June twice. Once we stayed til July 6th. The crowds were manageable with EMH and fast passes until about July 3rd. Then the crowds picked up and didn't seem to let up. Perhaps the crowds are better in later July, I have never been at that time.

We usually go the first week of June. This past Summer it was VERY hot. We went back three weeks later and it was even hotter. But, it was 105 in Tennessee, so it was actually COOLER in Florida! HA!!

I think it was just freakishly hot, very early this past Summer because it's usually not "unbearable" the first week of June.

Nearly all my trips have been in the summer, and I think that so long as you plan accordingly for how you will hit the parks and get things done the crowds are manageable. We went a couple of times over april school vacation week and that was way worse. Making use of the morning extra magic hours will be especially helpful at the Magic Kingdom.

I'm looking to take my little girls to WDW for their first visit. Their birthdays are in August (17th and 19th) and I'm wondering if spending "Birthday Week" would be too hot for a then-3 and 6 year olds? The last time I was there was January 1998.

Thanks from Jean in Baltimore

The short answer is yup. It would take a pile of money to get me into the parks in July or August. The heat is up in the upper 90's, and the humidity just about the same. Add in large sweaty crowds and long lines and you have the possibility of a miserable vacation. I don't know what summers are like in Baltimore, but I live in Dallas and don't like Florida summers at all!

I posted a similar thread in the parks forum a few weeks back. I think the title was "How Bad is Summer?" Search for it for some good advice.

The reality is that you have a school age child, so...if you dont take them out of school for a week, when else can you go? The school vacation weeks are mobbed, hotels and airfare super expensive. Summer is at least affordable.

I have a 4 and 6 yr old and we will be going in July. I am staying at a Disney resort and have planned each day allowing a day of rest at the hotel every 2 days. This is not our first trip so we can take it easy, no rush to see everything and we will use the morning EMH and rest in the afternoons.

One thing to note, from what I have read, the weeks you mentioned are typically lower crowds. the last two weeks of August are good weeks crowd-wise.

Thanks for the information. In August, it's hotter than heck up here in Baltimore with close to 100% humidity, so it's nothing new to us. I'm thinking of a 10 day trip, so we can have plenty of time to see the sights.

Welcome to MP!

I'm thinking of a 10 day trip, so we can have plenty of time to see the sights.
Well, here is some food for thought. We normally go for around 5-6 days at a time. We went for 9 this past August. It was so hot that we only accomplished as much as a typical 5 day trip.

My best suggestion for going in August - the water parks and more option can be your best friend. :)

I posted a similar thread in the parks forum a few weeks back. I think the title was "How Bad is Summer?" Search for it for some good advice.
Thanks for the reminder (I thought the question sounded familiar!)

I've merged the recent thread about August with the "How Bad is Summer" thread - so just scroll up for some great advice.

...Jimmy1's advice is pretty good about August visits.

August weather is usually brutal for DW visitors-- you can still have a great time, but it takes some common sense and pacing.

Get your hotel on DW property... the convenience is well worth the price.

I've done all 4 DW parks in one brutal summer day with 9 year old kids-- it was exhausting but fun. A quick & easy ride back to the Port Orleans ...and a cooling midnight swim in that pool capped a great day.

Of course, off-season is the best time to go-- but DW is a good deal all year (with a little planning).

...I've done all 4 DW parks in one brutal summer day with 9 year old kids-- it was exhausting but fun. A quick & easy ride back to the Port Orleans ...and a cooling midnight swim in that pool capped a great day.


Hi - we are going in August and I'm not going to let weather I am unable even to imagine spoil it :D I'm interested in your comment about midnight swimming though - I mean it when I say I can't imagine the weather; is it really okay to swim late into the night? (Second time tonight my 'finally finished' plans might have been messed with - are you guys in a conspiracy to mess with my head? ;) !)

There's no lifeguards after a certain time (probably depending on the season), but we took some very late night dips. I think it's ok as long as you're not loud and it is something like 4 am.

BTW, I got up VERY early one morning while staying at POP to do laundry. I think it was like 5:00. That's when the guys were there cleaning the pool. I don't know if it is always then or if there are overnight crews too. That would certainly impact your experience with "off hour" swims.

We went in September one year when my son was just over 3. Temps were upper 90s. Before the trip I had commented on how glad I was that he was not one of those kids who hung on your legs whining to be picked up. Well, immediately upon hitting the heat he started whining to be carried. Everytime we left the hotel (even in the morning) he was miserable. He just does not do well with heat. The last two times we went in December and he was great and this year we are going in early May. I think it is important to know how your children react to high temps and high humidity. In our case, I opt to pull him out of school.:cool:

I think it is important to know how your children react to high temps and high humidity. In our case, I opt to pull him out of school.:cool:

My oldest has probably just about reached the stage where he can spell temperature and humidity. Does that count? ;) It's -3 here tonight...