Chill in the Shade With Ice Cream

Ice cream is the best [4], 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:

• Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies [5] - Tomorrowland, Magic Kingdom
• Le Artisan des Glaces - World Showcase, Epcot
• Hollywood Scoops - Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Studios
• Anandapur Ice Cream Truck - Asia, Animal Kingdom

Seek Out Air Conditioned Queues

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:

• Space Mountain - Tomorrowland, Magic Kingdom
• Mickey's PhilharMagic - Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom
• Living With the Land - Future World, Epcot
• 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).

Stop For a Show

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

Know Where First Aid Is

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

Head Back to Your Resort

When it just gets too hot and the kids need a break, heading back to your resort [6] to cool down, nap, and go swimming is a great way to keep kids and parents cool and happy.

Stay Hydrated

You can get free water [7] 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 [8] 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

Make One Day a Water Park Day

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 [9].

Don't Be Afraid to Get Wet

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

What You Put in Your Backpack Matters

There are a few things [10] you should always pack in your backpack [11] 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.

Skip the Parks in the Afternoons

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 [12] in less heat!