You’ll want to stay cool at Walt Disney World during the hot and humid summer months.

Clients regularly ask me about how to handle the heat in Florida if they plan a visit to Walt Disney World for for a stay during the summer months. I’ve been a guest or cast member during most months of the year, so I’ve experienced the extremes of the Florida climate over the years. During our most recent visit to EPCOT in late April, for example, the temperature reached a high of about 32 degrees Celsius, and it felt HOT. Fortunately, there was a breeze that day, which helped. The heat would never prevent me from visiting Walt Disney World, but I do understand that there are some guests for which the heat could be a deal-breaker. 

This got me to thinking about all of the ways there are to cool off while visiting Walt Disney World Resort, and I decided it would be a good idea to put together a guide for folks who need reassurance there there are lots of ways to stay cool at Walt Disney World during the summer months!

Here are 9 Ways to Stay Cool at Walt Disney World this Summer

1. Stay Hydrated

This is probably the most important suggestion for staying cool at Walt Disney World. Don’t forget to drink your water! There are water fountains available throughout the theme parks, but you can also bring your own bottled water into the parks (just remember to leave the loose ice at home). We have brought empty water containers with us into the park and filled when we came upon a water fountain, but if you forget or would rather not carry water, you can purchase bottled water in the parks.

For an additional resource on staying hydrated, check out How to Stay Hydrated While Traveling: 9 Experts’ Tips on HuffPost Life

2. Use Cooling & Splash Stations

There are a number of spots throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks where you and your kids can cool off. We especially enjoy a quick jump through the splash zone shown in the photo at the top of this post, located near the bridge from Future World to the World Showcase at EPCOT. At Magic Kingdom, stop in to the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station next to the Barnstormer in Fantasyland. In a pinch, a well-timed squirt from the mouth of the camel in front of the Magic Carpets of Aladdin can even come in handy!

3. Souvenir Misting Fans

Throughout the year, guests at Walt Disney World Resort can purchase a spray bottle that comes equipped with a battery operated fan, sending a mist to cool even the hottest guest! Look for the bright blue and yellow misters where bottled water is sold, since they tend to be kept on ice for a maximum cooling effect!

4. Wear Loose Clothing

This one seems pretty self-explanatory, but it’s much cooler to wear loose, flowing t-shirts than more fitted options. This will allow the breeze to blow through, or wet clothing to dry more quickly. I found a fantastic pair of “flowy” shorts at Target the last time we were in Florida, and they’ve quickly become my go-to garment for hot and humid weather.

5. Try a Cooling Towel

You can buy these and bring in your luggage, or wait and pick one up if you need it in the parks. Francine at Pixie Dust Fan assures her readers, “This towel was the BEST purchase I have made in the last week here.  They stay cool for between 90 and 120 minutes!”

Read Francine’s entire post about the cooling towels at Walt Disney World: The BEST Purchase I’ve Ever Made at Walt Disney World

6. Find Some Air Conditioning

This is probably the quickest and easiest way to cool off, no matter which park you’re visiting! There are air conditioned shops and restaurants all over the place. Many indoor attractions are also available that are downright cold inside. As Canadians, we have found the air conditioning in Florida to be frigid! The good news is, this makes it easy to cool off when we’re hot. We recommend spending some time inside The Seas with Nemo and Friends at EPCOT or Muppet Vision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

7. Ride a Splashy Attraction

There’s not much that’s more fun on a hot day than riding an attraction at Walt Disney World that will splash you! We love Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom or Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Both of these will cool you off! 

8. Go for a Dip

One of the benefits of staying on site at Walt Disney World is that you can easily leave the theme park to head back to your resort and go for a swim to cool off! I often recommend my clients visit the parks in the morning, return to the resort for the hottest part of the day to rest and relax, then head back in for the evening. They appreciate this strategy! Some of the pools at the Walt Disney World Resorts are absolutely beautiful.

9. Water Parks

The best perk included in the Park Hopper Plus theme park ticket is the use of two water parks, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach. In addition to entrance to the four major theme parks, this ticket allows guests to enter the water parks, as well. It’s a great plan to include a day to relax and cool off at one or both of these water parks.

As you can see, there are a lot of ways to beat the heat at Walt Disney World Resort! What are some of your favourite ways to stay cool at Walt Disney World or other theme parks in Florida during the hottest months of the year?