Tips for Beating the Summer Heat at Disney World

If you're headed to Disney World this summer, you know it's going to be hot and humid! With just a few tips from Wishdrawals, you can still enjoy your Disney World vacation!

1.  Plan your days so you are resting during the hottest part of the day. We suggest starting at the parks at "rope drop" first thing in the morning and do as much as you can until around 1:00. Between 1:00 and 5:00pm, the temperatures are the hottest and the crowds are heaviest making lines the longest they'll be all day! This is a great time to leave the parks for a while. Go back to your resort and take a swim or take a nap. (Naps aren't just for littles ones, you know!) Play some arcade games at the resort or just have a cold drink sitting poolside.

2.  Make Fast Passes for the attractions where you get wet. If you have limited time in the parks or you aren't staying at an on property resort, leaving the parks might not be a great option. Instead, consider making FastPasses for the wet rides during these hours. Splash Mountain and Kali River Rapids are great options!

Kali River Rapids
Photo Credit: Walt Disney Travel Company

Casey Jr Splash & Soak
Photo Credit: Walt Disney Travel Company

3.  Let your kids wear something they can get wet in or bring a change of clothes! At Magic Kingdom so they can enjoy Casey Jr. Splash and Soak in Fantasyland or the tikis in Adventureland near Jungle Cruise. You can also encounter a spitting camel in Adventureland near Magic Carpets of Aladdin. In Epcot, there are two spray zones--one on the walkway between Future World and World Showcase and another near Test Track. At Disney Springs, there's also a play fountain. 

Hall of Presidents

4. Save the shows for the afternoons. At Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios, save the indoor shows for the afternoons. This is a great time to see the Enchanted Tiki Room show, Mickey's Philharmagic, Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, Carousel of Progress or Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom. (No matter how hot it is, consider skipping Country Bear Jamboree!) At Animal Kingdom, see Festival of the Lion King or Finding Nemo: The Musical. At Hollywood Studios, afternoons are a great time to experience the Frozen Sing-Along or Walt Disney: One Man's Dream. Muppet 3D and Voyage of the Little Mermaid are also good choices here!

5.  Utilize the large pavilions at Epcot. The Future World section of Epcot is great in the heat because all of the attractions are indoors. You can spend a while in air conditioning seeing multiple attractions at one time. Head back to world showcase, and it's a whole different story! There is not much shade and a lot of the entertainment is outdoors. If your trip allows, save the World Showcase for the evenings. If you have to conquer it in the heat of the day be sure to plan stops to cool off such as the American Adventure theater and Reflections of China movie!

6.  Consider making your sit down meal mid-day instead of in the evening. This will give you a break and some rest time out of the heat as well as more park time in the evening when it cools off.  

Garden Grill at Epcot
Photo Credit: Walt Disney Travel Company

7.  Plan in some down time. Take some time to enjoy activities at your resort or another

Splitsville bowling alley at Disney Springs.

activity outside the park. Splitsville Luxury Lanes (bowling), Fork and Screen Dine in Theaters at the AMC Disney Springs and Cirque du Soleil are great ways to spend a "cool" evening Disney style!

8.  Don't forget the standard summer heat tips apply as well. Drink lots of water (remember a cup of water is free at any snack location!), use cooling gear (Frog Toggs, etc) use sunscreen and use a hat!  

Following these tips will help you have a great summer Disney World vacation!









This blog was a collaborative effort between Heather Gordon and Susan Burks! 

Heather is a military wife and the mom of one awesome boy and a pretty fabulous girl!  Contact her at heather@wishdrawals.com to start planning your family's next magical vacation!

Susan is a military wife, and a homeschooling mom to a 

robot-programming, space-loving 11 year old!  You can contact Susan at susan@wishdrawals.com. 

Susan and Heather love visiting Disney World and taking Disney cruises--sometimes they even take their families! Together they've done 12 Disney cruises, one Disneyland trip, one trip to Vero Beach Disney Resort and too many Disney World trips to keep track of!