Visiting Walt Disney World in August 2024

Planning a visit to Walt Disney World in August? Here are some key points to consider. First, brace yourself for the intense heat and humidity that characterizes Florida’s summers. Additionally, be prepared for occasional afternoon rain showers (aka brief downpours), as it’s Orlando’s rainy season. However, if weather conditions don’t deter you, August can offer a less crowded experience compared to other summer months. In fact, August 2024 could be an ideal time for your family to explore Disney World. Just remember to strategize and preplan to maximize your fun!

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Planning a Disney World vacation in 2024? Be sure to check out our guide to all that the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer this year including the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the return of the Disney Dining Plan, and more! (You can also find our 2023 guide here!)

In This Post

August At-a-Glance

August Events

August Refurbishments & Closures

August Weather

August Disney World Crowd Calendar

Ready To Start Planning Your Visit To Walt Disney World In August?

August At-a-Glance

Don’t forget to pack your sunscreen and drink lots of water! Temperatures in August are definitely heating up! The summer sun in Florida can also be a bit intense. And while Disney offers many ways to cool off, you will definitely want to be prepared with sunscreen and water.
Be prepared for rain. As August can be very hot and humid, rain happens. Ponchos are a great thing to keep handy for afternoon showers!
Mornings are a great time to visit the pools. Due to the hotter temperatures, the pools can get quite busy during the heat of the day as well as in the evenings when guests return from a day in the parks. Consider visiting in the mornings when they will be less busy.
Major refurbishments are not typically common in August. Disney tends to schedule their refurbishments during less busy months (such as January or February), but that doesn’t mean closures can’t or won’t happen in August.
The last two weeks in August are wonderful if you’re trying to avoid crowds. Many schools are back in session and not many want to miss the first weeks of school. So if that isn’t an issue for you, this could be a great time to visit the parks!
The Food and Wine Festival is quite popular with locals. Consider visiting Epcot on weekdays if you’re trying to avoid the crowds.

August Events

Halloween arrives early at the Disney World Resort! Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Disney’s very popular ticketed event at Magic Kingdom, will likely be taking place once again in 2024. (Although nothing has been officially announced by Disney yet.) The event is hosted on select nights in Magic Kingdom beginning mid-August, and it typically runs through October 31.

Another festival to be aware of is Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival which takes place from July 27 – November 18 in 2023. Dates have yet to be announced for 2024, but it is likely they will be similar to previous years. Undoubtedly one of the most popular festivals at Epcot, this event typically features nearly 30 food and beverage booths (compared to under 20 for the other festivals) as well as the Eat to the Beat Concert Series. Evenings and weekends will be busier so plan on visiting Epcot during the week if crowds are a concern.

The Eat to the Beat Concert Series will also likely return in 2024 to the America Gardens Theatre stage. We will keep you posted as more details are announced.

ESPN Wide World of Sports typically hosts several athletic events each month. These events don’t usually have a major impact on crowds in the parks, but they can affect resort availability and crowds at Disney’s value resorts. There are currently no events scheduled for the month of August, but this could change as some event dates have yet to be announced.

August Refurbishments & Closures

*We’ve included all current refurbishments here on this list… even ones that may be open in time for August 2024. (Please note that this list could change at a moment’s notice.)

Magic Kingdom

Tron Lightcycle Power Run is now open!
Splash Mountain closed permanently on January 23, 2023, to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The newly rethemed attraction is scheduled to open in 2024.

EPCOT

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is now open!
EPCOT Forever returned on April 3, 2023 (replacing Harmonious which permanently ended on April 2, 2023)
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana opened on October 16, 2023!
Luminous: The Symphony of Us, a new nighttime spectacular will be debuting on December 5, 2023.

Hollywood Studios

Voyage of the Little Mermaid is temporarily closed with no reopening date yet.
Jedi Training Academy: Trials of the Temple has permanently ended.

Animal Kingdom

Primeval Whirl is permanently closed
- It is anticipated that Dino-Rama, as a whole, will likely close at some point to make way for a major expansion. Disney has shared plans for potential replacements, such as a Moana Mini-Land, which includes detailed concept art. Additionally, there is the possibility of a Zootopia Expansion beyond Dino-Rama. Although these proposals are promising, it should be noted that they have not yet been approved or funded by Disney. Therefore, the fate of Dino-Rama remains uncertain, but it is evident that its days are limited.

Other

Blizzard Beach closed on March 19, 2023, for refurbishment, and it will reopen on November 6, 2023.
Typhoon Lagoon will close on November 6, 2023, for winter refurbishment. No opening date has been announced.
Disney Skyliner Gondolas will experience closures in mid-to-late January 2024. This will be a phased closure that will occur first with the Disney’s Hollywood Studios side of the routes, followed by the Epcot side.

August Weather

Overall, the weather in Orlando is quite hot in August. Seriously… It’s hot. The average high is 91 degrees and the low is typically around 75 degrees. It is technically Orlando’s rainy season as well. That being said, most rain in August will come in short “spurts” rather than be an all-day thing. Brief afternoon downpours are very typical!

One other thing to keep in mind is hurricane season. While it is rare that Disney World needs to close due to hurricane-related weather, it HAS happened in the past. Since 1985, the Walt Disney World parks have had to close nine times due to hurricanes. We’ve seen two closures in August, six in September, and one in October. Closures are typically only a day or two, but it is certainly something to be aware of when planning your August vacation.

August Disney World Crowd Calendar

Crowd calendars are very popular, but they can also be a bit unpredictable. It’s best not to completely rely on them when making your Disney World vacation plans.

While crowd calendars can be a big help in knowing what to expect, keep in mind, they are predictions at best. When designing our calendars, we take a look at events, school calendars, ticket prices, park hours, holidays, and typical monthly patterns. Unfortunately, our crowd calendars cannot predict other things such as weather, travel advisories, pandemics, or last-minute openings or closings of shows and attractions.

On top of that, many are choosing to travel differently these days. Quiet months have become popular due to runDisney events as well as other Disney events and promotions, while busier seasons have seen a downward trend in the last couple of years.

Many schools are back in session at some point in August, so between that and the heat, many opt to avoid August when selecting their vacation dates. August is typically the least crowded of the summer months, but it does heat up a bit when it comes to temperatures. If you’re able to withstand the heat and the beginning of school isn’t an issue for you, August could be a great month to visit.

Another thing that might change the crowds a bit in August is for more things to be reopened or reintroduced. Disney’s phased reopening will definitely play a role in crowds this year, and many new attractions are on the horizon. Time will tell, however, if this will affect August crowds or not.