Orlando is a hot part of the earth, at certain times of the year-- and the peak weeks of heat occur exactly during the most convenient vacation time for families. I've visited Disney World in August with three boys and we were hot-- but had plenty of fun.
Two pieces of good news: lining-up seldom happens in direct sun; most queues these days are indoors. And secondly, you'll find misters and other cool-downs in the parks.
Tips for Staying Cool
Dress light: ladies, cheap washable silks are light as a feather; also try skirts instead of shorts. My three boys wore only t-shirts and bathing-suits which were like very lightweight shorts.
Wear sandals : every theme-park guidebook advises proper shoes and socks, but during our August visit, there was no way we were putting anything hotter on our feet than sandals, period.
Buy the fan-sprayer gadgets: these little gizmo's are life-savers. You can buy the Mickey version in the park for about $15; or buy 'em at Walmart for much less.
Other tips: bring a bandana or washcloth, and keep it cool by wetting it at the water fountains; bring frozen juice packs or water bottles, if your hotel room has a fridge; and of course don't forget to drink, drink, drink.
Take a wet ride: Kali River Rapids, in Animal Kingdom, or Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom will cool you down. Epcot has a little waterplay zone with sprinklers, for tots.
Eat in an Air-Conditioned Restaurant
Obviously, the full-service restaurants at Disney World are nicely chilled. But you can also find counter-service restaurants that are cool: check out this list of counter-service restaurants that are air-conditioned.
Visit the water parks : if you have a Park-Hopper Pass, be sure to cool down by visiting one or more of the water parks-- admission to one of both is included with the Park-Hoppers. Both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are terrific waterparks, with slides, raft rides, river float, lots more. Be sure to arrive right at opening: at 9 a.m. you can ride the slides with no line-ups; but by 11 a.m., expect plenty of queuing in the hot sun.
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