As April turns into May, Disney guests wait with anticipation as their summer vacations lay just a mere few weeks away.  And while Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of the busy summer season at Walt Disney World, I thought I would once again visit a topic extremely important to all Walt Disney World goers during this time of year: heat and humidity.  With most schools out for the summer, masses of people from all over the country and the world converge on Walt Disney World for a fun-filled family vacation.  However, what stops some trips from being truly magical and fantastic is the staggering heat and humidity of Florida.  The average high temperature in Orlando is about 90 degrees, and when humidity climbs to 100%, touring the parks can seem unbearable (even to me, and I live in Hawaii).  But for those of you with summer vacations planned at the World, do not fret.  This article will give you provide you and your family with tips that can save you a lot of sweat (literally) during your vacation.

Take Afternoon Breaks

            You probably heard the mantra of taking an afternoon break a dozen times from a dozen different sources.  But that is because taking a break from noon to about 4 pm is one of the most effective ways you can protect yourself from the Florida heat.  However, for those of you unfamiliar with this strategy, let me briefly review.  All four parks at Walt Disney World are not only the hottest, but the most crowded from the hours of about noon to 4 or 5 pm.  Leaving whatever park you find yourself in at about noon and heading back to your resort will not only save you from the sun, but it will also save you a lot of grief by not having to navigate the massive amount of people that accumulate by midday.  Moreover, what is good about returning to your resort in the afternoon is that you can throttle down and relax a little bit.  After a morning full of commando-style touring, it is nice to lounge by the pool, take a nap in an air-conditioned room, or have a nice lunch or afternoon snack.  The point is, whatever you choose to do when you go back to your resort, do something that will help rejuvenate you and your family.  Once your batteries are recharged, head back to a park or even Downtown Disney in the late afternoon evening.  The sun will be setting, and cooler temperatures will mean easier touring.

            If you are worried about not spending every waking moment in the parks in order to get your money’s worth, have no fear; because of the increased attendance all four parks are open later than they usually are during the off-season.  Once you stroll back into the park at about 5 pm or 6 pm, the sun-beaten and exhausted guests will have left, and you can enjoy a much cooler and less congested park. 

Find the Cool Attractions

            When I go to Walt Disney World during the summer months, I often use the “find the coolest attractions” touring plan.  While it might mean a bit of wandering and doubling-back, the reward of sitting through an air-conditioned or water-filled attraction is often well worth it. 

            The objective in this touring plan is to do the outdoor attractions in the morning, when it is the coolest.  Once it gets too hot or humid for your liking, immediately switch to the indoor attractions.  For example, you wouldn’t want to wait in line for Dumbo or the Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster (while not an outdoor attraction, a big portion of the queue is outside) at 1:30 pm.  Instead, you would want to do it first thing in the morning.   In the afternoon, navigate through the attractions that offer a lot of air conditioning and a place to sit.  My personal favorite is Ellen’s Energy Adventure, because not only is the attraction itself is indoors, the preshow is as well.  Moreover, the entire length of the preshow and the ride is well over thirty minutes.  Thirty minutes not in the sun?  Priceless. 

            Other attractions that are “cool” to visit include: Carousel of Progress, the American Adventure, the Hall of Presidents, the Great Movie Ride (after the queue winds itself inside), and One Man’s Dream (which is even better because you can go at your own pace). 

The Water Parks

            Speaking of cool attractions, there is no doubt that many guests will want to hit the water parks at least once during their summer visit.  This is an excellent idea, because you'll keep cool and have fun at the same time.  However, before you go jumping in that lazy river, there are a few things you need to know to maximize your fun at Disney's water parks.

            Walt Disney World has two water parks on property: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.  Blizzard Beach is the largest water park at Walt Disney World Resort.  The water park is themed as a wacky ski resort and is action-oriented, with the emphasis on slides and thrills. It features over 17 slides, a wave pool, an area for pre-teens and an area especially for little tikes (Tike's Peak.  Get it? Anyone?).  Typhoon Lagoon is Disney's "untypical version" of a water park themed in a tropical island setting. The park contains all of the types of activities you would expect to find at a water park--slides, pools, a slow river--plus others you will find nowhere else, including a surf pool and a saltwater artificial coral reef pool full of tropical fish that you can snorkel through.

            While this all sounds great for the hot summer months, there are some things to keep in mind.  Disney water parks tend to be crowded, especially in the summer, and there are limited areas with shade.  Arrive at the water parks either when they open, or try going just for the afternoon.  A lot of the crowds thin out during the hottest part of the day and by mid-afternoon you can avoid long waits for the attractions.

            If you want to go for the morning/early afternoon, it is essential to arrive by park opening time.  While this sounds a bit extreme, arriving early will allow you to do some of the following:  (1) parking close to the entrance (if you are driving), saving you a long hot walk back to your car when leaving; (2) getting a locker and towel quickly, rather than waiting in the long line that forms by late morning; (3) getting in a lot of water sliding in a relatively short time, rather than spend most of your time standing in the hot lines; (4) claim lounge chairs that are shaded, rather than the more numerous ones that are out in the blazing sun; and (5) avoiding the disappointment of not getting in at all should the park close because it has reached capacity.

            While I encourage you to enjoy all that the water parks have to offer, I also recommend you plan in advance.  Arrive early so you can stake your claim. 

Take Extra Care of Your Body

            Let's face it; we all get sweaty in hot and humid temperatures (some more than others).  It is especially important to make sure you protect yourself from the sun.  And I’m not just talking about sunscreen (SPF 30 or more people!) and sunglasses/hats.  Sweat, especially in your shoes can cause very, very painful blisters that can completely ruin your experience.  As I have written about before, during a trip in June 2004 I developed a blister one every toe half way through an eight day trip.  The moisture in my socks caused a lot of friction and after a couple days it became unbearable to even walk.  It was agony. 

            There are several different things you can do to prevent blisters.  Wear appropriate footwear (I prefer broken in shoes) and socks.  Making sure that shoes are the right size and shape, and that socks are made from a synthetic blend is an effective way of reducing the occurrence of blisters.  Other effective ways to reduce blisters is to apply petroleum jelly or talcum powder on your feet before heading out in the parks.  If you feel a tender or sore spot developing during the day, sit down in a shaded area, take your shoes off and place a bandage on the area, and then let your feet dry.  Reducing moisture is the key to avoiding blisters. 

            Similarly, chafing is another problem caused by a lot of friction.  A way to avoid such a problem is a product like Bodyglide (www.rei.com).  It looks like a stick of deodorant but is actually a personal lubricant used to prevent chafing & blisters. It is not greasy and does eliminate the friction. I've tried it before and it really works wonders. 

Water, Water, Water

            This one is a no-brainer, but important nonetheless.  Hydration is essential to a successful trip during the summer months.  Always carry water with you in the parks and try to avoid diuretics, such as Coca-Cola and tea.  Of course, water in WDW is expensive so, if necessary, reuse the same bottle to avoid spending a lot of money.  But, if you’re like me and can’t stand the taste of Orlando tap water, then forking over a little extra for bottled water is more than worth it.

No matter how you do it, stay hydrated throughout the day!

Don’t Push Yourself

            Finally, while one might feel compelled to do, see, and experience EVERYTHING that WDW has to offer, you should never push yourself to the breaking point.  Listen to your body.  Know when you need to take a break, drink water, or head back to the resort.  If however, you find yourself dizzy, nauseous, or sick in any way, go to the First Aid Center or notify a nearby Cast Member.  

            Remember that no matter how much you want to see the World, it will always be there for you to come back to.  It is not worth risking your health to go ride Test Track for the umpteenth time. 

Conclusion

            This list is by no means exhaustive.  Instead, it is meant to get you started thinking about the kinds of things you can do to adequately protect yourself during the warm summer months.  Heat and humidity does not have to ruin your summer vacation to Walt Disney World.  With preparation beforehand and application during your vacation you can enjoy all that Disney has to offer. 

Until next time!