Let’s face it, summer in Orlando is hot, very hot. Just to make it more interesting, Mother Nature adds a hair curling dose of humidity. But for families with school age children, summer may be the only time of year they can make a visit to Walt Disney World. While it is definitely going to be hot, I have some tips and tricks to make it more manageable.
#1 – Schedule your day to avoid the heat. Try to do your park touring during the cooler hours of the day. By getting up early and arriving before park opening, not only do you beat the crowds, but you get to enjoy the park before it heats up for the day. You can accomplish a lot in those first few hours, and your melting will be at a minimum. Ideally, return to your hotel for an afternoon break during the heat of the day, then return to the park around dinner time when the summer sun and temperature are starting to go down. If you are going to be in the parks during the midday, plan your attraction times care¬fully. Plan to enjoy indoor (hint: air-conditioned) attractions or queues between the hours of noon and 4pm. Good examples include: the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and Mickey’s Philharmagic at Magic Kingdom, The American Adventure in Epcot, The Voyage of the Little Mermaid or Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Finding Nemo – The Musical at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
#2 – Hit the pool! All Walt Disney World Resort hotels have beautiful pools for Guests. Return to your hotel in the afternoon to cool off in your resort pool. A nice swim and a rest will renew and fresh you and you’ll be ready to head back into the parks in the evening for more Disney magic.
#3 – Stay hydrated with FREE ice water. Any quick service location at Walt Disney World will give you a free glass of ice water on request. It is easy to get dehydrated in the Orlando heat, and things like soda not only can be costly, but they don’t rehydrated you very well. I often bring a reusable water bottle and fill it with my free ice water. If you don’t like the taste of water, bring some powdered drink mix to add to your bottle!
#4 – Keep cool with a misting fan! These fans can be purchased throughout the parks, but save yourself some money and purchase one at home. They can easily be found at places like Target and Walmart for less than $10. We let our kids decorate theirs with sharpie markers and stickers so they had that fun Disney theme to them. Be sure to pack extra batteries because you’ll be surprised how much little kids can use them. They are really good for just keeping little people entertained too.
#5 – Cooling towels are amazing and feel great. After the Tinker Bell Half Marathon, Disney handed out these small cooling cloths, and now I pack one for all of my races. You may have seen them on television or in sporting goods stores. You get them wet, then snap them open to make them cool. They do feel quite cool and on your face and the back of your neck and really are very refreshing. You can also find them on Amazon for less than $10
So while it will be hot, a little advance planning can make your summer Walt Disney World Vacation more enjoyable. Use one or all of these tips and you are sure to keep your cool!
