Beating the heat

[constanze]

We are heading to WDW in August this year, it's the only time all our schedules would allow. Besides hitting the pool or water parks, what are some of your favorite things to do, to take a break from the heat for a couple hours?

 

[Lee & Kerry]

Go swimming or take the afternoon nap either will leave you refreshed for the evening

 

[Lucius Best]

Get cups of ice water free at counter service locations, use a pocket misting fan:

 

[11290]

Sing Christmas carols.

 

[disnut8]

The one thing I do during summer moths is simple. Take a cloth washcloth and a small zipper bag. Put washcloth into the bag when you head out for the parks. You can store in a pocket or a bag, whichever you prefer. When you start feeling the heat, go into a bathroom (which are numerous around Disney World), take washcloth out of bag and run under the cold water faucet. Then wipe down all your exposed body parts (you can do this in a stall if you want), rinse the washcloth, put back in bag and then continue on. Reuse when needed. I had a women ask me once if she could buy my washcloth for $10!

If you don't want to do that, just do the same with the paper towels in the bathrooms. But, in the summer months, I am never without that cloth and the bag.

 

[MouseLover]

Be sure to visit Tiki room, Presidents, carousel of progress, haunted mansion during the hottest part of day. & similar dark a/c attractions at other parks

 

[lustergirl]

I get to the parks early, stay until I can't stand the heat anymore (usually around 2 or 3pm) go back to my room and take a break, then head back out to whatever park is open late that night.

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

We like to book ADR's for breaks from the heat or time it so we are watching shows (e.g. Hall of Presidents, Mickey's Philarmagic, Laugh Floor are all good air conditioned breaks).
We always have our frogg toggs cooling towels to help us out as well.

 

[glohoffman]

We are going mid September and are planning afternoon breaks every day and are investing in frogg toggs. I've never used them but anything has got to help!

 

[terri33inne]

The one thing I do during summer moths is simple. Take a cloth washcloth and a small zipper bag. Put washcloth into the bag when you head out for the parks. You can store in a pocket or a bag, whichever you prefer. When you start feeling the heat, go into a bathroom (which are numerous around Disney World), take washcloth out of bag and run under the cold water faucet. Then wipe down all your exposed body parts (you can do this in a stall if you want), rinse the washcloth, put back in bag and then continue on. Reuse when needed.

I do this except I wet the washcloth the night before... roll it up, put it in the ziploc bag, and put it in the freezer overnight in our room, then throw it in our backpack in the a.m. Then as I get heated I take it out & put it on the back of my neck. Works great. I know people have talked about a special kind of towel that does the same thing.... frogtogs maybe? I can't exactly remember the name.

 

[Parker Clan]

We go every August, what works for us is what some PP's had said.. Get to parks early in a.m., leave around 1-2, take afternoon naps/hit the pools, Dinner around 5-6 then back to parks at night. Also take advantage of the AC in the stores, indoor attractions, etc when the sun is really beating down.

 

[ZoZo]

I do this except I wet the washcloth the night before... roll it up, put it in the ziploc bag, and put it in the freezer overnight in our room, then throw it in our backpack in the a.m. Then as I get heated I take it out & put it on the back of my neck. Works great. I know people have talked about a special kind of towel that does the same thing.... frogtogs maybe? I can't exactly remember the name.

Great idea - you can even put some ice in the ziploc, too. (Surprisingly, the water in the "cold" water taps in the summer isn't super cold in Florida - the ground water is pretty warm!)

Other ideas to keep cool are using mini-misting fans (as someone else suggested), wearing moisture-wicking clothes (this can really help!), wearing a visor, frogg toggs, and one of my favorites, wiping face, neck, chest, etc. with Kleenex brand "Splash and Go" wet wipes (super refreshing).

I think I also remember seeing cooling wipes made for menopausal women! Might be worth looking into - I think you can find them in the feminine protection aisle!

 

[Minniekins]

I am definitely one who doesn't like the heat! I was very worried about how hot it would be when we went for the 24 hr day weekend a couple weeks ago. So I ended up buying Frogg Toggs and an O2 deluxe personal necklace fan, both at Amazon and easy to find. And relatively inexpensive, and I'd have paid more as happy as I was with how they worked! It was hot and humid, mid 90's, much hotter than I hoped for, that's for sure! I hung the small fan on my neck and it blew a nice cool breeze which made a huge difference. Takes two AA batteries and I brought a bunch extra, since I'd be using it everyday all day. I think I changed them nice a day but it was worth it, worked great, and was nice and lite, didnt get in my way and wasn't annoying to have on. I also wore the Frogg Togg scarf. I wore it hanging on my neck like a scarf, hung a few inches below shoulders. Not sure how it works but you wet it in the sink, wring out and ready to use. Or put back into container to bring with and use as it gets hot. It evaporates in the heat and somehow cools you off. I was skeptical but it definitely worked great! And it doesn't drip or get your shirt wet, never had any wet marks from it at all. Then as it dries, just rewet in the bathroom sink, wring out and ready to use. I thought the two things worked great together and I realized how happy I wAs with them as I was telling people about our trip and how it wasn't nearly as hot as I expected and the heat didn't bother me too much. I'd even consider going at a hot time again, lol! Well, Maybe not July or aug, lol! And I read other Reports here of people saying it was much Hotter than usual for May. We also did take advantage of free cups of ice water which worked great, tasted fine, and we got nice big cups!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Drink lots of water- always have some in your hand, BUT- keep the outside of your body as dry as possible! I wont stand in line for it, but refill anywhere, and always get extra water with meals.

NO Mister fans! They just =clammy! Same thing with cold packs. It's an addiction that feeds upon itself. I also drink less water if the water is too icy.

Afternoon not only = heat, often = HEAVY storms. We break, then use the late night hours to walk on rides after dark when everyone else has melted.

I used to dislike afternoon breaks, until I found the right incentive. Concierge level. The low end deluxe rooms are sky high this year already, but prior years the difference between non CL deluxe and CL wasn't so bad.

Otherwise, I find it best to keep shoulders and arms uncovered. (just sunscreen). No denim on wet rides. Always comfy shoes!

If we take a break 3 to 5pm, we're great until 3am.

Oh - one BIG thing that helps- acclimate yourself to heat BEFORE you go to FL! Wherever you live get OUT of the AC!!!! Keep your home 80, not 69.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Oh, and we carry as little as possible. Big heavy bags are a no no for us, especially in summer heat.

 

[Troy Stratton]

I am never without that cloth and the bag.

 

[GillianP1301]

We use TS meals as our breaks and cool down time (we also go in August). If we start to feel overheated , we head into a shop or indoor attraction. I find with that approach we are never put in the full on heat for too long a stretch and the heat rarely bothers us as a result.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

We are heading to WDW in August this year, it's the only time all our schedules would allow. Besides hitting the pool or water parks, what are some of your favorite things to do, to take a break from the heat for a couple hours?

Several suggestions. I went last July and am going again July 11-19. Take breaks. Go slow and no need to rush. Most rides have fans in the waiting queues and many are in the shade. Time the water rides (well only at MK and AK) right and also any stand that has fountain drinks, they give out cups of free water (in the small soda cup size). Don't worry about the quality, it is the purified filtered water they use in the soft drinks. I stay off site (40 minutes away at friends house) so for me taking a break is not an option, I just get there first thing so I can finish by mid afternoon. But if you have the option, take a mid day break and then come back later in the afternoon after the worst of the heat is gone.