Surviving the Summer - touring tips

[720L]

Get to parks at opening, wear a hat, drink lots of water. From 1-4PM it's brutal. We plan on watching shows at this time usually.

 

[joannamet]

Everything everyone else said and, be flexible. If someone's hot or thirsty stop for a break even if thats not what you planned. If it rains, pull out your ponchos and enjoy it. Find an indoor ride or show even if it wasn't your plan.

So many people think their vacation is ruined if it rains or its too hot or too cold. A little bit of flexibility will keep everyone in your group happier.

 

[disgonz]

- The 5 of us go through 2 cases of water in a weeklong visit. If you're ordering just the water, consider using Staples. Otherwise, we place an order for water and food for the room at www.gardengrocer.com ; they deliver right to the resort.

Will Staples deliver water to the resort?

 

[Aliceacc]

Yes, Staples delivers to the resorts.

 

[Ensusieasm]

We have our trip booked for mid July. Understanding the heat and crowd levels, we re trying to plan in order to maximize our fun in the parks and hotel. What are you top summer touring tips?

1. ROPE DROP!
2. 5 hour mid day break for swim and nap. (Includes round trip transportation time)
3. Water park day!
4. 1/2 day only morning, or only evening park day a couple times. I prefer this to a full day off from the parks because of the deal on park tickets from 5 days to 10 days, there is just no reason to take a full day off. And having more park days helps to pace yourself, slow down, enjoy the beauty of the parks, enjoy a leisurely meal in a lovely air conditioned restaurant. Smell the roses, literally!
5. Don't worry about doing it all. You'll be back!
6. Have Fun!

 

[anniemae]

water water water. Make sure you stay hydrated, the FL sun is no joke. We saw 2 people faint when we were there in Aug one year. It is absolutely brutal from about 11-4. We are not rope droppers, but we make sure we all have big hats, lots of sunscreen and we seek out shows to cool off. If it's the only time you can go, you just have to suck it up, but man that heat radiating off the pavement is brutal. Also just have to roll with the sweating! LOL. It's so gross, but everyone is dripping in sweat, so everyone is in the same boat. LOL!!

 

[Marbel]

1. Use cooling towels. Resoak often. Don't wring out too much, just enough to not be dripping. Keep them very wet. These were a lifesaver. We cut them in half lengthwise and got two for the price of one. We used the Chill-Its brand.

2. Mister fans!!! I like the idea posted above to get small personal ones for each person. We bought the big clunky one at one of the parks. It was well worth it, but yeah, clunky and a pita to carry around.

3. Rope drop - absolutely. Rope drop, leave mid-day, water park in the afternoon. For a couple of days, we got to the water park in the late afternoon, like 4:30-5:00, the park was emptying out, no crowds, and got a great parking spot up front.

5. Ride Kali River Rapids at AK.

 

[KEVD]

Agree with LMDisneyGirl to carry on when it rains. Especially at MK where there are plenty of rides to chose. Several years ago we went to MK during a full fledged tropical storm. It was pouring and we were soaked but we walked on most of the rides and had a great day. Obviously you'll want to bring umbrellas and ponchos. You can get decent quality rain ponchos at Walmart for about $5. I'd recommend going to the store buy them rather than ordering them online so you get a good sense of the quality.
Another tip is, if you have a freezer where you are staying, freeze half a bottle of water and then fill the rest with cold water. That way it stays nice and cold throughout most of the day.

 

[Slapshot1188]

Not sure how long you are staying or if you are onsite, but here's what i would do (similar to others):

• Get to the park so that you are through the turnstiles prior to rope drop. Keep in mind that this could be significantly earlier than the announced park opening time.
• Take advantage of Morning EMH if possible
• Make all Fastpasses for the evening
• Loosely plan the rides you want in the morning. Don't hike across a park between rides. Maximize your early/low crowd times
• Plan to dead to the hotel around 11:00 as that's when the crowds really start to build
• Leave your car (if you have one) at the park in your nice close spot. Use Disney transportation for your afternoon break.
• Relax at the hotel pool, eat lunch.. enjoy the resort for a few hours
• Head back to the park after dinner (unless you have ADR at a park restaurant)
• Use your Fastpasses
• Enjoy the night show/fireworks
• Have a nice short walk to your car (if you have one) while skipping the Disney Transportation rush.

Sometimes we also like to park hop instead. If that is the case do not leave your car behind

The parks are usually most crowded between noon and 2PM and then more people are leaving than arriving so that tells me to stay away during those hours.

 

[Tomh]

We visit the world every year in August. The heat ranges from miserable to brutally miserable lol.

Stay hydrated. Take advantage of the free ice water from QS locations. If you can't tolerate the taste, bring along flavoring like mio.

A wet wash cloth / hand towel can be wonderful when the heat really starts to get to you. Personally, I am not above putting one on top of my head and walking around that way.

Pay attention to what your body is telling you. When you need to sit down for a while and take a break, do so. That is a good time to have a drink, maybe a snack too. Cool off a bit, rest a bit, recharge a bit.

Lunch should be someplace with indoor seating if at all possible. An hour sitting down in the air conditioning can do wonders for you.

We almost always schedule a table service meal for supper, expecting that it will take an hour and a half. This, again, is a fantastic break from the heat, and an opportunity to recharge a bit before the evening.

Long shows with short lines, and shopping are some of our favorite afternoon activities. We try to tour hard in the morning, hitting as many rides as we can before the crowds, and heat build, then a leisurely lunch, and an easy afternoon with plenty of indoor shows, and shopping. Follow that with a nice long TS supper, and we are ready for the evening.

 

[Mrlogboy]

My wife and I visited Disney parks in Florida from a bit before the 4th to a 7 days after.
First, we were really surprised by the crowds, can't speak for this upcoming year, but it was a lot less than we expected.
We really expected the crowds to be much bigger and there to me more "groups". The groups actually helped as we would go in the opposite directions and not have long waits lol

The main saver we found was planning ahead with fast pass (yes I know that is a whole other topic lol)
We planned what we wanted to do in the afternoon via fast pass, would go at rope drop and hit a few things based on where we want to go and crowd directions. Mostly we would head to the farthest point as people tend to hit the fist thing they see/closet ride.
Then during the day would as use fast passes pick one for the late afternoon/evening. This included food reservations.
By doing this we had a really good time. ( off topic, the crowds at that date for universal/Harry Potter was insane and as we expected. But a much more confined area.

I was able to get a good deal on a car rental for one day and took the car out to get groceries like case of water which is a must.
We brought one chilled bottle of water and one frozen bottle each. Need to keep hydrated for sure.
Yes the heat is crazy, you either love it or hate it, lol.
We loved it but went back to our room in the afternoon and retuned later in the day.

Wearing hat, sunscreen, moisture breathing clothes is the route we did and it help big time. We also had those "miracle towels" that flame to cool you down. It did work well and able to refresh it and fountains and restrooms.

Good shoes and two pairs of thin socks are a must to stop blisters. My wife waited 2 days before she did it and almost got a blister.

Like others mentioned depending on the day and how you feel we walked main street going shore to store. Sure it is tempting but cost nothing to look and was much cooler.

Have read all post on here and everyone has great and similar/same point. If you follow them you will have a Great time.

And Heck "you're going to Disney" can't be that bad

 

[DisneyDreamer64]

100 SPF sun block and don't forget to reapply often to ears, back of neck, back of knees and hair part. Body Glide to prevent chafing of thighs in shorts and dresses. FrogTogs to stay cooler. Mini misting fans. Ponchos yes and also a light-colored, compact umbrella not so much for rain, which seems to go sideways sometimes, but mostly to create your own shade when stuck in line in full sun. We never go back to the hotel but do take our time all day, no rushing around. Moleskin to prevent blisters especially if going on water rides. And stop for ice cream every chance you get!

 

[Parker Clan]

We can only go in August and have survived five August's in a row, last year with the heat index it felt like 105 everyday. Our main tip would be what other posters have mentioned and take afternoon breaks when the sun is the hottest. Those are key to maintaining energy and stamina the entire trip.
I also bring water, gatorade and snacks in the park, constantly drink.,
Wear hats and reapply sunscreen
I know the summer gets a bad rap but we love it if you do it right

 

[TikiGoddess07]

I go to Disney in the summer every year we have picked up some tips over the years

-Make sure you are always carrying a extra 4 or more water bottles with you at all times if you would like a refill they have water fountains almost everywhere!

-Take walks through the shops at the park normally in the Magic Kingdom you can walk through the shops to get out of the park it is very helpful if you get very hot they are a great way to cool down

-At EVERY counter service they will willingly give you a glass of ice water or it is even more helpful if you ask for a plain cup of ice and it will melt

- Never use a umbrella when it is not raining it will make you even hotter, because it traps the heat under the umbrella

 

[disgonz]

We're planning on experience hot and sweaty weather, but hope the magic of Disney will make it worth it. It sounds like a midday break is a must. I appreciate all of the tips! Is it true that the Animal Kingdom feels hotter than the other parks?

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

Another vote for Frogg Toggs! We have used them for our last 5 August trips - they still work great for us. We love travelling in August!

 

[preemiemama]

We're planning on experience hot and sweaty weather, but hope the magic of Disney will make it worth it. It sounds like a midday break is a must. I appreciate all of the tips! Is it true that the Animal Kingdom feels hotter than the other parks?

I absolutely feel that this is true. I'm not sure why, but we always feel more miserable here than in any other park! I guess it remains to be seen if the evening offerings are any help with this...

 

[johnsonet]

Don't arrive too early for rope drop. Standing in the sun waiting for rope drop / welcome show can be terribly hot - even early in the morning in the summer.
We leave the parks by noon and then have lunch, relax at our resort until late afternoon. Swim/nap/fresh clothes

 

[katt789]

-Get up EARLY, and hit the parks in those first hours when half the people (including some of the heat) are still sleeping
-Maximize emh, esp if you have hoppers. Do AM emh at a park until noon/you've done your touring/it gets too crowded, then it if's heat getting you, go back to the resort, take a nap, swim, etc, have lunch, head back into a park for dinner
-DRINK 10 TIMES MORE WATER THAN YOU THINK NECESSARY, and keep refilling those bottles/cups,
-RE APPLY SUNSCREEN 10 TIMES MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU NEED IT. I apply in the morning, once around noon, once while we're waiting for the parade, and sometimes even another time
-Keep checking out shops, and try to alternate your indoor, a/c attractions with outdoor ones
-Utilize fp as much as you can
-Know that it's going to be crowded and you probably won't get everything done
-Buy ponchos at home to bring with you,it's gonna rain and you dont want to waste $12

 

[jrmasm]

Dri fit, dri fit, dri fit!!!!