Mid-July heat

[PVTim]

As a family that goes every July and August (DW is a teacher) it is all doable. AK park is a tough one in the summer- it always feels the hottest. Our tips gained over the past 13 years:
- Prioritize shows midday - Nemo/FOTLK/ even Bug's life
- Enjoy the lounges- sitting and resting at Nomad lounge etc in the shade with refreshing beverages is therapeutic
- Have a mid afternoon lunch (closer to 1-3 AKA the hottest part of the day)- we often take a bus to AKL to Sanaa for some needed air conditioning and good food (YAK an Yeti also works for our family) - that change of scenery often helps recharge without having to go all the way back to the hotel.
- Window shop - the stores have some good air conditioning so take advantage of them
- Plan an evening by the pool - hotel quick service and then some pool time makes you forget how hot it really was.
- Have fun and play it by ear- there can be storms at any time- they can ruin pool time if you do the go back in the afternoon method so you are stuck in a room/hotel lobby. Sometimes that rain feels good and you can walk in near empty parks. Sometimes after those storms the humidity is above you like always and now is coming up from the ground and you need a break- take one!!!!! Basically have a plan, but don't be afraid to make drastic changes,

 

[Miffy]

@PVTim: It would have to be the Apocalypse before I'd see It's Tough to Be a Bug ever again!! But I'll take you up on the other suggestions. I'm keeping track. Everyone has been super helpful.

 

[PVTim]

Forgot to mention the trails- some of them have some decent shade and some have really big fans- many people don't go on them mid-day so I have stood under a fan by the gorillas for10+ minutes on some of the hotter days!!!

 

[Miffy]

To everyone who advised a UV umbrella: Do you have a particular one in mind? I don't have one so I'm already driving myself crazy reading review on Zon.

 

[KCMA]

We went last July and have another trip booked this July arriving the 17th… like many others had said we go early and stay as long as we want then usually go back and hit the pool for the afternoon and head back to the parks in the evening.. other times we would stay at a park all day and try to hit some indoor air conditioned attractions .. plenty of water and breaks

 

[PDXmouse]

To everyone who advised a UV umbrella: Do you have a particular one in mind? I don't have one so I'm already driving myself crazy reading review on Zon.

I haven't used one, but I bought one based off a recommendation and will be taking it with us. Multiple people recommended one that is silver on the outside to deflect heat instead of soaking it in (like with a black umbrella). I got mine on amazon.

 

[Mango7100]

To everyone who advised a UV umbrella: Do you have a particular one in mind? I don't have one so I'm already driving myself crazy reading review on Zon.

We have a silver one we bought off Amazon. It makes a difference with the heat, but it is a bit heavier than our normal collapsible umbrella.

 

[Vickie1016]

To everyone who advised a UV umbrella: Do you have a particular one in mind? I don't have one so I'm already driving myself crazy reading review on Zon.

Sorry, I don’t recall the brand but as others said, I also purchased it from Amazon.
It’s compact to fit in the side pocket of a backpack.

 

[nekonekoneko]

I went to WDW once in July. I found a cheap stay at PolyV, and some cheap plane tickets, and said "what the heck, let's go!" I thought the heat and humidity in Philly would prepare me for Orlando.

I was wrong.

I walked outside at 7:30 am to get some air as everyone else was getting ready. I choked a little as I opened the door to the outside; it was that muggy. I then thought "this isn't bad for noon" then remembered it was 7:30 in the morning, and that it was only going to get worse as the day went on.

It was the first time, and the last time, I'm going to Orlando in the midst of the summer.

 

[Dakota731]

I realize it'll be hot in mid-July at WDW, but how much worse will it be than it was the 2nd week of May this year? Because it was pretty darn hot then--we were there May 3rd thru the 11th--and we survived with the rope-drop-and-leave-by-noon-then-return-in-the-evening strategy.

Or is it just unbearable in July? Sun directly overhead, heat beating down on a person, and all that. Because . . . the AP discounts are pretty good for July and we're contemplating doing this but not if we end up having to stay in the room the whole time!

Thanks!

I found it hotter when we would used to go in May because we weren’t used to the heat yet. By July we were accustomed to the hot summer temps and seemed better acclimated.

 

[Pyxie]

If you thought May was hot, just be prepared that July is MUCH hotter and way more humid. I actually think May is very comfortable, but I grew up in a similar climate and I'm used to it. I think where you are from makes a pretty big difference. I hope you have a good time though.

 

[Minniebee]

We live in a hot, humid area, so we do visit in the summer and make it-but you definitely need a strategy!

My best tip is to have table service lunches in the middle of the day. It's a great opportunity to sit down in the AC and eat at a more leisurely pace when the sun is at it's worst, and you avoid the crazy crowds at counter service places in the middle of the day. Lunches are sometimes cheaper than dinner as well, so that's an added benefit!

 

[CBMom01]

How does June compare to the first half of September? I found Sept hot but bearable. I enjoyed the afternoon rain

 

[stitch'sgirl]

Before heading out to the parks I dampen every washcloth in the room and put it in the freezer. Nothing feels better than a frozen washcloth ŵhen you come back midday.

 

[DLgal]

We are planning on using your plan of attack, not going to the parks until 4 or 5. The only park this is a problem for is DAK, which is our favorite park, since I believe they close at 7 every night, but maybe that will change.

Yeah, our DAK day is gonna be basically just Kali River Rapids, Everest and *maybe* Navi River Journey. We don't need to do anything else there. I have a Yak & Yeti reservation for 6:45 so we have to cram all that in in under 3 hours, probably. Hoping to line up some G+ and Advanced DAS to make it feasible.

 

[DLgal]

To everyone who advised a UV umbrella: Do you have a particular one in mind? I don't have one so I'm already driving myself crazy reading review on Zon.

umenice UPF 50+ UV Protection Travel Umbrella Ultra Light Weight https://a.co/d/a9iR88e

 

[DLgal]

We have a silver one we bought off Amazon. It makes a difference with the heat, but it is a bit heavier than our normal collapsible umbrella.

Its the UV blocking fabric that makes it heavier. It does make a significant difference with the heat from the sun.

The good thing is, if you use it during a rainstorm, that heavy fabric makes it less likely to blow out than a typical umbrella. It can handle those gusty FL storms just fine.

 

[PDXmouse]

umenice UPF 50+ UV Protection Travel Umbrella Ultra Light Weight https://a.co/d/a9iR88e

This is the one I bought, too.

 

[WLWildlife]

We always do an afternoon room break. We take a nap, it is very refreshing. I also pack cards in case the storms are too intense to wait out and we have a little family time in the room or find a nice place to play in the lobby area. Summer at WDW is doable, just go in knowing that it is going to be blazing hot, that you need to hydrate BEFORE you arrive in Orlando and you need to hydrate with water all day long. Listen to your body, if you need a break- take it!

 

[thinkerbell]

We have been many times in July since we worked in the school system. We are now retired. This past trip was April 30-May 13. All but the last two days was very pleasant. The last two days were kind of hot but nowhere near what it feels like in mid- July. As others have said, the humidity makes so much of a difference. July is “sweat as soon as you step outside of your door“ hot. It will be much different than your May trip.
We swore that when we retired we would NEVER go back during the summer. So…our next trip is at the end of August.