How to survive the HEAT???

leebee

DIS Legend
Joined
Sep 14, 1999
Messages
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We will be in the Orlando area 6/16-6/30. I've never been south in the summer before...in fact, the furthest south I've ever lived is in PA! I've been to WDW in early May and mid-October...thought we'd die in the sun Oct. 2003 (high 80's, and humid!). I know how to survive the cold (life in Maine!) but what's your best tip on surviving the heat in WDW in June?
 
Beat the heat by starting early.
Wear light colors and a hat.
Take an afternoon break.

Drink lots of WATER!
 
Get to the parks early and then head back to your hotel as the day gets hotter (it's about the same time that the crowds get bigger).
Someone on another post said that around noon or so it's a good time to check out different hotels and maybe eat at some of them.
After mid-day head back to the park and you will be refreshed and ready to go again.
Also, DRINK a lot of water!!!!!!
 
My daughter pressed the keys, so don't know if my post will make it.

Ice water is free everywhere--so when you get lunch order that (not the bottle water).

Bring water bottles, and consume and refill frequently. You won't necessarily be thirsty, but you have to remember to drink.

AVOID soda at all costs--it is expensive and dehydrates you, it will not quench your thirst--take this from a Floridian.

Watch the weather that morning, temp of the day isn't necessarily as important as the Heat Index (the opposite of wind chill factor) and humidity.

Where lots and lots of sunscreen--try for 100% cotton shirts if you can--synthetics don't breath, silk just plain STINKS after a while as it keeps all the sweat on you by sticking to you. Loose shorts are best. I prefer comfy shoes that can be removed easily to aid with rests.

Buy before you hit disney one of those little fans with the squirt bottle--VERY EFFECTIVE with cold water--about $6 or so at wal-mart, nearly $18 at Disney.

Hit the pool at midday.

Hit the fountains at EPCOT and Downtown Disney while you are there--heck go in with all of your clothes on (bring a towel though to share).

Good luck.
 

clarification on the fountains--the water areas with jets in the ground that shoot water..not the big fountains that you would have to climb into.

It might land you into AC'd disney jail :)
 
I feel it only right to warn you. Having lived in the south all my life and visited WDW in all times of the year, Oct is a walk in the park compared to June, July and Aug.

Get to the park early, out around lunch for a dip in the resort pool or nap in the room to cool off. Then go back later in the evening.Wear light clothes and as little as you can get away with without offending others and keep water with you at all times if possible. We always freeze our water bottles before we leave home, we drive so we can do that, then keep them on ice the whole time. Then we take one or two with us each morning to a park and drink on them as they melt and that won't take too long. Also, take advantage of the air conditioned shops and attractions. Space them out so you get mini breaks every so often.
 
We go indoors when we need a break from the heat, which is probably every 15 minutes LOL! MK, Epcot, and the Studios have lots of indoor air-conditioned stores and attractions, but AK is a bit more difficult. The restrooms are cool, so I'd often go in just to wash my face with cold water. These little cooling-off breaks really helped my family.
 
/
There are several locations to buy flavored slushies. They'll drop your body temp quickly & have saved me more than once from heat stroke!:sunny:
 
Drink Water Drink Water Drink Water Drink Water

Drink Powerade Drink Powerade Drink Powerade

Go inside when the heat of the day then come back at night

Wear light colors and make sure they is lose cloths


Most importart pace yourself and have fun.


Take it from southern it be hot outside. That what I do doing the summer when I work at the baseball park in the eat.
 
By all means use the neck bands that soak up water and use a mister fan.
 
The odds are that a Florida summer is going to be VERY rough for you; you will have to take steps to prepare for and combat it. I grew up in the Louisiana delta, where believe it or not, the humidity is WORSE than in Florida. Here are my extra tips that not many people have mentioned:

1. ALWAYS walk on the shady side of the street if there is one (which there will be, except right around noon.) If you are driving, put a shade in the windshield and cover the steering wheel and any carseats before you leave the car; they can get hot enough to burn your hands. (Be especially careful with carseats; kids have been badly burned by hot buckles.)

2. From noon to 4 pm, plan to be indoors or under water. (Noon to 2 is not that bad, but 2-4 is the hottest part of the day.)

3. Always prefer lightweight woven clothing to knitted clothing; it dries much faster, which cools you more quickly and reduces the chances of chafing. Stay away from synthetics unless they are the sort specially made for sports performance, such as CoolMax. I agree with the other posters; light colours only.

4. Sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat help immensely; plan to wear them at all times when outdoors. (I recommend Watership Trading Co. hats; they are great. Pricey, but worth it.) I also second buying a misting fan and making sure you have enough batteries for it. Get the kind with the wide opening; ice helps.
Carrying a cloth for wetting down pulse points is good, too. If you carry a ziploc with you, any vendor with ice will give some to you for cooling purposes, even the fan kiosks.)

5. Carry spray-on wide-spectrum sunblock, and use it about once per hour. (It really doesn't have to be spray, but spray is easiest, and you'll do it more often if it is easy.) UV-B rays literally cook your skin as they beam down on you, and good sunblock actually makes you feel cooler as it blocks that. If the surface of your skin feels hot, you need more sunblock.

6. Most importantly, know the signs of heat exhaustion and seek first-aid help *immediately* if you start seeing them. Healthy people DO get heat exhaustion, and if it is not treated FAST (within about 30-45 minutes) it can progress to heat stroke, which can kill in minutes. This page has a good clear description of what to watch for: http://www.mcare.org/healthathome/heatexha.htm

Now that I've frightened you to death, have fun! (Seriously, if you prepare for the worst you will be a lot more comfortable. If you don't prepare, adverse reaction to the heat is likely to make your vacation a lot less fun.)
 
We buy a couple dozen cheap white wash clothes at Wal-Mart. When we go to the park I pack a zip lock bag with ice and throw in a couple of wash cloths. During the day we use the wash cloths to wipe necks, faces, and hands. The ice also helps keep the water in the back-pack cooler!:teeth:
 
All good ideas but please keep in mind when you go back for a pool break.

DRINK WATER!!!!

Even though you are in the pool and are cooler you still to take in liquids.
 
These are great tips! I'm not really used to heat & humidity, so I'll be doing whatever I can to make myself more comfortable!
 
I live in Hawaii and have seen so many children who have sunburn and I know that they are feeling uncomfortable. The back of their legs seems to be a place that is often missed (I guess since a lot of times they are sitting while the lotion is being applied). Just thought I'd mention this.

Aloha all! :earsgirl:
 
You didn't mention if you would be bringing a stroller or not. But if you are, bring a cooler and stock it with water. What we used to do when we would come down on vacation is go to Wal-Mart and buy a styrafoam cooler, ice and water. Then we would keep that stocked in our room. Bring a smaller cooler that you can stock and take into the parks with you. Also, if you have a little one in a stroller, I would invest in a clip-on-fan to keep them cool, especially when they are napping. You used to be able to get them at www.onestepahead.com. All the others are great ideas.
 
I can't stress the importance of drinking lots of fluids- preferably water. What we do is stick some unopened water bottles in the freezer the day before, so that we have ice cold water for at least part of the day...until it melts, of course! ;) Just keep refilling the bottles at water fountains and ask the concession stand CMs for some ice- it'll keep you cool and refreshed all day long. Also, make sure to take breaks as needed- one of my favorite rides to go on to escape the hot weather is PotC...it always seems extra cool in there! pirate:
 
Use Gelsoles in your sneakers! I got this tip from the DIS boards last May and it made a hugh difference. Walking on the pavement at the Parks is like walking on a heated oven. The gelsoles block the heat and keep your feet much more comfortable.

Good Luck!
 
I love those mister fan spray bottles!! I buy them at Walmart and bring extra batteries!! I have one for my husband and I and each one of our kids! They use them all day and we just keep refilling them.
If you are bringing kids, take breaks and let them play in the fountains. I like to jump in them too!:tongue:
 
Buy before you hit disney one of those little fans with the squirt bottle--VERY EFFECTIVE with cold water--about $6 or so at wal-mart, nearly $18 at Disney.[/B]

Oh my gosh that is SO true -- those little things are a life savers, and much cheaper at WalMart. They're great!:D
 













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