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Remember how we said you'd be hearing a lot more about Disney in the future? Well, truth is, we love Disney and have both been so many times that we pretty much consider ourselves experts at this point. Disney is heating up (quite literally during the summer) and so many magical things are returning, such as fireworks!! If you are planning a trip this summer, then this post is definitely for you!
Parents of little kids ( and big ones too), if you’re heading to Disney in the heat of the summer, here are some tried and true tricks to beat the heat and stay cool. Do your kids (and maybe your husband also) have a “melting point”? I know mine do! Once temperatures in Orlando reach into the 90’s with 90-95% humidity, tempers heat up and patience starts to run short. Best laid plans go awry, kids squabble, and no one is having fun. Best way to avoid this is to go in the cooler seasons and avoid the summer heat all together, but that might not line up with when your family is able to vacation.
We’ve taken several family trips in the heat of the summer, including during the pandemic while wearing masks-we’re pretty much experts now! I am a firm believer that you can have a wonderful, magical time at Disney, no matter the weather, if you are prepared. “If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear!” Right?!
This is our crew over Labor Day weekend 2020, three adults, four kids including an eighteen month old, masks were required even outside! You can see we are using cooling towels!
Here are 10 Strategies for Touring Disney in the Heat:
#10 Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
Dehydration causes headaches and a host of other medical problems, least of all chronic crankiness! Did you know that all the quick service restaurants provide free ice water? Bring refillable water bottles for your crew and fill up along the way! In the hot summer weather, insulated water bottles will help keep you and your nicely refreshed. Here are some water bottles we like:
We love the 40oz ThermoFlask. Keeps beverages ice cold for hours and holds enough to share with the kiddos (because they are always stealing your water bottle!). The handle is perfect for a carabiner to hook onto a stroller or backpack. Click here to get your ThermoFlask!
o Consider packing an extra water bottle and putting it in the bottom of your stroller.
o Copy the cast members and consider water bottle carriers if you don’t have a stroller and don’t want to carry a lot around with you in the parks. Check out this one…
This is a great minimalist option if you won't have a stroller to store water in or if you want to carry water with you in line without bringing a big backpack, etc. It protects and insulates your bottle, and has a padded shoulder strap. It even has a protected pocket for your phone!
#9 Dress for the heat:
Wear comfortable cool clothing with enough coverage to protect you from the sun. T-shirts and shorts are a great go to, plus you can rock that Grumpy or Mickey T hiding at the back of your closet… I am also a big fan of short sleeve midi dresses in jersey or other light materials for the additional air flow. Bonus if it comes with pockets!
WEAR A HAT and SUNGLASSES: protect your face and shoulders from those fiercesome Florida sunrays! Oh, and bring sunscreen too!
Wear comfortable shoes- and bring comfortable sandals as back up. We usually start the day in comfy sneakers and then switch into cozy flip flops towards the end of the day. Stow them under your stroller or in your back pack or switch into them after you take a break at your hotel...
#8 Use a Stroller Fan & Have Shaded Transport for Each Kid
For kids 8 and younger, have a stroller seat for them. Yes, a seven year old is perfectly capable of walking around Disney world, but in the heat, their stamina wanes and ordinarily angelic children become cranky little gremlins and will fight over a younger sibling’s stroller seat! Stroller fans are a must have, especially for babies 6 months and under. We've had mixed luck with stroller fans. I've bought two off of amazon for about $30 each. Both worked great for the week we were in the parks and would even charge your phone! However, after about a month something tends to go wrong- one just stopped working, never did figure out why, the second the charging port got damaged and it would no longer charge. I am still searching for my perfect stroller fan- I will update this post when I find it! Or maybe you've found one you've liked? Comment below!
#7 Use Cooling Towels:
There’s a gazillion of these on the market these days! In our experience, the microfiber versions are more effective than the spongey versions (FrogToggs) when it comes to the humidity, plus they are easier to store! Simply wet the towel in cool water, give it a flick and then wrap it around your neck or where ever you need to feel the cool relief! Disney also sells a version in the park but you will pay more For that mouse ear print! Here’s some we can recommend: We got this YQXCC 4 pack for a great deal! We will also be testing out some we found at Costco, we’ll post an update on what we find!
#6 Use Misting Fan/Spray bottle fan-
Disney sells these in the parks, on ice so when you spray it you get the combined effect of the fan and the cool water. Voila! Instant personal AC! Disney sells two versions- a personal automated Mickey shaped mister fan on a lanyard for $28.16 and a manual foam blade spray-bottle version for $15. You can also find similar stuff on Amazon or at Target for cheaper to varying qualities. Consider that free ice water from a quick service restaurant when it comes to refilling the water, the cooler the better. Heck, we’ve even had success with just a normal spray bottle WITHOUT the fan. We put in the hands of our then two-year-old- BAM! Cooling and entertaining at the same time! We've used this brand before:
And this is the one I personally want to try! Blade-less, 9 hours of battery life. Personal AC.
#5 MAKE A PLAN:
Don’t stand around in the heat! When traveling in a group, people often gather at the end of a ride just outside the exit, in FULL sun, to confer about where to go next. DON’T DO THIS! Make a decision while you are waiting in line for a ride about where to go next. If you must gather, GATHER IN THE SHADE! Or inside the gift shop that’s at the end of every Disney attraction….
#4 DO INDOOR ATTRACTIONS :
Go indoors when the heat is at its worst. Find rides, shows, etc. that are indoors and airconditioned. Again, this tends to be in the middle of the day.
HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS: this could be a good time to check out Walt Disney Presents, which is more of a small museum about Walt Disney, offers (pre-COVID) a rotating character meet and greet, and has a short movie, usually about what is currently in production or has just come out. This could also be a good time to get your Star Wars character meet and greets in (once they get back and rolling post COVID), watch a short film in the Launch Bay Theater, etc.) Once they get it rolling again, the Indiana Jones Stunt Show is another good option, not indoors but shaded and with industrial warehouse size fans. Want to really chill? Check out the Frozen Sing Along, for about 20-30 minutes of super cool fun, plus a snowy finale!
EPCOT- Go indoors in the Land or Ocean Pavilion where there is plenty of attractions and fun to be had, 100% AC! Or check out the shops/restaurants/ movies in the different country’s pavilions in the the World Showcase. We make it a habit to visit Voices of Liberty, it’s a worthwile stop in the American Pavillion. Right now their performances are in the America Gardens Outdoor Theater along with Mariachi Cobre (also highly recommend!). The American Adventure is a nice 20-30 minutes in airconditioning.
Animal Kingdom- This park is maybe the most difficult in the heat. We always go see the Festival of the Lion King. If you have littles who love a petting zoo, take the train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. Not only does the train ride offer a behind the scene’s view of how they care for the animals, but once you arrive, the pavilion is full of indoor AC’d exhibits. You may even get to see the Disney vets performing surgery on an animal! Oh, and there’s a little petting zoo too. It’s a Bug’s Life, is only a ten minute wait and a ten minute show most days, also all airconditioned. Personally I can’t stand this attraction- (giant bugs? WHY?) but maybe its just the thing for your crew.
Magic Kingdom: Lots of indoor attractions here! We love Mickey’s Philharmagic (We hear its getting a COCOA scene added in time for the 50th Anniversary October 1st! Yay!), Buzz Light Year’s Space Ranger Spin, The Monsters Laugh Floor (when it comes back it will be “Monsterously Funny”), Hall of the Presidents, Haunted Mansion, Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid, and for a full 20+ minutes of AC-the Carousel of Progress!
#3 TAKE A HOTEL BREAK!
Late morning-Early afternoon is when the sun beats down the hottest and when the crowds are worst. Perfect time to take a break! Here’s some strategies to help you break your best!
If you have little ones that need a nap and you can reach your hotel in a jiff, head back! Also consider chillaxing in the pool for an hour before heading back to the parks. This works best when you are staying on resort. If your are off resort the time getting back to your car and driving to your hotel and coming back really starts to add up.
#2 TAKE A LUNCH BREAK
Make a reservation for a table service restaurant in or near the park you are in. Enjoy the air conditioning while the whole family relaxes and enjoys some tasty food to boot! When I make my Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) I look for an early afternoon time frame when I know that parks will be busy and its gonna be hot! Try visiting a neighboring Disney Resort- We love checking out the different resorts around Disney, this could be the perfect time to take a tour! Added bonus, they often have great food, maybe even better than what’s in the park. A good example of this is the Grand Floridian- its just one stop on the Resort Monorail from the Magic Kingdom and it has one of the best quick service restaurants on property, the Gasparilla Grill. We often will pop out of the Magic Kingdom, stroll around the lobby, listen to the live music, relax for a bit on one of the sofas and admire the turn of the century Florida resort décor. We may check out one of the chic little shops (Lilly Plulitzer anyone?). There’s also wide open space for the kiddos to run around a bit. Once we’ve enjoyed the lobby, we walk out to the Gasparilla Grill which has both indoor air conditioned seating and patio seating that happens to come with a view of the Castle and the lagoon. Oh, and their food is top notch for quick service and has great healthy options in addition to the decadent.
Relaxing at the Grand Floridian.
Any of the resorts on the monorail around Magic Kingdom can be a great place to make an ADR or just wander. Consider taking a water taxi for a little extra magic!
If you are in Animal Kingdom- check out Animal Kingdom Lodge and Sanaa for an ADR, their bread service is phenomenal and you can do some animal watching right from your table!
Epcot and Hollywood Studios- check out the resorts along Crescent Lake like the Beach Club, Boardwalk Inn, and Yacht Club. Each are either walking distance or a friendship boat ride away. The Boardwalk area also has a great little pizza window next to an ice cream shop (used to be Ample Hills, one of our favorite destinations but is now an extension of Beaches and Cream). We’ve often grabbed a pizza to share in the shade in front of the Boardwalk Inn, which also has lovely rockers on the upstairs veranda.
Hop on a bus to Disney Springs for more great air-conditioned dining options! Our go to family favorite is Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming. We come to Homecoming every trip to Orlando and we bring all of our friends here. Total crowd pleaser! Some of the best fried chicken you will ever have!
#1 TAKE ICE CREAM BREAKS!
And you might need more than one. Plan for ice cream/popsicle purchases in the parks. They can go a long way in making your kiddos’ day, and extending their park stamina. BEWARE- the Mickey ear ice cream bars ARE delicious, but incredibly messy! We usually purchase Mickey ice cream bars as we head inline for the Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway because the line is mostly outside, IN THE HEAT. A well-timed ice cream break can sooth just about any disgruntled toddler, ages 0-99! Are you a fan of Pineapple Dole Whips? Or a Citrus Swirl? Comment below! See our upcoming blog post about where to find the best frozen treats at Disney World.
That's all we can think of for now, but we hope you got plenty of ideas to make Disney in the summer not as daunting as it would seem. If you have any more ideas, feel free to share with our readers in the comment section below. Have a magical summer!
This is Amanda's mom- even grown ups need ice cream breaks!
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