What to Wear to Disney World in Summer to Beat the Heat (Packing Guide for Moms)
If you're heading to Disney World for summer vacation this year, this blog post will have tons of great outfit ideas, plus a Disney packing list!
Many people worry that summer will be too hot and humid to make a Disney trip enjoyable, but in my opinion, it’s one of the best times to visit the parks! Disney is currently running their Cool Kid Summer program, which you can read more about here!
Yes, it is hot and humid. But with the right planning you can still put together cute outfits to not only survive the parks, but thrive during your Disney World trip! I also have more tips for surviving the heat at Disney World here!
Our family took an epic one-week vacation to Disney World with our extended family in July of 2025. As expected, it was hot but manageable. Temperatures were in the mid- to upper-80s each day.
What you wear can make or break your day at Disney World when it’s hot out, so here are some tips for Disney World outfits when it’s hot out (speaking as a former Florida resident AND a mom of 4 who just got back from a weeklong July trip to Disney).
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Weather in March can be hot enough for sundresses or cool enough for sweatshirts!
Summer Weather in Orlando
It’s hot, humid, and rainy.
In all seriousness, summer is the middle of rainy season in Florida with highs in the low 90s and lows in the mid 70s.
You can expect sunny hot days with predictable afternoon thunderstorms. The thunderstorms usually blow through pretty quickly, so don’t worry about them ruining your day. Just plan accordingly by bringing rain gear (don’t forget a rain cover for your stroller!), and either doing indoor rides or shows in the afternoon, or heading back to the resort for a brief break until the storms pass.
This means you want lightweight and breathable fabrics that dry quickly, as well as a rain jacket or poncho. Shoes should also be waterproof or quick-dry, and comfortable enough for long days of walking.
What to Wear in Disney World in Summer Time
1. Comfortable Shoes
First and foremost, you'll want to make sure you have comfortable and broken-in shoes for your trip. Avoid wearing a brand new pair of shoes. You will end up with sore feet, or worse, blisters. (Don’t forget these blister patches! They work wonders!)
Another thing to keep in mind is to bring at least 2 pairs of shoes to rotate throughout the trip. A few options I’ve worn and loved for Disney World are:
A pair of comfortable white tennis shoes. I love my Adidas Grand Court sneakers.
My Xero Women's Z-Trail sandals are lightweight, flexible, and fast-drying. Just be aware that these sandals are zero-drop, meaning they have no elevated heel or arch support. It's great for natural foot flexibility and posture, but if you're not used to zero-drop shoes, your feet may get sore after lots of walking.
An alternative walking sandal would be the Teva Women’s Universal Slim Lea - one of my sisters has these sandals and loves them because they are comfortable and aren’t super obviously “hiking” sandals.
I also like to bring a pair of foam slides. They might not work for the entire day, but it’s nice to throw them in the bottom of the stroller or change into them if you go back to the resort in the middle of the day.
2. Disney Character Socks
These crew socks with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy are perfect for outfits with tennis shoes! Both the kids and I loved them.
3. Active Dresses
Active dresses, tennis dresses, athletic dresses - whatever you want to call them, they’re a no-brainer for a Disney trip! You get to look cute while also wearing activewear, so it’s not problem when you work up a sweat walking through Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios midday which always feels like it’s 20 degrees hotter than the rest of the park.
I would get one with shorts that detach in the back so you don’t have to pull down the entire dress when you go to the bathroom! Mine is from Pink Lily, though the exact dress I have is sold out. Here’s a similar one!
4. Activewear Sets
Sticking with the activewear theme, there are so many cute activewear sets out there to style for Disney! Personally, I like to mix and match solid color activewear tank tops like this one with colorful activewear shorts.
You can dress for a theme without wearing a costume. For example, you could do a red, black, and white theme for classic Mickey and Minnie colors. Our family did that on our first day at Magic Kingdom, and I had a black tank top with a red skort. Super comfortable for walking around in the heat! Check out my outfit here!
My 12-year-old daughter and I saw this skort at Target and immediately looked and each other because we both thought it would make the perfect “Belle” from Beauty and the Beast skort. They even have “Mommy and Me” style so you can match your little ones!
5. Graphic T-Shirts
I love a good graphic tee for Disney! You keep your shoulders covered and protected from the sun, you’re comfortable and on-theme, and you don’t have to work too hard to put an outfit together.
I love Etsy and Amazon for a good Disney-themed graphic tee, though lately Target has been stepping up its game! I got this t-shirt for our day at Epcot (HUGE Figment fan), and just paired it with comfortable running shorts.
Lately Old Navy has been my go-to for running shorts that don’t cut into your stomach. They even run a little big so I stock up on size small for wearing out of the house, and size M for when I’m going to be sitting at home all day working or long drives.
6. Cotton Romper Dresses
These dresses are everywhere, and I’m happy to say they live up to the hype!
It’s a dress on top, but underneath is a cotton, stretchy, soft romper. It does NOT have a built-in bra, so wear a cute strappy bralette or yoga-style bra underneath. It also does not have detachable shorts, so unfortunately you do have to pull down the entire dress to use the restroom.
I love the cotton material, because sometimes I don’t want elastic or spandex sticking to my body when it’s 90 degrees and humid outside.
These are the perfect breezy dresses for moms chasing after little kids, and I love that they come in so many different colors. The cool tone shade of this green was perfect for me, and I loved the brown for our day at Animal Kingdom!
7. Mouse Ears
Even if you’re wearing a basic t-shirt and shorts with no Disney theming whatsoever, a pari of mouse ears can tie the whole outfit together!
For example, I wore a black athletic dress to Hollywood Studios, but added some “theming” by wearing a pair of Star Wars Mouse Ears.
My Summer Outfits for Disney World
Magic Kingdom
For our first day at Magic Kingdom we went with a red, black, and white color scheme so I wore a red skort with a black tank top. I forgot to put my mouse ears on for the family photo, and they really complete the outfit!
The last day of the trip was our second Magic Kingdom day and we went with more of a cool tone color theme. Earlier that year we were hosted by Disney World to preview Cool Kid Summer, and one of the activities at our resort was making tie-dye Mickey Mouse shirts, so the kids all wore those t-shirts and I wore the green cotton romper dress.
Hollywood Studios
We went with a Star Wars theme for Hollywood Studios since we love Galaxy’s Edge and several of my kids are huge Star Wars fans.
The kids had Star Wars graphic tees, and my youngest had a Rey costume. It was adorable, AND we just so happened to run into Rey first thing in the morning near Smuggler’s Run. It absolutely made my daughter’s day to meet Rey while dressed up like her!
The best part is that it’s a washable costume, and pretty lightweight. Nice for hot summer days at Disney! Actually this store on Amazon has all kinds of cute kids’ Disney costumes, including options for little boys, too.
As I mentioned above, I went with a simple black active dress with Star Wars mouse ears.
Epcot
We didn’t have any solid theming for our Epcot day, so everyone just kind of wore whatever. Disney tees, non-Disney outfits, etc.
This was probably my most comfortable and relaxed outfit of the trip! I ordered a Figment t-shirt from Etsy and paired it with running shorts.
Animal Kingdom
I feel like Animal Kingdom is one of the most fun parks to get dressed for because you can do a safari theme (so just neutrals or olive green), an animal theme, or if you could even do a Lion King or Avatar style theme if you want!
I decided to go with neutrals, simply because I prefer to have outfits I can wear outside of Disney World. I went with a mocha brown romper dress. My kids had some neutral-ish Disney t-shirts, which ended up coordinating perfectly without too much planning. (My son’s beige Disney set and my youngest daughter’s romper were from ALDI, believe it or not!)
What to Bring for Rainy Days
Rain is almost inevitable on a summer trip to Disney World. Here’s how to stay prepared so you can still enjoy the parks!
a light rain jacket (I’ve been using this Colombia jacket since college, so it’s lasted me over 15 years!)
a collapsible umbrella or poncho (don't wait until you're in the park to buy these...they are not cheap. I speak from experience)
a change of clothes. Pack one or 2 extra outfits more than you'll need for the trip in case you get soaked and want to go back to the hotel room to change!
a waterproof stroller cover (of course, this only applies if you're bringing a stroller)
consider bringing one pair of waterproof shoes in case there is rain in the weather forecast
If you're prepared for the rain, you can avoid some long lines at the more popular rides while everyone else is trying to take shelter! Florida weather can be unpredictable, so it's best to come prepared!
Disney Packing List for Summer Vacation
So what exactly should be on your Disney World packing list? Here's what I would bring to be prepared for the various weather conditions in March:
Clothes
tank tops
t-shirts or short-sleeved shirts
a long-sleeved shirt or sweatshirt in case your family prefers FREEZING air conditioning in the hotel room
a UV sun shirt
a rain jacket
shorts
sundresses/rompers
matching sets
undergarments
sneakers
socks
sandals
flip flops (for the pool/water parks/around the hotel)
bathing suit (for the pool/water parks)
rash guards
Accessories
Mickey Ears
hair bands/headbands
hats (baseball or sun hats)
jewelry (you don't need much)
watches (smart watch to track how much you walk)
sunglasses
Magic Bands
Toiletries
toothbrush/toothpaste
hair brush/comb
deodorant
shampoo/conditioner/body wash if you don't want to use the hotel toiletries
dry shampoo
makeup
sunscreen (including facial sunscreen AND powder sunscreen for scalp and reapplying to your face)
lip balm (bonus points if it has SPF)
face wash
makeup remover
cotton balls
facial moisturizer and serums
razor
nail clippers
curling iron or hair straightener
ponytail holders (regular, small elastics for braids, etc)
bobby pins or hair clips
any extra items for kids
Medication/First Aid
bandages
prescription medication
pain reliever (adults and kids)
motion sickness medication
vitamins
aloe
Other
daypack (park bag)
water bottles
camera/charger
smartphone
portable charger
snacks
collapsible cooler (you can bring food into the parks)
portable fan
stroller (we LOVE the Zoe Tour+ because it's lightweight and easily collapsible. Get $15 off your purchase with my affiliate link)
waterproof stroller cover
fanny pack
collapsible umbrella or poncho
Between Cool Kid Summer and then general nostalgia of a summer vacation to Disney World, June, July, and August are actually some of my favorite months to visit the parks!
Read more of my Disney Blog Posts below to prepare for your trip!
Tips for Taking a Disney World Vacation!
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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.
