During the summer months it can get pretty hot in Florida. Combine that with the summer crowds in Disney World and it can make for an uncomfortable day. There are ways to cool off while in the parks though.
Attractions
To get out of the heat you can always hop on an indoor ride, but lines in the summer months can be long. So try to find a ride that has a quick moving line or that has a queue line that is inside. Some queue lines have quite a bit of the line outside and while they have fans to cool off guests, it’s not the same as being in the air-conditioning.
A few rides that have quick moving lines are the PeopleMover in Magic Kingdom, and Living with the Land and Spaceship Earth in Epcot. The PeopleMover is not an indoor ride, but you can get a nice breeze as you sit and enjoy the sites.
Shows
This is a great way to beat the heat in the parks. Shows will have air conditioning and you get to sit for a while to cool off. There are plenty of shows to choose from in each park. Here are some of my favorites:
- Magic Kingdom
- The Hall of Presidents– Enjoy some history, told by audio-animatronics, in an air conditioned building. This show is in Liberty Square.
- Monsters Inc., Laugh Floor – A fun comedy club that is run by the monsters of Monstropolis. Be warned, there is audience participation. This is in Tomorrowland.
- Carousel of Progress– Cool off indoors while watching this classic audio-animatronic show in Tomorrowland. It lasts for 21 minutes, so it’s plenty of time to cool off!
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic– This is a fun 3D show, in Fantasyland, that will entertain you while you cool off.
- Epcot
- Turtle Talk with Crush– This is a fun and interactive show to stop and see. While the interactive part is really only for the kids, it’s still fun to go and watch as Crush interacts with the kids. The technology is so cool! This show is located in the same building as The Seas with Nemo and Friends.
- Voices of Liberty– This is an amazing show to see. The singers are fantastic! Dressed in attire from the 1800s, they will entertain you with their beautiful voices while singing patriotic songs. The shows last about 15 minutes, but you can hang out afterwards if you need more cooling off time. You can find the Voices of Liberty in American Adventure in the World Showcase.
- Hollywood Studios
- Muppet*Vision 3D– Love the Muppets and I love this show! You get to see all your favorite characters (look up in the balcony to see some grumpy favorites) and you can escape the heat while you watch this funny show. Find this fun show on Street of America, just look for the big fountain with the spinning Miss Piggy.
- Walt Disney Presents– In addition to the 15 minute film about Walt (Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream) there is a self-guided tour here. The tour has props, models, sketches, and more. Both the film and the tour are pretty interesting. Plus, it gets you out of the heat for a little while.
- Animal Kingdom
- Festival of the Lion King– This might be my favorite show in all of the parks. It is a 30 minute Broadway style show and the entertainers are absolutely amazing. Characters from the Lion King movie and the songs are all part of this show. Even if it’s not a hot day, I would highly recommend making time for this show! You can find it in the theater in the Africa section.
- It’s Tough to be a Bug! – This is a fun 3D show that takes place in the Tree of Life. Join Flik as he introduces you to all sorts of bugs and be ready for a few 4D surprises. Another entertaining show that will give you some time out of the heat.
- Finding Nemo: The Musical – This is a 40 minute show that tells the story of everyones favorite fish friends. The story is told through puppetry and beautiful sets. Since the show lasts for 40 minutes you will have plenty of time to escape the heat.
Misting Stations
You can these areas to cool off quick. Just walk under them and let the mist cool you off. There are misting stations located around each of the parks, so keep an eye out for them when you are walking around or ask a Cast Member. I know Tomorroland in Magic Kingdom has one and there is one by Test Track in Epcot. In Disney Springs look for Stitch over the entrance to the World of Disney Store, he will spit water at you. In Magic Kingdom, the camel by The Magic Carpets of Aladdin spits water too.
Splash Areas
Kids can run around in these areas and cool off. In Magic Kingdom look for Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station in Fantasyland, by the Fantasyland Train Station and the Dumbo ride.
Epcot has some splash areas in between Future World and the World Showcase.
Disney Springs also has a splash area where the kids can play.
Shopping
There is no shortage of shops in any of the Disney Parks. So if you need to cool off, you can always hop in one of the shops and take a look around. Plus, you might find a fun souvenir to bring home with you. Some of the shops are pretty big, so you can spend a fair amount of time looking around. The Emporium, in the Magic Kingdom, pretty much runs the length of Main Street U.S.A. and the World of Disney Store, in Disney Springs, is very big too, though parts are closed off now while they refurb different areas.
The shops in the countries around the World Showcase in Epcot are great places to cool off too. A lot of them are pretty big and they connect to other stores, so you can stay inside for a while looking around the shops.
There are specialty shops too. An example of this would be Club Cool in Epcot. It’s a store with a whole lot of Coke products available for purchase. Not only that, but you can also sample multiple Coke products from around the world. It’s a pretty fun store and you can get some free refreshments, though you might want to stay away from the Beverly.
If it’s a really hot day you can always spend the day at your resort pool, head to one of the water parks that Disney has on property, or only visit the parks first thing in the morning or in the evening. You can also carry misting fans (available in the parks) or get one of those cooling towels to wear around your neck (this helped me during my most recent trip), and remember to stay hydrated. You can get a cup of water at most quick service locations for free.
Bottom line? Don’t let the heat get to you, there are plenty of ways to keep cool during the hot summer months and have fun!
Thanks for reading!
*Liz*
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Liz
I love all things Disney, but my main love is for Disney World and I'm always planning for the next trip. Before becoming a Disney blogger, I was a radio DJ, so I guess I'm just continuing in the communication industry, just in a different form. I love talking Disney and I could talk about Disney all day. That's why I started blogging and created the Facebook group. The Disney community is full of friendly, helpful, and happy people...and I love being a part of it! If there is any Disney subject you would like to see covered just let me know! Need help planning your Disney vacation. Feel free to contact myself or Melissa at Never Stop Dreaming Travel Co. We love helping people plan their trips! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy! Don't forget to check out our Countdown to Disney app! Feel free to email me with suggestions of things you would like to see in the app :-)