Summer in Florida is no joke. With temperatures in June and July reaching close to 100 degrees and the humidity level at 100 percent, it can feel like you're going to melt. If you're headed to Disney World with your kiddos this Summer, that heat can seem daunting, but there are plenty of fun ways to make sure your entire family doesn't get overheated while having the best time ever. Keep reading for 10 tips on how to keep you and your kids nice and cool at Disney World.
Ice cream is the best, and thankfully, it's plentiful in each park at Disney World. If you're at Magic Kingdom, head for Aloha Isle and get a Dole Whip, then take it inside to Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room for a double dose of cool down! Other places for tasty treats around Disney World are:
Hollywood Scoops - Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Studios
Anandapur Ice Cream Truck - Asia, Animal Kingdom
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2Seek Out Air Conditioned Queues
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If it's getting hot in the middle of the day, seek refuge from the sun inside attractions with air conditioned queues. Not all of the queues at Disney World have air conditioning throughout, but most are at least in the shade. A few suggestions for attractions at each park are:
The Seas With Nemo And Friends - Future World, Epcot
Toy Story Midway Mania - Pixar Place, Hollywood Studios
Star Tours - Echo Lake, Hollywood Studios
Dinosaur - Dinoland U.S.A., Animal Kingdom
Flight of Passage - Pandora: The World of Avatar, Animal Kingdom (Note: this queue starts outside, but is mostly inside).
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3Stop For a Show
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Disney has some great shows that allow guests to be immersed in a story, while being off their feet and in some well-needed shade or air conditioning for a while. If you have a little prince or princess, the shows at each park listed below are sure to bring a smile to their face:
Hall of Presidents - Liberty Square, Magic Kingdom
The American Adventure - World Showcase, Epcot
Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage - Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Studios
Festival of the Lion King - Africa, Animal Kingdom
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4Know Where First Aid Is
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Each park has a first aid station, and it's a good idea to know where it is before you get to the parks or right as you arrive. If for some reason your kiddo starts to get to warm and you need to get into the air conditioning to cool off quickly, first aid is the place to go. The cast members who work there are welcoming and will supply you with whatever you need, from water and Gatorade to a private bed to rest on for a while. Locations of first aid at each park are:
Main Street U.S.A., Magic Kingdom
The Odyssey Building, Epcot
Guest Services, Hollywood Studios
Discovery Island, Animal Kingdom
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5Head Back to Your Resort
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When it just gets too hot and the kids need a break, heading back to your resort to cool down, nap, and go swimming is a great way to keep kids and parents cool and happy.
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6Stay Hydrated
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You can get free water at any quick service restaurant or Starbucks location throughout Disney World. Staying hydrated is key when it comes to keeping cool. My favorite Starbucks at Disney World is in Hollywood Studios because the lines are usually much shorter than the other parks. You can also bring your own water into the parks, just be sure it isn't in glass bottles (Disney has a strict no-glass rule).
Starbucks locations around Disney World are:
Main Street Bakery - Main Street U.S.A., Magic Kingdom
Fountain View - Future World, Epcot
Trolley Car Cafe - Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood Studios
Creature Comforts - Discovery Island, Animal Kingdom
Disney has two water parks located on property, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. Heading to the water parks for the day instead of the theme parks is a fun way to keep kids cool and have a blast on vacation! You can purchase tickets to the water parks at the gate, or you can add them onto your theme park tickets and save a little money.
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8Don't Be Afraid to Get Wet
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Three of the four parks at Disney World have a water ride where you may get wet, and two of the parks have splash zones for kids to cool off in and run off some energy. In the Florida sun, you'll all dry off quickly, too! The water rides and splash zones are:
Splash Mountain - Frontierland, Magic Kingdom
Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station - Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom
Splash Pad - Future World, Epcot
Kali River Rapids - Asia, Animal Kingdom
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9What You Put in Your Backpack Matters
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There are a few things you should always pack in your backpack for your kids to keep cool. The number one thing is a handheld, battery-operated fan. These are small and great for when lines are outside and aren't moving quickly. The other thing you should have is an extra T-shirt. It's amazing how refreshed you will feel just by changing out of hot, sticky clothes into something clean and dry.
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10Skip the Parks in the Afternoons
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Heading to the parks only in the early morning or late evening is the easiest way for kids and parents to stay cool. These are typically the least crowded times of day at the parks as well, so take advantage of lower wait times in less heat!
