Summer 2011 at Walt Disney World

OVERVIEW: SUMMER AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Summer at Walt Disney World—loosely defined as Memorial Day in late May through Labor Day in early September–is an often difficult season.

The weather is hot and humid, and in mid-August shifts to hot, humid, and also the peak of the  hurricane season.

Crowds are very high most of the summer–lightest in the latter part of August, and also a little lighter in early June. They peak over the Fourth of July holiday.

Prices begin fairly high, peak over the Fourth of July weekend, and drop to their lowest level of the year at the deluxe resorts in mid-July, and at the moderate resorts and value resorts in mid August.

Deals and discounts are available for parts of this period.

WALT DISNEY WORLD CROWDS DURING SUMMER

Crowds range over the period from near lowest of the year to quite high—but in a predictable way:

• The week that includes Memorial Day is very crowded
• Crowds in early June then fall off a bit, but increase over the course of the month
• Summer crowds peak over the week that includes the Fourth of July, and remain high the rest of July
• Early August is not quite so crowded
• Crowds drop substantially in the second half of August
• The weekend that includes Labor Day is quite busy, but the days after it are not

See When to Go to Walt Disney World, 2011 Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World, ranked in order, and/or Predicting Future Crowds at Walt Disney World for help figuring out when to go.

WALT DISNEY WORLD SUMMER PRICING

Walt Disney World resort hotel pricing varies over the summer from high to low.

• Prices at the end of May are 30% higher than the lowest of the year for value resorts, 15% higher for moderate resorts, and 20% higher for deluxe resorts
• Deluxe prices remain at this level in June, but values kick up to 55% higher than the lowest of the year on June 3, and that same date moderates increase to 20% higher
• An additional increase is instituted right around the Fourth of July, dropping back down to the late June level immediately after
• Moderates and values remain at the 20% and 55% higher levels the rest of July, but deluxe prices drop to near their lowest level of the year beginning July 17
• On August 14, the moderates and values join the deluxes in offering near lowest prices of the year

Click the image (a Pop Century Resort example) to see the impact of these price changes.

(When open, click again to enlarge; this image is from 2011 Walt Disney World price seasons.)

Disney usually increases theme park ticket prices 3-5% in early August.

SUMMER DEALS AND DISCOUNTS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD.

Deals and discounts are being offered during much of this period. For details, see this.

WALT DISNEY WORLD SUMMER WEATHER

Weather during this period is steadily hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms common.

The hurricane season officially beings on June 1, but hurricanes are typically not material until the peak season begins in mid-August. Even then, hurricanes are rare, and even more rarely ruin a vacation.

See this for more on the hurricane season.

Click the image (from Weather and When to Go to Disney World) for more on temperatures.

(When open, click again to enlarge.)

MORE ON SPECIFIC SUMMER PERIODS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

See the following for more specifics on shorter periods:

• May 2011 at Walt Disney World
• June 2011 at Walt Disney World
• July 2011 at Walt Disney World
• August 2011 at Walt Disney World

MORE ON WHEN TO GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD