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One of the great things about Disney World is that it’s located in Florida, so it can stay open year-round. However, that also means it can get very hot during the summer! Luckily, as long as you are prepared and take a little time to consider this, there are many ways you can beat the heat at Disney.
Water
Having water is not only a great way to stay cool, it’s also vital in the heat. Staying hydrated is so important when it’s that warm out, and you’re walking around more than you usually do. I recommend carrying a water bottle with you (my favorite is the Drink in the Box – you can check out my review of it here). However, if you don’t want to carry a water bottle you can also buy bottled water pretty much anywhere in the parks. You can also request a free cup of ice water at any quick service restaurant. There are also water fountains next to every bathroom location. However you prefer to get your water, make sure you do it!
Misting fan
I’ve seen those misting fans they sell at Disney and I always thought they were just for kids or a little bit silly. It wasn’t until I was there in the summer that I realized how glorious a device that blows cool air around your face and sprays you with water is. The ones at Disney are big and bulky (as well as pricey), so I got my own little one from Amazon. It’s even got a little clip so you can just put it on a backpack strap or belt loop to have it easily accessible!
Frog Togg towel
Another great product I’ve discovered for keeping you cool in Disney is the Frogg Togg. You wet it with cold water and it holds the cool water in like a sponge – it doesn’t drip, but it stays cool for awhile. I actually use one when I go outside to run on hot days, but I imagine it would be great in Disney as well! I’ve seen people there using them before.
Water rides
Water rides are a great way to beat the heat in the middle of the afternoon at Disney! A splash of water really cools you down, and when the sun is out it doesn’t take too long to dry afterward. Visit Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom or Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom. Or if you really like the idea of splashing around, visit one of Disney’s two water parks for the day: Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon!
Inside Attractions
One of the nice things about Disney is that they have a lot of indoor (and air-conditioned) attractions. If you’re getting warm, duck inside one of these. A lot of them are shows with big theaters so you don’t have to wait very long to get in either.
Afternoon break
The hottest part of the day is the middle of the afternoon, which makes it the perfect time to take a break. Go back to the hotel and go for a swim or take a nap. You’ll miss the busiest part of the day as well as the hottest part!
Frozen treats
Disney has lots of delicious frozen treats, so stop for some ice cream or something cold! My personal favorite is of course the Citrus Swirl in Adventureland, but you can also find the popular Mickey bars, various ice pops, and traditional ice cream cones in every park.
Sunscreen
While this won’t really do anything to combat the heat, it’s still really important to remember. Not only should you put sunscreen on in the morning, you should really carry it with you and reapply every few hours. Even if you don’t normally sunburn you should still wear it – the rays are still getting into your skin even if you are one of the lucky ones who tans instead of burns. As someone who had a pre-cancerous mole removed at age 25 I slather it on as often as I can, and I suggest you do the same!
What are some of your tips for staying cool in the middle of the summer?
I’m SO happy that I managed to get Splash Mountain fastpasses in the middle of the day! Definitely getting a misting fan though!
Great choice! When it’s not super hot Splash is pretty easy to get on to, but when it’s hot out it can have the longest wait in the park!
Misting fans saved my LIFE at disney world last summer!
They are seriously the best!
We never quite fell in love with the afternoon resort break (personally we feel it’s too much hassle to get back to the room then back to the park, unless your hotel is walking distance) so in the past few trips we’ve become quite fond of booking a dining reservation in-park for lunch! Gets you off your feet and into somewhere cool for an hour+, doing something you would anyway, and at least every park has one sit-down restaurant that as affordable entrees (like The Plaza at MK, Lotus Blossom or Marrakesh in Epcot, Sci Fi in Hollywood Studios) at only a few bucks more than you would pay for something at quick service!
I totally agree with this. Even an hour off your feet in the air conditioning makes such a huge difference. We’ve also found that the afternoon break mostly works for us when the parks are open late. On days when they close at 7 or 8 pm it’s not worth it, but we like to be able to leave around 2, take a good long break, and then go back at 5 or 6. Plus I’m such a nap person, a little sleep really helps! 😉
I need to get a misting fan. I always try to stand awkwardly close to strangers in line that have them, might be easier to just buy my own!
Haha I’ve done that too! I passed a kid once who was just spraying everyone who walked by – I may have doubled back his way multiple times 😉
All very good strategies! My husband actually goes one step further for staying out of the sun–he carries an umbrella around any theme park or anywhere where we are going to be outdoors–and it does make a big difference!
That’s a good idea too. I never have enough hands for an umbrella haha because I always want to be taking pictures 😉 But even a hat or visor can help keep the sun out of your eyes at least.
Great ideas! We are in Vegas right now, and it is H-O-T. Those misting fans or that towel would be a lifesaver.
Oh yeah, Vegas in the summer is crazy hot too! I’m hoping to visit one day and I’ll have to remember to bring my Disney summer gear 😉