Thousands of people plan to hit Disney World every summer and always want to know-just how hot will it be in Florida in the summer? Hot. Very hot. Relentlessly hot. And humid. Very humid. The kind of humidity that brings the rain but doesn’t cool everything off!
Does that mean you should never plan a June, July or August visit? Of course not! With some simple planning and preparation you can enjoy Disney any time of year-just don’t forget your sunscreen!
Here are five ways you can beat the heat at Disney Parks this summer!
1. Strategize the Day
Do your homework and go in informed! Park hours are published well in advance, and most days one of the parks has Extra Magic Hours, or EMH. If you are staying onsite, this means you can enter a park an hour early, or stay later, depending on the day! Not only will showing up for park opening (“rope drop”) keep you away from the worst of the mid-day heat, but the lines are shorter, so you can do more in a shorter period of time!
Night owls can also use this to their advantage! Hit the parks once the sun goes down and stay through the later hours. If you’re willing to miss the evening parades and fireworks, you can also ride the most popular rides with minimal waits! Less park time means less potential for overheating, too!
2. All the Right Gear
Amazon Prime and other local delivery stores like Garden Grocer can deliver a variety of hydration options right to your hotel room! So much easier than shlepping your own! Hydrate early and often-water, Gatorade, coconut water…whatever floats your boat! If you’re able to freeze your water bottles prior to the park, they will stay cold for hours, too! CamelBak backpacks are also a great hands-free option for holding beverages of your choice! Forgot your water? No worries-any Quick Service restaurant or cart is required to provide you a complimentary cup of ice water at no charge-just ask! (Hint: Dole Whips, Mickey Bars, and LeFou’s Brews count, too!)
Cooling gadgets are also very popular in the Parks. There are misting fans, portable hand-held fans and even fans that clip on to strollers! One year I even found a fan that you could wear as a necklace for my son! Of course, the Parks would be happy to sell you these at a premium, but these are easily found at Targets, Walmarts and pharmacies back home for a fraction of the price! Frogg Toggs are also big sellers…reusable cloths that you activate by getting wet. These “cooling cloths” can be draped around your neck and even worn around your wrist to keep you cool.
Heat can also bring out the worst in us, and make our youngest (and not so young!) travelers extremely irritable and cranky. Moisture wicking clothes, comfortable shoes and sunscreen that won’t melt into your eyes are also musts when you’re battling high temps and humidity. (Can you say “meltdown”??)
3. Take a Mid-Day Break
A favorite way to beat the heat is to head back to your resort during the hottest part of the day! Whether you are recharging, refueling or just plain relaxing, this is the way to go! Little ones can take their naps, older kids can get some pool time, and grown-ups can enjoy some adult beverages!
Transportation can make or break this option, so choose wisely! If you will be spending the bulk of your time at Magic Kingdom, resorts on the monorail loop (Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary) can get you there and back the quickest! Resorts with a single bus stop like Pop Century and Wilderness Lodge are convenient, too. Remember, whether you’re taking a bus or driving your own car, just give yourself enough travel time in either direction. You don’t want to have to worry about making that dining reservation when you should be catching some zzz’s poolside…!
4. Air Conditioned Attractions
If you’re a die-hard Disney fan who rocks the Parks from dawn ’til dusk, then what? Head to one of the many air-conditioned attractions in each Park! Magic Kingdom boasts quite a few…from Mickey’s Philharmonic to the iconic Carousel of Progress! You can ride the newly redesigned Soarin’ and watch Pixar Short Films in Epcot, and see amazing shows like Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo-the Musical in Animal Kingdom. At Hollywood Studios you can enjoy the Frozen Sing-Along and Voyage of the Little Mermaid from the comfort of your air conditioned theater seat!
The key is finding attractions that can hold a lot of people and traditionally have minimal to no wait time! So whether you’re riding the People Mover in Magic Kingdom or Living with the Land in Epcot, take a deep breath, take a swig from your water bottle and give the kids some Goldfish! Chill, baby, chill!
5. In Park Restaurants
Are you a Park Warrior who prides herself on multi-tasking? The final way to stay cool (and keep your cool!) is booking in-park meals! Bonus points if you score a character meal! You can kill three birds with one stone-food, air conditioning, characters! First, food is the cure-all for most things! You haven’t left the Park and you get a full belly, and as many refillable drinks as you want! (Ice, Ice, Baby!!) Second, you’re in blissful AC. You’re off your feet, charging your phone…life is good! Third, character meals mean that the kids are happy and occupied, and these meals tend to take longer as you wait for the characters to fully make their rounds! (You also won’t have to wait in a long, hot line to meet these same characters around the Park!)
Every park has sit-down character meals, some more than one! Our faves include Crystal Palace and Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom (Be Our Guest is awesome, too, but Beast only meets for dinner, and doesn’t come to you!) and Tusker House in Animal Kingdom. Epcot boasts two-Akershus and Garden Grill. Hollywood and Vine is the place for Disney Jr. fans to eat in Hollywood Studios. You’ll get out of the heat for an hour or two, and hit the parks refreshed and well hydrated!
Bonus Tip…
So, you came, you saw (and sweated), you conquered Disney World! In spite of the heat, you had an amazing trip. If you find yourself wishing you could come back…maybe when it wasn’t quite so hot…I have a final tip for you! Book a Bounceback Offer! What’s that? you ask. A “bounce back” is a future Disney trip that you book while you are still currently a guest. It typically offers a discounted room or free dining for pre-selected dates within the next year. Check all that paperwork in your room…it’s usually hiding on a flyer in there! You can also call x8844 from your room phone to ask about current offers! But don’t wait to book until after you leave…bounce backs are only valid while you’re still checked in to Disney property!
Got it? Sunscreen, water bottles, fans and Frogg Toggs-you’re ready! You can beat the heat-Disney style! See ya real soon!
Jacqueline McMahon lives in Southbury, CT with her husband, two children and cat, Rocky Road. She is a runDisney enthusiast and autism mama. You can follow her on Instagram at @morphingintominnie.
Hi, thank you very much for this info!