Best ways to cool off?

[disneyluver91]

I'm going in august (17-25) and I've heard it gets really hot and humid. What i was wondering was what's your best (most effective) way to cool off? Thanks!

~*~ disneyluver91 ~*~

 

[Kaycee]

You'll probably get lots of great advice on this one, because planning for the summer heat at WDW is a huge topic. Here are some things that we're planning on doing:

1. We arrive at park opening each morning and use Extra Magic Hour as much as we can. After lunch, we head back to the resort to swim and relax. Then we head back to the parks in the evening and stay until closing. That way, we avoid the hottest part of the day in the parks.

2. We drink lots and lots of water!!

3. We try to do the "hottest" rides early: the ones where the line andthe ride are outside. We save the inside rides for the hotter part of the day.

4. As we walk around the parks, we cut through air-conditioned shops as much as possible.

Kaycee

 

[magic teacup]

My DD's weapon of choice. By a cheap mister with fan from Walmart, Publix etc. it really did help with our trip June/July last year. Downfall was that it broke later that year, we didn't bring it with us on our April trip and she just *absolutely* had to have one from Disney with the strap and place to fill ice. It is nice and a cute souveneir but $17.00. I paic 4.99 for the one at Publix and it was a full spray bottle size. It's neat to go in the hottest part of the year I think because you really can appreciate that great WDW air conditioning feels soooo good.

 

[Beanie]

We always try to be at the parks, the earliest they open and then leave for a bit in the afternoon to take a swim in the resort pool...then we go back later on when it is cooler...

Magic Teacup, my kids love those mister fans and I occasionally use them myself! LOL

 

[grinningghost]

Buy a Mistymate. They really cool you off! Also wear tank tops and very comfortable sandals. Drink lots of water and take advantage of the longer, air conditioned attractions, such as Hall of Presidents or The American Adventure. They're dark, cool and relaxing. Luckily, WDW has plenty of these types of attractions.

And the very best cooling off attraction to me is Pirates of the Caribbean. Very cool inside.

And above all - take that afternoon break. It will probably be raining anyway, so a nice escape for lunch or a rest is just what the heat doctor ordered.

 

[Texian@WDW]

I agree with the posters who suggest naps after lunch and returning to the parks later - we always do this. Here's some more things we do:

Take a wet wash cloth with you. Refresh it at cold drinking fountains. Wring it out and keep it around your neck or use it to wipe your face. Try to find a real thin wash cloth.

Stand or walk in the shade as much as possible instead of the blazing sun.

I think a fanny pack (especially for Mom) helps because you don't have something hanging on you dragging you down and making you hot.

When the kids start getting tired and hot - SLOW DOWN! Disney will still be there after they cool off.

Mister Fans.

 

[indigo]

In addition to the excellent suggestions above, my secret is a cool wet towel across the back of the neck. If you don't want to spend the dough for the Sharper Image fancy version, go to a restroom with a baby changing station and grab one of the heavy duty paper towels, wet that down at the sink and use it. It will keep you cool for 30 minutes.

 

[Muffy]

At Walmart in sporting goods they sell neck bands that you soak with water and put in the fridge. They stay ice cold for hours.

 

[Brier Rose]

For those of you that use the misty fans,do you find they are a pain to carry around?
This will be the first time in a couple of years that we have been during the summer.The last time we went ,we did buy the misty fans and it seems I just remember how heavy they were when they were filled with water.It was just so hot we wanted to carry as little as possible.

I still have the spray bottle,but not the fan part.Last Dec. DS got this cute little mini fan that lights up in all different patterns.
We will have 3 kids with us this time,and I was thinking about buying each one of these,as they can fit in their fanny packs,and then taking the one spray bottle to spritz them off whenever they want.
I think I'd rather just have the one spray bottle to throw in the stroller,rather than have each child saddled with one of those misty fans around their neck.
What do you think??

 

[geffric]

we bought mister fans a few years ago and I got so tried of lugging the kids fans that I stopped using them. We bring frozen water bottles so we always have a cold drink.

Also, plan your day around the A/C. Do the hot rides in the am or pm and the cool ones for the afternoon. Also, park hop to take some A/C transportation and get some kid downtime if you don't go back to your room for lunch or swimming.

 

[juliette]

BrierRose

I felt the same way about the big mister fans. We were there in 99 and only had on kid who wanted it but know my DS is older. So that means we would have to carry two instead of the one. Well my point is I just found small mister fans in Walgreens for 4.99. They are small enough to fit in my bag they are the size of your hand. I bought disney stickers and decorated the misters with it.

 

[Horizons16]

we use the plan that Kaycee wrote out...

 

[pigby]

Buy a mister fan and fill it with ice before you leave your resort in the morning

Go and see Voyage of the Little Mermaid when in MGM

Have a sit down lunch midday

Go back to resort early afternoon and escape to your room or take a dip in your resort pool

 

[Belle1962]

In the first aid section----purchase the first aid ice packs that you shake and squeeze to chill down. Then whenever you need it it's cold and ready to use (and then toss). I buy the ones that come 2 to a pack.

 

[gumdrop]

Hey there!

As the others have said, definetly come back to the resort in the afternoon for a swim and/or nap. It really helps! Also, I always get a cup of ice whenever we stop for a quick bite--put the cubes in your water bottle or mister fans! If there is any ice left over, hold onto it to cool yourself down. Another thing we try to do is hit the attractions that are furthest away from the park entrance first. That way, as the day wears on, you will actually be working your way towards the exit. This helps us because there are just times when the heat and crowds really get to you and you just need to leave that second! If you are closer to the exit, it's not as painful to walk through the crowds. We've been going in August for years and enjoy it. Take advantage of the fact that parks are open later and go out when it's cooler. Hope this helps!

 

[susan137]

Take a bathing suit or extra set of clothes and let the kids run through the interactive fountains. My DS (5) loves them. I think he is looking foward to playing in the fountains more than anything else at the parks!

Did anyone else see the Travel Channel's top 10 water parks last night? Blizzard Beach was number two. Always a nice option for cooling off, also!!

Susan

 

[sunking]

visit ice station cool in epcot...you can have a mini snowball fight on your way thru and then enjoy the flavors of coca cola from around the world...
have fun...
sunking

 

[Juls]

If you are able, freeze your water bottle the night before. Then before heading out to the parks, wrap a washcloth around each bottle and secure with a rubberband. Not only does this keep your water from melting too quickly, it also catches any "sweat" in your backpack made by the melting, and the cloths are ice cold and wet and feel great to wipe a sweaty face or drape across a neck or forehead.

 

[DigitalDisney]

There are many ways to cool off in WDW. You just have to be creative or keep your eyes open...

MK/EP/MGM/AK:
- Walking through stores is a fun way to cool off. There are a lot of them in the park, and some of them have interesting / eclectic merchandise too.
- Quiet attractions can be your best friends on a very hot humid day
- Go on anything that moves, even if it is outdoors. At least it's a breeze of some sort.
- Don't be afraid to wait in a long queue line that is all or mostly indoors. The wait may be long, but the building and ride are air conditioned.
- Cold snacks such as slushes, ice cream, or a cold drink will help you cool off.

MK:
- Of course, attractions that involve water are your best friends (Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Splash Mtn, Thunder Mtn, Small World, Ariels Grotto)
- In Tomorrowland, you'll find something called the Cool Ship (I think that's the name), which is an elevated rocket ship with misters underneath it.
- In the heat of the day, explore Tom Sawyers Island. The island is basically covered in shade, and there are buildings you can walk in (Fort Langhorn, Harpers Mill, and the Windmill), and you can walk through three caves too.

Ep:
There is no reason to overheat in Epcot.

- Almost all of the pavilions in Future World are huge buildings with rides, displays, and shows inside them. You could spend hours in a building without ever setting foot outside.
- World Showcase has more than shops that will keep you shady and cool
- If it's a little windy, you can stand by the Innoventions fountain and get pretty wet.
- Ice Station Cool in Innoventions has a tunnel with real snow, plus free cold drinks from other countries inside the main building.
- The Test Track ride includes experiences with cold temps and water, not to mention a 64.8 MPH breeze courtesy of the speed tests.
- Maelstrom, in Norway, may get you wet
- There is a large waterfall in Canada that will get you wet if you stand close to it.
- Between Innoventions and World Showcase lies a fountain you can run through.
- Of course, the quiet rides and shows are your friends if you want to cool off. Don't be afraid to take your time in Innoventions, or to watch Food Rocks or Cranium Command.

MGM:
- You can get pretty wet on the Baclot Studio Tour. The movement of the ride vehicles provides a decent breeze, but Catastrophie Canyon can leave you very wet.
- The Honey I Shrunk The Kids area has some wet opportunities. It's reasonably well shaded too.
- There are misters on Mickey Avenue, by the Backlot Tour entrance.

AK:
- Kali River Rapids is always refreshing. However, the line will very likely be long.
- Rafiki's Wild Planet is an air conditioned building similar to a pavilion in Epcot.
- The Pangani Falls Trail has a couple areas to cool off (Hippo exhibit, among others)

 

[BadgerBruce]

I have trouble with the heat, & the mister/fans have been a really great find for me. Leaving the parks to use the resort pool or go to a waterpark is a good idea, but there is still the problem of waiting for the bus. I find many of the bus stops pretty uncomfortable if you have much of a wait. It's really helped me to have the fan along at all times.