Florida in September

Contemplating a 2 week break in Florida next September, our son does not return to school until mid Sept so this would be a great time to visit the parks as they would not be so busy.
But I am worried about the weather as the forecast for the last couple of weeks has been rain/sun/storms plus humid and hot apparently.
Is it really that bad ?

We went last year straddling end of September and start of October.

Weather was lovely, we got a little more rain than I anticipated, but it never put a damper on things really. Our first day out at the Parks was Universal and Islands of Adventure and it rained non stop from Lunch time till about 7pm, but it was such a warm, pleasant rain that it wasn't that much of a problem really!!

There was showers most days, but we all still picked up decent tans, including myself getting a nice burn all over from not oiling up properly at one of the waterparks.

Been in that part of the world a few times at this time of year.
I think rain is chance everyday, even if only 30mins or so but its not going to be cold and still lots of sunshine and lets face it, the rain will be warm. You just have to watch for the thunder storms. They do close the waterparks / pool as they get near.
It also should start to get a little less humid that in August.
I would still swap it.....

Thanks both, will have a ponder. This is the problem when you can basically choose from lots of different destinations, I am so indecisive. First world problems !

Where else is nice in September and fairly 7 year old child friendly, and a VS destination ?

I went in Sept 2012 around the middle of the month and it was fine, I think I had 1 day of real dodgy weather but other than that hot every day and will be there beginning of Sept next year.

Thanks WazneB, thats useful to know.

I'm off there tomorrow so will try and give you a "real life" weather update for the next few days

David

Oooh thanks David, that would be great. Have a great trip !

We've owned property in Southwest Florida for over a decade now and oftentimes visited during late August and early September. The weather even up near orlando, as others have noted, is humid with a chance of passing (30-60min) thunderstorms everyday. The storms at time can be torrential, preventing any outdoor activity. However, this has never stopped us from enjoying our time in Florida.

One thing to note is that the hurricane season is in full swing from now until October...

As for another VS destination that's nice this time of year, LA is hot, but not humid, and has Disneyland, albeit not Disney World. SFO is also a beautiful city virtually any time of year.

New York and Boston are also nice, and virtually every school in the north east will be back already or be going back, making it a calmer period to visit.

Thanks Syrome, that is good feedback. Funnily enough we did LA, Maui and SFO this time last year and I would love to return. Jet lag puts me off slightly though, although that was mainly caused by the week on Maui.
I actually loved Disneyland in LA as it was more manageable and we stayed across the road in Paradise Pier. We all loved Cars Land
East Coast - now there's an idea, have not been to NYC since 2000.
Thanks again

living here I can tell you the difference between early Sept and later in the month/early oct can be quite marked

right now its hot 90+ every day, humid as **** 80-95 per cent and darn uncomfortable....just being outside is hard, working is horrendous...you will almost certainly get rain and storms every day, but yes its warm rain......

for me the day the humidity goes ,sometime early October , is a real pleasure....AC off windows open............heaven

I'm in LA (disneyland) at the moment and it is very very hot!!
Thank goodness for air conditioned rides and shops!!

Contemplating a 2 week break in Florida next September, our son does not return to school until mid Sept so this would be a great time to visit the parks as they would not be so busy.
But I am worried about the weather as the forecast for the last couple of weeks has been rain/sun/storms plus humid and hot apparently.
Is it really that bad ?

I've been in Florida for the last week and I can confirm that the forecasted storms only ever occur in the afternoons/evenings, if at all! The heat and humidity are part and parcel at this time of the year, but temperatures haven't really exceeded 90F during my time here so far.

The only thing you really need to note is that it is hurricane season, however it is impossible to predict whether they will occur or not during your time in Florida.

Whenever you choose to go, I'm sure you'll have fun!

We are toying with visiting south Florida, including the Keys, but will not go until the end of November onwards as I would not enjoy the extreme humidity. I want to be outside enjoying the trip, not running from one air-con refuge to another, which I think would be the case if we visited August-October.

But i have never visited and my view is based on trip reviews and advice of others.

It is about 20 years since we went to Florida at the end of September, beginning of October. It rained pretty much every day but only short bursts and predictable. We were at a water park and they shut it for 2 hours because lightning was on the way, but it wasn't a problem. We just went out for lunch and came back after the storm and resumed.
Even if you get caught out it's not cold.
I certainly wouldn't be put off by the weather, just make sure you have a fold away rain coat, preferably one with Micky Mouse on it.
Dick D

Last time we went to Florida in Sept was 2004. Sure most will remember the four major hurricanes that year. We got Jeanne. Always a possibility but in Central Florida they are rare. Yes it hot and humid and it rains more days than not. Upside it's quieter everywhere including the parks. We are visiting next week and have seen the temps slowly drop to highs around 90. Plan your days, out early avoid early Pm and enjoy the balmy temps, low to mid 80s from 5ish and through the evening. October is better but you still get rain 30-40 chance most days and it's bit cooler but not much. We like November best. August is too hot and humid and until the USA schools go back mid August the parks are packed.

I have to say it was a brilliant time to be there as nothing was really that busy!!

The resort we stayed on, Bahama Bay was brilliant, we were the only ones in our entire "wing" of it so always had the pool to ourselves!!

Was a little eerie late at night walking from the bar to the apartments but was actually quite cool in a weird way!!!

The parks were great, biggest queue of the whole trip was about 25 mins for the Simpsons!!

Yep, echoing the sentiments of many on here. We always go at the end of September through to late October. Next trip is in 18 days!

The parks are much quieter, many of the rides are just walk on and go, the longest we waited for anything during the day was about 15 minutes and that was for Harry Potter which had just opened. Depending on how old your son is, the parks are just getting into the Halloween season with live action haunted houses in the evenings, well worth a visit for the elder children but not suitable for youngsters.

There is a marked difference between Orlando and Miami/Keys. We spend two weeks in Orlando and then 2 nights in Miami followed by a week on the beach on Key West. I had just got used to the temperature in Orlando (to the point where I'd actually put trousers on to go out for a meal on our last night, it was only 24C at 10pm). The heat still hit me when we got out of the car in Miami, much warmer further south!

Hi L2H

Your "weather on the 8's" update for the last few days

Friday landed at 5ish temperature 92 no rain

Saturday to Monday weather starts off clear blue skies in fact, not a cloud, getting slightly cloudy in the afternoon. Temperatures start off around 74 at 7.30am rising to mid 90's with no rain. Hot but not overly humid. (Yesterday -Monday - however was pretty brutal around 3ish. Very, very hot !)

Today (Tuesday) a little cloudier all day, a relief actually from the heat and a little humid but no rain.

Darkness comes between 7 and 8 but very pleasant temps (for sitting at outside bars )

Hope this helps

Should have said, this is all from Disneys Saratoga Springs

David.

Hi L2H

Your "weather on the 8's" update for the last few days
Friday landed at 5ish temperature 92 no rain
Saturday to Monday weather starts off clear blue skies in fact, not a cloud, getting slightly cloudy in the afternoon. Temperatures start off around 74 at 7.30am rising to mid 90's with no rain. Hot but not overly humid. (Yesterday -Monday - however was pretty brutal around 3ish. Very, very hot !)

Today (Tuesday) a little cloudier all day, a relief actually from the heat and a little humid
David.

Having looked online ahead to next week ( when I arrive ) it looks like rain, rain, more rain & thunderstorms. I know this can change so I hope we'll be as lucky as you in your first week, David.. Fingers crossed .....

As a general rule I would avoid Florida between 1st June and 30th Sept. Too hot and too humid!

Thanks for the weather update, brilliant

We are still 'umming and ahhhing' but in the meantime we are going to book reward flights to DXB for the end of May/start of June in PE (2 reward vouchers and PE miles)
Looking to splash out on the Atlantis at the Palm

Florida may still be an option once we can see availability for our dates.

Thanks again !

Having looked online ahead to next week ( when I arrive ) it looks like rain, rain, more rain & thunderstorms. I know this can change so I hope we'll be as lucky as you in your first week, David.. Fingers crossed .....

This weeks forecast was exactly the same, thunderstorms and rain, but hopefully should be ok.

There is a front moving across today which they say will lower temps for a day or so but to be honest, you'll hardly noticed a drop of a few degrees.

Your not the only one hoping next week is as good as this one

Have a good flight !

David

Hi L2H

Your "weather on the 8's" update for the last few days
Friday landed at 5ish temperature 92 no rain
Saturday to Monday weather starts off clear blue skies in fact, not a cloud, getting slightly cloudy in the afternoon. Temperatures start off around 74 at 7.30am rising to mid 90's with no rain. Hot but not overly humid. (Yesterday -Monday - however was pretty brutal around 3ish. Very, very hot !)

Today (Tuesday) a little cloudier all day, a relief actually from the heat and a little humid
David.

Having looked online ahead to next week ( when I arrive ) it looks like rain, rain, more rain & thunderstorms. I know this can change so I hope we'll be as lucky as you in your first week, David.. Fingers crossed .....

We have spent nearly every year for the last 12 years holidaying in SW Florida (Cape Coral) at around the November time. I have found that quite often the weather forecast's prior to departure can be a little pessimistic. The most reliable weather forecast websites that I have found are Wunderground and Accuweather. That said, even the good old Local on 8's can be a little inaccurate at times

NOC

We have spent nearly every year for the last 12 years holidaying in SW Florida (Cape Coral) at around the November time. I have found that quite often the weather forecast's prior to departure can be a little pessimistic. The most reliable weather forecast websites that I have found are Wunderground and Accuweather. That said, even the good old Local on 8's can be a little inaccurate at times

NOC

Hi NOC,

Cape Coral is where I'm off to too. Been going there many times since 1999. Hasn't it grown in that time !

hiljil