10 Best Ways to Keep Cool at Walt Disney World

If you have the flexibility, visiting Walt Disney World in the winter months is your best way to escape the Florida heat. But if the summer months are the only time your schedule allows a visit, or you end up with 90-degree days in November (which happens!), you don’t have to be hot and miserable. Read below for the 10 Best Ways to Keep Cool at Walt Disney World.

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1. Stay hydrated

I promise most of the suggestions below are more fun than this one, but hydration is THE most important thing you can do on hot days at the parks. You can’t do much to decrease the temperature outside, but staying hydrated will help your body regulate your own temperature. You can get free ice water at any quick service restaurant, but they are small cups and I recommend bringing a large reusable water bottle and filling up at the water fountains that can be found near most rest rooms.

2. Water Parks

When people think of a Walt Disney World vacation, they usually focus on the four main theme parks. But if you’re visiting in the summer (or during an extra warm spring or fall), planning in a water park day or two will help you enjoy the hot weather. Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach both offer adventurous water slides, kids play areas, wave pools, and lazy rivers, so you can spend your whole day in the cool water!

3. Take a resort break in the afternoon

There are many benefits to staying at a Disney resort, one of which is being able to easily get back to your resort for a mid-day swim or nap in the AC. Take advantage of the cooler parts of the day – morning and evening – to be in the parks, and head back to your resort for a break in the heat of the day.

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4. Fastpass the “wet” rides for the heat of the day

If you are staying in the parks during the hot afternoon, it’s a great time to get a Fastpass+ for Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom or Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom. Both rides have a tendency to leave riders “splashed”, if not soaked, and provide a great cool down on a hot afternoon.

5. Indoor attractions

There are plenty of indoor attractions at the Disney theme parks that provide a break from the heat. When planning, try to hit the attractions that have long outside lines in the morning or evening, and schedule the indoor attractions for the hotter part of the day. While EPCOT requires a lot of walking in the heat, it also boasts almost all indoor attractions, providing breaks from the heat throughout Future World and World Showcase. Hollywood Studios has a plethora of shows that are either in air-conditioning or at least shaded with fans to keep you cool. At Magic Kingdom there are plenty of indoor options, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Mickey’s Philharmagic, The Enchanted Tiki Room, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, and The Haunted Mansion. Animal Kingdom has the least options for getting indoors, but Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo The Musical both offer a nice long dose of AC along with fantastic entertainment.

6. Table service meals

Making an Advanced Dining Reservation at a table service restaurant is a great way to get a mid-day cool-down. If you only have time or money for one table service meal a day, choose lunch to get out of the mid-day heat. You’ll get a good meal, a chance to breathe and cool down, and be rejuvenated for the rest of your day in the park.

7. Go on rainy days

Many people stay away from the Disney theme parks on rainy days but, especially in summer, this can actually be a great time to visit. Crowds are lower, almost all of the attractions are still open, and it’s definitely cooler! The temperature can drop as much as 20 degrees on rainy summer days, so you might even get chilly!

8. Cold treats

Cold treats are good any time of year, but if you need an extra push, cooling down in the heat is a great excuse to indulge! And Disney has you covered with delicious cold treats throughout the parks. Grab a Dole Whip Float in Adventureland, a Night Blossom at Pongu Pongu in Pandora, a gelato in Italy at EPCOT, or any number or other frozen snacks throughout the world. Just make sure you’re ready to eat quickly so you finish before it melts!

9. Splash Pads and Misting Stations

If you’ve got little kids, always carry a bathing suit or change of clothes and a towel, so they can cool down in the splash pads found at Disney Springs, EPCOT, and Magic Kingdom. Adults and older kids can enjoy a less-wet cool down at the misting stations found throughout Animal Kingdom, several locations at Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, and EPCOT.

10. Wear a hat

While this one might not be as fun as the suggestions above, wearing a wide-brim hat can do wonders for keeping you cool in the hot Florida sun. It’s built in shade! Light colored, loose fitting clothing, including a sun shirt to cover your arms, will also help a lot.