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Last updated on 07/08/2023
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World in August? It starts out hot and moderately busy and ends still hot but lots less busy.
Here’s what you need to know:
August is a hot month. If you want to avoid the heat and humidity, August is not for you. But, it’s not an overall bad month, especially thanks to several special events happening like Halloween. Yes, you read that correctly. The spooky season begins in August at Disney World.
There are all kinds of reasons to love Disney World during August. Here are some of our favorites:
But while there is lots to enjoy about August at Disney World, there are a few other things you should know:
Yes and no. You will see more moderate crowds in August compared to earlier summer months.
But, with August being the end of summer, the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival happening, and Halloween starting, you may see the parks pick up here and there. Overall, August can be a good month to visit for lower to moderate crowds.
During busier times of the year, like summer, Disney does try to improve guest experiences by doing a few things to help keep the lines down. Although they never officially announce anything, these are the things that we’ve noticed that do help:
Although Disney can make adjustments to keep the lines manageable, they can’t control just how busy the parks look and feel. During busier times of the year, walkways and paths in the parks may be full, Quick Service locations remain busy for longer, and the crowds for nighttime shows will be heavier.
We don’t tell you that to scare you, but to prepare you. August, just like anytime you visit, isn’t the time to to not plan. Spending even just a few minutes on a plan for your Disney World trip will make all the difference.
Here are the dates we are predicting will be the busiest in August:
PARK HOURS | PRICES & DISCOUNTS | SPECIAL EVENTS | WEATHER | WHAT TO WEAR | REFURBISHMENTS & CLOSURES | WHAT’S NEW | TIPS | AUGUST TRIP REPORTS
Disney publishes its park hours about 75 days in advance, but those hours can (and very often do) change.
Note: This used to be about 180 days in advance, but since the reopening, they have transitioned to a roughly 75-day window.
As the dates get closer, it isn’t unusual for Disney to tweak either the opening or closing times. And during especially busy times of the year, they may change both.
That means to avoid having your plans sidetracked, you’ll definitely want to keep checking the park hours – including while on your trip.
When it comes to park hours – in general – the heavier the crowds, the longer the parks will be open during the day. Of course, that also means that the parks will be open fewer hours of the day during less busy times of the years.
Since August is typically a busier time of the year (at least for the first couple of weeks), the parks often open earlier and stay open later than they do during less busy times of the year.
Read More:
Even though August is at the end of the busy summer season, there are still discounts to be had.
But remember: Disney doesn’t offer discounts to be nice, they do it to fill hotel rooms. For the best chances of snagging a good deal, keep your travel dates and preferred resort flexible.
Probably the most famous of all the Epcot festivals is the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
Held every year in the fall, if you are a fan of good food and fun drinks, you’ll definitely want to plan to spend some time at Epcot during your trip.
Halloween has always been an extremely popular time to visit Walt Disney World, with specially ticketed events at Magic Kingdom a highlight for many guests.
One of the hottest parties around, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a specially ticketed event (translation: it costs extra) at Magic Kingdom. During the party you’ll find special character meet and greet opportunities, dance parties, the popular Boo to You parade, fireworks, and of course, trick-or-treating.
August at Disney World is nothing short of hot. And steamy. And did we mention it was hot?
During August, the temperatures will range from lows in the mid-70s to highs in the 90s.
And with all that heat and humidity comes lots and lots of chances for rain.
In fact, August sees an average of nearly 8 inches of rain each year with most of that rain falling during storms that pop up in the afternoon.
We recommend that you come prepared with ponchos, multiple pairs of shoes (in case one pair gets wet), and umbrellas just in case.
The pools are a popular place to be in August as people search for ways to cool off after a busy day in the parks.
In addition to the pools at the resorts, Disney’s 2 water parks will also remain popular.
If swimming is a must-do and you are worried about the crowds, consider starting your day at the pool and head to the parks later in the day. Most people reverse that plan which means the pools can get quite busy by the end of the day.
You’ll definitely want to prepare for the hot weather and pack accordingly.
Shorts, capri pants, and moisture wicking socks are all good options.
One place where you might get cold, however, is inside some restaurants and attractions.
And in fact, even during the hottest months we keep a light jacket in our park bag because coming out of the sun into an air-conditioned space is sometimes too cold for our liking.
If you’re the kind of person that finds sitting under the A/C to be too much, you might want to consider tossing in a light jacket, too.
While routine refurbishments aren’t typically scheduled in August, you’ll likely still run into a few attractions that are closed.
At this time, no major new attraction, restaurant, or show is scheduled to open in August.
Depending on the length of your trip, here’s how many days we recommend for each park:
When it comes time to decide which days are best for each park, here are some general things to keep in mind:
1. For each day of the month, we tell you on a scale of 1-10 how busy the entire Walt Disney World Resort is when compared to other days of the year.
2. Then, for each park you’ll see the park hours and any special events that are planned.
3. We also track refurbishments and closings (which you can toggle on and off).
4. We have a handy feature that allows you to automatically add your Advanced Dining Reservation date to your calendar.
5. And, one of the most useful features is the ability to be able to print the calendar so that you can have a paper copy for planning (or to just use as a backup).
Official park hours are usually released around 75 days in advance.
The "crowd level" compares each day to the rest of the year; it indicates how crowded the entire WDW Resort area is on a scale of 1-10.
| Magic Kingdom | Epcot | Hollywood Studios | Animal Kingdom | Typhoon Lagoon | Blizzard Beach | Disney Springs | Dining Closings | Attraction Closings | Reservation Dates | |
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