Summer is here and the heat came with it! As we know, Anaheim and Orlando can get crazy hot during the summer season, and standing outside all day in the sun is no joke. It can be dangerous!
Preparing as much as possible for the weather, sunshine, humidity, and even rain is best.
This post is all about how to survive Disney Parks in the Summer.
Disney Parks are usually a few degrees hotter than the real temperature outside because of all of the concrete. It creates a literal heat bubble and even with all of the nice shady tree areas and restaurants, the sun can get you.
Preparing for 12-15 hour long days outside is no joke and although it may seem dramatic to pack all of these items – it’s not.
Your Disney vacation is something you’ve most likely planned for months, don’t let the Summer heat ruin your trip and experience. Take the time to research and find products that work best for you and your family to stay safe and have fun!
This blog post may contain gifted items and affiliate links. Please note that these do not impact my review, and no extra costs have been added to the items mentioned.
Top Tips for Surviving Disney in the Summer
Stay hydrated
You’ll be walking all day, standing in long lines and enjoying tons of themed treats and coffee drinks and slushies but you can’t forget your water. Dehydration is one of the main reasons people visit the First Aid station at Disney Parks.
Pack a reusable water bottle, hydration backpack or ask for free water at restaurants. Consider adding electrolytes to your hydration routine. Two excellent options are DripDrops electrolyte powder and Liquid IV electrolyte powder.
Be Prepared
Sun protection is non-negotiable. Pack your best sun hat, sunglasses, and face and body sunscreen.
Check the weather each day to prepare for the sun, humidity and even summer rain showers. Disney World is pretty stormy during the summer season and parks can be flooded with water.
The heat can also do more than dehydrate you. A lot of people get Disney rash. It’s itchy, and sometimes painful and can last for days – trust me, I know.
Schedule Breaks
Even the most avid Disney enthusiasts need breaks. Don’t be afraid to schedule some downtime or even plan some slower activities to break up the walking and sunshine.
Schedule indoor shows in your itinerary to escape the sun’s rays. Or make time for a meal indoors to recharge. Another relaxing activity is to ride the monorail around for a change of scenery and some air-conditioned comfort.
If you’re staying at a nearby hotel, you can take a nap or visit the pool for a quick dip.
No matter what you plan, taking breaks is imperative to staying rested and sane.
Disney Summer Essentials
There are a number of necessary items for a Disney trip but let’s focus on summer essentials. With soaring temperatures, long sunny days and tired feet, you’re going to need to pack a few things.
Remember that both Disneyland in Anaheim and Disney World in Orlando can reach intense heat but they’re both not strangers to summer rain storms – usually in Orlando (always) but sometimes it does happen in Anaheim too.
Note: We just had our first hurricane in southern California in decades. So anything can happen!
Below is a list of essential items to pack for Disneyland and Disney World during the summertime. You can click on the photos to shop the item or follow the direct link.
What to Pack for Disney During the Summer
A Quality Bag
We love the Eron Roche All-Day Bag because it has great storage, is lightweight and doubles as a hydration backpack. It’s perfect for summer and makes staying hydrated SO much easier.
The bag comes in black and white. I have the white but it does show dirt, so be aware but honestly the white bag is so cute so I don’t mind.
Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag and Festival Bag
The Lululemon bags are here to stay. They are a go-to option for a lot of Disney guests and I can’t blame them. They are the perfect size for all of your essentials BUT they don’t hold you’re water bottle. So you’ll either have to carry it in your hand or risk only having water during meals.
The number one bags in the Parks are Loungefly bags. Loungefly has thousands of designs, so Disney lovers (like myself) can’t help but buy them all. They are perfect for Disneybounds and completing the perfect outfit.
Water bottles and your essentials can all fit in these bags but there are no pockets for organizing, so things get pretty jumbled. If you’re planning on wearing a Loungefly bag, I suggest using a bag organizer insert to help keep things in order.
I have to admit, I use diaper bags for traveling and for Disneyland A LOT. And I don’t have kids lol. They just hold a ton, and have lots of storage for water bottles, snacks, and other essentials – plus souvenirs!
My only qualm with larger bags is that they’re…larger. They can get annoying to carry around all day but if you’re sharing the carrying then it makes it easier and you can pack lots of stuff!
Reusable Water Bottle
A small bottle of Dasani water is about $3-$4 at Disneyland. That can really add up throughout day if you keep purchasing them.
I recommend packing your own reusable water bottle, insulated ones work great! You can pick up free ice water from the restaurants to fill up your insulated bottle or you can use the water bottle refill stations located throughout the Park.
The All-Day bag is another favorite for this because you don’t have to carry a separate bottle and it doesn’t look as dramatic as a regular Camel Back back. Find what works best for you!
Related Post: Top 3 Water Bottle Crossbody Bags for Disneyland
First Aid
A small first-aid kit is key to a full day at Disney Parks. I don’t mean a whole medical kit…unless thats what you need. Focus on key things like pain reliever, moleskin for potential blisters or band-aids in case a stroller knicks you!
We always pack a variety of stomach medicine to because we love to eat all of the treats. We like TUMS, Pepto, Immodium and Lactaid. Be honest about your stomach and be prepared.
Travel Fans
This one is a HUGE lifesaver on hot days. These tiny fans are perfect to toss in your bag and bring out when you’re standing in long lines in the sun.
We have a mix of regular fans, misting fans and also neck fans….we love them all!
The neck fans are also perfect to pack for regular travel for hikes, going to hotter places like Singapore and for Coachella! We’ve used them a lot.
Packable Blanket
If you plan on grabbing a seat for the parade or relaxing on the Hub grass, I recommend packing a small travel blanket. This doesn’t need to be anything fancy, just something to keep you clean and to keep yourself from sitting on the hot pavement.
Electrolyte Packs
Along with drinking tons and tons of water, you’re going to want to refuel you electrolytes. We always keep these little drink mixes with us, for the Parks and for everyday use.
We love Drip Drop electrolyte powder and LiquidIV electrolyte powder. There are some new ones we’re looking to try but these two have always worked best for us.
Sunglasses
Sun protection is key. We go back and forth between sunglasses, a hat or both. It really depends on how bright it is outside. Pack comfortable sunglasses that you can wear all day and won’t slip off on a ride.
Hat
A hat is a definite must-pack for Disney vacations, especially in the summer. My husband prefers regular baseball caps and I love bucket hats and the super-large straw hats.
Wear what works for you but remember to apply sunscreen everywhere, especially on your neck if you’re not planning on covering it with a large hat.
Sunscreen – SPF for Face and Body
I love sunscreen. Finding the perfect one has been a mission but I have a ton and keep them handy for every trip, big or small.
The summertime is especially a good time to apply and reapply sunscreen at the Parks. We pack a small spray one, a lotion for body and a stick sunscreen to easily reapply on our face.
Cooling Towel
Cooling towels are something I personally need to use more often. They are perfect for extremely hot days at Disney and are easy for kids to use/carry all day too.
It can be difficult to hold a fan for your kids or keep their hat and sunglasses on. A cooling towel is easy for them to wear and it feels great.
The Frog Toggs Chilly Pads are the best but there are a few other brands that work great too. I don’t recommend using a regular towel as a cooling towel because it will just dry up fast. If anything, check Home Depot for cooling towels too for outside work. Home Depot is my secret place or so many things!
Portable Charger
My phone seems to die super fast at Disneyland, probably because I’m always taking pictures but who isn’t?!
Pack a portable charger to keep your phone going all day and night. The sun also drains your phone faster, no idea why but whenever it’s hot my phone gets overheated and begins to lose battery fast.
Make sure you have power all day with these travel-friendly chargers.
Poncho
Back to the rain. Orlando has random showers all year round and the summertime is no different. There are even storms during the summer, so be prepared.
We personally prefer ponchos to umbrellas because they’re easier to pack and carry but use what works for you.
Disney does sell ponchos but they are around $13 each. Save the money and purchase a pack online or at Target for have that price.
Umbrella
If you’re not going to Disney World during hurricane season then a small travel umbrella will be just fine to help protect against the sun and scattered showers.
An umbrella is the perfect solution for shade when you’re walking through the Parks and you can find a lot of lightweight versions to fit in your bags easily.
Waterproof Phone Case/Bag
If you’re planning on visiting a water park at Disney World or spending some time at the pool, then a waterproof phone case or bag is just what you need.
You can take cute photos in the water with these cases and you can protect your personal items and phone on water rides.
Chaffing Stick
This is definitely a summertime essential. If you’re wearing shorts or a dress then you’re going to want to invest in a good anti-chaffing stick.
I first started using these when we were training for our first runDisney half marathon at Disney World. They are great for long days of walking or running, especially in the heat. Do your thighs a favor and invest in an anti-chaffing stick.
Hair Ties
A simple but effective way to keep cool at the Parks – putting your hair up. Plus, keeping your hair up keeps it out of your face on windy days too.
Hair ties are easy to pack in your bag, take up little to no space, and are a simple way to cool down.
Shoe Booties
This one is for my Disney World visitors. It storms all year long in Florida, that means wet floors and wet shoes.
Save yourself from wet socks and invest in shoe booties or shoe covers. You don’t have to have anything fancy, just something to cover your feet and keep you from slipping. Toss these on as soon as the rain starts and take them off once the shallow flooding has receded.
These are also perfect for water rides!
Sandals or Crocs
Another great footwear idea is to wear Crocs or sandals. But not the fancy sandals, the quick-dry sandals for outdoors.
Like I said before, it rains a lot in Florida, so having quick-dry shoes helps to avoid wet socks but also wearing shoe booties (if those aren’t your thing).
Your feet will get when but unless it’s a day-long storm, your feet will dry quickly. Once again, if its hot and sunny but a quick rain shower, your feet will dry quickly but if it’s an all-day storm I recommend wearing the shoe booties.
Swimsuits
If you’re staying at a hotel you’re going to want to take advantage of the pool. Swimming is a great activity for everyone in your group and it cools you down.
Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit even in colder months because the hot tub is always relaxing after a long day of walking too.
SPF Lip Balm
Don’t forget your lips! As you apply and reapply your face and body SPF, don’t skip your lips!
Sunburned lips are a thing and it can be painful. Avoid dry, chapped lips and sunburned lips by picking up a chapstick with SPF in it. Nothing fancy but make sure it has strong SPF protection.
Deodorant
Last but not least, is deodorant. I pack a mini tangerine scented Lume solid stick deodorant and I also apply the unscented Lume whole body deodorant before I leave for the Parks and it is amazing! I highly recommend the whole-body deodorant!
Invest in a good deodorant because you will definitely be sweating. If it’s crazy hot outside, I’ll reapply mid-day to stay feeling fresh.
Conclusion
With these packing tips and essentials, you’re well-equipped to tackle the summer heat and make the most of your Disney adventure. Remember, staying comfortable and prepared ensures that you’ll have a magical and memorable experience at the Happiest Place on Earth, even in the hottest months.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please comment down below!
See you at the Parks!
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