Top Ways to Stay Cool While Visiting Walt Disney World
Florida is HOT! If Summer 2023 taught us anything, it’s that the summer temperatures can be brutal when visiting the most magical place on earth, or frankly, anywhere in central Florida. And while most of what we’re going to talk about today applies to Walt Disney World – the same principles can be applied when visiting Universal Studios Florida or even Disneyland in California. Let’s discuss the best ways to stay cool while visiting a theme park.
Stay Hydrated
This MUST be number one – hands down! If you don’t stay hydrated in hot temperatures, you can get seriously ill. But this doesn’t mean you have to pay $4 per bottle of water while visiting. All quick service locations throughout Walt Disney World will give you a free cup of ice water if you simply ask, which can be used to fill up your own water bottle or drink on the spot.
Of course, there are drinking fountains all around property and recently Disney has been installing filtered water stations for you to quickly fill up your own water bottles with filtered water to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Remember, as tempting as an ice-cold bottle of Coke may be, the extra caffeine and sugar are not going to completely quench your thirst, so you should strive for water whenever possible.
Free Air Conditioning
Disney knows how hot it is and so they have their AC blasting at all of their gift shops, most queues, many restaurants, and other inside areas in the parks. This can be used to your advantage. They make great places to cool off from the hot temperatures outside. And, they can also be great places to stroll through mid-day or even when exiting the park. For example, instead of walking down Main Street USA as you leave, why not walk through the gift shop which connects completely from Casey’s Corner all the way to the front of the park in Town Plaza?
Take in a Show or Indoor Attraction During the Hottest Part of the Day
While many of the attractions you’ll ride at Walt Disney World are outside – many are inside! And with inside comes the aforementioned AC. During the hottest part of the day – anytime from noon to about 6pm, consider the attractions you’ll ride and pick those that keep you inside the longest. Sometimes, the best attractions for this are the shows. At Magic Kingdom, Mickey’s Philharmagic, the Carousel of Progress, or the Hall of Presidents are great options. At Epcot, you’ll find plenty of shows within the various country pavilions, or consider Spaceship Earth. Over at Animal Kingdom, you have a choice between the Festival of the Lion King, the Finding Nemo stage show, or It’s Tough to Be a Bug. And at Hollywood Studios, check out the Frozen singalong, or MuppetVision 3D. You might even consider the Indiana Jones Stunt Show Spectacular; while it’s not air-conditioned, it’s shaded and about 25 degrees cooler since it’s out of the sun.
Take a Mid-Day Break
For those of you who follow me, this one shouldn’t be a surprise. I recommend this to every client – regardless of whether they have children. Taking a break will refuel you and help you enjoy the rest of your trip. The break can be back at your resort, back in your car away from the hustle and bustle of the parks, or it can even be an extended sit-down lunch at one of the table service restaurants. The key is to remove as much sensory overload as you possibly can. Give everyone a chance to catch their breath and cool down. Tempers can fly high when people are hot and if someone gets too overheated, a meltdown will always ensue – no matter the age.
Water Parks & Pools
Disney is loaded with all kinds of places to cool down in the water. At your resort, you’ll typically have more than one pool with fun features that make cooling down a blast. And, for a little bit more fun, check out Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach water parks. Cost is minimal compared to the theme parks and you’ll get a full day of fun in the sun, but also the water! It truly can be a great way to enjoy a “rest” day, or even the first half of a day if you plan to visit the parks later in the evening.
Do a Special Event
Special events for Disney usually begin later in the evening around 6pm or 7pm. They will let you in around 4pm and they run until 11pm or midnight. These special events are separately priced and typically cost more than a normal day at the parks. But, they offer a ton more too! With special dessert and drink options, unique character meet and greets, crowd capacity typically cut in half or even down to a third, and a ton of fun, these events are great because they’re at night as the sun is going down. You’ll stay cool, get to ride a ton, get to enjoy unique offerings, and overall can keep your cool as you enjoy fun at the theme park. Check out Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party or Jollywood Nights.
Enjoyed an Iced Treat
Disney is loaded with amazing treats to enjoy. Whether it’s the world-famous Mickey Bar or Mickey ice cream sandwich, the Dole Whip, frozen banana, frozen Coke, or multitude of dessert options, cooling down never tasted so amazing. Just be careful not to eat your treat too fast as you’ll get a brain freeze. I don’t care if you’re on vacation or not, those just aren’t fun!
Misters and Splash Pads
Be on the lookout for misters and splashpads throughout your time in the parks. These cool-down zones are meant to help you stay cool by spraying you with a fine mist. Or, in the case of the splash pads, to get completely soaked. They’re especially convenient for kids – and by kids, I mean kids of all ages. Just remember that if you’re going to get wet, mind your shoes. Nobody likes to have wet, soggy socks during their trip to Disney!
Fans & Spray Bottles
Disney does sell a fan/spray bottle combination, but his is definitely something you can pack ahead of time. The combination of a battery-operated fan with the mist spraying in your face can be a quick way to cool down while in the hot sun. Just be sure to pack extra batteries as they can run out super fast!
Cooling Towels, Ice, and Other Simple Tricks
A cooling towel is a simple way to stay nice and cool and allows you to wet it and keep it around your neck for an extended period of time. Also just some simple ice on the back of the neck or the front of the face can do the trick in a pinch. Obviously, the best way to stay cool is just to stay out of the sun as much as possible, take lots of breaks, drink a lot of water, and be sure you keep sunscreen on every couple of hours.
Find Elsa – she’ll know What to Do
Given that the cold doesn’t bother her anyway, your best bet on staying cool is simply to find Elsa and see if she can ice you down for your trip. You’ll break free in no time and be able to take a ride on Space Mountain before you know it! I heard she likes to hang out in Norway in Epcot. Happy hunting!
Magical Memories by Casey 