With the heat of summer upon us, the quest for a cool place for relief is of utmost importance. And if you are planning on taking a summer trip to Walt Disney World, you will need to be creative when it comes to beating the heat. While summer is not my ideal time to visit WDW, I have experienced the “magic” in July a few times and thought I would share my family’s tips on beating the heat in the most “magical” way
- Arrive at the park early: I know I probably have said this in almost all of my articles, but really it is the best piece of advice I can offer-for any situation, summer heat included . Plan on arriving at your park d’jour about 15 minutes before rope drop. The parks are less crowded (especially if you are utilizing the “extra magic morning hours”). Less people means you can usually get to ride your chosen rides quickly-meaning less time spent waiting in line in the sun.
- Stay hydrated: You can bring water into the parks (as long as it is not in a glass container). We pop a bunch of bottles into the freezer the night before and take the frozen bottles with us. You will be surprised how long those bottles will stay cold if kept out of direct sunlight (in a backpack, stroller…etc).
DD6, DD4 and I enjoying our Freezys
- Plan on heading back to your resort (or other accommodations) in the middle of the day: Everybody and their brother will be at the park in the middle of the day. But if you followed my first tip, you have already been at the park for several hours and have probably accomplished more in those first several hours than most people will in a day. Why not take a break and head back to your resort for a swim or a little air conditioned down time. Make your way back to the park in the early evening when the temperatures are starting to cool.
- Make your dining reservations for the middle of the day: If you are planning on a table service meal, arrange for it to be during the warmer part of the day. You can avoid the heat while enjoying a great meal!
- Find a cool spot to hang out: If heading back to your resort mid-day is not your thing, you can still beat the heat while at the park-you just need to get creative. I have a mental list of place to head to when the kids get hot and cranky. Here are a few of my favorites
-Magic Kingdom: The Enchanted Tiki Room, Carousel of Progress, Mickey’s Philharmagic
-Epcot: Innoventions, Splash Pad Area
Epcot Splash area
-Hollywood Studios: The Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Disney Junior Show
-Animal Kingdom: Festival of the Lion King Show, Rafiki’s Planet Watch
- Watch where you walk: Okay, so this may sound silly, but when we are walking through the parks, we tend to walk close to the gift shops as possible. Why? The cool air from the little stores escape out into the street. While it may not totally cool you off, the air is definitely more bearable closer to the the shops.
- Plan your day accordingly: If it is possible and you have flexibility, plan your park day with the temperature in mind. We find that Animal Kingdom is the HOTTEST park and try, if we can, to avoid going to that park on the day(s) with the hottest predicted temperature. We have also found that Magic Kingdom has to most places to escape the heat and it is where we like to head on the hottest days. Summer months are also a great time to check out Disney’s two water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Both offer plenty in cool water fun!
- Don’t forget about cool treats: Mickey Ice Cream Bars, Wheezy ‘s Breezy Freezys , frozen cokes and lemonades are some of the most delicious reasons to visit WDW in the warmer months. Take advantage and enjoy one of these yummy treats….just make sure you eat/drink them quickly!
While the summer heat may make your trip to Walk Disney World a little less enjoyable, it doesn’t have to become an inferno of misery. With a little planning and creativity, you can beat the heat and have a magical time!
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Great advice! I’ll use it today in New Jersey!! Heat index should be 100 degrees today — yuck! I should go to Florida to cool off…