With average summer temps like these:

• May
  88°
• June
  91°
• July
  92°
• August
  91°
• September
  89°

…it’s no wonder “how to stay cool in Disney World” is the first thing we wonder during summer travel. Orlando’s weather has it’s perks (hello, palm trees), but the summer can admittedly feel brutal between the temperature, sun intensity, and my wavy hair’s archenemy: HUMIDITY.

Hint: if you see over 50% humidity in the forecast, you’re going to feel damp as soon as you step outside.

Tips for Staying Cool in Walt Disney World

There are pretty obvious tips you may have already thought of like “drink a lot of water” or “go to a water park”, so I’m going to share a little beyond that.

Best resorts for Disney in the summer

This is a pre-trip tip: stay as close as you can to parks.

If I could crawl into your brain and control you like a little zombie robot, I’d have you go back to your resort after lunch every day to cool off with a shower (you’ll need it), a dip in the pool, or both.

To make this as easy as possible, I’d want you to try as hard as you can to stay at a resort that has faster transportation to at least ONE park.

For example, staying at Caribbean Beach means you’ll have a fun pool and a quick (and literally breezy) ride on the Skyliner to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.

If you’re not scared of heights like me, this is a solid resort choice for the location and price. And since it’s themed as the Caribbean…maybe the sweat will make more sense, ya know?

If you’re going to only visiting Magic Kingdom or plan to be there more often, the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary are only a monorail ride away which makes it quick and easy to go back and forth.

My favorite place to stay in the summer? Around Crescent Lake (Boardwalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Swan, Dolphin, or Swan Reserve) for easy boat rides to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.

We’re not caring too much about walkability here, it’s too hot. Think: monorail, Skyliner, or boats.

Summer may be the time to upgrade to a moderate or deluxe resort over somewhere value because those resorts DO NOT have water slides at the pool. If you see your family spending lots of time there/your kids are slide-lovers, this is something to think about.

If you’re staying off property: don’t worry! These tips are going to keep you from melting into the pavement.

5 Tips for Surviving the Heat in Disney

1. Book a sit-down lunch for each park day
   
   I love my breakfast and dinner ressies, but when it comes to the summer heat, I’ll always opt for lunch. The amount of times I’ve regretted NOT having one has made a faithful lunch-lover out of me.
   
   If you can, pick a spot that’s about 1/2 way through the park (towards the back on the map) so you’re not backtracking to lunch in-between hitting rides.
   
   Of course you could opt for an indoor quick service, but I promise you’ll be so happy to have a guaranteed air-conditioned table with a nice, clean bathroom close by.
   
   
2. Go back your room, if you can.
   
   After lunch (and this part is up to you), I recommend hitting a ride or two and then getting back to the resort from around 2-4pm. This is always the hottest and most crowded part of the day.
   
   If you decide it’s not worth the back and forth and are staying in the park, still block off this time to commit to as much REAL rest as you can. Shows. Shade. Shopping.
   
   Summer also means looooong days. Longer daylight hours but also the theme park’s hours. If you’re headed into the parks early to get ahead of the heat (good thinking, by the way), it’s worth it to really get that rest in the middle of the day with a nap. Don’t feel tempted to be in the parks all day, you’re going to exhaust yourself.
   
   Another thing to remember is since the sun sets so late, that makes the nighttime fireworks and shows on the late side; 9pm or later. Something to keep in mind if you have littles and have a fireworks night — a nap may be a non-negotiable.
   
   
3. Do the *boring* stuff
   
   If you decide to stay in the park, these are the shows to hit for the longest time periods in glorious AC. These are excellent spots for a nursing/bottle session for a lil babe, too.
   
   In Magic Kingdom…
   Carousel of Progress (21 minutes)
   Hall of Presidents (25 minutes)
   Enchanted Tiki Room (15 minutes)
   Enchanted Tales with Belle (20 minutes)
   Country Bear Jamboree – when it reopens! (16 minutes)
   Monsters Inc Laugh Floor (15 minutes)
   
   In EPCOT…
   Turtle Talk with Crush (17 minutes)
   Beauty and the Beast Sing-a-long (15 minutes)
   Disney Pixar Short Film Festival (18 minutes)
   
   Bonus: not shows, but hang out in the indoor play spaces like at the exit of Mission Space and the aquarium next to Finding Nemo to cool down.
   
   In Hollywood Studios…
   Disney Jr Play n Dance (15 minutes)
   Lightning McQueens Racing Academy (10 minutes)
   Vacation Fun — animated short — with Mickey & Minnie (15 minutes)
   MuppetVision 3D (17 minutes)
   Walt Disney Presents (25 minutes)
   
   In Animal Kingdom…
   Festival of the Lion King (25 minutes)
   it’s tough to be a bug (10 minutes)
   
   
4. Add water
   
   This tip works on vacation the same as at home. Nothing reserts the day with a grumpy kid better than water. Think: back to the resort for the pool, take a quick bath or shower, grab a popscile, run through some water misters, etc.
   
   In the summer, make sure to throw an extra outfit for each kid in your bag and swimsuits/swim diapers just in case. We all know when a toddler sees water they go from getting a mist to drenched in about .02 seconds.
   
   Here are some ways to get wet in each park:
   
   In Magic Kingdom…
   Casey Jr Splash n Soak Splash Pad in Fantasyland
   Totem pole misters in Adventureland
   Cool Ship misters in Tomorrowland
   Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (opens June 28th, 2024!)
   
   In EPCOT
   Moana’s Journey of Water
   Jumping water in front of Figment
   Misters in World Discovery
   
   In Animal Kingdom
   Kali River Rapids
   
   Hollywood Studios is the “driest” park, so make sure to seek out those air-conditioned shows!
   
   
5. Bring electrolytes
   
   I know I said “drinking water” is an obvious tip, but really – water isn’t going to cut it. I’ve learned this the hard way, and anyone who’s visited Disney with a heat index of over 100+ will attest to this: you need something more.
   
   This is my favorite powder because it’s never too salty and I love the ingredients. It really makes such a huge difference.
   
   Now, back to water. Since you’ll need a lot of of, order a big’ ole case of it to your resort room via Instacart for a fraction of the price you’ll pay inside the parks. I like to fill up my Stanley in the morning to bring with me, and a few in the bottles in the boot of our stroller.
   

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