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Are you planning a trip to Disney World? Does the thought of extreme temperatures have you rethinking your plans? Believe me, I get you. I am NOT a fan of the heat, especially in the summer months at a theme park. Going during the cooler months is always my first choice, but because we live so close and have annual passes, we do find ourselves there during the hotter months. Fortunately, there are 5 easy ways you can beat the heat while in Disney World. It just takes a little planning.
Here are 5 easy ways to get out of the sun or at least make visiting the parks a little more tolerable for you and your family.
Go Inside
Admittedly, this one may seem obvious, but not everyone plans accordingly. All 4 parks have attractions or shows that allow for a break from the sun and heat. As you are planning your day, save these attractions for mid-day. Keep in mind, it doesn’t always mean a show that is inside. It may be a ride that is inside or have queues that that are in the shade. I am listing a few options for each park for you to consider as you are planning your day so you can beat the heat
Magic Kingdom
- Hall of Presidents- air conditioned show
- Carousel of Progress- indoor attraction lasting 23 minutes
- Mickey’s Philharmagic- indoor 4D show
- Pirates of the Caribbean- covered/indoor queue
- Space Mountain- indoor attraction
- TTA- outdoor attraction, but shaded and breezy
*Note- Lines that I think are hot and sun exposed.
- Buzz Lightyear
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- 7 Dwarves Minetrain
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Epcot
Upon thinking about this park, most of the lines are covered or inside making it very easy to get out of the heat. So, some of my favorites to ride when it is hot outside.
- Soarin- indoor attraction
- Living with the Land- indoor attraction and next to Soarin
- American Adventure- 20-minute show indoors
- Frozen- indoor attraction
If you are at Epcot during one of the festivals and let’s be real, when isn’t there a festival, going around World Showcase is much more pleasant in the evenings. Standing in food lines and eating in direct sunlight with high heat is not enjoyable.
Animal Kingdom
The running joke is that Animal Kingdom is 10 degrees hotter than any other park. You know, I think there is some truth to this. Unfortunately, I think Animal Kingdom also has the fewest options to get out of the sun and heat. A few that will work.
- It’s Tough to be a Bug- indoor 4D show
- Navi- partially shaded queue and indoor attraction
- Dinosaur- depending on the length of the line, shaded queue and indoor attraction
Hollywood Studios
There are a few more options to get inside as opposed to Animal Kingdom, but you will need to plan for this. Studios is a popular park and some of these attractions are very popular.
- Rise of the Resistance- indoor attraction
- Toy Story Mania- covered queue and indoor attraction
- Rock N Roller Coaster- covered queue and indoor attraction
- Muppets 3D- indoor 3D show
- Indiana Jones- Show- outside, but covered
*Note- Queues that I think are hot and sunny
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Tower of Terror
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Go for a Swim
One of the best tips is to take a midday break. The heat in central Florida is no joke and can wear anyone down during the height of summer. Everyone will benefit from taking a break from the heat. By taking a break, you can recharge and be ready for the cooler later afternoon and night.
Our kids always wanted to hit the pool when we got back to the resort. If you are staying on Disney property, you will have a themed pool at your resort to cool off in. A couple of our favorite pools are the Beach Club and the Polynesian. We also enjoy the pools at Coronado Springs and Pop Century. No matter which you choose, it will be a refreshing break.
Grab Something to Eat
When you start to wear down, take a break for lunch or a snack. Whether you choose to have a sit-down meal in one of the park restaurants or go to one of the c counter service restaurants, you will be able to get out of the sun and take a break. Below is a list of restaurant options at each park. If you decide one of the sit-down meals sound best, reservations need to be made in advance.
Magic Kingdom
- Crystal Palace- sit down character meal with Winnie the Pooh and friends
- Liberty Tree Tavern- sit down family style lunch and dinner
- The Plaza- sit down ala carte restaurant
- Cosmic Ray’s- counter service in Tomorrowland
- Pecos Bill’s- counter service in Frontierland
There are several others to choose from, so make sure to do a little research on which one would work best for you.
Epcot
Epcot has the most eateries to choose from among the 4 theme parks. I will list a handful, but each country in World Showcase will have a counter service and a sit-down restaurant. Not to mention, Future World has options as well.
- Sunshine Seasons- counter service in the same pavilion as Soarin
- Connection Cafe- counter service with a Starbucks attached
- San Angel Inn- sit down inside the Mexico pavilion
- Rose and Crown- sit down in England
- Les Chefs de France- sit down in France
Animal Kingdom
I don’t think you hear as much about the eateries in Animal Kingdom, but 2 of my favorite counter service restaurants are located in this theme park.
- Yak & Yeti- sit down restaurant in Asia. It also has a counter service attached
- Tusker House- sit down character buffet in Africa
- Flame Tree BBQ- outside counter service, but there is quite a bit of shade. One of our favorite counter service restaurants.
- Satu’li Canteen- counter service in Pandora and one of my favorites
Hollywood Studios
- Woody’s Roundup BBQ- sit down family style restaurant
- 50’s Primetime- sit down ala carte restaurant
- Backlot Studios- counter service with some indoor seating
Go for Ice Cream
In the last few years, Disney has mastered ice cream treats. Whether you want a classic Mickey bar or the perennial favorite Dole Whip, Disney has something for you. Maybe you are looking for an ice cream sundae served in a kitchen sink. Yep! You can get that. Just heat over to Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club resort.
Each theme park has special treats specific to that park, so you can try something different each day.
A constant favorite of Disney fans is the Dole Whip. What started as a refreshing pineapple soft serve has morphed into specialty treats of all flavors. Some are regular offerings, but many are seasonal or for special events, so make sure you try them while they are available.
Lastly, you can never go wrong with the classic Mickey bar. Nothing screams Disney more than a vanilla Mickey head dipped in chocolate and served on a stick. Luckily, they are available at most ice cream carts throughout all of the parks. Not to worry, if chocolate isn’t your thing, there are always fruit based frozen treats to beat the heat.
Do Some Shopping
If there is one thing Disney does well, it’s finding ways to separate you from your money. As luck would have it, this is also a great way to get out of the heat, thus making the slow drain of your wallet tolerable.
There is no shortage of merchandise or cute shops to browse through while escaping the heat and getting into some A/C. Some of my favorites in each park are listed below.
Magic Kingdom
- The Emporium- Stretching all the way down Main Street, you can start at one end and stay inside until reaching the other end. You will find one of the largest collections of Disney merchandise on property at this location.
- Mickey’s Star Traders- A smaller shop located in Tomorrowland that often has items not found in other stores.
Epcot
The largest collection of shops is in Epcot. Similar to restaurants, each country has its own selection of stores. I love the shops in World Showcase because they have items authentic to their country.
My personal favorites are the ones in Germany and France. I admit, this is because I love all things German and French. Odd combination? Maybe, but I love everything about both of these pavilions. However, each country is wonderful, and you will enjoy your time browsing each one.
Another popular spot in the World Showcase is the Mexico pavilion. As you step inside the Aztec temple, you will feel the temperature drop. It is dark, cool and absolutely beautiful inside. Make sure to spend some time enjoying this gem.
If you find yourself in Future World and in need of a break, head over to Creations. It is the second largest shop in the theme parks and has all of the Disney merchandise. An added bonus is the adorable Epcot merchandise as well as any festival items. It’s a one stop shop while in Epcot.
Animal Kingdom
Probably the smallest number of shops among the 4 parks. The two largest are close to the Tree of Life in the Oasis area. Both Island Mercantile and Discovery Trading Center are located here. Be warned, you will find the cutest safari Mickey themed merchandise in these stores. It was always dangerous for us because our son loved Animal Kingdom and dinosaurs.
This leads me to Chester and Hester’s in Dinoland. Another good stop to cool off and get out of the sun. It doesn’t have quite the selection of the other stores, but we always managed to find something cute while we were there.
Hollywood Studios
To get out of the sun while you are at the Studios, you will want to make a beeline to Hollywood & Sunset Boulevards. Here you will find everything from Disney Park merchandise to a store filled with Pandora charms. Make sure you take time to notice the store windows that line the streets as they are some of the cutest next to the Emporium in the Magic Kingdom.
As is standard in Disney, each attraction will have a gift shop at the exit. One of my favorites in the one at Tower of Terror. The merchandise is cute, but the theming of the shop is top notch.
Conclusion
Heat and humidity in Florida are inevitable. Hopefully, this will help you get a little relief and recharge while you are in the parks. There is no shame in not being able to go from rope drop until park close in the dead of summer. I encourage you to plan your trip with the realization that taking breaks from the strong rays of the Florida sun are necessary. So, enjoy some ice cream while shopping for that perfect souvenir.
If planning a beach day sound like the perfect break in your trip, read here for why Cocoa Beach is a great option from Disney.
