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Original poster

Is Florida in August too Hot?

53 replies

al88 · 22/05/2016 12:31

We're planning a Disney holiday for 2017 and between school, work and finances it looks like we may have to go in August.
I'm really worried about the heat. Average temps of 33 scare me tbh and I'd much rather go at Easter. All of us burn easily and I'm worried the heat affect our enjoyment.
Has anyone been in August and found it ok? Particularly if you are like me and not a 'hot weather' person?

OP posts:
ElaeudanlaTeiteia · 22/05/2016 13:28

I travelled around the US in July and August one year.

It's extremely hot and yes, the humidity is the killer. This was true of Florida and all of the South. The mountain states, however, were gorgeous, still massively hot but it was a dry heat and 100% more bearable, and followed by beautiful cold nights Smile

WestleyAndButtockUp · 22/05/2016 14:04

I'm quite experienced at Disney, and mostly in August. All the negatives are true, but it's not a reason to put off your trip if that's the best time for you.

If you are staying at a Disney hotel, the heat and humidity's easily manageable. You're only in the humidity for a little bit at a time. All the rides have aircon.

WestleyAndButtockUp · 22/05/2016 14:06

I don't get everyone complaining how hot it is when 95% of the time everyone's moving from aircon cars to aircon buildings to aircon rides.

AppleSetsSail · 22/05/2016 14:07

I expect you might find some cut-rate prices - Americans would definitely avoid Florida in August.

SenecaFalls · 22/05/2016 14:16

Americans would definitely avoid Florida in August.

Well, the 20 million Americans who live here do manage somehow. But, yes, for people not used to heat and humidity, it could be a challenge.

Also there is no reason for anyone to burn. That is what sun cream is for. I have lived in Florida for more than 30 years and never had sunburn.

MozzchopsThirty · 22/05/2016 14:22

We went in August 2014, it was hot but bearable and the parks do cater so well, water spray in the queues, water fountains, free refills on water bottles
I would go in August again quite happily

Original poster
al88 · 22/05/2016 14:29

Thanks all, this has been really informative. At least I know that if we do go in August there are ways to manage the heat and humidity and we can go as late in the month as possible to avoid the crowds.

Tbh I burn even if the sun thinks about coming out in UK so I'll be covered in sunblock whether I go at Easter or in August! Smile

OP posts:
fruityb · 22/05/2016 15:12

Not all of it is air con! I spent a long time sweating my ass off in the queue for Terror Towers and the log flume lol. But yes you can dive into air con shops and such.

Cocolepew · 22/05/2016 15:23

Im not good, in the heat but managed there no problem. As people have said keep hydrated, dont rush, I would recommend wearing a hat too.

Hulababy · 22/05/2016 15:29

We've done it several times in the summer now and have found it fine. I would burn easily without sun cream but once a day Uktrasun and P20 work great.

There's no getting around the fact that it's hot and humid. But in the theme parks there is lots of places to escape the heat. All of the rides, shops and restaurants are air conditioned. Many of the queues are indoor, under shade etc and where outside they have water must sprays.

We've taken dd from being age. 3 and she's loved it despite the heat.

It can rain - sometimes every day. But it's almost always short lived. You feel it coming and can often see it coming in the distance. It doesn't last long and it cools the air down for a while.

We've been a few times but only encountered one hurricane. The theme park closed early at about 2pm. We headed to the villa then. It was very rainy and the wind was picking up. The hurricane occurred in the evening and overnight. The parks opened an hour or two later the following day but when we turned up at Disney there wasn't a leaf out of place! We passed signs blown over and bent on drive over but nothing there!

I never think it's anywhere as bad as what I often read in here and elsewhere tbh and I'm not great with heat - it's just in Florida there are so many places to cool down its not like when it's really hot in Europe.

Hulababy · 22/05/2016 15:33

October is best weather wise but only if you can have two weeks half term really, if you have school aged children. Or don't mind taking them out of school.

We go for a week at February half term but I'd only do a week if you've been enforce tbh as otherwise there's too much to fit in! Weather is in early to mid 20s generally though this year we have two cooler days that required jeans and a hoodie.

I'd avoid Easter - after Christmas it is the busiest time of the year to go. The crowds are immense and especially surrounding the Easter break the parks often close their doors due to over capacity. Definitely not a time to go for first timers!

May half term would be a nice time if you can get two weeks too.

Summer is fine for crowds especially mid to late August as their schools seem to go back earlier.

WoodleyPixie · 22/05/2016 15:40

The last four years we have been the last two weeks of the summer holidays. It's fine.
Yes it's hot and humid (don't bother straightening your hair) but it's perfectly bearable.
Most of the parks have water fountains and sprays like showers of fine mist to walk through.
Maybe we have been lucky but any thunder storms have lasted minutes and then it's so hot everything is dry again.

We have been several times at Easter and it is a lot busier and still humid.

The good thing about last two weeks of summer holidays was that we arrived on the Friday and Monday all the Floridian kids went back to school on the Monday and it was a lot quieter.

Hulababy · 22/05/2016 15:40

The poster booked for August - really don't worry. It is, in my experience of being a heat avoider, it is fine and definitely more than bearable! Seriously we've been in July/August 5 times now and would return in summer again.

Most ride queues are air conditioned or shaded at all the parks. The wise park for humid is animal Kingdom but plenty to do away from the full sun.

Yes it's hot. You'll have sweat running down our back. But air conditioning is abundant as are water mist sprays.

We manage full days into the evenings and have never gone home during the afternoon to shade. We plan meals around the peak time but that's it.

Even at 2 and 4 dd coped easily, as she has done ever since!

Don't worry - you'll have a fab time. Don't let the comments on here make you worry. In reality it's not as bad as people on here seem to suggest otherwise you'd never see loads of people at the games waiting to go in each day!

DownHereInTheHorridHouse · 22/05/2016 15:50

Disney stands give you free water? Really?

I've always complained so much about the cost of drinks, but had no idea they would give you it! My life could change now . . .

LittleHouseOnTheShelf · 22/05/2016 15:52

It's lovely in August, we would leave early and go out in the morning and then spend the afternoons by the pool. September is not so good though.

Hulababy · 22/05/2016 15:59

Yes the quick service stands will give you water for free. And there are drinking water fountain too. It's very chlorinated iirr though - or at least the fountains are. I'm not keen but dh and my dad don't mind the taste.

hyperhypermum · 26/05/2016 09:16

Yes. Way too hot. It restricted us in the parks as all we could think about was keeping cool. Spent a lot of time in gift shops, for the air con!

mouldycheesefan · 28/05/2016 21:33

Greetings from disneyworld! We are there now it hasbeen 32-34 degrees every day, no humidity but very very hot. Parks don't open till 8-9am and fast passes are one per hour max 3 per day so it's not quite as simple as nipping to the park in the morning and whizzing round and out again. Night shows are also worth seeing we were in magic kingdom till midnight one night.

Original poster
al88 · 29/05/2016 10:57

Hi mouldycheese I hope you're having a wonderful time!

We've booked!!SmileSmileSmileSmile
We're going for the last two weeks of August next year. Despite all the warnings about the weather all the other factors we had to consider meant that really it was the only option for us.

OP posts:
mrscee · 30/05/2016 02:13

Florida in May is blooming hot too and busy. We are here at the mo and it's in the 90s everyday!

mouldycheesefan · 06/06/2016 21:21

It was 36 degrees Celsius when we left Florida at the end of last week. very hot.

BaconAndAvocado · 12/06/2016 22:43

We went in August last year and have booked for 3 weeks next August , yay!

The heat is intense but you do get used to it.

With lots of careful planning (to avoid queuing to much), loads of water intake, water sprays you'll be absolutely fine.

Have an amazing time Smile

Pigleychez · 19/06/2016 15:12

We are going the end of August this year and cant wait. Our first trip and the girls ( 6 and 8) are so excited.

Totally prepared for the heat and have already bought everybody fan water bottles.

millimat · 26/07/2016 22:31

What are fan water bottles?!

When do Americans return to school in August?

1gorgeousson · 26/07/2016 22:40

We went in August it was 30 degrees most days, but no-one burned, no-one got heat stroke and we planned our days around air conditioned queues and thrusting stations. It was very hot, but fine.

The thunderstorms bring the temperatures down. No hurricanes when we went. But they do freak out if the Lightning gets too close and all outdoor rides stop. The Lightning is amazing though!

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