As the summer break continues, August is another popular month to visit Walt Disney World. With many families already planning their summer vacation, there’s no time like the present to start thinking about what you’ll do on an upcoming trip to Walt Disney World in August.
August is the hottest month of the year in Orlando so it’s a good idea to prepare for the heat ahead of your Walt Disney World vacation. The summer months are the best for water rides and heading to the water parks so keep that in mind when booking your Disney vacation.
Today we’re going to discover everything you need to know about an August visit to Orlando and the events that are taking place this year.
Is August A Good Month To Go To Disney?
August is a great month to go to Disney! It is the hottest month of the year, so if you are heat sensitive it may not be the best option for you or your family. A good time to go if you are heat sensitive is December, January, or February.
August is a popular time of year with families who are looking to finish off the summer break in style. As the month carries on, the crowds lower for the last week or so, making it a popular time to visit.
Pros of an August Disney Trip
- Hot Weather – August offers you the hot Orlando weather that many people are looking for. It’s a popular time of year with international visitors, especially those from the UK and Europe.
- Long Park Hours – With the higher crowd levels, Disney does their best to accommodate this with longer park hours. Keep an eye on the updated hours the week before your trip, as they often extend them further nearer the time.
- Lower Crowds – At the end of August many schools have gone back and the parks are less crowded the last week of the month. Magic Kingdom is also less crowded if you go before 6pm on Mickey’s Not So Scary Party days.
- Halloween Decorations – While it may seem far too early for Halloween, a trip at the end of August allows you to see the decorations or attend the Halloween party in Magic Kingdom. It’s a good option for anyone who can’t visit in October each year.
Cons of an August Disney Trip
- Crowd Levels – Crowds are high for the first three weeks of the month still, competing with July as one of the busiest months of the year. The good news is that they do drop towards the end of the month, which is a great time for adults to visit once the kids are back in school.
- Hurricane Season – The middle of the month onwards is considered to be a high-risk time for hurricanes. Make sure you are prepared for daily rainstorms, which may disrupt your touring time.
Is Disney Crowded In August?
There are moderate crowds the beginning of August as families head to the Disney parks before school starts for the kids. The best time to go in August is the end of the month as kids return to school and the crowds are much lower.
August is a good month to go if you are worried about crowds.
Disney World Special Events In August
Epcot International Food and Wine Festival
This festival has not had any information released yet though the news of the dates should be released in the Fall of 2024. Typically the festival runs from about July to November though this can change. In 2024 the festival was later than normal.
This is one of the highlights of the Epcot events calendar for both locals and visitors. Keep in mind that the parks do get busy at the weekends with locals. Epcot is especially popular when the festival is taking place. Opening weekend will be very busy.
It’s a great way to enjoy new dining options on a budget though, and you’ll find there are enough new things to explore to keep you coming back throughout the next few months.
Magic Kingdom
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party – This party usually starts in August every year. It’s a great way to celebrate Spooky Season early. See your favorite characters in their Halloween costumes, watch the Boo To You Parade, and Trick or Treat in the parks along with many other special activities at the parties.
You will need to purchase a Halloween party ticket to attend the event. Check out more below if you’re interested in attending.
Read Also: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Worth it?
Hollywood Studios
Celebrate all things Pixar with a Joy meet and greet at Pixar Place, and new Pixar themed photo opps, drinks and treats.
Animal Kingdom
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Lion King with special photo opportunities, themed snacks and merchandise. There will be Lion King character animation classes and Rafiki and Timon character meets until September 6, 2024.
Typhoon Lagoon’s H2O After Hours Glow Party
The H20 after hours glow party is back again, and will allow you to experience Typhoon Lagoon starting at 6pm until 11pm. The normal Disney snacks of popcorn and ice cream are included, but don’t start until 8pm officially.
You will experience shorter lines for rides, have multiple DJ’s giving the whole park a beat that will keep you dancing as you enjoy the water park. This after hours party was so much fun and you can meet special characters too!
Read Also: Is The H2O After Hours Glow Party Worth It?
Holidays in August at Walt Disney World
August is one of the few months that has no holidays to celebrate in the US. For that reason, there aren’t any real fluctuations of crowd levels over a specific weekend, and there aren’t any special events for these.
Disney World Theme Park Operating Hours In August
August is a popular month to visit the parks, especially for the first few weeks. While confirmed park hours haven’t been released yet, we can predict the hours based on current trends and previous years.
Keep in mind that when the Magic Kingdom begins to host the Halloween parties, it usually closes early for regular guests on these nights. This can be a poor choice of day for anyone just opting for one day in the Magic Kingdom, as you don’t get as much time to enjoy all of the attractions.
Otherwise, it’s business as usual in most of the parks, which have longer hours to welcome the higher crowd levels.
- Magic Kingdom – 9 am to 9 pm, 10 pm or later (keep in mind of the early closing times for Halloween parties)
- Epcot – 9 am to 9 pm
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 9 am to 9 pm
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom – 8 am to 6pm and up to 8 pm
- Water Parks – 10 am to 5 pm each day for both parks. Blizzard Beach may be under refurbishment.
- Disney Springs – 10 am to 11 pm
How Is The Weather At Walt Disney World In August?
August is one of the hottest months of the year to visit Walt Disney World. The humidity reaches up to 94% most days, and there’s a 70% chance of rain throughout the month.
Expect low temperatures of 74°F and high temperatures of 90°F when visiting in August. We encourage you to take afternoon breaks each day, which you may be forced to do with the rain anyway.
It’s a great month to factor in some pool time, but keep in mind that thunderstorms may force you out of the pools and water park attractions from time to time. From mid-August to the middle of October, we see the highest risk of hurricanes in the area, which is something to keep in mind when traveling at this time of the year.
Is it too hot to go to Disney World in August?
It will be very hot, as we’ve said August is the hottest month of the year at Walt Disney World. If you aren’t heat sensitive, you can still have a great trip in the summer heat especially with some preparation to keep cool in the summer heat.
We recommend rope dropping and coming back for the pool at your resort and going back in the later evening.
How do you stay cool in Disney in August?
Here are our recommendations for staying cool in Central Florida in the summer heat of August.
1. Bring a cooling towel
2. Stay hydrated! Bring reusable water bottles with you to stay hydrated all day
3. Naps in the middle of the day in your hotel room are a great way to stay cool
4. Sunscreen
5. Hit the parks early in the morning and in the evening when it’s coolest
6. Bring your hats and sunglasses
7. Neck Fan
9. Breathable Fabrics and Lightweight Clothing
10. Rain Ponchos and Rain Gear
(If you click any of the affiliate links in this article, I may collect a small commission as an Amazon associate or related relationship. None of the products mentioned were free, and I bought them all to help you find the perfect products to stay cool on hot days)
Does it rain a lot in Disney in August?
August sees about the same amount of rainy days as July does. There are typically 15 rainy days in August, so there is a good chance you will experience rain on your trip.
If you are familiar with Central Florida weather, you also know that most days in August have afternoon rain showers for 15-30 minutes. These storms don’t last too long and can help clear crowds from the parks.
It’s a great idea to bring your rain gear like rain ponchos, umbrellas, extra socks or sandals, and a light jacket for the rain. You can take advantage of the short wait times if you prepare for the rain.
Hurricane season is June through November so August in included in hurricane season in Central Florida. August through November also has a higher chance of hurricanes than the earlier part of hurricane season.
Keep Disney’s cancellation policy in mind when planning an August trip. You will also want to make sure you book refundable transportation down to Florida as well.
What To Wear To Disney In August
You will want to wear cool clothing with breathable fabrics. You will want to wear a pair of shorts, short sleeves, t-shirts, tank tops, dresses, or skirts in August at Walt Disney World Resort.
You can leave the jackets and long pants at home in August. I usually pack a light sweatshirt as I can get cold in the AC or on the plane. This is personal preference as I don’t use it very often in August.
Wear comfortable clothing for the long days in the Disney Parks. The most important thing to wear are comfortable walking shoes as you will do a lot of walking in the parks.
Good quality sneakers are good options for park days like Nikes or Hokas. Other guests like to wear sandals to keep their feet cool in August. The most important thing to consider is wearing shoes that are comfortable to you and already broken in.
Disney Bounding in August
Disney Bounding is so much fun and a great way to celebrate your favorite characters in the Disney parks. Wear that cute outfit to the Disney parks, but it would be a great idea to wear your lighter Disney bound outfits this time of year.
I often wear dresses and skirts as they are the coolest outfits for this time of year. Shorts and a t-shirt are also great for the hot temperatures. I also wear biker shorts underneath my dresses and skirts in the heat to prevent chafing.
What to Pack for Disney World in August
Do not forget to pack and apply sun screen often if you’re going to be at Disney World. If you forget your sunscreen, most resorts will have a store that will have sundries you can purchase. You also have the option to get items delivered from the grocery store or Walmart directly to your hotel.
Read Also: Best Grocery Delivery Tips for Walt Disney World
I’m a fan of Shady Ray sunglasses, as they donate 1 meal with each order, they are quality glasses at reasonable prices, and even will replace them if you lose them when you don’t remember to take them off during Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. That might have happened once or twice to me, and the customer service replacements are quick, and painless.
August Disney World Packing List:
- short sleeve shirts
- tank tops
- shorts
- sunglasses
- hat
- sunscreen
- snacks
- comfortable shoes, sneakers and sandals
- socks
- Rain Jacket, Rain Poncho, Umbrella
- bathing suit
- flip flops or sandals
- Disneybound Outfits or matching family t-shirts
- Minnie and Mickey Ears
- Magic Bands
- Backpack or Disney Park Bag
- Cooling Items like cooling towels, neck fans, spray mist fans
Is Purchasing Lightning Lanes During The Month Of August Worth It?
August is a great month to consider using the Lightning Lane Single Pass or Lightning Lane Multi Pass to help stay out of the heat in the long lines.
August can also have long lines and in the hot weather making Genie+ a great option this time of year. Lightning Lane and using early mornings and cooler temperatures in the evening can help you get the most out of your Walt Disney World vacation and manage the heat. Lightning Lane will allow you to stay out of the heat longer on your Disney World trip.
August is a popular time of the year for anyone looking to enjoy a summer vacation to Orlando. It’s a great time of the year for anyone who enjoys hot weather, but make sure you prepare for rainstorms and the humidity.
The last week or so of the month often sees a huge drop in crowds, which can make for a nice change after the busy summer months. Whenever you visit this month, you’ll find there’s plenty going on to keep you entertained, making for a memorable time for your whole family.
Read Also: Insider’s Guide to Walt Disney World in July
Read Also: Tips for Visiting Disney World in September
Read Also: The Best Time to visit Walt Disney World
1 comment
Nancy Massel
Please recheck the WDW website – the Food & Wine festival is happening from July 14 – Nov 19, 2022.