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WDW Prep School

August at Disney World

Last updated on 07/08/2023

January February March April May June July August September October November December

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:

Goofy statue hub
In this article:
  • Is August a good time to visit Walt Disney World in August?
    • Why we love August at Disney World
  • Is Disney World busy in August?
  • Planning for Disney World in August
    • August Disney World Park Hours
    • Prices and Discounts for August in Disney World
    • Special Events in August at Disney World
    • Weather in August at Disney World​
    • Can you swim in August?
    • What to wear in August at Disney World
  • Refurbishments and closures
  • What's new at Disney World in August?
  • Tips for Disney World in August
  • August trip reports
  • What order should you visit the parks?
  • How our August Crowd Calendar Works
  • August Crowd Calendar

In this article

  • Is August a good time to visit Walt Disney World in August?
  • Is Disney World busy in August?
  • Planning for Disney World in August
  • Refurbishments and closures
  • What’s new at Disney World in August?
  • Tips for Disney World in August
  • August trip reports
  • What order should you visit the parks?
  • How our August Crowd Calendar Works
  • August Crowd Calendar

Is August a good time to visit Walt Disney World in August?

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.

  • Ready to dive in? Jump down to the August Crowd Calendar

There are all kinds of reasons to love Disney World during August. Here are some of our favorites:

Why we love August at Disney World

  • The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is still ongoing and usually runs through the fall. The festival has lots of booths serving a variety of foods. Plus, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series has some very good headliners.
  • August is the perfect time to visit the water parks and enjoy your hotel pool. Sometimes guests don’t spend enough time at their hotel and this is a great time to do just that.
  • Visiting Disney World in August is a good time to enjoy more moderate crowds compared to earlier summer months.
  • August is the last chance to experience summer-themed events before the parks fully embrace fall festivities.
  • Halloween kicks off in August, with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party beginning its run at Magic Kingdom.

But while there is lots to enjoy about August at Disney World, there are a few other things you should know:

  • August can still see some summer crowds here and there. Plus, with Halloween starting, guests begin arriving for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Whatever the case, you need to make sure you have a plan so that you aren’t spending all your time in line.
  • The weather in August at Disney World is hot and humid. Those temperature can be overbearing at times, especially during the middle of the day. This also means it will rain/storm at least once a day. We highly recommend you plan midday breaks from the sun and rain during your trip.

Is Disney World busy in August?

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:

  • Expanded capacity at attractions. Some attractions (like Space Mountain or Toy Story Mania, for example) have multiple “sides”, and during busier times of the year, Disney will operate both sides, which can help keep those wait times down.
  • Staffing. When the crowds are heavier, Disney increases their staffing levels across the entire resort. That means more staff at restaurants, at Guest Services, working security and transportation, etc.
  • Fewer refurbishments. Whenever anything is closed (either for a refurbishment or even if an attraction simply goes down), all those people who may have been in line are now out in the park or waiting in line for a different attraction. Disney aims to complete as many major, scheduled refurbishment projects as possible before summer. Yes, some things may still be refurbished during this time – but if at all possible, August doesn’t typically see many refurbishments, if any at all.

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:

  • August 1-13 – moderate crowds that get lighter as the month goes on
  • August 19-20 – moderate weekend crowds
  • August 21-31 – some of the lightest crowds of the year, with Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays being a bit heavier than the other days of the week

Planning for Disney World in August

PARK HOURS | PRICES & DISCOUNTS | SPECIAL EVENTS | WEATHER | WHAT TO WEAR | REFURBISHMENTS & CLOSURES | WHAT’S NEW | TIPS | AUGUST TRIP REPORTS

August Disney World Park Hours

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:

  • Guide to Magic Kingdom Park Hours
  • Guide to Epcot Park Hours
  • Guide to Hollywood Studios Park Hours
  • Guide to Animal Kingdom Park Hours

Prices and Discounts for August in Disney World

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. 

  • Guide to Disney World Discounts

Special Events in August at Disney World

Epcot International Food And Wine Festival

Probably the most famous of all the Epcot festivals is the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.

riesling - noodle exchange - epcot food and wine

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.

  • Complete Guide to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival

Halloween

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.

Halloween at magic kingdom - mickey pumpkin
  • Halloween events at Disney World

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

mnsshp

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.

  • Complete Guide to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Weather in August at Disney World​

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.

Sun shades Toy Story Mania

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.

  • How to handle the weather at Disney World

Can you swim in August?

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.

POR Pool

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.

  • FAQ’s about the Pools at Walt Disney World

What to wear in August at Disney World

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.

Country Bears

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.

  • Ultimate Packing List for Walt Disney World

Refurbishments and closures

While routine refurbishments aren’t typically scheduled in August, you’ll likely still run into a few attractions that are closed.

  • Disney World Refurbishment Calendar

What’s new at Disney World in August?

At this time, no major new attraction, restaurant, or show is scheduled to open in August.

Tips for Disney World in August

  • The sun can be quite intense, and it can be easy to burn. Make sure you pack (and use) sunscreen.
  • Keep checking for discounts. Even if you’ve already booked discounts can still be applied.
  • The pools can get quite busy. For the lowest crowds consider visiting in the morning.
  • If you plan to visit the Food & Wine Festival, consider going on a weekday when the crowds are lower.

August trip reports

  • Disney cruise from England to Norwegian Fjords – PREP 374
  • Alise’s quick mother-daughter trip to Disney World – PREP 373
  • Sharon’s August Trip Report – PREP321
  • Jessica’s surprise birthday trip for her son – PREP287
  • Fran’s mother/son August Trip – PREP286
  • Andrew’s August Anniversary Trip – PREP257
  • Gina’s August Universal/Disney World trip – PREP256
  • Daily updates from my August 2020 trip – PREP255
  • Lauren’s pool time August trip – PREP254

What order should you visit the parks?

Depending on the length of your trip, here’s how many days we recommend for each park:

Suggested number of days in each park

When it comes time to decide which days are best for each park, here are some general things to keep in mind:

  • Hollywood Studios was once easy to do in a half day, but now a full day is typically recommended, especially if you want to ride all the headliners and catch some of the shows.
  • Magic Kingdom is the most popular park overall. It is also the park most first-time visitors think of when they think “Disney World”. Saturdays and Mondays are the busiest, with mid-week typically the least busy.
  • Epcot hosts nearly year-round festivals, and those festivals are popular with both out-of-state visitors and with locals. And, since a lot of what the festivals are famous for are alcohol and food, the areas around the Festival Booths can be a lot busier (and a bit rowdier) than what you’d find during the daytime hours on the weekdays. If that isn’t the vibe you are looking for, you may want to skip Epcot during the nighttime on Friday and Saturdays.
  • Animal Kingdom remains one of the “easiest” parks to fit into a trip. You should be able to plug it in wherever it makes the most sense for you.
  • We go into a lot more detail in our guide on The Best Days to Visit Each Park.

How our August Crowd Calendar Works

How the Crowd Calendars work

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).

August Crowd Calendar

Crowd Calendar
August 2024

Print as PDF

Official park hours are usually released around 75 days in advance.

Crowd Levels

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.

Thursday, November 1, 2018
10/10 crowd level
  • 1-3 crowd levels
  • 4-7 crowd levels
  • 8-10 crowd levels
  • About advanced reservations

  • - Advanced dining reservations: Advanced dining reservations can be made 60 days beforehand beginning online at 6 am EST or by phone at 7:00 am EST.
  • Tips from our ground crew

  • - In general, we recommend booking Park Pass reservations for Hollywood Studios early in your trip to maximize your chances to ride Rise of the Resistance.
  • - Magic Kingdom typically sees a surge on Saturdays, so other parks are usually a better choice.
  • - Since the festivals can draw lots of locals, avoid Epcot on Friday and Saturday nights.
  • - Animal Kingdom is a good option for most days, so plug it into your trip wherever it is easiest.

  • Quick Toggle

      Magic Kingdom Epcot Hollywood Studios Animal Kingdom Typhoon Lagoon Blizzard Beach Disney Springs Dining Closings Attraction Closings Reservation Dates
    Loading calendar...

      Recent Updates

    No updates published yet.

      Refurbishment Details

    March 16, 2020 - December 31, 2078 - Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular , (Attraction)

    March 16, 2020 - December 31, 2078 - Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant, (Dining)

    March 16, 2020 - December 31, 2078 - Victoria and Albert's, (Dining)

    March 16, 2020 - December 31, 2078 - Restaurant Marrakesh, (Dining)

    March 16, 2020 - December 31, 2078 - Monsieur Paul, (Dining)

    March 16, 2020 - December 31, 2078 - Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, (Dining)

    March 16, 2020 - December 31, 2078 - Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple, (Attraction)

    March 16, 2020 - December 31, 2078 - Voyage of the Little Mermaid, (Attraction)

    March 16, 2020 - December 31, 2078 - Enchanted Tales with Belle, (Attraction)

    June 18, 2022 - December 31, 2078 - Narcoossee’s, (Dining)

    August 15, 2022 - December 31, 2078 - Kona Cafe Refurbishment, Kona Cafe will be closing for a complete refurbishment. No reopening date has been announced yet. During the closure, Mobile Ordering will be available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Kona Island. (Dining)

      Available Discounts

    No discounts currently available.

    See the chart of past discounts for previous promotion dates.

      Special Events

    We will update this soon.

      Crowds

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    Related articles

    We will update this soon.

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