USVI-On-Line

okay, so i am supposed to go with my family to Santa Fe second week of August--my husband has work out there--Originally it was just going to be him and our daughter and her friend--then we decided to tag along (my son and I) -- but I think my daughter wanted an exclusive dad trip---and I was thinking maybe i should take my son to the new Harry Potter attraction at Universal--but i am thinking it will be INSANE during this time and maybe it would be better to wait until the early fall? (but i am not sure i can afford to do both trips....so.....)--how crowded are theme parks in mid august???--I really want to go to Santa Fe (much more up my alley) but my son really wants to do this Potter thing and I fear that there aren't many more years when he would want to do this type of thing (like maybe this will be the last?)

so dear forumites--what would you do??? and is universal/disney etc likely to be just way crowded at this time of year???

In my opinion this is the absolute worst time of the year for central Florida theme parks. Crowded, hot, and thunderstorms!

We did a full week at Disney last August. I agree with Augie- crowded, hot and thunderstorms. BUT, we survived. Actually looked forward to the thunderstorms some days We just packed ponchos and kept on going.

I think the main thing, for Disney, was to be mentally prepared for LONG lines and crowds (to avoid frustration), and study ahead for FastPass rides. We did that every chance we got and it helped. W just tried to take a chill pill every morning and go with the flow. It helped that the kids were SO happy and having fun. I would rather have a happy entertained kid in an hour long line with 100s of people than a bored kid with no-one around!

Also- research ahead and if there are any restaurants that you would like to go to, make reservations NOW. There are also plenty of counter service places that you can go to at anytime. Check it all out on the WDW website.

Have no idea about the Harry Potter park, though. Good luck!!

I'm not even reading anyone's replies. Just adding this: Run QUICKLY in the opposite direction.

Worst time to go

I know you want to take the trip with your son but I think you would be miserable there in August. I went during the summer many years ago and swore I would never do it again - and I haven't!!

I don't know about the season's affect on the crowds and weather, but I was told what the letters in EPCOT stand for whem we were there last. Every Person Comes Out Tired!

JIM

Don't do it. My kids still say it was the worse trip ever. I agree. It was so awful that I couldn't believe anyone could honestly enjoy that horrible place. Then my sister and I compared trips and the difference was the time of year, heat, and lines.

It was so bad that my kids scream no when suggest trying it again. Don't go in August.

xoxo

Don't do it!! And I say this as a huge Disney/Universal fan. The lines are outrageous, the humidity is intolerable, the crowds are immense, and those three factors combine to produce a smell that is unimaginable!

Plus, Potter World is INSANE right now. The only way I would even consider it is if I were to stay onsite at Universal and they were giving front of the line passes to hotel guests (they do for Universal and IOA, but I am not sure if the Potter rides are exempted).

I went to Disney in August once, and you could not pay me to do it again. It was miserable. Two members of my traveling party got heatstroke!

ohhhhh boy. glad i asked! So it's off to Santa Fe for us--
I think we worked out a compromise--if I can pull it off the kids have off from school the 9 and 10th of sept because of the Jewish Holidays--I can't imagine that those days would be too crowded (though it might be hot!)
I do plan on checking out the early admission option to the Potter attraction!

Yay! Santa Fe!!!

That should be a lot better. When our boys were little we used to have annual passes since we just live an hour or so away. The period between Labor Day and Thanksgiving was typically the least busy time of the year.

We went (albeit 10 years ago) the weekend after Labor Day. sure, it was hotter than Hades and you had the 3:30 rain, but NO crowds at all.

We walked around almost "feeling bad" for those who had been there 2 weeks prior. They suffered, we had parks to ourselves.

This was kinda fun! Wouldn't do it in August either.