Here are my questions:
- Is it insanely hot? We have been to FL the last few years in Aug and it's so hot we have to stick to water activities! We went putt putt once at 10am and barely made it through the course before my husband was actually feeling lightheaded.
June is hot but not nearly as humid as August, and that does actually make a big difference in the real feel. It is only the beginning of hurricane season and long before the peak. But you will still get the daily afternoon thunderstorms starting around 3pm or so. Sometimes sooner. First week of June a few years ago I remember being caught in an absolutely torrential downpour while leaving HS for my midday siesta that ended up lasting several hours.
- How are the crowds? I imagine it will be busy but is it a total waste of money? Are we only going to make it on like 3 rides? I have a sensory-seeking kiddo and waiting in lines can cause meltdowns. I think he would be ok for a while but ....
It won't be Spring Break/Thanksgiving Week/Xmas week busy but it will be busy. A huge number of school districts esp. in the South get out the first week of June and so this is a very popular time for families like yours who have to plan around school schedules. Many love to go before the summer weather becomes too unbearable for them, and crowds tend to build from the start of the month. I've never been during mid-June before, but our annual trip for my birthday always straddles the last week of May into the first week of June, and there is always a marked difference in crowds between the beginning and end of the trip. Last year we left on June 8th and the last couple of days it was VERY obvious more schools were out. The week after got even worse, judging by reports on the boards.
That said, summer crowds have been trending downward ever since before the pandemic closures; even the July 4th holiday was much less busy last year than it's historically been, and Disney themselves projected lower crowds this summer on today's earnings call. I think working around school schedules this is timeframe is probably going to be your sweet spot of weather and crowds. It will be less crowded later but the heat and humidity will be worse.
- Any tips? Money-saving ideas?
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Liquid IV is a godsend. Look into
DAS for your kiddo; the process is changing very shortly so I would check out the DISabilities forums here for more information. Does your offsite hotel offer Early Entry benefits? If so, definitely take advantage of that if at all possible. If not, I would strongly consider switching to one that does. EE is invaluable when touring the parks in the summer months not just because wait times are far lower but also because the temps are so much more bearable in the early mornings. The tried and true rope drop until about 11 or 12p, then leave for a long break--pool, nap. If a long midday break at your hotel is not as feasible, book an ADR at a nearby resort for lunch, or just go there to hang out in the AC and rest. Then go back in the evening after the afternoon rains have cooled it off.
Also, if your kiddo is having a meltdown due to heat/overstimulation and needs a quick place to decompress, head to the baby care centers at the parks. Despite the name they offer space to do that for children of all ages.
