Beat the Heat at Disney
Want to thrive on your summer Disney trip? Not just survive it?
Visiting Walt Disney World in the summer can be hot. REALLY HOT! As in, you can’t spend five minutes outside without sweat dripping down your back hot. Yet you can still have a wonderful time – with a little planning and a little swizzle in your schedule. Read on to learn our tips and tricks!
Tip #1: Take a break during the hottest part of the day. This may seem obvious, but it amazes me how many people don’t follow it. When we come back to park refreshed, cooled off and ready to enjoy the evening, I see those people yelling at their kids, mopping the sweat off their faces and looking rundown. Seriously, you’ll have a MUCH better time if you just take a few hours out of the park from about 1:00 – 4:00. If you have little ones, take a nap, older kids may enjoy splashing around in a pool or even just going out for a nice long lunch in an air-conditioned restaurant. On our recent summer trip, we spent a few hours bowling at Splitsville – it was a blast AND we had a great chance to cool off before heading back to the Magic Kingdom.
Tip #2: Drink lots of water. Another obvious tip, but easy to forget. Especially when you are in Epcot and the fun drinks around the world are tempting you. Go ahead and try a few, just be sure to drink plenty of water in-between. Often when we start to get cranky, I force everyone to drink a big glass of water and most of the time moods improve immediately. I usually start the day with a water bottle and then refill it throughout the day at water fountains, but you can also ask for a cup of ice water at any outlet that sells fountain drinks. It’s free and they will happily serve it to you.
Tip #3: Start and end your day with the outdoor rides and/or the rides with long outdoor lines. Then concentrate on indoor attractions as the day gets hotter. For example, at the Magic Kingdom, we might start with the Mine Ride or Thunder Mountain but then as the day progresses move to Philharmagic or the Carousel of Progress. At Hollywood Studios, we start with one of the outdoor shows and then move to indoor shows or rides. Ditto for the other two parks. You’ll spend less time in the sun when it’s at its peak.
Tip #4: Pack light. As you get more tired and you get hot, that backpack full of “essentials” becomes very heavy and just makes you feel hotter. Unless you have a child in diapers, you really don’t need to carry much – especially if you plan to follow Tip #1 and leave around 1:00. Apply sunscreen before you arrive, bring some money, ID’s, phones and your tickets (or MagicBand) and you will survive for a few hours without everything else.
Tip #5: Dress appropriately. If you are visiting Disney in the summer, be smart about what you wear. Tank tops and shorts or sundresses and sandals are perfectly appropriate and very comfortable. Wear fabrics that breathe and shoes that you can walk all day in. If you want to mix things up, add fun accessories!
Do you have any other tips for staying cool when visiting Disney in the summer? Please share in the comments – we can all use them!
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