Beat the Heat in WDW

Okay peeps, it is time to head down for those summer vacations in the hottest part of world, north of Hades. The heat is no joke in Florida.

You might think you’ve handled heat in the past, but nothing beats the swampy heat of a theme park in Central Florida. It is a whole different animal, and if you’re not prepared, it can make a terrible experience in the parks. Here are some tips to beat the heat in Walt Disney World.

Stay Hydrated!

Obviously, you want to drink plenty of liquids – not soda or alcohol. Grab a few bottles of Gatorade, Powerade, or whatever electrolyte-inspired drink you want. Remember soda and alcohol will dry you out and make you even more thirsty.

Along with that, no wait until you’re “thirsty.” At that point, you’re already dehydrated. You can grab free water from any quick service location.

Just go up to a window and ask for it – no purchase necessary. Disney doesn’t want you to faint because you can’t spend money while lying on the ground — I kid, I kid.

 

Wear Sunscreen

For the love of everything holy, make sure you lather yourself up before hitting the park. I can’t tell you how many times I see people with painful, red sunburned skin.

As someone who has pasty white skin that could rival the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, I know it’s not fun having a sunburn. Prevent the agony by applying sunscreen to your skin – the highest rating possible too.

One application will not be enough either. After walking around, you will sweat off the protection. Make sure to reapply every two hours.

 

 

Cover Your Head

Florida sun doesn’t mess around. It might look nice and cool, but that sun will take things to the next level. I almost passed out from the heat exhaustion on a 70-degree day. The air temperature was fine, but the sun just beat down on me for hours on end.

With that, you will want to cover your head with a hat, visor, or whatever. Mickey ears look cute, but you will be miserable, sweaty, and hot after 8 hours in the direct sunshine.

If you’re not a hat fan, find a shady place to cool down for a few minutes, or better yet, bring an umbrella. It might look goofy, but it can help to get that direct sun off of you.

 

Cool Down Your Phone

Since most trips require a mobile phone for dining reservations, mobile orders, and Genie+, chances are you’ll be on your phone for the majority of the day. The heat will overheat your phone in almost no time. Avoid cursing and screaming by giving your phone a break.

When it starts getting warm to the touch, try to shut down the programs and give it a rest. Otherwise, your phone will shut down for you – and nothing is worst than having a non-operational phone when you have a pending mobile order (true story!).

 

 

Eat or Drink Something

You might want to be a park warrior and run straight to the parks on an empty stomach. Don’t do that! The heat + lack of food = fainting. The heat will take a lot of energy out of your body. Make sure you fuel up before, during, and after park time.

 

 

Take Breaks

Yes, I know as a local, it’s hard to tell someone to slow down, but the Florida summer heat can wreak havoc on a vacation.

There are plenty of places to cool down – think about those long shows or attractions. Seating is at a premium at quick-service locations, so you might want to think outside of the box.

For me, I’ll take a walk or transportation to the nearest resort lobby (like the Poly or Beach Club) and get a little rest. Most of the time, it is quiet and you can get away from the hustle of the parks.

 

To Use the Cooling Towel or Not

Some people swear by cooling towels, while others say they are a bunch of garbage. I bought the Disney ones and have been using them for a whole year. You won’t get cold with them, but they can help. I’ve purchased a Frogg Togg in the past, and it really helped during the heat.

 

Know the Warning Signs

I moved down last July and immediately hit the parks. Since I handled the worst of the summer heat, I thought I was invincible. There have been times when I thought I was going to drop in the park – hello May the Fourth.

You need to know when you’re on the brink so you can get out of the heat. Any head pounding, flashing lights, clammy skin, and weakness should be enough to slow down and cool off.

Don’t be afraid to hit the first aid station. Once again, Disney doesn’t want their guests to pass out and hit the ground.

 

Choose Comfortable Over Cute

When you’re walking in over 90-degree heat, you want to be dressed in comfortable clothing. While a certain shirt might look cute, if it is not breathable, you will be sweating all day long.

For that reason, you might want to skip long jeans to the park. The demin will get hot and make you a miserable mess. Remember that Florida often has afternoon thunderstorms (around 3 to 4 pm). They last for about a half-hour and everything returns to normal.

Keep that in mind so you are not wearing hot, wet clothes throughout the day. By wearing the right clothes, you can beat the heat from rope drop to the kiss goodnight.

 

Those are my tips to stay cool and comfortable during the worst of the Florida heat! Hopefully, they can help you on the next trip!

 

Let me know some of your tips for getting through the hot, humid days of summer. Leave them in the comments.