Tips for Disney World in the Summer
Are you planning a trip to Disney World in the summer?
Read on for my top tips to survive the summer heat at Disney World!
Located in sunny Orlando, Florida, Disney World experiences approximately ten months of summer each year. While it can get cold at Disney World in the winter (I’ve had some freezing cold visits in December and January!) it can just as easily be seventy degrees and sunny during that time too.
Spring and fall can also offer milder weather, but again, it can also be quite warm.
One thing you can always count on, though, is that the four-month stretch of June, July, August, and September will be the hottest time of year at Disney World. This is the summer season I’ll be focusing on.
With average daily highs soaring well above ninety degrees and an extreme level of humidity that makes the “feels like” temperature break triple digits, summer at Disney World is sweltering.
But with some preparation, you can still have a great time visiting Disney World during the summer. Read on for my top tips on how to survive (and thrive) during a summer trip to Disney World.
Should You Visit Disney World in the Summer?
First of all, let’s talk about whether visiting Disney World in the summer is a good idea. I’ve taken around two dozen trips to Disney World, pretty evenly spread between all the seasons.
Visiting during the summer definitely has its pros and cons.
I’m someone who hates hot weather and loves winter, but even I can admit that there are some serious perks to visiting Disney World during the summer, so let’s address those first.
The biggest benefit is low crowds. You might think summer would be a crowded time to visit Disney World since kids are out of school, but that’s not the case. June and July can be moderately crowded, but August is actually the least crowded month to visit Disney World, closely followed by September.
Summer can be a cheaper time to visit as well, with better deals on tickets and hotels.
However, the obvious drawback is the weather. Not only is June through September the hottest and most humid time of year to visit, but these months also see the most rainfall at Disney World.
You also don’t get as much seasonal entertainment throughout the summer. At the end of August, the Halloween festivities start at Magic Kingdom and the Food & Wine Festival begins at Epcot, but for the majority of the summer, there isn’t really any seasonal entertainment at the parks.
That being said, I think the pros outweigh the cons for a summer visit.
Now let’s get into my tips for surviving Disney World in the summer!
1. Bring a portable fan.
A portable fan is a must-have at Disney World in the summer, especially when you’re standing in an outdoor queue or just walking around the parks. I recommend a small handheld fan like this (which also doubles as a portable charger for your phone!) that is lightweight and doesn’t take up much space.
I also see a lot of people at Disney World with portable neck fans. I’ve tried one of these before, and I didn’t personally like it very much. Having something heavy around my neck bothers me, even if it’s cooling me down! But these are really popular, so you might want to give it a try for yourself.
2. Cooling towels are a lifesaver.
Another summer essential for Disney World is a cooling towel. You just add water to these towels, and they stay icy-cool, which is amazing on a really hot and humid summer day at Disney World.
You can put these towels around your neck (a more lightweight and less bothersome alternative to a portable neck fan) or on your face or over your shoulder… whatever you want to do with them!
3. Arrive early and stay late.
One of the best tips I can give for visiting Disney World in general is to arrive early and stay late. In the summer, this is helpful because early morning and nighttime after the sun goes down are the coolest times of the day. It might not be truly cool still, but it’s significantly more pleasant weather.
But aside from the weather benefits, this is also a smart idea from a strategy perspective. You can get more done in the first hour and last hour of the day when crowd levels are lower than you can during the whole afternoon. So definitely prioritize arriving right when the park opens and staying until it closes.
4. Take a midday break.
A popular tip for surviving Disney World in the summer is taking a midday break.
The idea behind this is that you leave the parks for a few hours in the middle of the afternoon when the sun is at its strongest and crowd levels are highest. If you’re staying at an on-site hotel, you can head back there to relax at the pool or take a nap before returning to the parks refreshed and recharged.
Even if you aren’t staying at an on-site hotel, you can take free Disney transportation (like the monorail, Skyliner, or buses) to a resort and relax in the common areas or eat at one of their restaurants.
5. Escape the heat with indoor attractions.
Don’t want to take a midday break and leave the park? I usually don’t either, but my strategy for escaping the heat during the hottest time of the day is to do indoor, air-conditioned attractions.
There are tons of shows where you can sit down and relax indoors for 20 to 30 minutes, and longer if you just want to lounge in the pre-show area. Similarly, there are plenty of rides that feature all-indoor queues with air conditioning. Take advantage of these attractions in the middle of the day!
6. Enjoy a long sit-down lunch.
One more recommendation I have for avoiding the hottest time of day is enjoying a long sit-down lunch at an indoor table service restaurant. This is definitely the best time of day to do it.
It’s a great way to get out of the sun and relax for a while without actually having to leave the park. Bonus: After lunch, make your way to an indoor, air-conditioned attraction with comfortable seating like the Hall of Presidents or the Carousel of Progress (although you might find it hard to stay awake!)
7. Come prepared with a poncho.
As I mentioned earlier, summer is the rainiest season at Disney World. Although it’s not likely to rain all day, short but intense afternoon showers are extremely common during this time of year.
I highly recommend bringing a lightweight rain poncho with you to Disney World in the summer. This is the exact poncho I have, and I’ve traveled with it many places, not just Disney World.
It’s definitely a good idea to come prepared since rain is highly likely when visiting during the summer, and you don’t want to be stuck buying an overpriced, low-quality poncho at Disney World.
8. Don’t forget to stay hydrated.
It might seem like obvious advice, but staying hydrated when it’s so hot outside is extremely important. I personally bring a refillable water bottle that I fill up at water fountains around the park.
Not only is it better for the environment than buying bottled water, but you also save a ton of money — last I checked, a bottle of water is over $5 at Disney World! However, some people don’t like the taste of tap water in Florida since it has a high mineral count and can have a slightly sulfuric flavor.
If that’s the case, you can also ask for a cup of water for free at any quick-service or table-service restaurant at Disney World, which tastes better because it comes from a fountain machine.
9. Apply sunscreen frequently.
I can’t count how many people I’ve seen walking around Disney World with a nasty sunburn, especially during the summer. If you want to avoid looking as red as a lobster, be sure to apply sunscreen frequently.
I recommend some non-greasy spray-on high SPF sunscreen like this. You’ll want to apply sunscreen first thing in the morning, but also remember to reapply it every few hours throughout the day.
10. Wear lightweight, breathable clothing.
Finally, one last tip I have for surviving the heat of Disney World in the summer is wearing lightweight, breathable clothing in light colors (which helps you stay cooler than dark colors.)
Let’s face it, this is not the type of vacation where you need to worry about looking super fashionable or put together. When it comes to Disney World in the summer, comfort over style is key.
Surviving Disney World in the Summer
These are my top tips for how to survive Disney World in the summer.
As I said earlier, I enjoy visiting Disney World in the summer, even as someone who despises hot weather. The low crowds of August and September are enough to make up for the swamp-like inferno weather.
I probably wouldn’t go in June or July, when crowd levels are higher, and the weather is still bad. But having taken several trips in August and September, I’d say these two months of summer are worth it.
Enjoy your trip to Disney World!
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