Tips for dealing with the heat/humidity

[klwdisney]

A friend and I are planning a trip and are considering the week before labor day due to great prices and low crowds. We'd be 2 women in our early 40's (no kids this trip). I've been quite a few times at different times of the year and she's been once before. Any tips to avoiding the insane heat?

My friend is a hockey mom so she's up early. I was thinking we make rope drop and then leave around 11 to go back to the hotel for the a/c (bar, pool, naps, etc.) and then heading back out after sunset. Do the parks stay open later? We would also be able to duck into a/c'd shows when it got bad (i.e. hall of presidents, etc.). Aside from portable fans, staying hydrated, etc, do you have any tips for avoiding the worst of it??

I am using the dates of 8/31/15-9/4/15 to get tentative pricing. But most likely we'd be going that week in 2016 (the week before labor day preferably).

Thank you!!

 

[vicb]

We always make a reservation for lunch in a park... never underestimate the restorative powers of getting off your feet for an hour in the air conditioning and rehydrating! We just do grab and go breakfasts in our room so we can get to the parks at opening. Drink lots of water!

 

[lisahoo]

I read this as "Tips for dealing with the humanity"

 

[klwdisney]

well that too!!

 

[kittyab]

Drink more water and don't drink pop & coffee.

Coke & coffee will dehydrate you. Drink more water and juice.

I kept bottles of water in my backpack for my family. At meal times we had juice or water again.

 

[danjoan14]

We love the heat and went in August of 2013. Going back in August of this year. It's a bad place to be if you don't like the heat. We took it very slow. Took a lot of breaks going to the AC. Eat well and drink plenty of water. It's a plus if you're staying on site and can get back to your resort for an afternoon break. We're staying at the Poly in August so it will be easy for us to get back to the resort being on the monorail route. Use plenty of sunscreen and watch for the red blotches that looks like a heat rash caused from the pavement from all of the walking. DW usually gets it when she wears sneaker and socks. She usually has no problems when she wears her sandals. According to the nurse at the MK, the socks seem to restrict the blood circulation, along with the heat from the rubber soles. Take it slow and enjoy the Magic!

 

[AngiTN]

These things are pretty damn awesome. I can't even begin to describe how cool they can make you feel. It's magical
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089Q0JZS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Candleshoe]

If you don't leave the park in the afternoon think about indoor activities. Many of them are (or used to be) 'anytime' places meaning no-lines.
Some are low line. Here's my list, not all are indoor but all are cooling.

For instance:

MK:
splash mountain (the line is bad though, so FP only)
HM
Small World
TTA
Carousel of Progress
Monster's Inc
Buzz
(Sorry I just can't put stitch down on here, or the Bears)
Tom Sawyer's Island (very shady)
Railroad
Hall of Presidents
PhilharMagic
Restaurants
Epcot:
Ellen's Energy Adventure (good for a nap)
SE
Living with the Land
Circle of Life
Turtle Talk
Visit the Aquarium
WS can be brutal with all the concrete, even if you are sprinting from one indoor place to another

 

[LSUfan4444]

The number 1 tip, more important than any other is to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. I don't mean tea, or soft drinks, or juices, I mean water.

Aim for a minimum of your body weight equivalent in ounces of water per day (150 lbs - 150 ounces). Caffeine (even coffee & tea) actually assists in dehydration, not hydration so for every caffeine drink you choose drink even more water.

In addition to help keeping you cool it will assist with recovery and keeping your immune system in good working order to help you fight off the millions of different bacterial mountains you will run into through your trip.

 

[ksinniger]

We went last August around the same time you're planning, and we brought Frogg Toggs. They are towel-like sponges that you soak in water, wring out, and then wear around your neck (or over your head if you're my 8 year old). It felt like it brought the temp down at least 10 degrees whenever I would put it on. We would re-wet them every time we went into a bathroom, to keep them cold, and leave them in the fridge overnight for extra coolness the next day. You get over how silly they look as soon as you feel the coolness on your neck, and see ho wmany others are sporting them.

 

[holden]

The importance of drinking a ton of water cannot be understated! Drink water constantly, even if you aren't thirsty.

Hit the parks at rope drop and leave during the hottest time of day (12-5). Head back to the parks at night. Keep in mind the parks do close early that time of year unless there is evening EMH. I think AK closes around 5.

Take advantage of indoor attractions/stores to get a break from the heat.

Cooling off at the pool won't do much good. The water will not be refreshing and depending on where year stay there might not be much shade. It will be relaxing though, so that might help you rest up for the night.

Watch alcohol intake. It's dehydrating. A couple of drinks by the pool will have you napping in no time! Drink a large water for every alcoholic drink you consume.

Most of all...enjoy yourself! I hate the heat, but for some reason it doesn't bother me as much in WDW because I"m having fun!

 

[kay1864]

Take sport bottles and Crystal Light. Ice water is free in the parks, and easy to get at "walk-up" restaurants like Sunshine Tree Terrace. Or tap water from the bathrooms or drinking fountains. (it's the same tap water whether from restaurants or bathrooms----just colder from the restaurants)

But Orlando tap water has an off taste, so take your favorite Crystal Light flavor.

 

[Dis703]

We went last August around the same time you're planning, and we brought Frogg Toggs. They are towel-like sponges that you soak in water, wring out, and then wear around your neck (or over your head if you're my 8 year old). It felt like it brought the temp down at least 10 degrees whenever I would put it on. We would re-wet them every time we went into a bathroom, to keep them cold, and leave them in the fridge overnight for extra coolness the next day. You get over how silly they look as soon as you feel the coolness on your neck, and see ho wmany others are sporting them.

We bring the Frog Toggs as well. My husband has a genetic disease and is missing most of his sweat glands so overheating is a big issue for him. The Frog Toggs definitely helped and I'm getting a couple more for this next trip so we all can use it.

Aside from that hydrating is key and we like to mist ourselves with the water bottle fans. We did get a Disney one because the kids begged but otherwise we bring the cheaper ones we get at CVS.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

A friend and I are planning a trip and are considering the week before labor day due to great prices and low crowds. We'd be 2 women in our early 40's (no kids this trip). I've been quite a few times at different times of the year and she's been once before. Any tips to avoiding the insane heat?

My friend is a hockey mom so she's up early. I was thinking we make rope drop and then leave around 11 to go back to the hotel for the a/c (bar, pool, naps, etc.) and then heading back out after sunset. Do the parks stay open later? We would also be able to duck into a/c'd shows when it got bad (i.e. hall of presidents, etc.). Aside from portable fans, staying hydrated, etc, do you have any tips for avoiding the worst of it??

I am using the dates of 8/31/15-9/4/15 to get tentative pricing. But most likely we'd be going that week in 2016 (the week before labor day preferably).

Thank you!!

Take breaks. Don't look at the day as a marathon where you have to get everything in. Take a break mid-day (arrive early so a good part of your day is before it gets hot). Good thing is they do have fans on the wait lines that are not inside. Just take it slow.

 

[anniemae]

I agree with drinking tons of water. It is so important. We saw a woman faint this past Aug due to the heat. Be very careful, it is absolutely brutal. Wear a huge sun hat, not a baseball cap, something with a wide brim. We did sit down lunches because getting out of the heat is essential. frogg togs help too.

We tried going back to the pool for swim breaks, but the water was so hot and the sun was beating down on us in the pool that it was not refreshing. We had to wear hats, put on more sunscreen and wear sunglasses in the pool because the sun was so blinding.

We just went slow and realized you can't go at break neck speed. Seek out air conditioning when you can and just go slow.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I was down there in July when it was stifling hot and humid. I am a dialysis patient so I am limited to 32 ounces of fluid per day (plus whatever I sweat off) I sweat a lot so I was able to drink more than that but man that was tough!

 

[GovieMom]

Going back in August of this year. It's a bad place to be if you don't like the heat.

Talk about an understatement - whew! The intense sun/humidity is killer-strength to fair-skinned people like me. Pack (lots of) sunscreen.

 

[DebbieB]

I swore I would not go in summer and due to various reasons (school, milestone birthdays), I went 3 out of 4 years in June between 2006 and 2009.

We usually don't do morning EMH but in June we did. Get there early before the crowds and before the heat.

We've been there many times so we always take an afternoon break back at the hotel, the hottest time of the day.

I liked to go into the ladies room and grab a wet paper towel and wipe down my face, neck and arms. It felt really refreshing.

As others said, keep hydrated.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Get there at rope drop and try to get as much done in the mornings, including your must-dos. Because the days have a way of going sideways in August, between the extreme heat and the storms.

If swimming is really important to you and your crew, don't count on the afternoons for swim breaks due to the storms and lightning. I usually set aside one morning for swimming and then go to a park later in the evening after the storms pass. Ditto for the water parks.

Other than that, adjust your expectations and be ok with getting less done than you can at a cooler, drier time of the year.

Happy planning!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We go there every year at this time. The key for us - exercising in the heat of the day through the summer before our trip. Your body gets better at dealing with the heat if you push it in the heat.

I barely notice the heat when in WDW - even in August. I even run every morning before we enter the park. Exercise works better than all of the gadgets put together, and no need to take a break in the middle of the day, wasting precious Disney time.