Credit: Laura (Tiger Girl), FlickrA summer trip to Walt Disney World always comes with one major challenge: the Florida heat.
But this week, the conditions around Orlando are becoming more serious than the typical hot and humid afternoon guests expect in July.
A heat advisory is in effect across much of Central Florida, with potentially dangerous conditions expected for hours at a time. The advisory specifically covers the period from 11:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m., when people are being encouraged to limit their exposure to the heat as much as possible.
For Disney World visitors, that creates an obvious problem. Those nine hours cover most of a normal theme park day.
Guests aren’t being ordered to leave Disney World at 11:00 a.m., and the parks aren’t closing because of the heat. Still, anyone visiting this week may want to seriously consider getting out of the parks — or at least spending a significant amount of time indoors — once late morning arrives.
Dangerous Heat Hits Disney World
Inside the Magic recently covered the heat advisory affecting Central Florida, and conditions could become dangerous for anyone spending extended periods outside.
The advisory runs from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., with “feels like” temperatures expected to reach between 108 and 111 degrees. Actual afternoon temperatures are expected to climb into the mid-90s, with high humidity making conditions feel considerably worse.
That’s particularly important at Walt Disney World because a park day can involve hours of walking outdoors.
Guests may spend significant stretches of time standing on pavement, waiting in outdoor queues, walking between attractions or watching entertainment without much protection from the sun.
Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom all have indoor attractions where guests can escape the weather, but getting from one air-conditioned location to another still requires plenty of time outside.
That’s why the 11:00 a.m. start time matters.
Guests who want to avoid the worst conditions could arrive at rope drop, spend the first few hours knocking out outdoor attractions and then leave around 11:00 a.m. for a long afternoon break.
Related: Dangerous Heat Descends on Disney World, Feels-Like 109 Degrees
Leaving Disney World at 11:00 A.M. Could Actually Make Sense
Leaving a theme park before lunchtime might sound ridiculous after paying for a Disney World vacation, but this is one of those weeks when adjusting your plans could make the trip much easier.
Instead of trying to push through the hottest part of the day, guests staying nearby can split their park day in half.
Arrive before or around park opening and prioritize outdoor rides while temperatures are lower. Once 11:00 a.m. approaches, consider returning to your hotel for lunch, swimming or simply a few hours in air conditioning.
Then, head back to the parks later in the evening.
The heat advisory doesn’t expire until 8:00 p.m., so conditions could remain uncomfortable well after dinner. Still, the setting sun can make the parks feel considerably different from the middle of the afternoon.
This strategy becomes especially important for families with young children, older adults and anyone who struggles with prolonged exposure to extreme heat.
And if leaving isn’t practical, guests should build indoor breaks into their day instead of spending hours moving continuously from ride to ride.
Rain Could Complicate Things Even Further
Unfortunately, extreme heat isn’t the only weather issue Disney World guests may encounter.
Storms and showers are also expected throughout the week. Some periods could bring heavy rain, particularly around lunchtime. The storms aren’t expected to last continuously throughout each day, but quick downpours remain possible.
Thunderstorms can also temporarily close outdoor Disney World attractions.
That creates a frustrating combination for vacationers. Guests may encounter intense heat and humidity before suddenly dealing with heavy rain, lightning and attraction closures.
Once a storm passes, the temperature can quickly become a problem again.
It makes checking the My Disney Experience app particularly useful throughout the day. Guests can watch attraction wait times and closures while adjusting their plans around changing weather conditions.
How to Beat the Heat at Disney World
If you’re visiting Disney World this week, don’t treat hydration as something you think about only when you get thirsty.
Bring a refillable water bottle and drink regularly throughout the day. Cooling towels and portable fans can also make outdoor stretches more manageable, while sunscreen should be reapplied as needed.
More importantly, take advantage of air conditioning.
Indoor attractions, restaurants and shops can provide valuable breaks from the heat. Instead of spending an entire afternoon bouncing between outdoor queues, mix indoor experiences into your schedule.
Guests should also consider moving outdoor priorities to the morning. Kilimanjaro Safaris, outdoor character experiences, walking trails and attractions with exposed queues make much more sense earlier in the day than during the hottest afternoon hours.
The same goes for simply exploring the parks. Walking around World Showcase at EPCOT at 2:00 p.m. can feel dramatically different from doing it shortly after the park opens.
Lightweight, breathable clothing can help, too. And while packing ponchos and umbrellas makes sense because of the expected storms, cooling towels, fans and water bottles could prove just as valuable this week.
Don’t Try to “Get Your Money’s Worth” by Pushing Too Hard
Disney vacations are expensive, which can make guests feel pressure to stay inside the parks from opening until closing.
This isn’t the week to approach a park day that way.
The current advisory specifically identifies 11:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. as the period when people should take additional precautions and avoid the heat as much as possible. With heat index values potentially reaching 111 degrees, changing plans isn’t wasting valuable vacation time.
It’s protecting the rest of your vacation.
Spending four or five hours cooling down at the hotel is better than pushing through dangerous conditions and potentially losing much more of the trip.
The good news is that Disney World doesn’t have to become an all-day endurance test. Early mornings, long afternoon breaks and evening returns can still give guests plenty of park time.
But for anyone heading to Walt Disney World this week, the normal advice about Florida’s summer heat carries considerably more weight.
Get outside early. Drink plenty of water. Find air conditioning frequently. Watch the weather closely.
And when 11:00 a.m. rolls around, don’t be afraid to leave the parks for a while.
