Fort Wilderness in July

[livelylittlecam]

My wife is starting to talk about visiting Disney in July. Will it be ridiculously hot? Should I stop the madness? There is no other time we can go and we are itching to get there. Don't want to spend the whole week sweating though....

[dblr]

Also if you are in the parks when the heat is bad try to take in some of the indoor shows or attractions to take advantage of the a/c

[majorgator]

As a lifelong Floridian farmboy and contractor, I find all this talk about heat in July to be silly. You're all a bunch of sissies :B

Seriously though, no need for me to comment further about the heat. We don't particularly enjoy camping in the summer time. But if its the only time you can get out, then go for it! Fort Wilderness is as good as it gets in terms of activity packed, convenient, luxury camping. As others have said, go early, come back to relax, and go back to close it down. However, be advised that 3 or 4 PM can be hotter than any other part of the day during the summer.

One tip that we haven't personally tried yet (but told to us by some friends that camp their often) is to book a LONG stay. Apparently their rates are lower the longer you're there. After you book a month long stay, wait a few days and call down there to reduce your reservation to just the days you actually want. According to our friends, they'll let you keep the lower daily rate.

[RGar974417]

We were ther in September and it was too hot.

[Beaker]

, the most popular rides were 60-80 minute waits!

I wish the wait times were that short when we were there the week after Thanksgiving.

To OP, hot and humid is a kind way to describe it.

[Bob_Shaw]

Make liberal use of the Fast Passes. Reserve them early, remember, you can adjust the times from the recommendations. Use the Fast Passes for the more popular rides, and hit the others during the parades. And like others have said, go back to the campground and rest and cool-off during the hottest part of the day. The pool will be crowded. Use lots of sun screen, drink lots of water. You can go to any counter service and ask for a cup of water with ice, it's free.

[intheburbs]

We did Disneyworld every summer from 2006 to 2009. Our three kids were born in 1998 and 2000, so they were 6, 6, and 8 the first time we went. And we've always lived "up north," so Florida in the summer time was HOT to us.

All the indoor rides are air conditioned, so that's your "oasis" from the heat. I think we did the Buzz Lightyear ride about 20 times that first year. Limit your exposure, give the kids time to cool down, take a siesta every afternoon, and you'll have a great time.

Personally, I enjoyed the heat, and I'm not a thin guy. Played golf with a buddy, and it was 99° at our tee time of 12:30 PM. I played 18 holes while the family napped in the A/C.

[Bill_Diana]

spoon059 wrote:
Lots of opinions on both sides. Here is my take on it... If the wife and kids want to go, you should probably go. Drink LOTS of water and try to go to the park first thing in the morning until 11, then come back out after 3 or 4. That gets you out of the worst heat of the day and lets you have lunch at your campsite rather than in the park.

Let the kids play in the pool and take a nap in the AC during that 4 or 5 hour break. It will be hot, you will be sweating and potentially uncomfortable. You likely won't remember the heat when you look back upon it though.

Bottom line, you can make it happen and deal with the heat as best you can, wife and kids will be happy.

X2 🙂 Just Do It !! Have fun !!!

[mgirardo]

We wouldn't intentionally go to Disney in the Summer (more for the crowds than the heat), but if that is the only time you can go, then go. Just be aware it will be hot and it will be crowded. We generally don't go between the months of May - August. There are trees on most sites, so the camper won't be in full sun, but it will be hot in July, there's no escaping it.

I am not affected by the heat, but my wife doesn't not like it too much when it gets in the mid-to-upper 90s. Young kids don't usually fair too well when it is really hot either. The last time we went to Disney in the summer, we went for our daughters birthday at the end of June. The day before her birthday we went to Gator Land and it was hot. We were not prepared for the heat and the wife and kids were dragging. The day of her birthday we went to the Animal Kingdom. It was hotter than the day before, but we were prepared with hats and canteens with cold water. Wife and kids did much better that day.

Taking advantage of the extra magic morning hours is the way to go. Just keep in mind, the parks are busiest on the days they have extra magic evening hours. We try to stay away from the parks on the days they have extra magic evening hours.

-Michael

[tatest]

I lived in Orlando two years, and yes, July is ridiculously hot for anyone accustomed to northern summers. But no hotter than June or August; not much hotter than May. Rains will cool most afternoons or evenings. But in Florida, we lived much of the time out of doors despite the heat, and our car did not have air conditioning (nor did my grandfather's Central Florida house for the first 20 years after he retired there). I rode my bicycle too and from work, even in summer.

That was a "coming from Michigan" experience. Living now on the Great Plains for the 33 of the past 35 years, Florida does not seem so ridiculously hot. Now we sometimes see highs over 100 F for two to two and a half months, and often no rain for that length of time. We still go camping, sit outside in the shade and sweat.

[spoon059]

Lots of opinions on both sides. Here is my take on it... If the wife and kids want to go, you should probably go. Drink LOTS of water and try to go to the park first thing in the morning until 11, then come back out after 3 or 4. That gets you out of the worst heat of the day and lets you have lunch at your campsite rather than in the park.

Let the kids play in the pool and take a nap in the AC during that 4 or 5 hour break. It will be hot, you will be sweating and potentially uncomfortable. You likely won't remember the heat when you look back upon it though.

Bottom line, you can make it happen and deal with the heat as best you can, wife and kids will be happy.

[wing_zealot]

Yes it will be ridiculously hot, yes you will be ridiculously miserable and so will the kids (I don't care what time of the day it is).

[Bears_Den]

We go every year for July 4th, my DW enjoys the golf cart parade and the fireworks. Yes, it is hot but we've lived in Florida over 30 yrs so we are kinda use to the heat and humidity. But like other posters have said going to the parks early morning and in the evening makes it tolerable. The CG has pools for the heat of the day and the A/C is also a great place to relax a little. I really like to be outside no matter where I'm camping so my favorite chair and some shade help. If you decide to go in July, just be sure you and the family stay hydrated.

[Robert78121]

I've been there in June and July and not enjoyed it near as much as in the Winter. Standing in lines is never fun, but when it's 90+ and humid it's downright miserable. I have not been there since they changed the way Fast Passes worked though, so it may not be as bad.

[OutdoorPhotogra]

As career military I've lived across the U.S. and traveled around the world. Other than Afghanistan, the two places where the heat bothered me the most (note: not highest temps) were New Orleans and Orlando in July/August. It's splitting hairs to figure which is worse.

But, you've been given good strategies by the earlier posters and with full knowledge of the heat, I'll be there in July with my family. I wouldn't want to go in July with a toddler but if kids are old enough to be fully mobile and understand not to whine about the heat, have fun. I plan on being in a pool or by a pool in the middle of the day.