How to handle the Heat!

[CRCrazy]

We are going to be in Orlando for a week at the end of June for a school conference- with AP's burning a hole in our Passporter! I definitely want to spend some time in Disney - but we have only been in December, February and early March - never warmer than 80 degrees. How do you fight the heat and still enjoy the parks?

 

[BCVOwner2002]

We were there June '02 and will be visiting again June '03. We normally head to the parks as early as possible; head back to the hotel around 11:30 and have lunch or hang out by the pool. We go back to the parks in late afternoon and stay until closing or head over to DTD. We found the parks "bearable" but to be honest, after this year's chilling New England weather I can't wait for the heat!!!

In all seriousness though, make sure you drink plenty of water. It can get very hot sometimes but then again the suddent rainstorms help. Annmarie

 

[popy]

Do the inside show's when you get hot.
Tiki Room, Bear Jamboree, Hall of Presidents
and so on. Seek the A/C when needed.

 

[AspiringCindy]

Make sure you bring a handheld fan/water spray!

 

[BounceyOne]

My theory has always been, I can be hot at home or hot at Disney. Disney always wins!

 

[gschmerl]

We were there last July 7-12. We got to the parks as soon as the opened and did what we wanted with very little wait. We usually ate lunch at the parks. All the places are air conditioned. Then we would go back to the hotel about 1:00 or 2:00 and relax and go to the pool. We would go back to the parks around dinner time. It was still hot at night, but not as bad as late afternoon. I didn't want to carry a mister bottle, so I got a small battery run fan. It fit in my fanny pack. The only time I really used it was while waiting in line. I brought small packages of wet wipe type things also. So many of the attractions are air conditioned, as are the rest rooms. There are ways to cool down.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Each morning before leaving the room I would fill a water bottle with ice and water. I also filled a ziploc with ice and put a washcloth in it.

The water in the water bottle would stay nice a cold all day. I would put the cold washcloth on the back of DS's neck to cool him off.

I think we're going to get the mister bottles this year.

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

If you want a small size water mist bottle, then go to the trial size bin of your local drug store. Find a trial size bottle of hair spray. buy it for less than $1. Empty the bottle out at home, and you have a great small size mist bottle. When you are too hot at WDW, just go to the rest room, spray your HAIR and face with it.

It delivers a very fine mist so that your hair is DAMP but not saturated.

It works for me !

 

[TreeOfLife]

What has always baffled and even insulted me is Disney's "shirt on" policy. I understand that they want adults to hide their nipples but babies????

In the heat, I see nothing wrong with having a sweaty, cranky baby walk around without a shirt. On several occasions I was told to cover my two year old up in the middle of July!

Having seen adults wearing spaghetti string, sleeveless shirts and even men wearing A-shirts so thin they do expose more than armpits, this policy against tots and babies makes no sense to me.

 

[kilee]

I think it's a universal policy. Where do you draw the line? I see children in our neighboorhood as old as 8 (girls) w/o shirts. There comes a point when modesty has to come into play. Becasue each of us has our own opinion on what age is appropriate to begin to cover up at, Disney has set forth the policy of everyone being covered up. A lightweight tank top isn't that hot. Also, it's going to protect you from the UV rays. Unfortunately if they say it's okay for a 2year old, the next parent is going to want to know why it's not okay for their 3 or 4 year old. Then that parent is going to say it should be okay for their 5 or 6 year old.

 

[punkin]

I'm sorry? and what's wrong with topless 8 yr olds? They are anatomically identical to 2 year olds...no growth there yet.

 

[cindyfan]

Also, it's going to protect you from the UV rays.

Ditto!!!

I feel that is more a concern than the modesty issue.
OMG......I've seen way too many people with sunburns. to have a small child get burned all over the back and chest is just horrible.
I'v always made my kids wear short sleeve shirts in the hot sun and even over their bathing suits if it is really sunny like at the beach. It isn't so bad now with the 45+ sun blocks. But there are too many people out there that just don't realize what the florida sun can do.

I'm sorry? and what's wrong with topless 8 yr olds? They are anatomically identical to 2 year olds...no growth there yet.

Sorry to disagree......but my daughter was wearing a bra by time she was 9!!!!!
NO....8 yr olds are NOT the same as 2 yr olds.

Keep those shirts on those kids!

 

[eeyore0062]

We have been to WDW in August 3 times... this is what we did!

*Wear light colored clothing and a light colored hat with a brim.
*Wear at least 15 sunscreen.
*Don't go shirtless. Cotton shirts actually help you stay cool, as they get damp and act as an airconditioner. Also, you never know if you missed a spot with the sunscreen, and there is nothing worse than a spot sunburn. Disney is not the only park with rules about wearing shirts... Busch Gardens has the same rule, as do many other parks. If you tell one person they must wear a shirt, then you have to tell all they must... otherwise it is discrimnation.
*Drink plenty of water... soda is not a substitute.
*Wear good sunglasses... eyes can have problems with UV rays, too.
*Wear comfortable shoes with cotton socks, and take extras with you, if your socks get too sweaty... also take bandaids and mole skin, if skin tends to blister.
*Invest in a mister fan... these things are invaluable, and they keep the kids happy.
*Don't hesitate to join the kids playing in the interactive fountains.
*Take mid afternoon breaks at indoor attractions or restaurants (we usually eat our big meal then, so it kills two birds with one stone).
*If needed, take an afternoon break at your resort... get a nice shower or swim, change clothes and go back later when it is a bit cooler.
*Don't dispair about the rain... it will cool things off a bit.
*Don't drink alot of caffinated beverages or alcohol, as it will dehydrate you.
*Take advantage of shady areas for short rests.
* If you start to feel the signs of heat exhaustion... dizziness, lightheatedness, being hot, but not sweating, having blackouts, etc... get immediately to the nearest 1st aide station. Any CM can take you there.

Doing all of this, you will be fine! Go and enjoy

 

[NotTooGoofy]

Out of the 4 theme parks, I've found that AK seems to be far stuffier. Some people say it's because the heavy foilage stops the air movement. So I'd definitely try to go the early in the morning, bring a hand held fan, and drink lots of water.

 

[TreeOfLife]

I'm sorry? and what's wrong with topless 8 yr olds? They are anatomically identical to 2 year olds...no growth there yet.

Heck I agree. What is wrong with little kids that age walking around without shirts?

If we'll draw the line for the sake of modesty, I have to admit I'd rather see innocence without shirts than hairy nipples, flabby love handles and blubblery stomachs hanging out of the holes of A-shirts!

On older children entering puberty it makes sense, make them cover up (and still..., but I'll compromise there for the sake of not treating girls differently) . But with babies let's not be ridiculous. They should be allowed to go around without shirts, especially in a park that does not always provide places to cool off or even fans for the little ones dripping in sweat.

Somehow I get the feeling that if women and mothers were up in management, things would be so, so different...

 

[cindyfan]

I'm sorry? and what's wrong with topless 8 yr olds? They are anatomically identical to 2 year olds...no growth there yet.

Heck I agree. What is wrong with little kids that age walking around without shirts?

I REPEAT.............

Sorry to disagree......but my daughter was wearing a bra by time she was 9!!!!!

Somehow I get the feeling that if women and mothers were up in management, things would be so, so different...

AGAIN.....sorry but I disagree!!!!!

Please keep those shirts on those kids.

And YES.....AK is definitely MUCH HOTTER! A CM once explained that they built it to be as much like the "real thing" as possible! With the foliage and water, it always seems about 15 degrees hotter. Do AK early!