Hey Howdy Hey Kimberly,
Welcome back to planDisney. It is so great to see you hEAR again! I have to admit, I am slightly jealous that your zip code has you residing in Mickey Mouse's backyard. What a treat to be within the same state lines as
Walt Disney World Resort!
As a native Floridian, you know better than anyone how quickly the sunshine and heat can overwhelm you while trying to enjoy a day at the theme parks. Guests are so excited to get to their favorite attraction or want to "camp out" for that perfect parade viewing spot that they often do not realize how hot or sunburned they are until it is to late. No matter what theme park you are at, it is crucial that you stay well hydrated. You can get free cups of water at most quick service restaurants and there are a number of water fountains and water bottle refill stations throughout all the parks as well as
Disney Springs. Be sure to take advantage of these often! We also find it helpful to keep a cooling towel on hand. It makes a noticeable difference in our comfort level.
As for your specific question, I often comment how much hotter it always feels at
Disney's Animal Kingdom. I think that is because of the increased amount of trees, plants and landscaping throughout the park. In order to build a natural environment for the animals, over 400 million trees, grasses, bushes and flowers were originally planted at this theme park. And while you may think all these trees would provide extra shade and keep Guests cooler, it really is the opposite. The landscaping raises the humidity levels and causes the park to feel much hotter. Luckily, there
are plenty of ways to escape the heat though, like taking time to enjoy a meal at an indoor restaurant. Instead of a "grab and go bite" before heading to the next attraction, actually sit down inside and enjoy a meal. There is also a good size Starbucks at this theme park which offers a chance to sit and enjoy a cool beverage and escape the heat. We like to plan our schedule so we are enjoying the indoor entertainment shows during the hottest part of the day. This includes It's Tough to Be a Bug,
Festival of the Lion King or
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond (so excited this is now back). All of these options are not only fantastic shows, but they will also offer you a chance to sit for an extended period of time inside an air conditioned building.
You can also pop in and out of the merchandise shops for a cool down. While many have an open air layout or the doors may be left open to welcome in Guests, I can promise you, they will still have the air conditioning on high and you will notice the difference. Lastly, one of the ways we like to beat the heat is hitting the park right when it opens and then heading back to our resort during the afternoon hours when the temperature and humidity start to soar. We cool off at the pool and head back to the park in the late afternoon for dinner reservations or evening entertainment.
I hope you find some of these tips helpful. If I can help with any additional planning assistance,
please stop back and see me.
With pixie dust,
Margaret