How Hot Can it Really Be in Summer-Characters??

[bdklein]

I know its hot and humid, but aren't there characters out and about in heavy costumes during the day?? If they can take it, so can I!!! Or am I missing something?

 

[ErinsMommy]

I usually see a character out and about for maybe an hour or so at any given time before they go on a quick "break".

 

[hakepb]

It's a bit like cold winter times. At home when we have a 50 degree day it feels warm going from a car to a store. But at WDW all day, it chills you to the bone.
Its easier to survive temp extremes in shorter doses.

But overall I think people like to be a bit overly dramatic about the heat. 92 right now? That's fairly hot but not HOT, a good summer heat.
Wear light clothing and don't overdo it.

 

[gator girl]

I know its hot and humid, but aren't there characters out and about in heavy costumes during the day?? If they can take it, so can I!!! Or am I missing something?

They're "out" for about 40 minutes or less, and then off stage in air conditioning, pounding water bottles, sitting down with most of the costume off, for about the same amount of time.

And I've heard that they lose *multiple pounds* of water weight each time they're working.

I don't envy them at all. Forget being cheerful... I'd have a hard enough time not passing out or puking on the kids.

 

[DOOM1001]

I believe they can only be out there for 20 minutes at a time,then they are escorted back to the A/C where they stay for at least 40 minutes.The heat is bad and I'm sure after those 20 minutes they're drenched in sweat.

 

[asmit4]

I heard it was only 20 minutes too.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Forget being cheerful... I'd have a hard enough time not passing out or puking on the kids.

That made me LOL because I would be the same way. I saw someone get REALLY pissed at the Beast because it was their last day there and they HAD to have a pic. I can only imagine the thoughts of the person wearing that costume listening to this man carry on because that's one of the bigger ones I've seen and it was a HOT day (and it was only May).

 

[chartle]

There are also various chiller systems out there that range from just a vest with ice packs to active cooling systems that circulate chilled water.

 

[leebee]

No, you are really missing something. It's hard to explain how incredibly hot the direct Florida sunshine is during June and August (the two summer months I have experienced). The heat is brutal, the humidity smothering; drops collect on your arm hairs as soon as you go outside sometimes. It is oppressive, and it never improves; sometimes only goes down to about 80 degrees overnight. Pools at midnight will be 90 degrees and feel like pee-water (DH's description). We aren't morning people, so we don't do rope drop, but we are the folks staggering through the MK at 2am or later in the summer. We go into the parks at 2pm but we stay OUT of the sunshine, doing the indoor, a/c attractions until about 7pm. We also ALWAYS do a TS meal in the summer; we need the hour-long rest in the a/c, with plenty of iced tea to hydrate. The characters are only out for 15-20 mins each hour, working in shifts; they drink tons of water and stay in the a/c for the rest of the 60 min cycle in the worst of the heat (according to my BIL who is a CM at Epcot).

Summer heat in Florida is extreme, but can be managed. YOu just have to be prepared for it if you don't want to get sick or sunburned.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

If you have never experienced it than you just cannot understand!

Forget the temperature, you want to see the heat index (or what it "feels" like).

According to accuweather it is currently 93, with 41% humidity and 67 degree dew point. Heat index= 100. (and quite honestly, that is "good" for Florida summer standards.)

 

[doris1976]

I can't stand to be outside in shorts and a t-shirt. Couldn't imagine being inside one of those customs for any length of time.

 

[DOOM1001]

If you have never experienced it than you just cannot understand!

Forget the temperature, you want to see the heat index (or what it "feels" like).

According to accuweather it is currently 93, with 41% humidity and 67 degree dew point. Heat index= 100. (and quite honestly, that is "good" for Florida summer standards.)

Yeah that's actually not too bad,my hottest days at the parks were in August about 3-4 years ago where every day the temps were in the 95-99 range with the heat indexes between 115-120.The only good day was the waterpark day.This is why rain in the summer is not always bad as it prevents the temperatures from getting that bad.

 

[kaligal]

Orlando's climate is a mix of sub-tropical and tropical. It gets very hot and unbelievably humid in that climate in the summer. And it rains a lot in the afternoons/evenings.

When it is done raining, it is rarely cooler. Just wetter.

You know how some southerners will say, "Well, once it is freezing, it doesn't matter how much colder it gets," and you want to say, "Hey, you big dope, the difference between 100 and 68 is the SAME difference between freezing and zero!"

It's kind of the same deal. Although, the difference between 100 in Orlando and 100 in Chicago is not as big a difference as freezing and zero.

It's freaking hot.

 

[CruznLexi]

I live in Florida and would not even think of going to Disney in the summer. We go in the fall or early Dec or April if it does not go with spring break. One time we went in early may . It was 97 in early may but then same year the fall it was 97 the day we checked into Pop Century the mid of Oct. you need to be prepared for the heat .drink lots of water

 

[Karlzmom]

I thought the same thing...how bad could it be? It was UNBELIEVABLE - melt into pavement/can I go back into the hotel yet/why in the world did I think this was a good idea HOT! This was at the end of the Sept. I can't even begin to imagine what a summer trip would be.

 

[2disneyboys]

Think of the HOTTEST day you can recently recall. Then imagine soaking a heavy wool blanket in a tub of warm water. Right before you go outside put the blanket over your head. Go stand in the direct sunlight. That's what your going to feel like if you have shorts and a tank top on. Looking at some of the characters makes me want to pass out. Yes. It can be that hot.

 

[chigirl]

There are also various chiller systems out there that range from just a vest with ice packs to active cooling systems that circulate chilled water.

ummmm, my DH was for 2 years a costumed character here in Chicago, years back...he had the active cooling system, but he was in 90+ degree heat, dancing & acting crazy, for 1 hour at a time. He was DRENCHED in sweat when the costume came off. He also had a water pack and a tube attached to it that he could drink out of, but it was awful. These characters are suffering in the heat, believe me. No cooling system can cool a person wearing a 25 pound costume, dancing.

 

[ejrj]

I'm not sure where in the world you are but given that you ask the question, the answer is yes, you are missing something! I'm in AL. I'm sitting outside because dammit, it's summer but omg it's hard to breath...my skin is wet...be happy that wherever you are, you don't get it, 'cause I'm jealous!