5 Reasons to Love Visiting Disney World in August

Are you thinking of taking a trip to Walt Disney World in August? Here are 5 reasons to love visiting Walt Disney World in August.

When to go to Disney?

Sometimes the hardest part about planning a Disney vacation is figuring out when to go. There are so many things to consider.

You might be locked into the schedule of school holidays. Perhaps you might prefer to avoid colder months. You may even want holiday magic on your trip.

Whatever your scheduling needs may be, remember that Kenny the Pirate offers free Crowd Calendars to help you make the most of the magic. Each month has its moments where the parks are more likely to be packed.

Some people are dead set against traveling to Disney during the summer. After all, it is dreadfully hot. However, you might find that the benefits of summer travel outweigh even the highest temperatures.

All things considered, August can be a fun time to go to Disney! This is particularly true if you can travel later in the month when many schools have already started back, creating lower weekday crowds. Here is a round up of my top 5 reasons for loving Disney in August in no particular order.

1. Potential for Longer Park Hours

With Summer Break comes an influx of crowds. And, since park capacity is on the rise, the crowds will be larger than they have been so far since the park’s reopening.

However, crowds can have some positive consequences. One is that park hours are typically longer than in less crowded times. While this is not a guarantee, it is a pattern that has held true.

Although 2021’s park hours have have been very different, we have seen extended hours announced throughout the year. Be sure to check the blog on Friday afternoons for the most recent park hour updates.

Character Locator will stay updated with any additional changes in park hours as well.

This addition of hours can work to the advantage of guests. This is particularly true for guests with specific touring styles.

If you like to go early, take a midday break (especially during the heat of summer), and then return to the parks after the mid day crowds have departed, this is very good news for you. Some of 2021’s initial park hours made taking a break seem illogical because of the travel time to and from the parks, but with longer hours, it is feasible.

It is also great for guests who like to sleep in and then outlast the crowds. Many people find themselves worn out before nightfall. Extended hours gives the night owls a chance to enjoy the parks with less crowding, lower wait times, and less opressive temperatures.

Finally, this works out well for the people who like to tour hard from rope drop to closing because more Disney hours is never a bad thing. This is especially true if you have a quick trip and want to try to squeeze 2 parks into one day through the use of Park Hopper.

2. Boo Bash

Although 2021 will bring another year without Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, the good news is that Disney has alternative plans. This year, Disney will be offering an after hours event called Boo Bash!

If you are traveling in August, you are in luck! Boo Bash kicks off on August 10, 2021.

Boo Bash is a Halloween celebration. The event will feature Halloween-themed cavalcades, Character sightings, trick or treating throughout the park, and special snacks and merch available for purchase.

During the month of August, guests can attend one of 6 nights in August. Parties take place Tuesday, August 10, 2021; Tuesday, August 17, 2021; Friday, August 20, 2021; Tuesday, August 24, 2021; Friday, August 27, 2021; and Tuesday, August 31, 2021.

Tickets are quickly selling out, especially for September and October. So, if you want to attend, late August is looking like a great time to visit.

3. Swimming Pools

I know that some people are in the camp that one does not go on a Disney vacation to spend time in the pool. This can be especially true if you are staying off property, and your accommodations don’t have a particularly special pool. It is also true for people on short ventures with very very limited park time.

However, Walt Disney World is home to some decidedly magical pools. Stormalong Bay is continually (and debatably) touted as the best pool at Disney. But Polynesian and Caribbean Beach can both make arguments for “best pool” as well.

Many of the pools also have awesome splash pad areas if you have little ones. My two love the “water playgrounds” as they call them. Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Animal Kingdom’s Kidani, and other resorts all feature awesome ones.

I honestly have never met a Disney pool I didn’t love. Additionally, there are many off property hotels with fantastic pools as well.

Many people intentionally build pool time into their itineraries. This is particularly true for travelers who like mid day breaks or travelers who like to incorporate rest days into their trips.

I am one of those people because my kids adore the pools. We like to do a day with a breakfast followed by time at the pool and close out with an evening at the parks.

This is especially pleasant if you have a trip planned in the summer, and you know that heat is not your friend. I have to admit, I often feel withered in Florida’s heat myself, and I am used to hot climates. Sometimes a day of swimming and an evening at the parks is the prefect way to reset for another full park day.

Overall, while Florida’s August weather isn’t perfect for much, it IS perfect for the pool. While some months can bring cold snaps, this is not going to happen in August. Morning, mid day, or night, it is bound to be pleasant in the water baring the occasional summer storm.

4. Water Rides

August is a good month for water rides. While it may be too chilly to consider walking around after the potential soaking that could come with the water rides in winter or even early spring or late fall, the Summer makes these attractions easier to take on.

Kali River Rapids and Splash Mountain are attractions where some people manage to escape a soaking. However, you can typically count on getting drenched.

Even the front row of Frozen ever After can be a bit of a soggy experience. I’d much rather do even that ride on a warm day when I know I will dry quickly then on a winter’s morning where I could be soggy and cold for the entire day.

Of course, if you would rather not get soaked, you can always wear a poncho like some of the KTP writers have been known to do. They say it keeps you nice and dry!

Overall, in the summer, not only is it less terrible to get wet, it is often down right refreshing. Plus, you tend to dry off very quickly.

And don’t forget that Disney is also home to state of the art water parks. Blizzard Beach reopened its doors in March and with it, its thrilling water slides.

Summer is a perfect time to enjoy a water park and all the fun that comes with it. From wave pools to a lazy river to a kiddie area to a chair lift, Blizzard beach has a variety of fun offerings to enjoy even if you are not a slide enthusiast.

I can’t imagine enjoying a day of waterslides and water based activities if there were any chance I would be cold. August eliminates the cold factor.

5. Food & Wine Festival

For 2021, August brings with it a fun treat. Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival begins July 15, 2021, and it will still be going strong in August.

While Food & Wine is not my personal favorite Epcot Festival, I will say that when it comes to the food offerings, the selection cannot be beat. Many of my favorite festival dishes come from Food & Wine, which seems appropriate given its title.

For a full line up of this year’s Global Marketplace food booths, click here. I am excited to visit some old favorites such as Flavors from Fire, Hops & Barley, and Canada! I am also looking forward to newcomers in the line up.

This year, live entertainment is back at the festival! For a full rundown of what to expect, click here.

You can also grab some fun merch at the festival. This year’s festival is sponsored by CORKCICLE, so you can imagine there will be some fantastic drinkware. For a preview, click here. I personally own maybe 6 Disney CORKCICLEs (I might have a problem) and love them all.

For a full guide of the Festival, check out our post HERE.

Final Thoughts

It is true that August is hot, even oppressively hot sometimes. However, it is also possible to have a great time, even with the heat and a few thunderstorms to dodge.

This is especially true if you are a bit of a night owl and love to enjoy the pools and water rides.

If you decide August is for you, remember to check out Donna‘s guide to beating the heat in Disney World. Head over here to read it.

It has some tips that will help you to maximize your enjoyment. I’ll be using these tips myself when I travel this summer!

Do you have plans for a trip to Walt Disney World in August? What are your favorite aspects of traveling during that month? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook page. Or, keep the conversation going and share them with us in our crew, too!