Heat!

[disneygirl7825]

my main concern in disney is the heat, we usually go in january or december where the heat isnt that bad, but the only time we have off this year is..(cue scary music) july 5-12. i looked and the average low is like 92!
how are we ever going to deal with it?

Any tips?

 

[SallyfromDE]

my main concern in disney is the heat, we usually go in january or december where the heat isnt that bad, but the only time we have off this year is..(cue scary music) july 5-12. i looked and the average low is like 92!
how are we ever going to deal with it?

Any tips?

I don't know where your coming from, and if your "used" to the heat. I've been to DW twice in July and I'm not sure why I ever went back the second time. But so many people go and don't seem to have an issue with it. Make it an early morning trip to the parks. Head to some air conditioning for lunch, back to the hotel for swimming. Also, use those neck straps where you put them in water to cool your neck down. I usually carry a washcloth with me, and soak it in the water to wash my face often. Disney sells fans for $25, go to Walmart or somewhere like that, and get those fans with the water bottle. Fill it up with ice in the morning. Once it starts to melt, you'll have ice cold water to spray fan your self. And do everything at your leasure.

 

[beccasmom]

Sally has some great tips. It s all about pacing yourself and going at a more leisurely pace than you may be used to. The two most important things IMHO - taking breaks and staying hydrated. Stay away from soft drinks if possible and stick with water or juice. Add some Crystal Light for flavoring if desired. Eat lightly - heavy meals and heat don't mix well. Stick with salads, sandwiches, yogurt, fruit.

Since the parks are open later, taking a break out of the park can be refreshing. Go back to your hotel and swim, nap or have a nice lunch. Take it relatively easy in the heat of the day. It can give you a second wind.

Good luck!

 

[disneylove69]

Use a lot of suntan lotion and light clothing. The heat isn't the issue for me........it's the humidity. Think never getting out of the shower.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I was there last week and it was HOT. So we visited the parks that had extra magic hour in the morning. Stayed till 11:00 or 12 then left had lunch went to the pool. Then in the evening around 7:00 we would visit the park that had evening extra magic hours.
Drinks lots of water. I took a washclothe in a ziplock bag and would wet it and wipe my face and neck to cool off. If you have a room with a ridge, freeze bottles of water and take that with you.Great to put on your neck to cool off.

We took the portable sleeves of propel and put them in ice water that we got for free from counter service food places. Helps replenish the electrolytes.

 

[moniqueelaine]

The last time we went was in June and it was HOT!!! I work nights so I worked the night before and slept about 2 hours on the plane and ate junk in the airport, well lets just say that the heat, no sleep and like of good nourishment and halfway up the stairs going to eat at Planet Hollywood I was down..It was not pretty...BUT, after cooling off and having a good meal the rest of the trip was fine..I just went early, came back swam and rest, then went back at night..AK is a very very hot park be sure and do that one early...And my mister became my BFF..My daughter said she was surprised I didn't have burn marks on my nose because I held it so close to my face LOL

 

[hpfan100]

you'll be ok....it's not the high temps it's the humidity, The nice thing about that is that getting wet or going inside AC will cool you down quickly. I took a little cheap fan from the dollar store and that helped. Also wear cotton fabrics so you can breath. hats, sunglasses, shorts, Tee shirts are a must. Just think once you get used to 95 degrees you can swing by Phoenix for some real heat. Take your time and make sure to not over do it.

ETA: I looked up the average temps for Orlando and in July the average high is 92 and the average low is 73 so it does cool off there nicely. I would love 73 in July.

 

[churchpilot]

We took our first June trip last summer (February and November are our favorite months to go), and we probably won't do that again except to go to the water parks. It also helped that we stayed at a Disney resort with a wonderful pool, but the sun coming off all of that asphalt was unbelievable! We did the early park hours and headed back to the room around noon, swam, and then took a nap. We tried going back out at about 5 and it was still too hot. 6 PM was more bearable. We did use the mister fans and they helped. We have been to Disney so much, that we don't do commando style anymore, so we took it very easy and selected really cool spots frequently. We don't regret going that time of year, but June, July, August and September are our last choices. Because we have premium annual passes, going up for a short trip during the hot months and doing nothing but the water parks is an option, but if we didn't have them, we would punt! You probably aren't big whimps like we are, so you will have a magical, cool time!

 

[Liam]

pools, water, and more pools

 

[scrappinginontario]

I went to a Dollar Store last week and bought the spray bottles with fans attached for $1.25 each. A good investment for our August trip I'm sure.

Going to tuck away the tips to take wet face cloths to the parks.

If you're travelling with a little one, a stroller fan is also a good option.

 

[ucfsweetie82]

Everyone has given some good advice.
Take your time....if you start to feel too hot, get to some ac and grab a drink(as everyone else said water or juice). I am also going to add powerade for the electrolytes that you will sweat out.
Try to eat fruit with your lunch(I swear Disney grapes are the best).
Take as many breaks as you like, because trust me if you get overheated, you won't feel quite right the rest of the day.

 

[ZoZo]

It's very easy to get dehydrated without realizing it. You need so much more water than usual during hot, humid weather. Chug water like crazy! [I got dehydrated a couple of trips ago -- the easiest way to tell was that my ankles got really puffy. Yuck! Took several days of "catching up" on my water consumption to be back to normal.]

As others have suggested, use things like misting fans, wet washclothes, cooling "neck wraps," going into air conditioning (shows, restaurants, stores), taking breaks in the heat of the afternoon - all great trips. Take it slow and easy.

 

[maxiesmom]

The heat isn't the issue for me........it's the humidity. Think never getting out of the shower.

This exactly! I read a post once where the poster described the humidity as trying to breathe thru a wet sock. And that is so true.

Get up early and hit the parks at open, or during morning EMH. You will get so much done before the parks are too hot and too busy. Schedule sit down meals so that you are forcing yourself to take an air-conditioned break. Drink water/powerade before you feel thirsty. Don't be afraid to have an ice cream cone or two. Stay away from too much caffinee or alcohol. Neither is good in the heat. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. Pack along wet-wipes and wipe down your face or arms every so often. Very refreshing.

 

[Lumiere Lover]

My advice:
Use lots of sunscreen
Drink lots of water (not carbonated beverages or alcohol)
Take a break during the heat of the day and go back to your resort to swim or rest.
Enjoy!!

 

[mackenziec123]

Ahhhh, WDW in July. Well, let's just say I'm from Texas and the heat in July at WDW is preeetttyyy bad. Just make sure you don't push yourself too hard. Rest frequently, take breaks in air conditioned areas (gift shops, buildings in EPCOT, etc.), and drink LOTS of water! Stay hydrated! Before you leave, buy a small portable fan from Walmart, Target, or even a dollar store. WDW has them for sale with an attachable water jug thing, but they're usually quite expensive. Bring along a small towel to wipe up sweat (yes, it sounds a lil' weird but trust me, the last thing you want to deal with is nasty sweat!). Bring a refillable water bottle from home and stop by water fountains to replinish your thirst (if you're picky about water, bring along some Crystal Light packets and put them in your drink instead!). Also, WEAR SUNSCREEN AND COMFY SHOES (kinda off topic but I see so many people at the parks wearing flimsy flip-flops accompanied by cherry-red burns on their body! ouch!). Pick a sunscreen that isn't creme based. I like to use a waterproof spray so that it doesn't come off with your sweat!

Enjoy your trip and don't worry about the heat! As long as you're having fun, you won't even notice it!

 

[Ericalamb9]

I lived in South Florida for many years, so I can tell you all about the heat! The heat in July is a killer, but the humidity is your biggest challenge. The air is thick and wet, almost like trying to breath through a washcloth. Get used to not being completely dry, -- you will feel damp and sticky for most of the day. Most importantly the humidity can zap all of your strength.

As most people have already said, make sure you drink a lot of cold water and bring a spray bottle with a fan so you can mist yourself. Get cups of ice wherever you can, drinking ice cold water or chewing on ice will help you stay cooler longer. I would stay away from soft drinks and alcohol, at least while you're walking around the parks, since they can dehydrate you. Make sure to note on your park map where the mist/cooling stations are in each park. You will want to visit these often.

Also, be careful what you eat. Try to eat light and stay away from fried foods and heavy meals, they will just make you feel heavy and drag you down. I know it's hard to eat light at Disney, but I promise the lighter you eat, the better you will feel. You may want to wait until later in the day or before you go back to the hotel to have a big meal.

Remember to use lots of sunscreen and wear a hat that protects your scalp and face from the sun. The Florida sun can burn you quick! Also wear light clothing that breathes, stay away from nylon, spandex, etc. Anything that wicks away moisture is your best friend.

Also, Florida isn't like many other places where it cools off in the evening. Even if the temperature drops, it won't drop enough to make you comfortable, so prepare for the evenings the same way you prepare for your day in the park.

Thankfully, virtually every building is very air conditioned. Whenever you feel the need, go inside, sit down, and cool off! Heat stroke is always a possibility in summer, so if you feel weak or faint, make sure to seek medical attention. The first aid clinics at Disney know exactly what to do to help you.

I know this sounds like a lot, but if you prepare in advance, you'll be fine.

 

[3mickeymom]

Don't fuss with your hair and makeup. Pull your hair up, lather on the sunscreen, add some waterproof mascara and you will be good to go. Bring good sunglasses for the whole family since squinting all day can lead to a major headache. Wear Moisture wicking clothing in light colors. And all of the good advice from the previous posters. We always go in June/July and have a wonderful time. I am sure you will too!

 

[minnie mouse ears]

Stay hydrated and wear lots of sunscreen. Put your hair up if you can, bring a water spray bottle and just be ready for the heat. It has turned hot here in KY this week so I guess it is a prep for our Disney trip next week. LOL We have had a heat index of around a 100 and the humidity is always really bad in the Ohio Valley area.... so I am feeling pretty well prepared this year for Disney.

We went once before in the first week of May and had unseasonably hot weather of 95 degrees in Disney all week so there is no guarantee of having cooler weather unless you go in the middle of winter.

 

[SallyfromDE]

OH,, I remember something that helps me. Those frozen lemonade drinks. Cools me right off. And I haven't seen them, but Gatorade has come out with drink sticks.

 

[MonorailPilotMulan]

Dont forget that all counter service restaurants offer free cups of ice or water, so there is no excuse to drink water or have some ice to chew on. It always works for me!

Also try to chart out which attractions have indoor queues and plan to visit these during the warmer hours. Also, if your on Main Street or Hollywood Blvd. waiting for the parade or even just walking through, try to duck into the stores to save yourself from unnecessary walking in the sun.