For many of us, a trip to Disneyland is part of a summer vacation. But visiting during the hottest time of the year can be hard on a family, especially after the crowds and long line begin to take their toll. Here’s a few tips for staying cool during a summer visit to Disneyland.
Pack some drinks
While purchasing drinks in the park is always an option, it often is more convenient and economical to bring a few bottles of water with you. Most local hotels have an in room fridge where you can store and chill your water prior to heading into the parks. Disneyland has drinking fountains throughout the resort (many of the fountains offer chilled water) where you can refill your water bottles throughout the day.
Sunscreen
No one likes a sunburn. Hats and sunscreen are a must.
Take a Break
One of the nice parts about staying at a nearby hotel is leaving the parks for a swim break. At the hottest part of the day, go back to your hotel, relax, take a dip in the pool or even take a nap. If you don’t pace yourself, you’ll just end up a sweaty, grumpy mess by the end of the day.
Plan Your Day
The west side of Disneyland has more shaded areas than the east side. Adventureland, New Orleans Square and Critter Country also have several long, air conditioned rides. On a hot day, it is a lot better to enjoy a 15 min air conditioned ride on Pirates of the Caribbean than to stand in the heat waiting for the Autopia.
In addition to Pirates, some of the best rides for a hot day are Haunted Mansion, it’s a small world, The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and the Disneyland Railroad.
It may seem counterintuitive, but Splash Mountain is one of the worst for a hot day because of the slow moving line. The queue does not offer much shade, which means you often will spend hours in the sun just for that short ride. Save Splash for later in the day when lines are shorter. If you want to get wet, check out the water play area in front of Space Mountain.
Another planning trick is to save the rides with the longest lines for later in the day. At night, there are usually stage shows (Fantasmic!) or parades that will draw away the crowds. During this time, go to your favorite rides and you will find a much shorter wait time.
What are your tricks for staying cool at Disneyland? Share your tips in the comments below.
