What is your best summer tip?

[deanna2426]

We have been to Disney more times than I can count,but this will be our first summer trip (6/26-7/1). I was hoping all of you summer veterans would share your best tip for surviving the heat and/or crowds.

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Brita Fill & Go water filtration bottles, California Innovations insulated bottle holders with straps (to keep them cold & prevent sweating) and free ice from the restaurants. We never would have survived July in WDW without them!

 

[billsfan]

Arrive Early!!!!!!
Arrive Early!!!!!!
Arrive Early!!!!!!

 

[mmorizio]

Get to the parks 1/2 hr before they open. GET OUTTA THERE around lunchtime. Have lunch outside the parks, and hang out at the pool or take naps in the afternoon. visit a different park in the late afternoon - evening. Have rain gear ready so you can do the parks in the late afternoon rain (crowds dissipate, so does the heat a bit).

 

[lclark0621]

Go to the parks early. Leave around noon. Go back to your hotel, have lunch, hit the pools, take a nap.

Go back to the parks after 3:00pm.

Drink lots of water.

Use lots of sunscreen.

Wear a hat & sunglasses at all times.

You get used to the "death grip heat" in a day or so. It will still be hot, but not as shocking, after the first day or so.

 

[disgal1]

agree....going back to the hotel after lunch is crucial to us. We have been many times in the summer, get there before it opens, or use early entry days, leave at lunch return to hotel, swim and nap, then go to a non early entry park for the evening.

Also those neck wraps are fantastic! little bandana things filled with super absorbent stuff. soak them overnight in cold water and tie around the neck.
you re wet them throughout the day. Walmart sells them very cheap, and I've bought a couple at animal kingdom, paid at least twice as much.

drink lots of water, wear a hat, use sunscreen, and don't forget to sunscreen the tops of your feet and ears!!

 

[Figment1964]

We loved our water mist bottles--fill with the free ice and then a little water and you're ready to roll. But if you think you'll use one don't buy them in the parks. Get them at home before you go or at least at WalMart or Target there...you'll spend WAY less money.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER. It's so nice to have a refillable bottle or something because if your water gets hot (which happens very quickly in the Fla. heat) you can refill it with COLD water

Don't forget your sunscreen because that sun will give you some serious burn, especially if you're sunburn prone like my best friend is.

Don't stay at the parks from morning till night. It's exhausting. If that's something you think you wouldn't mind then thats up to you, but during the summer after a half a day in the sun you'll be ready for a break and maybe even a shower! lol Go back to the hotel, have some lunch, take a swim, or even a nap. Then you can go back later in the evening.

Bring hats or visors and sunglasses. That sun is so bright and it's nice to have something to shade your eyes with.

And it may be hot but don't wear flip flops! They're so uncomfortable when you're walking around for more than 2 hours. If you wear sandals make sure they're the kind that are made for walking or bring a pair you've already broken in and that you know wont give you blisters and be uncomfortable.

Ice cream is a nice cool treat when you're in the parks but be ready to eat fast because that stuff melts really fast

Hope that helps!

 

[ErinInCT]

Bring a lid from a cup of soda. You can slip the wooden stick handle of the ice cream bar into the straw slit in the cup lid & it will catch the drips & keep you clean. If that fails, bring Shout stain wipes!

 

[dzneelvr]

Since our DS and DD turned teens, we do the day backwards: we sleep in and swim around the resort til @11am-noon, get to the parks for our PS at lunch, enjoy another PS for a late evening meal, and stay until after the parks close.
We love the extended summer hours and our teens just love the ability to sleep in. I get to read by the pool, throw a few loads of wash in whenever I want, DH gets to read his paper and "rest" and it just works out perfectly.
The mousekeeping staff is kept happy in that we only ask for our room to be fully cleaned every second day or so--just give us clean towels (lots of them) and let the "do not disturb" sign on the door until the kids wake up. We're all happy that way.

Another tip is to go fully booked with PSs for every sit down meal you want. Don't ever leave mealtimes to chance in the summer. It's too crowded.

Also, use fastpasses as a habit; get to shows during the heat of the day.

 

[Leota]

Double Ditto on the Neck wraps - In a pinch, a bandana with ice works, but it does melt & is sloppier.

Tour Parks Early & Late, resorts, swimming & resting in the high heat time of day.

Break up AK into a couple visits - It's always a good 10º hotter in there & the heat can be hard to bear for a full day.

Bottled water in large quantities - Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink, just drink constantly & make sure your kids do too. Avoid sodas, tho.

 

[eeyore0062]

Drink lots of water, wear good shoes, and wear sunscreen, even if you don't think you need it, or it is cloudy.

 

[Ahrizel]

Drink lots of water, cold if you can. We freeze bottles in the freezer(we stay in condos) and refill it throughtout the day. Counter service will give you a cup of ice water for free, do it often.Go light on sodas or sports drinks, water is best. Use a insulated water bottle, not bottled water, stays cold much longer. Wear light colored, light weight clothing. Natural fabrics-cotton, linen or wicking fabrics that dry quickly. More then one pair of shoes, between the afternoon rain showers and water rides dry shoes will feel good. If you have athletic sandals(think teva type) that dry quickly and give good support they will be good choices. Wet soggy footwear causes blisters Sunscreen-Florida sun is deadly. Hats-especially if the hair on top is thin. I sunburn the part of my hair every trip. Dress for comfort, not for style. Get to the parks when they open, and then LEAVE in early afternoon. Swim, rest in the a/c or just sleep-we do Go back in the evening refreshed and able to deal with the heat again. If you start feeling sick, overheated, blistered feet etc. go to first aid, they are very nice and used to it all. Do not tough it out, get treatment early for problems and be able to enjoy the rest of your trip. You can have a great trip in summer, just remember the heat and humidity can overwhelm anyone not used to it. When the going gets tough, go somewhere, anywhere airconditioned and relax for a while works wonders. Have fun!

 

[SPAM]

Wear lots of sunscreen. I also agree with not wearing flipflops. there are some sandals that will still be comfortable with hours of walking. try and find a pair that will be comfortable and make sure that they wont hurt your feet later in the day.
above all, going to WDW in the summer will be sweaty and crowded. so come prepared. it is a great experience!

 

[ScottNBecky]

My #1 Tip would be to buy NIKE Dri-Fit clothing. IT wicks the moisture away from your bdy and your shirt stays dry even while you sweat. I bought some tshirts, and a few polos by NIKE that had the Dri-Fit material. Now all brands make shirts with this material they just call it by different names (Dri-Fit, Cool Dry, Cool Max, Wicking System, etc...). I even bought socks at Target that were by CHampion that had the moisture wicking system built into them and they are awesome.

Anyway while every one else was walking around with sweat stained shirts I was dry as could be.