There’s something extra magical about Disney in the summertime, but summer also brings soaring temperatures, bigger crowds, and the need for a bit more planning to make the most of your visit. Whether you’re a seasoned Disney-goer or planning your first trip, this guide will help you navigate the parks with ease, beat the heat, and soak up all the magic during at Disney in summer.
Summer heat, high humidity, and crowds may discourage you from planning a visit to the Disney World theme park during the summer season, but it is actually a great time to visit.
Typically May-September is hot and humid but there are ways to make a summer visit great. From taking breaks during the afternoons to packing cooling accessories, Disney World in summer can be manageable and a lot of fun.
What to Consider for Visiting Disney World in Summer
Taking Kids Out of School or Missing Work
One of the biggest perks of visiting Disney World in the summer is we don’t have to work around our kids’ school schedule or be concerned with making up missed work.
We live in New York and school doesn’t start until early September giving us a small window in the last few weeks of August to plan a Disney World visit. It is the perfect time for our trip to Disney!
I also know many teachers that can only visit during school breaks when the prices are very expensive. A late summer visit would be a great option.
Weather at Disney World in Summer
Weather is probably the biggest factor in planning a visit to Disney World in the summer. Orlando, Florida is very hot and humid in the summer.
The temperature in July and August is high of 92 degrees and low of 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
On a recent visit to Epcot the “feels like” temp was 110 degrees (F). Epcot offers little shade and we had to drink a lot of water and plan numerous stops inside to cool off. Pack a reusable water bottle for your visit.
There is also bottled water for purchase and you can always ask for a cup of water free of charge at dining locations.
The next weather issue you want to consider is rain. It will rain almost every afternoon in the summer. Typically the storm lasts under an hour and most indoor attractions remain open.
The rain is unpredictable so the best you can do is be prepared. I would not cancel my day at a park due to rain, I would make sure to be prepared.
When it rains keep in mind outdoor attractions will close. The Disney Skyliner transportation system will also close for extreme thunder/lightning.
Parades and outdoor shows will also be postponed or cancelled due to the weather. The Disney Skyliner will temporarily close during thunderstorms.
We have visited Orlando in the summer numerous times over the last 5 years and a storm has not negatively impacted our trip.
Summer is also hurricane season and although Disney World is not on the coast it can be impacted with shutdowns and rain. Disney World is very prepared for a hurricane so if you do get stuck there, know that they are prepared to assist.
How Does Your Family Handle the Heat?
One thing to consider that I think is often overlooked is how do you (and your family) react to the heat. Do you love it? Do you get overheated easily? These are things to think about.
If you don’t really like the heat but summer is the only time you can visit, there are things you can do to make your visit easier.
Arrive early at the parks before it heats up, plan breaks in your hotel each afternoon to cool off, move at a slower pace during the day, and visit the parks later in the evenings.
Crowd Levels
While we can’t know exactly what the crowds will be like we can use crowd calendars to make a guess.
July will be the busiest month to visit the parks. July is busy for family travel no matter what destination you visit and expect the same at Disney World.
After the second week in August you will see a decrease in crowds. The parks will be busy but it will be less crowded than July.
Tips to Beat the Heat at Disney World in Summer
- Plan your day around the hottest times of the day.
- A typical summer day at a Disney Park would look like this: Arrive at park open (30-45 minutes before), Leave park after lunch for a break from the heat at the resort, return to the park for dinner and evening hours at the park.
- Pack water bottles, ponchos, stroller covers, hats, fans, and cooling towels to prepare for the heat. It is better to have it and not need it. I have an amazon store dedicated to visiting theme parks in summer.
- Take advantage of the heat and ride the water attractions or visit the water parks.
- Take a midday break to get out of the heat and relax.
- Don’t rush and be mindful of how the heat affects everyone in your group. It is best to go at your own pace especially when it is hot out.
10 Reasons to Plan a Summer Disney World Trip
- Less crowds during the mid-August to end of the month.
- Typically park hours are longer during the summer months.
- Breaks at the hotel allow you to explore hotel and pools more. Some of our favorite resorts are Riviera Resort and Art of Animation.
- Take advantage of late summer deals.
- Typically less refurbishments and closures.
- At times night shows will have two showings. An early and late one. This allows you to maximize your time in the park.
- Take advantage of the heat and ride the water rides at the Disney parks.
- Attend special events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom or the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot.
- Visit one of the two Disney water parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.
- Vacation time is more flexible if you have school age kids.
Cool Kid Summer
For 2025 Disney World is offering special discounts, fun activities at all of the theme parks, and special entertainment for families. These include character meet and greets at the resorts, 50% off kids tickets, and kid friendly dance parties at the parks. Learn more here.
What to Pack for a Summer Vacation at Disney World
There are a few things I always pack when visiting Disney World in the summer. (affiliate links)
- Reusable water bottles: You can refill this during your day at the park. If you don’t want to carry a water bottle you can ask at any dining location for free cups of water.
- Ponchos: We always pack ponchos and it has been a huge money saver and help on rainy days. We purchase them on amazon and have them ready if we find ourselves in a storm. These have lasted us a few visits, just make sure to dry them completely once you are home.
- I have not used stroller fans or neck cooling wraps but you may want them if you are traveling with small children.
- Also pack the basics like sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses.
- Dress in cool, light-weight, and light color clothing can help you stay cool.
Is It Worth Visiting Disney World in the Summer
This is going to be a very individualized answer depending on the factors I listed above. I can only give our experience and opinion from visiting Orlando as a family every summer since 2017.
We think it is worth visiting Disney World in the summer. We always have the best time with the longer park hours and taking breaks at the resort during the afternoon hours.
The big summer crowds are usually gone, we have more flexibility because school is not in session, and we don’t mind the heat.
We have visited with friends and family that do not like the heat and they didn’t love visiting that time of year. They felt the humidity made it unbearable to walk around the parks and it wasn’t their favorite time to visit.
They also said if it was the only time they could plan a trip, they would still consider a summer visit.
If you are realistic for what will work for you, and plan breaks or indoor attractions during the hottest time of the day, a summer visit might work.
Some of the most popular attractions like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge rides are indoors. These will give you a much needed break from the heat.
Riding indoor attractions like Rise of the Resistance during the hottest times of day will make a summer visit easier. Below we ran through the rain to get to Smugglers Run. When we exited the rain was over.
When visiting Disney World in the summer keep in mind you will need to purchase park tickets ahead of time. Be sure to use the My Disney Experience app to start researching things you want to do.
A summer Disney World vacation can be a great time to visit. Plan your days based on what works best for your family and you will have a great trip!
This post includes affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Leah has been a Disney fan her entire life. From growing up with the movies to planning amazing Disney trips. She loves sharing her passion for Disney and helping others plan amazing Disney trips.