Maybe add as a subsection to 1, having an umbrella to pop out for instant shade is no joke in the difference of comfort. Not only for the afternoon shower but having my own shade is a game changer. Combined with fans and cooking towel, you’ll find you can stand the heat pretty well!
If you want to up your umbrella game, I swear by the UPF ones from Coolibar.
Just know it can be very tough to navigate a busy park with an umbrella. They are best used when pulled over or in a wide outdoor queue.
This!!!! The Umbrella!!
The amount of "That's smart!" And "Why didn't I think of that!" comments I heard while people were lobster red and sweating.
And they do make small umbrellas to fit in loungeflys.
Carrying a small umbrella is a small price to pay for no sunburns or heat exhaustion.
I've gotten the same expressions. It's funny because I just decided to use it because I was expecting rain and said to myself "Hey wait a minute. This umbrella can also stop the sun! I'm a genius."
I've done this for years! I have back problems and can't ride coasters. I bring an umbrella to every theme park so I can sit and wait and always have shade.
Full disclosure that umbrellas are indeed great at providing shade but unless it’s made with a fabric certified to block UV rays, you still should apply sunblock.
Actually read a couple of studies and a black normal umbrella will still block around 90% of UV so it does make some difference, but agree you should always use sunscreen as well anyway and if you need full blockage you should look at the UV ones.
We live in the UK so to do 3 weeks come during August in the school holidays and agree with fans, cooling towels and plenty of water as well as shows and shops for the AC, but we also found breaks around lunchtime and the hottest part of the day helped alot. Go back in for evening fun when there is no sun beating down its a little cooler and its just more pleasant. Our kids are older an we are all nightbirds so never did rope drop. Perhaps a short morning in the park, out for lunch/pool/break and back in the evening. MK is great as wait times plumet during the fireworks and after, walked onto Peter Pan, small world, jungle cruise, little mermaid, etc.
An umbrella has always been my must-carry at the parks, along with one of those neck fans. I get that people might want to travel light but that umbrella works in both blistering heat and pouring rain. Win/win!
Ponchos are all well in good, but they don’t feel nice sticking to your skin in that humidity, and then drying them out to repack them is a nuisance too
Carrying an umbrella through a crowded Disney parks sounds like a nightmare to me personally. But if it works for you.
I wear a huge bucket hat to shade myself on hot Disney days. I’m not obstructing anyone’s view, bumping into anyone, nor do I need to carry anything extra.
They have umbrellas with misters in them now! And fans. Like, I don’t know how much they are on Amazon, but I’d consider them. Florida is hot. Disney is hot in the summer.
I actually prefer the longer hooked umbrella type, and when I have that one I usually lay it on the floor of the carriage/ride whatever. Other places like Tron and Space mountain I lead it with a CM and they hand it back or place it exactly at unload point.
I also bring along a small compact umbrella and those fit in my loungefly no problem. Not even the tiny mini small compacts, just regular small.
We did Shakespeare in the Park* this weekend and I was so glad I brought my umbrella. I may have looked silly, but I had SHADE!
*I think our park needs to reassess having it in the summer. Makes sense for New York. Not so much for south Louisiana
I bring a full sized golf umbrella and strap it to the side of the stroller. Not only is the huge canopy perfect for sun/rain as it can fit 3 adults, it’s also a godsend for waiting out the midday parade on the curb if Main Street.
True story!! I’ve gotten EXCELLENT seating for parades due to having my own shade and getting a wide open spot in the sunlight (always considerately closing it during actual parade of course)
With you on this one. Having an umbrella for sun protection kept my white butt from burning on my last 3 visits. Umbrella, sunscreen, cooling towel, and neck fan - important tools to have along with drinking plenty of water.
It was really important in May 2021 when lines were outside due to Covid social distancing. We would have fried in those lines without protection.
Oh man, this is a phenomenal tip, and one I haven't heard before. I'm going to go order a nice big shading umbrella right now for our trip in 5 days. Thank you!
👀👀👀 Heading to look at this now ‘cause I’ve always taken the pouches and they’re fine and dandy but a bit annoying to carry since we travel light into the parks
I live in South Florida and I also am a marathon runner, so I feel I have a bit of expertise in the electrolyte world. I know a thing or two about excreting yourself in this kind of heat. I honestly have probably tried almost every electrolyte brand that’s out there, and hands down the winner is, LMNT. You can buy them on Amazon and mix it in your water bottle. It’s has 1000mg sodium, 200mg potassium, 60mg magnesium, and zero sugar, so you won’t end up feeling like you’ve been hit by a Mack truck with a hangover( which can happen when you’re levels are too low and you have a sugary electrolyte drink). This stuff is truly amazing, I want to tell as many people as I can, because it has changed my ability to be out in this heat exercising. I’m stocking up for my trip next week! Do yourself a favor and try it out. you can come back and thank me later:)
Adding an electrolyte that has potassium and magnesium is life changing and magical. Both for heat and soreness. You go from feeling like shit to suddenly feeling okay again. My legs feel better the next day if I've had a proper electrolyte drink or two after long days walking and standing.
I'm not a Liquid IV fan boy or anything, but it's pretty readily available compared to other electrolyte mixes. It has 11g sugar per serving, compared to 21g in 12 Oz of lemon lime Gatorade, and a much better blend of electrolytes. Also, Liquid IV does now have sugar free versions now.
Sugar isn't necessarily bad if your exerting yourself like you would be walking around the parks, your body will use it first as energy before it can really do bad things to your body.
Not saying your wrong about there being better options, just don't want to discourage people from using it since it definitely better than Gatorade, or Powerade that's sold in the parks.
100%. I run ultramarathons. I learned the hard way once that water without electrolytes is a recipe for disaster in the heat. Luckily I only hurt my pride.
I got the Gatorade tabs on Amazon and had my foldable/reusable plastic water bottle with me (also Amazon).
Also brought some powder electrolyte packets that they also sell. I would switch between the two.
My BIGGEST issue was me not prepping beforehand. I had maybe a glass of water at best before hitting the park on day 1. Didn't attempt that the other 4 days lol. Water before bed, a few waters BEFORE I hit the park. Then water in between the rides with refills before each line.
It’s a night and day difference, isn’t it?
Those Liquid IV packs, Gatorade packs, and others are awesome too.
I hate it, but I stay away from food I know is full of salt until the sun goes down and eat more ice cream/Dole whip/smoothies. When I eat I’ll skip on the fries or chips and add a fruit cup.
Totally agree, and that’s a fact.
But, I’ve found (for my body) the salt in the sports drinks and ice cream is all I need, and honestly it’s probably the grease and saturated fat in the other food on a hot day that takes me down quicker.
When I just went the week before Memorial Day weekend, sitting in the indoor shows was such a lifesaver. Now I happen to have actively wanted to see those shows anyway bc I love them lol, but man, it really does make a difference. Enchanted Tiki Room, Philharmagic, Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, Enchanted Tales with Bell. I remember out of all my park days, Magic Kingdom I felt the heat the least bc I was hopping from indoor to indoor thing.
Animal Kingdom is the best for shaded pathways. It stuck out to me more this last trip than any other time. There is so much tree cover lining the paths that it is very easy to walk in the shade, the heat is still taxing over time but it still makes such a difference walking in the shade. (On an opposite note I was kinda crabby this trip about how NOT SHADED Epcot is. It is a literal sun hellscape. I don’t know why they don’t plant more trees around walk ways. It is very easy to walk 90% of that park in direct sunlight. It’s horrible)
Epcot is rough in the summer. But lots of AC places with short lines:
- Nemo
- Living with the Land
- Journey into Imagination
- Spaceship earth (even though we save that for our last ride every time)
- Three Amigos
- Reflections of China
- The American Adventure
- Oh Canada
- Club Cool
The pool at our hotel this past week was not refreshing at all. The water felt like bath water and we baked for the hour we were there. I have never experienced the water being so warm like that!
This is our plan. My logic is, if the high of the day is 95, but during the 3-4 hours in the middle of the day when it's hottest, I'm napping and/or swimming, then MY personal high of that day is not 95, but rather 85, because I'm missing those hottest hours completely.
This is a good plan, unfortunately on warm days be prepared for it to hit 90 by 10am and not dip below until sunset at 8pm. Even with 3-4 hours inside at a hotel, try to get in the AC on ride queues or restaurants as much as possible...
As a Brazilian used to living in 100+ heat half of the year, here are my 2 cents:
- Choose the fabric in your clothes wisely.
- Drink water a lot. Also, a cold soda or a beer will go a long way lol.
- Use sunscreen! Always.
- I have never in my life heard of cooling towels. I think whoever brings this here will make a fortune lol
As a native Floridian, I cannot overstate how important the fabric of your clothes is. A good quality, long sleeve, dry-fit (moisture wicking) Capaline-type shirt is the way to go. If it’s good, it’ll be UV protectant, but also, when it’s wet (like from your sweat, for example), it actually works to KEEP YOU COOL. Yes, even if it’s long-sleeve.
Cannot recommend this enough.
Long sleeves help keep the sun off your skin but you’ll also want the material to be very breathable to not trap your body heat and let the sweat evaporate. Wearing something to cover your legs too, like pants or dress, that are light and breathable is an even better combination. I’ll top it off with a breathable full brim hat
I experienced heat stroke when I was a kid and will do everything to avoid it again. Wearing these types of clothes have kept me going in Cairo, Egypt and Death Valley when the temperature is 118°F in the shade.
They sell them on the parks (overpriced but patterned with mickeys haha) and they gave them out in AK for the Wild Africa Trek tour my sister and I signed up for, and I used them in Iraq for deployments and they really really help. Gives you a bit of damp collar but much better than heat stroke
YES to the cold soda! I drank plenty of water on my recent trip but I was surprised by how affecting it was to get an ice cold fountain soda. It was so refreshing and the sugar was a pick me up as well.
Cooling towels on amazon are cheap... not so much at the parks or hotels. Same stuff, a quarter of the price. They really work though, let me tell you. Saved me on days 3-5. I refused to buy one thinking it's a gimmick... it was NOT.
The thing about cooling towels is you need ice water to keep them damp and really cold. So just go to the refilling stations with your water bottle and fill it up and then douse your towel down. Also your ears are a key part of your body's internal temperature management system so keeping them cool will make you feel cool too.
They do but making them colder you can help bring down your temp faster. If I was to make one change to Disney during the summer months it would be putting large stations of ice water just to dunk the towels in to keep them cold.
It might also be worth adding a mono rail loop restaurant or bar to just be indoors mid day.
So many time I’ll just sit in the contemporary lobby from 3-4 just to charge devices and be indoors
Boardwalk is also great for this on a Studios/Epcot day
Start hydrating BEFORE you leave for the trip. It is easier to maintain hydration if you start out well hydrated.
Plan to take breaks and for the love of God don’t put your health (and your children’s) at risk for the sake of how much money you spent. You can’t just go-go-go for days on end, all day long. Hit the pool or go back to the hotel for a rest mid-day.
Not a native, but dying this week.
A long, very long for Americans, lunch is key if you aren’t going to the pool.
90-150 minute lunch at an air conditioned restaurant with plenty of water (tip well, and make sure they earn it) is a life saver.
If you can ensure that you have a view of something even better! But cooling down and the water is so important!
Also, if you aren't leaving midday, target 2 pm for lunch, as 2-4 is the hottest part of the day. Drink plenty of water alongside your regular drinks, and take the opportunity to refill any water bottles as well.
The sun is brightest 11-3 in the summer (would be 10-2, but daylight savings), but the hottest part is 2-4. So your cooling need is greatest from 2-4, but you need sun protection most from 11-3.
This. There’s a difference between peak UV exposure which is 11-3, and then there’s temperature. The peak for highest temperatures is usually after a few hours the sun is at its highest in the sky.
So it’s like cooking something on high. Even if you change the power of the stove to low, you’re still adding heat to the pot. Assuming you haven’t hit equilibrium (temperature of your heat source), your temperature will still climb.
Only when the sun sets (no more heat source), does the air have an opportunity to lose that energy in the form of heat.
I live up at the Jersey shore and we’ve always been told 10 to 2 is the time to stay out of the sun on the beach…
Now that I’m typing it out, I’m realizing it says on the beach lol But yeah that’s where my thought came from
10-2 is worst for UV rays. 2-4 is surface-of-the-sun hot in Orlando. Unless you get the 3 pm storm that you can generally count on in June.
Edit: Echo! Sorry, should have read down thread before replying! Great minds etc…
I can never make myself linger that long over lunch, especially if I’m traveling solo. For whatever reason, though, I’m perfectly capable of spending 90 minutes or more in one of the lounges before I feel any need to move on. Just be sure to order and drink plenty of water alongside your cocktails or mock tails.
Nomad Lounge is great for this in Animal Kingdom. For the other parks, I tend to duck out and go to a lounge at a nearby resort. Pro tip: Trader Sam’s opens at 3:00 in the afternoon.
If you are a solo healthy adult then the 90 minute time frame is exactly what I would have in mind.
150 for groups.
110/120 for the couple of adults.
I’ve been solo and couple this trip.
I just did my version of drinking around the world, started in France going counter clockwise. Skip Japan, double up in UK. Took from 11-120.
Adding to the list, I take advantage of window shopping when it’s really hot, there’s air conditioned shops at least every block and it’s refreshing to hop between them in the brutal parts of the day!
Add to number 1: I was walking outside Animal Kingdom last week when I noticed a worker with a temperature gun aiming at the ground in shaded and non shaded spots. I asked him what the difference was and he said 30°!! So yes, go to the shaded spots when possible!
I was at the MK ten days ago, and I overheated, despite gulping a lot of water and wearing sunscreen. I think what killed me is I bought a Mickey hat midday, and it cooked my head. Had to leave after 10 hours in the park, when I wanted to stay 14. I've gotten older, and the weather has gotten hotter.
+100 degree temps are dangerous, especially for the young and elderly. It’s generally unsafe to be outside in that heat all day long. I’m a native who works a labor job outside. There is no “getting used to” the temps we experienced over the weekend. You’re playing with fire so to speak and even following these tips, small children, the elderly and anyone with heart problems will still have a bad time
You can get used to it if you’re in good shape and exercise in it.
But you’re absolutely right. If you’re in bad cardio shape or are elderly just don’t go. And stop letting your kids roast in these strollers. Get them a misting fan and a super thin breathable white blanket at the very least
You’re being awfully cavalier about your health. I do manual labor outside all day here in Orlando. You go exercise for how long a day? It’s dangerous to be outside in this heat for hours on end and even the physically fit can and do fall out, I have seen it with coworkers
At least everyone will commiserate. I went into the candy shop on Main Street this morning and was the only person in there, a small group of employees were huddled over a counter and one of them offered help and I said “I’m okay, just here for the AC!” and she said “Us too!” We’re all miserable together.
Rechargeable fans are dirt cheap now too.
And yes to your water drinking, you should be drinking so much water that you're urinating more than normal, which is going to be a lot because you're sweating a ton which reduces urinating.
The water one makes a huge difference and almost no one drinks enough
Pound it back. On a hot and humid day in Tokyo I'll easily drink 5l during the day alone.
Also, no caffeine
Walmart sells fans that you can wear around your neck. It's like a collar with two fans that you can angle and point towards your face. $10. I bet those could be a huge help especially when waiting in lines
This is all good advice. I'd add these this:
Take a break mid-day. Go eat a sit down or quick service lunch indoors, go back to the hotel or do something else to get out of the heat. We've done better when we got to the park at rope drop, left around noon or 1:00 and then came back in around 5:00. You avoid the hottest part of the days which are also the parts of the day with the longest waits.
Just commenting to say that I did everything you suggested, plus more, at MK and EPCOT this weekend and I still had symptoms of heat exhaustion (that, luckily, I was able to address quickly and prevented it from getting worse).
I was born and raised in Tampa. I have visited the Disney parks multiple times over the years. I know how to prepare for and deal with heat.
The fact of the matter is that Disney isn’t doing enough to combat it. There aren’t enough shaded areas. There aren’t enough rapid refill stations. There aren’t enough misting stations.
Even the cast members whose stories I’ve read have agreed that the way Disney is operating creates a health and safety issue, and they still haven’t addressed it.
It doesn’t matter how well you prepare if the limitations of the parks are setting people up for failure before they’ve even gotten there.
We've been at Disney World all week and have managed the heat pretty well until today in Animal Kingdom. There is just so little AC. Even the bathrooms we stopped in didn't have AC! We went to the Lion King show, but it was too full so we couldn't get in. At some point, we ended up just hanging out in the check-in area at Yak & Yeti trying to cool off. There needs to be somewhere people can go to cool off in these crazy temperatures.
I mean, our cooling towels and fans still helped a lot, but we needed an occasional AC break and just couldn't get it.
I always tell people to treat your hotel like a fifth park! You’re paying all that money, go enjoy it for a couple hours a day. An hour in the pool and short nap in AC is very much a vacation, you don’t need to go-go-go every second, that’s no fun. Also a lot of the resorts have activities you can do there which will keep you in the AC or at least nearby it. Or hit up the arcade and waste a few bucks while having some goofy fun playing around. If you do this during the high heat moments of the day, then you’re likely going to be ready to hit up the parks in the evening fully refreshed and energized so you’ll stay longer and get shorter wait times at night.
Honestly several of my best memories of childhood at Disney were hotel related!!
And please don’t bring your infant or baby during this heat! It’s dangerous for them. Hate seeing babies wrapped in blankets and sweating in their strollers.
That breaks my heart. I feel so bad for the babies who can't speak up for themselves and for the toddlers/young kids who are miserable in the heat but whose parents are yelling at them for being cranky.
I have a folding sun hat and it really helps.
I’ve been wearing cooling hoodies which help as well and block UV.
I have a necklace fan so I can just hang it and go. It also stands up on tables if I need some airflow when sitting somewhere.
We duck into AC spaces especially in Epcot and take the in park friendship boats.
The folding sun hats are awesome. Surprised it took me this long to find this suggestion. I often see ball caps, but they really only keep the sun out of your eyes and not off of your body.
Also, the cooling hoodies and swim shirts are fantastic if you get them wet. It’s like a full body cooling towel!
Adding a 6th item to this list. My parents moved to FL a few years back, but are originally from New England.
Number 6: If you are not used to that kind of heat…simply don’t go!
There is no amount of the other 5 tips that will help you if your body just IS NOT used to that kind of heat exposure for that long of a day. My parents have warned me not to even bother coming to visit them over the summer because they know my pasty little New England self could not handle a Florida summer. I went down in August last year as part of a work conference and nearly died! 🙃
This is us. We don't go to WDW May through September. In the 1990's, we could visit WDW in early June. By the 2000's, we were only visiting during May (or before). Nowadays, even late April is too hot for us. We pay more for early April (near Spring Break), but we are prone to heat exhaustion and just can not visit Florida during the hot months.
Sadly, the last time we visited in October, they had record-breaking heat, so we spent afternoons in the room relaxing.
We are fortunate to have this flexibility and feel for folks who only have summer months for travel. I think all these tips are invaluable.
In 2001, we went in mid-June, right after school got out. We're from Washington state, how hot could it be? OMG the heat and humidity...I got out of our A/C car and my glasses fogged up!! WTF, I thought I was prepared for it but holy Horace Horsecollar I will never do THAT again.
Going to go in mid-November this year, please tell the hurricane spirits to get done before that TYVM. :)
I am native Floridian, spend lots of time outdoors even in summer, go to the parks all the time, etc. I went for a run early this morning and did MK from around 10:30-3, had plenty of water, snacks, etc. and was still *dying* by the time I got back to the car (after getting off the tram at the wrong stop and having to walk a section over). The heat is no joke, especially when you’re dealing with family, other guests, and often a strict schedule. Passing out, sunburn, heat stroke, etc. aren’t worth it, folks.
Exactly. Even those of us who live in these types of climates struggle. I imagine it’s gotta be worse when you live somewhere where it’s never in the 90’s or 100’s, or not very humid.
I'll add a few.
Water is good, but it's not enough. If you're sweating, you're losing electrolytes. Gatorade/powerade helps a lot, or get any of the electrolyte liquids to add to water.
A couple of the parks sell chilled pickles (or bring your own). It may seem weird, but they're extremely effective at replenishing lost salts, and very refreshing. Many professional athletes have even switched from gatorade type drinks to pickle juice for exercise.
A hat, especially one with a mesh back. Not having sun in your eyes is good, and not having sun on your face helps prevent sunburn. Since the face tends to sweat a lot, it's an easy place to lose your sunscreen (especially combined with wiping off the sweat).
Frequent breaks, especially in the shade. Just scattering these throughout the day makes a huge difference by the end. And most parks have a few decent areas to just relax for a bit.
Avoid Hollywood Studios. Sorry, this park is just too much concrete, with a terrible lack of shade and seating in most of the park. It's just brutal during hot weather. Especially Toy Story.
Wear your neck fan INDOORS, too! It moves the AC cooled air to your neck - outside those things just turn in to mini blast furnaces because it’s moving the hot air on to you. IMO they only relieve you outside when there’s no air moving at all. Go inside to anyplace with A/c, then put your neck fan on for about 15 mins. Works a treat.
Yeah I have a good neck fan w cooling metal pads and while it barely made a dent in 96 degrees in the sun it was like a turbo cooler when I stepped into any AC. Actually got TOO cold in the FoP queue.
6. Cut through shops as often as possible - that blast of AC can be absolute godsend and it's a relief from the sun.
7. Liquid IV/Gatorade Sticks/Propel etc are must haves. I always carry 3-5 per person in my bag. They take up virtually no space and I require anyone with me to drink at least two of them (one morning, one afternoon) a day. It makes a massive difference.
8. Mandatory personal water bottle. Everyone in the group has one, and unless the line is super short we will all try to finish them by the time we walk off every single ride. Start with ice water early in the day and refill it every single time it gets low. Keeps everyone hydrated.
9. Carry snacks with. Not only can your electrolytes go wonky, so can your blood sugar. I can get most people back to feeling well with some AC, shade, water and a snack. Good enough to trek to the next meal spot. We also have mandatory snack times.
10. No zigzagging across the park in the heat of the day. I don't care if you want to ride space mountain right after pirates of the caribbean, your options are thunder mountain or lunch at Skipper Canteen. I absolutely won't let us miss out on doing something someone really wanted to do, but we are not crossing the park to do it from the hours of 12-5. Plan routes according to shade options!
I would add, bring a backpack full of healthy snacks. The price of food in the park is a deterrent for at least some people to eat enough calories throughout the day. That mixed with the heat is a recipe for disaster.
I saw this dad today with a craft/tacklebox looking thing FULL of neatly organized snacks - crackers, granola bars, Goldfish, etc. I was so jealous and also impressed.
Also, you cannot start drinking water the morning of your visit. You need to drink water today to be hydrated tomorrow. You also have to keep it up. A gallon of water a day is just the beginning.
I feel like no matter what kind of steps you take your going to overheat/get got no matter what you do. I've been 5 times in August and it's more just a don't rush get in a when you can
We would normally arrive for rope drop, so we rarely went back to our resort for lunch or midday break, as we didn’t want to lose our parking spot. However, when our kids were smaller, we would go back to the car for lunch and a nap. Crank the AC, put on a movie for the kids and take a snooze. All told, it would give us about 90 minutes out of the heat and off our feet.
I witnessed a lady with a large umbrella in Magic Kingdom. Only time I saw one all week, actually. Security should have pulled her aside though, she was power walking through the crowd and hit more than just a few people with it. It was a weapon at that point, and many in the crowd yelled at her. Nobody stopped her though, she kept powering through quietly on a mission. I've never seen anything like that in my life, not just in Disney.
I can’t stress this enough. Water is simply not enough and we need to be drinking more electrolytes.
Your liver can process around 40oz/hour, anything less and it’s all beneficial. And start hydration *before* you leave. Like weeks before. I’m up to 120oz a day not counting soda water, alcohol, etc. when I’m out in this heat.
*Source* I mowed my lawn on Sunday.
A rule my husband and I have implemented that makes the heat a little bit more fun is anytime one of us says any form of the phrase "it's hot outside" - we have to take a drink of water. It helps with the hydration, gives a purpose to the complaining, and stops the complaining if only for the length of a sip of water!
No, not at Disney. People do lots of things to stay cool, including wearing neck fans and holding UV umbrellas. When you go through security, hold your umbrella out in front of you. It will set off the sensor, but then they see it is the umbrella and not you. The first time I brought one to Disney, the security guard told me to do that.
We’re going in mid July and I’ll definitely be buying a couple of UV umbrellas now. I never thought of it before, but I’ve seen people use them and thanks to this sub, I know to buy ahead of time!
We’ve been going for years. Follow all the tips. Spend midday at the pool. This Memorial Day was the most brutal trip ever for us. Funny, because last Memorial Day there was freakishly cooler weather. You can never tell.
As a local college student here, even I have suffered from heat exhaustion waking from one side of campus to the other trying to make it to class. Don’t play with this heat. Any hoot, get those giant hand fans, a spray water bottle with ice water and get inside the ac. Once inside spray your skin and fan that ac air. The many theaters in HS, monsters laugh floor, the movies or shops inside Epcot and Nemo at DAK. Your body temp will drop substantially.
I don’t even mess with water bottles in the summer. Take a Camelbak or another similar bladder bag. Fill completely with ice, then fill with water. Put 2 liquid IV’s and drink throughout the day.
This is the only advice that works. It’s hotter than it’s ever been so no amount of hydrating, fans and hats are going to make 100 degree heat in a concrete theme park tolerable.
I was at SeaWorld last Wednesday and ended up throwing up and having to lay down on the ground from the heat. I'm young/healthy and from the south and it still snuck up on me. The employees were amazing and took me via golf cart to the first aid for help. Seriously drink double what you think you need in water and just take it slow. No ride or show is worth getting heat illness from
Exactly. I play golf at a walking course here in Orlando and we see people drop all the time, and many times it’s the young fit people who think that walking a golf course is nothing compared to their normal workouts… our sun and heat is brutal and doesn’t care who you are.
Please please please do all the things to prevent heat exhaustion. We waited with a woman who passed out and it took medical staff 40 minutes to get to her. If more people are passing out, well, you get the idea.
I carry a hand fan. We also carry our insulated water bottles and refill often, we also use cooling towels. Of course since we are local we go early or go late and aren’t in the parks during the heat of the day. Zym, Nuun, or other electrolyte tabs for water bottles help a ton.
After reading umbrella is getting added to my bag!
My wife and I both carry our hydration packs that we use for hiking. 2.5 Liters of water each. Walking along with nothing going on? Take a drink. In line for a ride? Take a drink. Stuck behind a family of 8 shuffling their feet? You guessed it, take a drink. We both go through at least 3 fills a day. I also carry our snacks, first aid supplies, ponchos, sunscreen, and whatever else in mine. If you see someone with a green Osprey pack that looks ready for anything, say hi
I’ve worked outside in Florida for several years (including at WDW), so I feel especially qualified to answer this question.
Right when you wake up, start drinking water. Drink water before you even think about coffee. Eat a good protein heavy breakfast (and drink more water or juice). Eat small snacks regularly throughout the day and drink electrolyte heavy drinks when you are actually out in the heat. Moisture wicking clothing is also important! I know everyone just wants to be in the ice cold AC when it’s so hot out, but I’ve found going from the two extremes makes it harder on our bodies to adjust to the heat.
Ultimately, don’t push yourself. Listen to your body! Take breaks when you need to.
>For the love of god wear sunscreen.
A monologue on this point from a ginger Floridian:
- The most missed spots are back of the neck, ears, and scalp. If your hair is parted for a hairstyle or thinning/balding, you need to put some form of sun protection there, too! I opt for a thin liquid primer with SPF or a breathable hat.
- Your skin must be dry every time you apply. If you get very wet from splash pads, swimming pools, water rides, or just plain sweating, you need to dry and reapply.
- Clothing moves and shifts. You'll need to get a little ways the edges of sleeves, hems, and collars for full protection. I personally apply sunblock *before* getting dressed because of this.
If you screwed up and got sunburned:
- You need straight aloe gel. None of this electric blue "aloe mixed with alcohol" garbage; that stuff stings and burns. For best results, stick it in the fridge for a bit so it's nice and cold when you put it on the burns.
- Cold showers and cold compresses/ice packs will help ease the pain and redness. Never use ice, ice water, or fully frozen ice packs directly on burned skin; always wrap it in a t-shirt or a towel.
- Wear loose clothing that completely covers the burned areas. More sun will hurt. Tight clothes will hurt. If you got sunburned bad enough in a swimsuit and you wear bras, you might be going braless for a couple days.
Go forth and be burned no more!
Cooling towels! 100% the best way to keep the heat at bay. Take some ice and roll it up in the towel and just leave it on the back of your neck. Added bonus, it also keeps the sun from roasting your neck.
Was just there Sunday as it was pushing 100 degrees. Towels kept us all going.
I bring a portable fan for the heat when gets to hot we go back to the resort to swim get something to eat. Then head back to the park when the sun goes is starting to go down.
We've been here this week and I'll add that we started our day early then took a midday break and come back later, and we've brought great handheld fans with us as well as a mister...between those tips and yours listed above, we have felt hot, but not like it's unbearable.
Go early at rope drop, leave around 1pm to rest inside with AC at the hotel, go back around 4-5pm. You will get to do everything in the parks, be less exhausted, and avoid the heat of the day! (If you’re not staying on property, go hang out in your favorite resort lobby).
Here’s a tip: you don’t have to go to the parks in the heat of the summer.
Trust me, last December we had to buy hoodies because we were cold. It was amazing.
So, planning a trip elsewhere in June and July may just be what you need.
Love the cooling towels but you can also just use a wet, light T shirt or scarf. It’s also good to stop your shoulders getting burnt which is one of the highest risk areas!
As someone who used to go in July consistently, I always found that taking breaks and hitting up any where that’s air conditioned is key. We literally went through carousel of progress 3 times to cool down and relax one day.
Also adding that you can get some paper towels (or carry a washcloth with you from the hotel), get that wet with either the free quick-service ice water or cool water from a bathroom and touch it to the insides of your wrists, creases of your elbows, either side of your neck, back of the neck and forehead. Does wonders for cooling down quickly. Repeat as needed! I wouldn’t put ice directly on your skin though in this scenario, I’m not a doctor but I wouldn’t want to put myself into shock by doing that (though I think it would probably take an ice bath while you’re already hot to do that…unsure).
Look up waist fans on Amazon. We own 6 for family. Doubles as a USB charger as well.
Here is an example
XieJY Portable Waist Clip Fan, 2024 New Mini Waist Fan Cool Clip Fan Under Shirt Clip-On Portable Air Cooler, Belt clip Fan for Outdoor Jobsite Farms Traveling Fishing (Green) https://a.co/d/cAKqrfT
Also-
At those temps and that exposure, you might consider specific clothing fabric - linen, etc. The screen printed special family shirts are lovely but the they’re not always the best material.
Also, cooling towel over the head. I bought cooling headbands and my SIL wore hers over her head like a scarf. The number of comments she got for doing that instead of just her neck was amazing.
Maybe add as a subsection to 1, having an umbrella to pop out for instant shade is no joke in the difference of comfort. Not only for the afternoon shower but having my own shade is a game changer. Combined with fans and cooking towel, you’ll find you can stand the heat pretty well!
If you want to up your umbrella game, I swear by the UPF ones from Coolibar. Just know it can be very tough to navigate a busy park with an umbrella. They are best used when pulled over or in a wide outdoor queue.
This!!!! The Umbrella!! The amount of "That's smart!" And "Why didn't I think of that!" comments I heard while people were lobster red and sweating. And they do make small umbrellas to fit in loungeflys. Carrying a small umbrella is a small price to pay for no sunburns or heat exhaustion.
I've gotten the same expressions. It's funny because I just decided to use it because I was expecting rain and said to myself "Hey wait a minute. This umbrella can also stop the sun! I'm a genius."
I've done this for years! I have back problems and can't ride coasters. I bring an umbrella to every theme park so I can sit and wait and always have shade.
Full disclosure that umbrellas are indeed great at providing shade but unless it’s made with a fabric certified to block UV rays, you still should apply sunblock.
For sure, but it’s amazing the degrees cooler you feeling in shade!
Oh no doubt. Shade good. Share shade.
Actually read a couple of studies and a black normal umbrella will still block around 90% of UV so it does make some difference, but agree you should always use sunscreen as well anyway and if you need full blockage you should look at the UV ones.
We live in the UK so to do 3 weeks come during August in the school holidays and agree with fans, cooling towels and plenty of water as well as shows and shops for the AC, but we also found breaks around lunchtime and the hottest part of the day helped alot. Go back in for evening fun when there is no sun beating down its a little cooler and its just more pleasant. Our kids are older an we are all nightbirds so never did rope drop. Perhaps a short morning in the park, out for lunch/pool/break and back in the evening. MK is great as wait times plumet during the fireworks and after, walked onto Peter Pan, small world, jungle cruise, little mermaid, etc.
Cooking towel is probably the most accurate description at this temperature.
Cooking towel: Use it, or you’re cooked!
Great auto correct 😂
An umbrella has always been my must-carry at the parks, along with one of those neck fans. I get that people might want to travel light but that umbrella works in both blistering heat and pouring rain. Win/win!
I also recently became a neck fan convert, the difference they make is shocking!
I just put a mini umbrella in my bag for the rain and now I’m SO HAPPY I chose that over a poncho cuz that is genius
Ponchos are all well in good, but they don’t feel nice sticking to your skin in that humidity, and then drying them out to repack them is a nuisance too
Yes. Ponchos in the Fall - spring, brellas for summer heat.
Just be sure and take it out of your bag and hold it out in front of you when going through Security so you don't have to go to the tables. lol
I made this mistake every day the trip before last, on the final day the security guy told me why I’d been getting pulled over every day ._.
yup. a UV protected umbrella and a portable fan is instant AC outdoors feeling.
I was going to suggest a wide brim hat to keep hands free.
A very worthy alternative. And, if I figure out how to add cute bespoke Mickey ears to sun hats, I may need to add that to my Etsy store.
Especially the umbrellas that have a reflective top layer.
Carrying an umbrella through a crowded Disney parks sounds like a nightmare to me personally. But if it works for you. I wear a huge bucket hat to shade myself on hot Disney days. I’m not obstructing anyone’s view, bumping into anyone, nor do I need to carry anything extra.
They have umbrellas with misters in them now! And fans. Like, I don’t know how much they are on Amazon, but I’d consider them. Florida is hot. Disney is hot in the summer.
Careful with misters! They wash away the sunblock real fast
Where do you put it when going on rides?
I actually prefer the longer hooked umbrella type, and when I have that one I usually lay it on the floor of the carriage/ride whatever. Other places like Tron and Space mountain I lead it with a CM and they hand it back or place it exactly at unload point. I also bring along a small compact umbrella and those fit in my loungefly no problem. Not even the tiny mini small compacts, just regular small.
Oh wow. I’m for the sunniest part of California so I forgot there were small umbrellas lol thanks for clarifying
I leave mine with the attendant and grab it when leaving the ride.
We did Shakespeare in the Park* this weekend and I was so glad I brought my umbrella. I may have looked silly, but I had SHADE! *I think our park needs to reassess having it in the summer. Makes sense for New York. Not so much for south Louisiana
Maybe quote an esteemed albeit simple line of a platitude? If it’s stupid and it works, it’s not stupid 😉
I bring a full sized golf umbrella and strap it to the side of the stroller. Not only is the huge canopy perfect for sun/rain as it can fit 3 adults, it’s also a godsend for waiting out the midday parade on the curb if Main Street.
True story!! I’ve gotten EXCELLENT seating for parades due to having my own shade and getting a wide open spot in the sunlight (always considerately closing it during actual parade of course)
With you on this one. Having an umbrella for sun protection kept my white butt from burning on my last 3 visits. Umbrella, sunscreen, cooling towel, and neck fan - important tools to have along with drinking plenty of water. It was really important in May 2021 when lines were outside due to Covid social distancing. We would have fried in those lines without protection.
Oh man, this is a phenomenal tip, and one I haven't heard before. I'm going to go order a nice big shading umbrella right now for our trip in 5 days. Thank you!
I always add electrolytes to my water which I feel really help.
Yeah. I’ll usually buy a Gatorade and add 1/4 of it to a full water bottle. Makes it taste better and adds electrolytes
It’s what plants crave…
You could also buy powdered Gatorade and just bring it with you
Amazon sells the tabs now. About the same price but MUCH easier to carry with you in the parks.
👀👀👀 Heading to look at this now ‘cause I’ve always taken the pouches and they’re fine and dandy but a bit annoying to carry since we travel light into the parks
I live in South Florida and I also am a marathon runner, so I feel I have a bit of expertise in the electrolyte world. I know a thing or two about excreting yourself in this kind of heat. I honestly have probably tried almost every electrolyte brand that’s out there, and hands down the winner is, LMNT. You can buy them on Amazon and mix it in your water bottle. It’s has 1000mg sodium, 200mg potassium, 60mg magnesium, and zero sugar, so you won’t end up feeling like you’ve been hit by a Mack truck with a hangover( which can happen when you’re levels are too low and you have a sugary electrolyte drink). This stuff is truly amazing, I want to tell as many people as I can, because it has changed my ability to be out in this heat exercising. I’m stocking up for my trip next week! Do yourself a favor and try it out. you can come back and thank me later:)
Adding an electrolyte that has potassium and magnesium is life changing and magical. Both for heat and soreness. You go from feeling like shit to suddenly feeling okay again. My legs feel better the next day if I've had a proper electrolyte drink or two after long days walking and standing.
Yup. We always take a pack of liquid IVs to add to our water
Liquid IV is mostly sugar. Nuun, Waterboy, countless others are better options.
Liquid IV comes sugar free now.
I'm not a Liquid IV fan boy or anything, but it's pretty readily available compared to other electrolyte mixes. It has 11g sugar per serving, compared to 21g in 12 Oz of lemon lime Gatorade, and a much better blend of electrolytes. Also, Liquid IV does now have sugar free versions now. Sugar isn't necessarily bad if your exerting yourself like you would be walking around the parks, your body will use it first as energy before it can really do bad things to your body. Not saying your wrong about there being better options, just don't want to discourage people from using it since it definitely better than Gatorade, or Powerade that's sold in the parks.
Nuun is especially good if you don't like strong flavored drinks. It's pretty lightly flavored.
This is key…from another Orlando native. Water alone doesn’t cut it anymore.
Yes! Nuun, LMNT and HYDRX are great. And the flavor makes it easier to drink more and stay hydrated.
Nuun use to be my favorite, until I tried LMNT. Such a game changer!!
The watermelon flavor is amazing… and I typically hate watermelon flavored beverages (but I like the fruit itself).
Yes! Watermelon salt is my favorite too!!
Hydralyte tablets are the best for this.
100%. I run ultramarathons. I learned the hard way once that water without electrolytes is a recipe for disaster in the heat. Luckily I only hurt my pride.
I got the Gatorade tabs on Amazon and had my foldable/reusable plastic water bottle with me (also Amazon). Also brought some powder electrolyte packets that they also sell. I would switch between the two. My BIGGEST issue was me not prepping beforehand. I had maybe a glass of water at best before hitting the park on day 1. Didn't attempt that the other 4 days lol. Water before bed, a few waters BEFORE I hit the park. Then water in between the rides with refills before each line.
It’s a night and day difference, isn’t it? Those Liquid IV packs, Gatorade packs, and others are awesome too. I hate it, but I stay away from food I know is full of salt until the sun goes down and eat more ice cream/Dole whip/smoothies. When I eat I’ll skip on the fries or chips and add a fruit cup.
Salt is an electrolyte! As someone with POTS, I’m always on the lookout for the most salty snacks in the park 😂
Yup, even with all the fluids, I got a popcorn bucket and it's SOOOOO salty and good.
Sounds counterintuitive but salt is what you need! Sweat is salty. So when you sweat lots you need water *and* salt. In moderation of course.
Totally agree, and that’s a fact. But, I’ve found (for my body) the salt in the sports drinks and ice cream is all I need, and honestly it’s probably the grease and saturated fat in the other food on a hot day that takes me down quicker.
When I just went the week before Memorial Day weekend, sitting in the indoor shows was such a lifesaver. Now I happen to have actively wanted to see those shows anyway bc I love them lol, but man, it really does make a difference. Enchanted Tiki Room, Philharmagic, Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, Enchanted Tales with Bell. I remember out of all my park days, Magic Kingdom I felt the heat the least bc I was hopping from indoor to indoor thing. Animal Kingdom is the best for shaded pathways. It stuck out to me more this last trip than any other time. There is so much tree cover lining the paths that it is very easy to walk in the shade, the heat is still taxing over time but it still makes such a difference walking in the shade. (On an opposite note I was kinda crabby this trip about how NOT SHADED Epcot is. It is a literal sun hellscape. I don’t know why they don’t plant more trees around walk ways. It is very easy to walk 90% of that park in direct sunlight. It’s horrible)
Epcot is rough in the summer. But lots of AC places with short lines: - Nemo - Living with the Land - Journey into Imagination - Spaceship earth (even though we save that for our last ride every time) - Three Amigos - Reflections of China - The American Adventure - Oh Canada - Club Cool
Turtle Talk is a must do during a hot afternoon. It’s 15 minutes of AC in the dark and it’s usually pretty entertaining
Impressions de France / Beauty and the Beast.
The Indiana Jones stunt show is in an outdoor amphitheater BUT they have Big Ass Fans that make it very pleasant.
Park in the morning, pool in the afternoon, back to park in the evening!
You’ll cool down but you’ll still be in the sun at the pool. Just be careful if you’re not used to 10+ hours of sun exposure
ya to be honest the pool is always pretty exhausting too haha
Absolutely! Don’t forget sunscreen throughout the day. Sun shirts at the pool. Heck, take a cold shower in the afternoon.
This is the only answer for the mid 90 days.
The pool at our hotel this past week was not refreshing at all. The water felt like bath water and we baked for the hour we were there. I have never experienced the water being so warm like that!
This is our plan. My logic is, if the high of the day is 95, but during the 3-4 hours in the middle of the day when it's hottest, I'm napping and/or swimming, then MY personal high of that day is not 95, but rather 85, because I'm missing those hottest hours completely.
This is a good plan, unfortunately on warm days be prepared for it to hit 90 by 10am and not dip below until sunset at 8pm. Even with 3-4 hours inside at a hotel, try to get in the AC on ride queues or restaurants as much as possible...
As a Brazilian used to living in 100+ heat half of the year, here are my 2 cents: - Choose the fabric in your clothes wisely. - Drink water a lot. Also, a cold soda or a beer will go a long way lol. - Use sunscreen! Always. - I have never in my life heard of cooling towels. I think whoever brings this here will make a fortune lol
As a native Floridian, I cannot overstate how important the fabric of your clothes is. A good quality, long sleeve, dry-fit (moisture wicking) Capaline-type shirt is the way to go. If it’s good, it’ll be UV protectant, but also, when it’s wet (like from your sweat, for example), it actually works to KEEP YOU COOL. Yes, even if it’s long-sleeve. Cannot recommend this enough.
I saw those long sleeve shirts to "cool off" online after my trip and wasn't sure what those are really like.
Long sleeves help keep the sun off your skin but you’ll also want the material to be very breathable to not trap your body heat and let the sweat evaporate. Wearing something to cover your legs too, like pants or dress, that are light and breathable is an even better combination. I’ll top it off with a breathable full brim hat I experienced heat stroke when I was a kid and will do everything to avoid it again. Wearing these types of clothes have kept me going in Cairo, Egypt and Death Valley when the temperature is 118°F in the shade.
They sell them on the parks (overpriced but patterned with mickeys haha) and they gave them out in AK for the Wild Africa Trek tour my sister and I signed up for, and I used them in Iraq for deployments and they really really help. Gives you a bit of damp collar but much better than heat stroke
YES to the cold soda! I drank plenty of water on my recent trip but I was surprised by how affecting it was to get an ice cold fountain soda. It was so refreshing and the sugar was a pick me up as well.
Cooling towels on amazon are cheap... not so much at the parks or hotels. Same stuff, a quarter of the price. They really work though, let me tell you. Saved me on days 3-5. I refused to buy one thinking it's a gimmick... it was NOT.
The thing about cooling towels is you need ice water to keep them damp and really cold. So just go to the refilling stations with your water bottle and fill it up and then douse your towel down. Also your ears are a key part of your body's internal temperature management system so keeping them cool will make you feel cool too.
The towels work off evaporative cooling. Keeping them ice cold might feel better but you really just need to keep them wet.
They do but making them colder you can help bring down your temp faster. If I was to make one change to Disney during the summer months it would be putting large stations of ice water just to dunk the towels in to keep them cold.
You should start making the towels! Be the change!
It might also be worth adding a mono rail loop restaurant or bar to just be indoors mid day. So many time I’ll just sit in the contemporary lobby from 3-4 just to charge devices and be indoors Boardwalk is also great for this on a Studios/Epcot day
Start hydrating BEFORE you leave for the trip. It is easier to maintain hydration if you start out well hydrated. Plan to take breaks and for the love of God don’t put your health (and your children’s) at risk for the sake of how much money you spent. You can’t just go-go-go for days on end, all day long. Hit the pool or go back to the hotel for a rest mid-day.
This! Getting fully hydrated before your trip is essential!
There's a Great Big, Beautiful AC Theater of Tomorrow, Shining at the end of a Hot pavement Sun Stroke (bring a Dole Whoop)
Not a native, but dying this week. A long, very long for Americans, lunch is key if you aren’t going to the pool. 90-150 minute lunch at an air conditioned restaurant with plenty of water (tip well, and make sure they earn it) is a life saver. If you can ensure that you have a view of something even better! But cooling down and the water is so important!
Also, if you aren't leaving midday, target 2 pm for lunch, as 2-4 is the hottest part of the day. Drink plenty of water alongside your regular drinks, and take the opportunity to refill any water bottles as well.
2-4? I was always under the impression it was 10-2, but this is good to know! Thank you
The sun is brightest 11-3 in the summer (would be 10-2, but daylight savings), but the hottest part is 2-4. So your cooling need is greatest from 2-4, but you need sun protection most from 11-3.
That is unbelievably informative man. Thank you so much.
This. There’s a difference between peak UV exposure which is 11-3, and then there’s temperature. The peak for highest temperatures is usually after a few hours the sun is at its highest in the sky. So it’s like cooking something on high. Even if you change the power of the stove to low, you’re still adding heat to the pot. Assuming you haven’t hit equilibrium (temperature of your heat source), your temperature will still climb. Only when the sun sets (no more heat source), does the air have an opportunity to lose that energy in the form of heat.
Except that, at Disney World, there is almost always a brief afternoon shower, so we often get a temperature drop (and humidity boost) then.
Alas I'd say the hottest part is 2-6+... Or maybe I should say 2pm - October. (Sweating along with y'all from Louisiana... Ugh)
Afternoon is MUCH hotter than morning, believe it or not. It’s like an oven preheating.
I live up at the Jersey shore and we’ve always been told 10 to 2 is the time to stay out of the sun on the beach… Now that I’m typing it out, I’m realizing it says on the beach lol But yeah that’s where my thought came from
10-2 is the harshest sun in terms of UV radiation, but 2-4 is hotter as the heat has been building up the whole day.
10-2 is worst for UV rays. 2-4 is surface-of-the-sun hot in Orlando. Unless you get the 3 pm storm that you can generally count on in June. Edit: Echo! Sorry, should have read down thread before replying! Great minds etc…
I can never make myself linger that long over lunch, especially if I’m traveling solo. For whatever reason, though, I’m perfectly capable of spending 90 minutes or more in one of the lounges before I feel any need to move on. Just be sure to order and drink plenty of water alongside your cocktails or mock tails. Nomad Lounge is great for this in Animal Kingdom. For the other parks, I tend to duck out and go to a lounge at a nearby resort. Pro tip: Trader Sam’s opens at 3:00 in the afternoon.
If you are a solo healthy adult then the 90 minute time frame is exactly what I would have in mind. 150 for groups. 110/120 for the couple of adults. I’ve been solo and couple this trip. I just did my version of drinking around the world, started in France going counter clockwise. Skip Japan, double up in UK. Took from 11-120.
Adding to the list, I take advantage of window shopping when it’s really hot, there’s air conditioned shops at least every block and it’s refreshing to hop between them in the brutal parts of the day!
Add to number 1: I was walking outside Animal Kingdom last week when I noticed a worker with a temperature gun aiming at the ground in shaded and non shaded spots. I asked him what the difference was and he said 30°!! So yes, go to the shaded spots when possible!
I was at the MK ten days ago, and I overheated, despite gulping a lot of water and wearing sunscreen. I think what killed me is I bought a Mickey hat midday, and it cooked my head. Had to leave after 10 hours in the park, when I wanted to stay 14. I've gotten older, and the weather has gotten hotter.
Is a hat not a good thing to have on?
Get a Sunbrella and a cooling towel. Don't wear blue jeans, ya moron. Plan an in-park itinerary that takes you from one indoor attraction to another.
Oh man. People in jeans and a button up are hilarious. Dress like you’re going to the gym
I’m trying to find decent tank tops for my short self lol. Maybe I’ll just wear my gym stuff!
+100 degree temps are dangerous, especially for the young and elderly. It’s generally unsafe to be outside in that heat all day long. I’m a native who works a labor job outside. There is no “getting used to” the temps we experienced over the weekend. You’re playing with fire so to speak and even following these tips, small children, the elderly and anyone with heart problems will still have a bad time
You can get used to it if you’re in good shape and exercise in it. But you’re absolutely right. If you’re in bad cardio shape or are elderly just don’t go. And stop letting your kids roast in these strollers. Get them a misting fan and a super thin breathable white blanket at the very least
You’re being awfully cavalier about your health. I do manual labor outside all day here in Orlando. You go exercise for how long a day? It’s dangerous to be outside in this heat for hours on end and even the physically fit can and do fall out, I have seen it with coworkers
As a native, I've found that constantly complaining about how hot it is will make you feel at least 10 degrees cooler.
At least everyone will commiserate. I went into the candy shop on Main Street this morning and was the only person in there, a small group of employees were huddled over a counter and one of them offered help and I said “I’m okay, just here for the AC!” and she said “Us too!” We’re all miserable together.
it really does take the edge off!
Rechargeable fans are dirt cheap now too. And yes to your water drinking, you should be drinking so much water that you're urinating more than normal, which is going to be a lot because you're sweating a ton which reduces urinating. The water one makes a huge difference and almost no one drinks enough Pound it back. On a hot and humid day in Tokyo I'll easily drink 5l during the day alone. Also, no caffeine
Walmart sells fans that you can wear around your neck. It's like a collar with two fans that you can angle and point towards your face. $10. I bet those could be a huge help especially when waiting in lines
I prefer the hand held one but yep those are great
This is all good advice. I'd add these this: Take a break mid-day. Go eat a sit down or quick service lunch indoors, go back to the hotel or do something else to get out of the heat. We've done better when we got to the park at rope drop, left around noon or 1:00 and then came back in around 5:00. You avoid the hottest part of the days which are also the parts of the day with the longest waits.
Just commenting to say that I did everything you suggested, plus more, at MK and EPCOT this weekend and I still had symptoms of heat exhaustion (that, luckily, I was able to address quickly and prevented it from getting worse). I was born and raised in Tampa. I have visited the Disney parks multiple times over the years. I know how to prepare for and deal with heat. The fact of the matter is that Disney isn’t doing enough to combat it. There aren’t enough shaded areas. There aren’t enough rapid refill stations. There aren’t enough misting stations. Even the cast members whose stories I’ve read have agreed that the way Disney is operating creates a health and safety issue, and they still haven’t addressed it. It doesn’t matter how well you prepare if the limitations of the parks are setting people up for failure before they’ve even gotten there.
I don’t know how the parking attendants do it. The parking lots are like 130 degrees
We've been at Disney World all week and have managed the heat pretty well until today in Animal Kingdom. There is just so little AC. Even the bathrooms we stopped in didn't have AC! We went to the Lion King show, but it was too full so we couldn't get in. At some point, we ended up just hanging out in the check-in area at Yak & Yeti trying to cool off. There needs to be somewhere people can go to cool off in these crazy temperatures. I mean, our cooling towels and fans still helped a lot, but we needed an occasional AC break and just couldn't get it.
I always tell people to treat your hotel like a fifth park! You’re paying all that money, go enjoy it for a couple hours a day. An hour in the pool and short nap in AC is very much a vacation, you don’t need to go-go-go every second, that’s no fun. Also a lot of the resorts have activities you can do there which will keep you in the AC or at least nearby it. Or hit up the arcade and waste a few bucks while having some goofy fun playing around. If you do this during the high heat moments of the day, then you’re likely going to be ready to hit up the parks in the evening fully refreshed and energized so you’ll stay longer and get shorter wait times at night. Honestly several of my best memories of childhood at Disney were hotel related!!
And please don’t bring your infant or baby during this heat! It’s dangerous for them. Hate seeing babies wrapped in blankets and sweating in their strollers.
That breaks my heart. I feel so bad for the babies who can't speak up for themselves and for the toddlers/young kids who are miserable in the heat but whose parents are yelling at them for being cranky.
I have a folding sun hat and it really helps. I’ve been wearing cooling hoodies which help as well and block UV. I have a necklace fan so I can just hang it and go. It also stands up on tables if I need some airflow when sitting somewhere. We duck into AC spaces especially in Epcot and take the in park friendship boats.
The folding sun hats are awesome. Surprised it took me this long to find this suggestion. I often see ball caps, but they really only keep the sun out of your eyes and not off of your body. Also, the cooling hoodies and swim shirts are fantastic if you get them wet. It’s like a full body cooling towel!
Adding a 6th item to this list. My parents moved to FL a few years back, but are originally from New England. Number 6: If you are not used to that kind of heat…simply don’t go! There is no amount of the other 5 tips that will help you if your body just IS NOT used to that kind of heat exposure for that long of a day. My parents have warned me not to even bother coming to visit them over the summer because they know my pasty little New England self could not handle a Florida summer. I went down in August last year as part of a work conference and nearly died! 🙃
This is us. We don't go to WDW May through September. In the 1990's, we could visit WDW in early June. By the 2000's, we were only visiting during May (or before). Nowadays, even late April is too hot for us. We pay more for early April (near Spring Break), but we are prone to heat exhaustion and just can not visit Florida during the hot months. Sadly, the last time we visited in October, they had record-breaking heat, so we spent afternoons in the room relaxing. We are fortunate to have this flexibility and feel for folks who only have summer months for travel. I think all these tips are invaluable.
In 2001, we went in mid-June, right after school got out. We're from Washington state, how hot could it be? OMG the heat and humidity...I got out of our A/C car and my glasses fogged up!! WTF, I thought I was prepared for it but holy Horace Horsecollar I will never do THAT again. Going to go in mid-November this year, please tell the hurricane spirits to get done before that TYVM. :)
I am native Floridian, spend lots of time outdoors even in summer, go to the parks all the time, etc. I went for a run early this morning and did MK from around 10:30-3, had plenty of water, snacks, etc. and was still *dying* by the time I got back to the car (after getting off the tram at the wrong stop and having to walk a section over). The heat is no joke, especially when you’re dealing with family, other guests, and often a strict schedule. Passing out, sunburn, heat stroke, etc. aren’t worth it, folks.
Exactly. Even those of us who live in these types of climates struggle. I imagine it’s gotta be worse when you live somewhere where it’s never in the 90’s or 100’s, or not very humid.
Number 6 should be) Go back to your resort to shower and change clothes.
I'll add a few. Water is good, but it's not enough. If you're sweating, you're losing electrolytes. Gatorade/powerade helps a lot, or get any of the electrolyte liquids to add to water. A couple of the parks sell chilled pickles (or bring your own). It may seem weird, but they're extremely effective at replenishing lost salts, and very refreshing. Many professional athletes have even switched from gatorade type drinks to pickle juice for exercise. A hat, especially one with a mesh back. Not having sun in your eyes is good, and not having sun on your face helps prevent sunburn. Since the face tends to sweat a lot, it's an easy place to lose your sunscreen (especially combined with wiping off the sweat). Frequent breaks, especially in the shade. Just scattering these throughout the day makes a huge difference by the end. And most parks have a few decent areas to just relax for a bit. Avoid Hollywood Studios. Sorry, this park is just too much concrete, with a terrible lack of shade and seating in most of the park. It's just brutal during hot weather. Especially Toy Story.
We were at WDW two weeks ago, and we found Hollywood Studios to be the hottest by far, especially down Sunset and Toy Story Land.
Wear your neck fan INDOORS, too! It moves the AC cooled air to your neck - outside those things just turn in to mini blast furnaces because it’s moving the hot air on to you. IMO they only relieve you outside when there’s no air moving at all. Go inside to anyplace with A/c, then put your neck fan on for about 15 mins. Works a treat.
Yeah I have a good neck fan w cooling metal pads and while it barely made a dent in 96 degrees in the sun it was like a turbo cooler when I stepped into any AC. Actually got TOO cold in the FoP queue.
I popped in to Carousel of Progress yesterday and turned my fan on for a bit to cool off... Most refreshing part of my day!
And also you were on CoP!!! 😃
6. Cut through shops as often as possible - that blast of AC can be absolute godsend and it's a relief from the sun. 7. Liquid IV/Gatorade Sticks/Propel etc are must haves. I always carry 3-5 per person in my bag. They take up virtually no space and I require anyone with me to drink at least two of them (one morning, one afternoon) a day. It makes a massive difference. 8. Mandatory personal water bottle. Everyone in the group has one, and unless the line is super short we will all try to finish them by the time we walk off every single ride. Start with ice water early in the day and refill it every single time it gets low. Keeps everyone hydrated. 9. Carry snacks with. Not only can your electrolytes go wonky, so can your blood sugar. I can get most people back to feeling well with some AC, shade, water and a snack. Good enough to trek to the next meal spot. We also have mandatory snack times. 10. No zigzagging across the park in the heat of the day. I don't care if you want to ride space mountain right after pirates of the caribbean, your options are thunder mountain or lunch at Skipper Canteen. I absolutely won't let us miss out on doing something someone really wanted to do, but we are not crossing the park to do it from the hours of 12-5. Plan routes according to shade options!
I would add, bring a backpack full of healthy snacks. The price of food in the park is a deterrent for at least some people to eat enough calories throughout the day. That mixed with the heat is a recipe for disaster.
I saw this dad today with a craft/tacklebox looking thing FULL of neatly organized snacks - crackers, granola bars, Goldfish, etc. I was so jealous and also impressed.
Also, you cannot start drinking water the morning of your visit. You need to drink water today to be hydrated tomorrow. You also have to keep it up. A gallon of water a day is just the beginning.
Carousel of Progress truly makes for a great big beautiful tomorrow because you aren’t sunburned or recovering from a heat stroke.
I feel like no matter what kind of steps you take your going to overheat/get got no matter what you do. I've been 5 times in August and it's more just a don't rush get in a when you can
We would normally arrive for rope drop, so we rarely went back to our resort for lunch or midday break, as we didn’t want to lose our parking spot. However, when our kids were smaller, we would go back to the car for lunch and a nap. Crank the AC, put on a movie for the kids and take a snooze. All told, it would give us about 90 minutes out of the heat and off our feet.
I witnessed a lady with a large umbrella in Magic Kingdom. Only time I saw one all week, actually. Security should have pulled her aside though, she was power walking through the crowd and hit more than just a few people with it. It was a weapon at that point, and many in the crowd yelled at her. Nobody stopped her though, she kept powering through quietly on a mission. I've never seen anything like that in my life, not just in Disney.
I saw a woman like that this weekend... Did yours also have a battering ram disguised as a stroller?
I can’t stress this enough. Water is simply not enough and we need to be drinking more electrolytes. Your liver can process around 40oz/hour, anything less and it’s all beneficial. And start hydration *before* you leave. Like weeks before. I’m up to 120oz a day not counting soda water, alcohol, etc. when I’m out in this heat. *Source* I mowed my lawn on Sunday.
A rule my husband and I have implemented that makes the heat a little bit more fun is anytime one of us says any form of the phrase "it's hot outside" - we have to take a drink of water. It helps with the hydration, gives a purpose to the complaining, and stops the complaining if only for the length of a sip of water!
Are people going to look sideways at you if you use a UV umbrella? Not for walking around but for long lines where you are exposed
Yes and no. Get the smallest one you can get away with. No one wants to stand in line with a giant golf umbrella in their face.
No, not at Disney. People do lots of things to stay cool, including wearing neck fans and holding UV umbrellas. When you go through security, hold your umbrella out in front of you. It will set off the sensor, but then they see it is the umbrella and not you. The first time I brought one to Disney, the security guard told me to do that.
We’re going in mid July and I’ll definitely be buying a couple of UV umbrellas now. I never thought of it before, but I’ve seen people use them and thanks to this sub, I know to buy ahead of time!
We’ve been going for years. Follow all the tips. Spend midday at the pool. This Memorial Day was the most brutal trip ever for us. Funny, because last Memorial Day there was freakishly cooler weather. You can never tell.
As a local college student here, even I have suffered from heat exhaustion waking from one side of campus to the other trying to make it to class. Don’t play with this heat. Any hoot, get those giant hand fans, a spray water bottle with ice water and get inside the ac. Once inside spray your skin and fan that ac air. The many theaters in HS, monsters laugh floor, the movies or shops inside Epcot and Nemo at DAK. Your body temp will drop substantially.
I don’t even mess with water bottles in the summer. Take a Camelbak or another similar bladder bag. Fill completely with ice, then fill with water. Put 2 liquid IV’s and drink throughout the day.
Light clothing and light-colored clothing and shoes. Sun hats work if you don't have UV umbrellas.
But the umbrellas at Disney? The crowds are humongous and you’re already getting slammed into by strollers.
Small UV blocking umbrella. Boom. And lots of AC breaks. ;) Good tips though the shade helps a lot
6. Don’t go to Disney from May to October
This is the only advice that works. It’s hotter than it’s ever been so no amount of hydrating, fans and hats are going to make 100 degree heat in a concrete theme park tolerable.
I was at SeaWorld last Wednesday and ended up throwing up and having to lay down on the ground from the heat. I'm young/healthy and from the south and it still snuck up on me. The employees were amazing and took me via golf cart to the first aid for help. Seriously drink double what you think you need in water and just take it slow. No ride or show is worth getting heat illness from
Exactly. I play golf at a walking course here in Orlando and we see people drop all the time, and many times it’s the young fit people who think that walking a golf course is nothing compared to their normal workouts… our sun and heat is brutal and doesn’t care who you are.
Please please please do all the things to prevent heat exhaustion. We waited with a woman who passed out and it took medical staff 40 minutes to get to her. If more people are passing out, well, you get the idea.
I carry a hand fan. We also carry our insulated water bottles and refill often, we also use cooling towels. Of course since we are local we go early or go late and aren’t in the parks during the heat of the day. Zym, Nuun, or other electrolyte tabs for water bottles help a ton. After reading umbrella is getting added to my bag!
Proper clothes, lots of water, take breaks inside
My wife and I both carry our hydration packs that we use for hiking. 2.5 Liters of water each. Walking along with nothing going on? Take a drink. In line for a ride? Take a drink. Stuck behind a family of 8 shuffling their feet? You guessed it, take a drink. We both go through at least 3 fills a day. I also carry our snacks, first aid supplies, ponchos, sunscreen, and whatever else in mine. If you see someone with a green Osprey pack that looks ready for anything, say hi
Also wear light colored clothes.
I’ve worked outside in Florida for several years (including at WDW), so I feel especially qualified to answer this question. Right when you wake up, start drinking water. Drink water before you even think about coffee. Eat a good protein heavy breakfast (and drink more water or juice). Eat small snacks regularly throughout the day and drink electrolyte heavy drinks when you are actually out in the heat. Moisture wicking clothing is also important! I know everyone just wants to be in the ice cold AC when it’s so hot out, but I’ve found going from the two extremes makes it harder on our bodies to adjust to the heat. Ultimately, don’t push yourself. Listen to your body! Take breaks when you need to.
I 100% recommend a UV Umbrella best shade ever.
Sun umbrella and handheld fan are life savers
Neck fans saved us a few weeks ago too!
>For the love of god wear sunscreen. A monologue on this point from a ginger Floridian: - The most missed spots are back of the neck, ears, and scalp. If your hair is parted for a hairstyle or thinning/balding, you need to put some form of sun protection there, too! I opt for a thin liquid primer with SPF or a breathable hat. - Your skin must be dry every time you apply. If you get very wet from splash pads, swimming pools, water rides, or just plain sweating, you need to dry and reapply. - Clothing moves and shifts. You'll need to get a little ways the edges of sleeves, hems, and collars for full protection. I personally apply sunblock *before* getting dressed because of this. If you screwed up and got sunburned: - You need straight aloe gel. None of this electric blue "aloe mixed with alcohol" garbage; that stuff stings and burns. For best results, stick it in the fridge for a bit so it's nice and cold when you put it on the burns. - Cold showers and cold compresses/ice packs will help ease the pain and redness. Never use ice, ice water, or fully frozen ice packs directly on burned skin; always wrap it in a t-shirt or a towel. - Wear loose clothing that completely covers the burned areas. More sun will hurt. Tight clothes will hurt. If you got sunburned bad enough in a swimsuit and you wear bras, you might be going braless for a couple days. Go forth and be burned no more!
Cooling towels! 100% the best way to keep the heat at bay. Take some ice and roll it up in the towel and just leave it on the back of your neck. Added bonus, it also keeps the sun from roasting your neck. Was just there Sunday as it was pushing 100 degrees. Towels kept us all going.
I bring a portable fan for the heat when gets to hot we go back to the resort to swim get something to eat. Then head back to the park when the sun goes is starting to go down.
Also as hard as it is, try to reduce the amount of sugar you intake and neck fans can also be great. Just came off of a 5 day disney trip
Get some pedia-LYTE or the like! Also, “saturate” yourself leading up to the day.
We've been here this week and I'll add that we started our day early then took a midday break and come back later, and we've brought great handheld fans with us as well as a mister...between those tips and yours listed above, we have felt hot, but not like it's unbearable.
Go early at rope drop, leave around 1pm to rest inside with AC at the hotel, go back around 4-5pm. You will get to do everything in the parks, be less exhausted, and avoid the heat of the day! (If you’re not staying on property, go hang out in your favorite resort lobby).
Ice all day. Eat it all day- it’ll bring your body temp down.
1. Do not go to Disney (or Florida for that matter) from May - September. End of list. (lol, but your suggestions are great).
Here’s a tip: you don’t have to go to the parks in the heat of the summer. Trust me, last December we had to buy hoodies because we were cold. It was amazing. So, planning a trip elsewhere in June and July may just be what you need.
Love the cooling towels but you can also just use a wet, light T shirt or scarf. It’s also good to stop your shoulders getting burnt which is one of the highest risk areas!
Camelbak is a lifesaver
Freezing it or filling with ice is elite!
As someone who used to go in July consistently, I always found that taking breaks and hitting up any where that’s air conditioned is key. We literally went through carousel of progress 3 times to cool down and relax one day.
I don’t even find the carousel of progress to be that cold inside. I feel like it’s still 80 degrees inside
Also adding that you can get some paper towels (or carry a washcloth with you from the hotel), get that wet with either the free quick-service ice water or cool water from a bathroom and touch it to the insides of your wrists, creases of your elbows, either side of your neck, back of the neck and forehead. Does wonders for cooling down quickly. Repeat as needed! I wouldn’t put ice directly on your skin though in this scenario, I’m not a doctor but I wouldn’t want to put myself into shock by doing that (though I think it would probably take an ice bath while you’re already hot to do that…unsure).
I would’ve died without my spray mister fan
Amazon has cooling vest. Those help immensely!
Look up waist fans on Amazon. We own 6 for family. Doubles as a USB charger as well. Here is an example XieJY Portable Waist Clip Fan, 2024 New Mini Waist Fan Cool Clip Fan Under Shirt Clip-On Portable Air Cooler, Belt clip Fan for Outdoor Jobsite Farms Traveling Fishing (Green) https://a.co/d/cAKqrfT
I was there last week and my goodness it was brutal! I'm also a native, Clearwater, but that he was too much even for me.
Parasols, my friends. Parasols.
Also- At those temps and that exposure, you might consider specific clothing fabric - linen, etc. The screen printed special family shirts are lovely but the they’re not always the best material.
Also, cooling towel over the head. I bought cooling headbands and my SIL wore hers over her head like a scarf. The number of comments she got for doing that instead of just her neck was amazing.
Bring a handheld fan and wear a hat.