It’s officially summer at Walt Disney World® Resort. With 90+ degrees projected for the rest of the week, there’s no respite in sight from the heat and humidity for quite a few months. The stifling mugginess and brutal temperatures can discourage travelers from visiting in the summertime; but the extended school break makes it the only time that many people are able to plan a Disney trip. Not to worry as there are tried and true ways to Beat the Heat at Walt Disney World® Resort and have a magical time - regardless of the weather!
Get a head start and take a mid-day break
The heat and humidity ever present in Orlando during the summer can take a toll on the fittest person, not to mention regular folks like you and me. Although you are on vacation, it is important to set your alarm and wake up early; we’re talking about waking up earlier than you do in everyday life. While others are sleeping and “vacationing,” you’ll be at the park before it even opens to take advantage of lower crowds … and lower temperatures. After you’ve enjoyed low-wait times at popular attractions and strategically utilized your late-morning FastPass+ selections, use the Disney transportation back to your resort.
Take a break and enjoy a dip in the Big Blue Pool at Art of Animation.
If you have little ones, this is a good time for a nap in your air-conditioned room. Or, if you have big ones, hit the pool. Every Walt Disney World hotel has at least one if not several pools on-site. The Moderate and Deluxe category hotels feature waterslides at their pools, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have fun cooling off at Value hotel pools. Art of Animation, a Value hotel, has one of the best pools on property with underwater speakers. Value or Deluxe, while the kids splish and slash, parents can enjoy a cold beverage of their choice at the pool lounges.
If your crew doesn’t consist of swimmers or pool loungers, each of Disney’s hotels offers regularly-scheduled activities and fun opportunities for fun.
Playing a mean game of checkers at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
After everyone has cooled down, it’s time to hit the parks again!
Waterpark Wednesday
If your schedule and budget allows for an extended stay, you should consider upgrading your park tickets to the Park Hopper Plus Option which allows for a certain number of admissions - based on the number of days in your ticket or package - to Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. There’s nothing more refreshing than building in a day at the waterparks sandwiched between two sets of park days. Regardless of the ages of your travel group, there is something for everyone to enjoy at Disney’s water parks. Tweens and teens will get their hearts pumping at thrill rides like Mount Gushmore at Blizzard Beach, one of the world’s tallest and fastest waterslides. Ketchakiddee Creek at Typhoon Lagoon is perfect for preschoolers with 10 aquatic activities including mini-water slides, mini-inner tube rapid rides and a small, sandy beach. The water parks also feature lazy rivers, a surf pool and a wave pool. When not keeping an eye out on kiddos, parents and grandparents can be found at the relaxing lounge areas with frosty beverage in hand!
Keeping cool at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon.
Dress for the Weather
It’s hot, and you’re vacationing at a theme park. Please don’t pack jeans or anything long-sleeve in your luggage. Your clothes should be constructed of breathable fabric, like linen or thin cotton. Your tween and teenage boys - and perhaps the older guys in your life - will be happier than ever, allowed to wear dri-fit shorts and t-shirts EVERY DAY. Young ladies will love strolling the parks in easy, breezy sundresses - encourage modest hem lines because they’ll be getting in and out of ride vehicles. Regardless of the weather, you want to enjoy the parks in comfortable shoes as you’re walking 10+ miles per day. Tennis shoes and socks may be too hot in the scorching summer months, but waterproof, open-air sandals are ideal. Don’t worry if you have reservations for dinner at table-service restaurants at the parks or hotels. Casual attire is allowed. Even Signature dining experiences allow dress shorts. Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has the most stringent dress code, requiring dress jackets for men. Save your reservation for winter ❄️.
Backpack Basics
Guests are allowed to enter the parks with a purse or backpack after clearing a security check at park entrance. Items that you may want to consider bringing to the parks include:
Sunglasses - you need to protect those baby blues from the rays of the sun.
Sunscreen - your kids won’t approve, but bring a sunscreen stick to slather their faces every 80 minutes.
Water bottle - there are water stations located throughout the parks to fill your reusable (non-glass) vessel.
Cooling towel - simply soak in cold water, wring out the towel and place it around your neck; when it stops cooling, rinse and repeat!
Lightweight rain jacket or poncho - sounds weird, but hurricane season starts in June. Although hurricanes are unlikely in the early summer months, heavy rain downpours and tropical storms are not. Armed with a poncho from home, you’ll avoid the upcharge at the park gift shops, and you’ll avoid getting drenched from the rain or riding Splash Mountain!
Ready to meet Donald Duck, and ready for the rain!
Stay Cool inside the Parks
It’s inevitable. You’re going to experience the heat and humidity at Disney’s theme parks. There are plenty of tips to stay cool while you’re having fun, whether it’s morning, mid-day or evening.
Every Quick-Service restaurant at the parks will provide complimentary ice water to guests. No dining plan or purchase necessary.
During the hottest part of the day, visit attractions with interior queues rather than lines that are primarily outside. At noon, you should be waiting in line at Pirates of the Caribbean instead of Jungle Cruise, for example.
On that same note, there are a number of attractions with traditionally short wait times that allow you to escape the heat while getting off your feet and savoring A/C. Country Bear Jamboree at Magic Kingdom, Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival at Epcot, Muppet Vision 3D at Hollywood Studios, and It’s Tough to be a Bug at Animal Kingdom fit the bill.
Taking a break at Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.
What are some of your favorite ways of beating the heat at Walt Disney World® Resort?