What is it really like to visit Disney World in August?

When my family and I decided to book a trip to Disney World in August we spent a lot of time leading up to the vacation trying to decide if we should really visit the parks at that time of year. When I started googling what it would be like, in all honesty it did not make me feel any more confident in my decision to book this trip. But as it got closer to travel time we decided that we got such a good deal and we figured it was Disney so it would be worth it no matter what. I researched a lot about what we would experienced and what we needed to do to prepare. I will be honest that most of the advice I found referred to Disney World in August as an "inferno." I was however, able to compile a decent list of tips for surviving the summer heat.

The week before we were due to fly out, the weather reports began watching the Florida area for a tropical storm. Everyday leading up to the trip the reports would go back and forth on whether Orlando would be effected and how bad the storm would be. Of course we seriously questioned our trip decision at this point however we decided to get on the plane anyway and hope for the best.

When we arrived in Orlando it was no doubt hot and much hotter from where we had come from. We also learned that yes the tropical storm had transitioned into a hurricane and would have some effects on Orlando. We ended up having a day in a half of decently solid rain but the parks never closed and rides were only minimally effected. In the end, being in Disney World during a hurricane made for a wet rainy day but much thinner crowds. It also did cool the weather down (somewhat). Once the hurricane passed the heat definitely came out and so did the humidity. However, having the right gear and the right strategies helped us to have a magical trip and this included my 70 year old parents.

Here are the top tips I would share for surviving Disney World in August or really in any summer month:

1) Don't get set on your schedule or your 'have to do' list - Because the weather can be unpredictable and extremely hot this time of year, it is difficult to know exactly how your day will go. It will depend each day on how you are feeling and how the heat is effecting you. It can work best to make a loose schedule but be willing to change course if you need to.

2) Start early and plan for breaks - This is a very important tip that worked well for our family. Every morning we were the first to the bus line and made it in the parks before early entry opened. This helped us tremendously in beating the heat. We were able to get several rides in before the highest heat started. We also took a break each day sometimes going back to the resort and sometimes just taking a nice cool lunch inside. Just be aware that It may take you longer to get through things and you may not get everything in that you have on your list. With the later night hours in the Summer, it is also a good opportunity to visit the parks at night, after the hot sun goes down. Staying at a Deluxe Resort can be great since it gives you access to the extra evening hours in select parks if available.

3) Wear water resistant clothing or quick dry - This was a tip I was a little bummed about since I am such a jean wearing girl. However, this was imperative advice for sure! I ended up with quick dry athletic wear most of the time and this was the perfect thing to wear! It quickly dried from both rain and humidity. I was able to wear jean shorts one night when we went back to the parks after hours and there was no rain in the forecast. Other then that night, quick dry shorts were a must!

3) Bring multiple pairs of shoes and a water proof sandal option - Whether from humidity or rain, shoes will get wet and with the humidity, it can take a VERY long time to dry. It helped tremendously to alternate shoes and let them have a day to dry. I also wore waterproof Birkenstocks on the day of heavy rain during the hurricane. This was great for me as I can't stand having wet shoes. Yes they were not as comfortable as tennis shoes can be but when you are wading through puddles of water it makes a huge difference!

4) Use body deodorant - You sweat, a lot, and from all different body parts. Enough said!

5) Bring personal fans for everyone in your party - I had purchased individual rechargeable fans for everyone in my family and we definitely got our use out of them. It was really nice to get a little bit of breeze directly on your face when walking through crowds or standing in lines. We also tried the cooling towels but those just got gross and annoying to have and we ended up throwing them away.

6) Get ice water everywhere you can and bring good refillable water bottles - All the quick service restaurants in the parks will give you free cups of ice or ice water. We used these to refill our water bottles over and over again. My kids drink so much water and knowing we could keep getting not only water but cold water was so helpful.

7) Wear hats and lot and lot of sunscreen - I know this one sounds obvious but these are 2 things I sometimes forget. The hat really helped to keep me cooler since my head was not taking in as much heat. I highly recommend this one.

8) Bring a lot of changes of clothes especially for kids - If you do take a break at your hotel room or go swimming, putting back on the same sweaty, stinky clothes you wore all morning is next to torture. It was helpful to have 2 different outfits per day.

9) Have bottles of water and quick snacks delivered to to hotel - Most hotel rooms now have small fridges in the room so keeping bottles of water in the fridge for when you start the day or return was a cooling treat. I was able to have a Target delivery to the room shortly after we checked in and this worked out great for waters and snacks for the kids.

10) Bring ponchos and a cover for the stroller - I remembered to purchase ponchos for everyone before we left for Disney World which was great. I decided to get the reusable ones which just from watching other park guests worked much better then the disposable ones. I did however forget to get a rain cover up for the stroller and this was a mistake. Next time around I will definitely remember to throw one in so that we have a dry place to put bags and such when going on rides and it's pouring outside.

11) Go swimming at night - Summer in Florida is the perfect time to be able to swim at night under the stars and pool lights without being cold. There is something magical about a pool at night for me and it was so much fun to enjoy this experience with my kids! At some of the Disney resorts you can also watch the fireworks from the pool!

In the end I would go in August again and we actually plan to do it again next Summer. Of course we will have to brace for the heat and be on the look out for Hurricane watches but it was so magical just being at Disney World any time of year. I also appreciated it being so warm at night while watching the fireworks. It may become a standing annual trip for my family to go to Disney World in the Summer!