Staying Cool in the Parks in the Florida Heat

Summer is just about here and it can get pretty hot in Florida. Combine that with the summer crowds in Disney World and it can make for an uncomfortable day. However, there are ways to cool off while in the parks.

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 , Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros, 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. In Hollywood Studios Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run has a queue line that is all indoors, so even if the line is long, you at least get to wait indoors instead of outside in the heat. Over at Animal Kingdom the queue at Kilimanjaro Safaris is not indoors, but it is covered, so guests have some coverage from the sun. Another option in Animal Kingdom is Kali River Rapids. This ride will cool you off, but make sure you are either in clothes that dry quickly or bring a change of clothes with you, because you will most likely get splashed quite a bit on this ride.

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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. (The show is currently closed for refurbishment, but I believe you can still explore the lobby area of the attraction)
• 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

• The American Adventure – This is a production featuring 35 Audio-Animatronics figures, digital rear-projection images on a 72-foot screen, and patriotic songs. The show takes place in a Colonial theater, and Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain take guests on a trip through time showing America’s story.
• Awesome Planet – In a partnership with the Disney Conservation Fund, this 10-minute film combines the film with in-theater effects (including wind, scents, and water). Guests will see the story of life on our planet and while it is important to care for it.
• Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along – The 15-minute film features songs from the classic movie.
• Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360 – This 12-minute film shows guests images from Canada. Guests will see sweeping scenic views in this newly updated edition of the film.
• Impressions de France – This 18-minute film takes guests on a virtual journey of France. The film is shown in a 200-degree widescreen view.
• Reflections of China – Watch this 12-minute Circle-Vision 360º film in the China pavilion. Guests are taken on an immersive journey through the different sights and sounds of China.
• 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! 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

• Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After – This is one of Disney’s newest shows where guests enter the realm of the Magic Mirror where the villains are trapped. Throughout the show different villains present their cases as to why they have been treated the most unfairly. The outcome of the show will vary, because each audience gets to help decide who has been treated the most unfairly. Runtime for this new show is reportedly 18 minutes, so it gives guests a good amount of time to cool off.
• For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration – This show features the Royal Historians of Arendelle tell the Frozen story. Guests get to sign along with Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff as parts of the movie plays on the screen. The show lasts an hour, so it’s a good way to take a break from the heat.
• The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure – Another new show for Hollywood Studios featuring everyone’s favorite mermaid. Guests will hear the classic songs from the movie during this 20 minute show.
• Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie – This show features vacation memories from Mickey & Minnie. There are different clips from Panda-manium, Couples Sweaters, Potatoland, Croissant de Triomphe, Entombed, Dumb Luck, Al Rojo Vivo, Yodelburg, and Outback at Ya! Runtime for this show is around 11 minutes.
• 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.
• Feathered Friends in Flight! – The theater for this show is not indoors, but it is covered, so there is protection and relief from the sun. It’s a fun show with lots of different birds and there are lots of impressive and funny moments. The show lasts for 35 minutes, so it’s a nice and entertaining way to get a break from walking around in the heat.
• Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond – This is a 25 minute show that tells the story of everyones favorite fish friends. The story catches up with the fish as they make their way to the Marine Life Institute.

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Cooling Stations

You can these areas to cool off quick. Just walk under them and let the mist and/or fans cool you off. These stations are 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 Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom has one and there is one by Test Track (Refreshment Station) 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. 

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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.

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Shopping

There is no shortage of shops in any of the Disney Parks. So if you need to cool off, go to 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.

The shops and art galleries in the countries around the World Showcase in EPCOT are great places to cool off as well. A lot of the shops are pretty big and they connect to other stores. So you can stay inside the shops for a while looking around. The art galleries have lots to see, so you can spend a bit of time in them while cooling off.

Disney also has specialty shops. 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. One piece of advice 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), get one of those cooling towels to wear around your neck, or get a neck fan, 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 in the heat and have fun! 

Thanks for reading!

Liz

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