How to Survive the Heat in Summer at Disney World
The summer heat and humidity in Central Florida can be absolutely brutal, there's no doubt about that!
But school's out for the summer, and with more flexible schedules comes the urge to take a family vacation.
If you're like us and have a trip to Disney World planned during the summer months, don't despair! There are plenty of ways to handle the oppressive heat and high humidity without ruining your vacation.
Our family lived in Florida for 5 years, and during that time, we learned a few tips and tricks for surviving those near-surface-of-the-sun temps.
As a mom of 4, family travel blogger, and former Florida resident, allow me to share my best tips for surviving Walt Disney World in the summer heat.
Ok, so aside from our 5-year stint in Florida, I also just returned from a Disney trip where the weather was in the mid-90s every day. You can rest assured that these methods are tried and true ways to beat the heat.
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Tips for Surviving The Heat On a Summer Trip to Walt Disney World Resort
Cooling Towels
I ordered a 4-pack of cooling towels from Amazon on a whim before our trip, and I am so thankful I did. I was traveling to Disney by myself with 4 kids, and standing in outdoor lines in the hot sun was tough for the kids. I didn't have another adult with me to keep the peace, but the cooling towels prevented so many meltdowns.
Simply get the towels wet at a water fountain and wring them out so they're damp, not dripping. Then, drape the towel over the back of your neck or over your head and feel the cooling effects immediately.
My only regret was buying only one 4-pack. The kids each had one, but I could have used one, too! I also liked draping the cooling towel over my shoulders when I felt like I was starting to get a sunburn on my shoulders and back.
Neck Fans
Neck fans are a no-brainer on a hot day. We first ordered some portable fans for our trip to Guatemala, since we knew we would be in a humid jungle environment with the kids.
We brought the same ones along to Disney World to keep us cool while we waited in the hot sun for rides.
The only thing I would change is to add a few spray fans to the mix! There's nothing like a spritz of cold water to the face to cool you down in the midday heat.
Drink Your Water
Everyone knows staying hydrated is important on hot days, especially when you're active (like walking 20,000 steps around Magic Kingdom). You need to be drinking lots of water in the heat.
I want to share a few tips for making sure you and the kids are drinking enough water without spending $50 on water bottles in the theme parks.
Pack a reusable water bottle, preferably an insulated one that keeps water cold for long periods. Fill it up with ice at the hotel to ensure the water is ice cold.
There are water refill stations around the park, so you don't have to keep buying new single use plastic water bottles every time you run out. Just open up the My Disney Experience app and type "water bottle refill stations" in the search bar, then click "Find on Map" to locate the nearest one.
An alternative option would be to ask for free cups of water at any of the quick service restaurants that have fountain drinks.
I would also recommend that you stock up on plastic water bottles from a grocery store when you arrive. You can put a few in the freezer in your hotel room. Take the frozen water bottle into the park, and wait for it to thaw for ice-cold water. In the meantime, you can put it on your wrists or the back of your neck to cool off.
Finally, bring a few hydration packets to mix in with your water to replace electrolytes and to mask the taste of Florida's tap water. We love both DripDrop and LMNT (though beware - LMNT can be a little "salty" for kids, especially if they've never tried it and they're not expecting it).
Alternate Indoor Rides and Outdoor Rides
One of the best ways to cool off and keep kids engaged in the Disney magic is to alternate indoor attractions with outdoor rides.
After queuing up for Mad Tea Party, where the majority of the line is outside and not in the shade, head to Mickey's Philharmagic, a 3D show that takes place inside an air-conditioned theater.
The great thing is that most of the parks have a few indoor shows or attractions that rarely have a long wait, if any wait at all! A few examples would be Carousel of Progress and Country Bear Musical Jamboree in Magic Kingdom, Living with the Land, The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Journey into Imagination with Figment, Beauty and the Beast Sing Along in Epcot, Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy, Star Tours, and Muppet Vision 3D in Hollywood Studios, and Festival of the Lion King in Animal Kingdom.
Even spending a few minutes in a restaurant or cafe with air conditioning, or a souvenir shop.
You can also plan to ride one of the water rides during the hottest time of day! If you sit in front of Tiana's Bayou, you'll likely get quite wet, which should keep you cool for a few minutes, at least. Kali River Rapids is another great option in Animal Kingdom!
Indulge in Cold Treats
Ok so first let's talk about what we're NOT going to do. We're not going to let the kids get ice cream cones if they don't know how to handle an ice cream cone melting in the heat. Ask me how I arrived at this conclusion.
Instead, let's order ice cream in a dish, or a cold treat alternative like a slushie, a root beer float, a smoothie, or mayyyyyyybe an ice cream bar. Maybe.
Ice cream treats are a great way to beat the hot weather. Even better if you can find a spot in the shade, and bonus points if you remembered to bring baby wipes or hand wipes.
Take a Swim Break
Listen. I know you spent a lot of money on this Disney trip, and you don't want to feel like you wasted your money on park tickets by leaving halfway through the day. But hear me out. Leaving for a few hours during the hottest part of the day to swim or take a nap in your hotel room might just save the late afternoon and evening hours at the park.
This is a case of know thy kids. Maybe you can get away with stroller naps with a fan on them and pushing through the 1 p.m. crabbiness, crowds, heat, and overstimulation.
And if your time in Disney World is short and this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for you, I don't blame you at all for making the most of your day. It can certainly be a pain to travel to and from your resort midday, especially if your Disney resort is far away from the park you're in.
BUT if you have more than 4 days in the parks, and you think you'll want to come back to Disney in the near future, noon might be a great time to ditch the parks for a few hours so you can come back in a fresh change of clothes with well-rested kids.
That way, you can stay all the way until the fireworks at the end of the night and hopefully avoid a few heat-induced meltdowns.
I don't have teens yet, but I'm wondering if this might be the best way to stave off teenage attitudes, too. Give everyone an hour to space out on their phones or devices at the hotel, or maybe go for a swim, fill up your resort mug with some crispy Coke, and just chill for an hour or two.
Club Cool at Epcot
Have you heard of Club Cool? It's a small shop in Epcot where you can taste test several different flavors of Coca-Cola from around the world (fitting in with the World Showcase theme).
In my opinion, this is one of the best things to do in Epcot when the heat and crowds are starting to get to you.
There are several soda fountains in the shop with small sample-size cups. You can try all of the flavors for free while also enjoying the air conditioning. It's a great place to hide out for a little bit if you need a break in the middle of the day.
Club Cool is in the same building as the Creations Shop (a souvenir shop), and there's a playground for kids right behind the Creations Shop. So if you have toddlers or preschoolers, you can let them run off some energy at the playground before ducking into Club Cool for some refreshments.
Wear Long Sleeves
It might sound counterintuitive, but bringing some lightweight long sleeves can save your trip.
You might not think to bring long sleeves into the park this time of year, but when the sun is beating down on your bare skin while you're stuck in a slow-moving line, having a light linen button-up or a sunshirt could help prevent sunburns.
I also wish I had brought a long-sleeved shirt while we were watching the parade. The sun was beating down on my shoulders with no shade in sight!
Head to the Water Parks
Did you know that in 2025, guests staying at one of the Walt Disney World Resorts get free admission to the water parks on their check-in day?
This won't necessarily help during your park days, but it's one of the best places to be to escape the Florida heat.
Even though we lived in Florida for 5 years, we had somehow never been to either Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach. Both will be open starting at the end of May 2025, and resort guests can choose one to visit on their check-in day.
We had such a good time at Typhoon Lagoon floating in the Lazy River, playing in the wave pool, and going down water slides. It was such a fun way to spend check-in day until our room was ready.
If you're looking for more Walt Disney World tips, check out some of my other Disney blog posts:
Cool Kid Summer at Disney World in 2025 - Everything You Need to Know
50 Disney World Hacks to Make Your Trip Easier, Cheaper, and More Magical
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Emily Krause is a Wisconsin-based travel content creator who writes about exploring the world with kids.
On A Mom Explores you’ll find the best family travel destinations, Disney World tips, and how to make travel with babies and toddlers a little easier.
Emily believes that exploring starts in our own backyards, and adventure can happen anywhere with the right mindset.
