We are all thrilled that summer is coming and many of us have trips planned to Walt Disney World. We have a few quick tips to help you have a wonderful summer vacation at Walt Disney World. Some of these tips are helpful all year long; however, some of the tips become even more important during the summer months.
Take a look at these tips and get ready for a fun-filled summer in Walt Disney World.
Plan for Food
This is a good tip for all trips to Walt Disney World, but if you are wanting to get out of the sun during the summer months having a plan for food is important.
For table-service meals where you will be waited in and out of the sun for anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes, you will want to make a dining reservation 60 days prior to your travel dates. Popular dining locations such as Space 220, Chef Mickey’s, California Grill, and others fill up quickly.
If booking a table-service meal isn’t in your plans, we still recommend having a plan on when and where you want to eat. Summer months are busy and you want to be ahead of the crowd. Think about eating at off times to help avoid some of the larger crowds that show up at 11:00 to 1:00 pm or 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Quick-service locations take mobile ordering which we highly recommend making sure you know how to navigate before you head to Walt Disney World. This allows you to book your dining time and location ahead of time and will save you a lot of time in line that isn’t necessary.
Head to your My Disney Experience app to set this up and be ready to go.
Consider Genie, Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lanes
As we anticipate crowds to be larger this summer, a tip for a successful summer experience in Walt Disney World is to look into Disney Genie and all it has to offer.
Disney Genie is a free feature found in the My Disney Experience app that provides Guests will tips and suggestions when it comes to touring the Parks as well as eating.
Genie+ is a paid feature that Guests can add to their Park tickets for $15/day/person. By purchasing this feature, Guests are given the opportunity to bypass the long standby lines. We have a lot of information at How to Disney regarding how to use Genie+ and what we think about it. Because of those larger crowds, we think it would be a good feature to look into and consider adding.
Also, an option we think will be helpful to those heading to Walt Disney World during the busy summer months will be purchasing Individual Lightning Lanes. These are rides that aren’t included in Genie+ and therefore have to be purchased separately in order to bypass the standby lines.
For a successful summer trip, we think that take time to research these features and consider adding them for at least part of your trip.
Be Early/Stay Late
Since the heat and humidity are difficult during the summer months, a quick tip we have is to be in the Parks early in the morning or late at night.
For Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, take advantage of the early entry. This allows Guests of these Resorts to get into the Parks a half-hour prior to the official opening. Although this might not seem like a lot of time, it will be a lot cooler and a lot less crowded.
Deluxe Resort Guests have the option to attend the extended evening hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, and EPCOT on select evenings. These Parks typically stay open two hours after Park closing giving Guests some great Park time with lower crowds and no sun- a huge bonus.
Those early and late hours are key to avoiding the hot and humid afternoons.
Take Breaks
If you aren’t ones that like to get up early or stay late, our next big trip is key. Make sure you take breaks throughout the day. Taking the afternoon when it is the hottest to head back to your Resort to enjoy the pool, take a nap, and refresh is important to your physical and mental health during these summer months.
Head Inside
Making sure you head inside throughout the day is also a big tip for a successful summer trip. Knowing where the best inside attractions are will allow you to take a break in the air conditioning. Each Disney Park offers some excellent indoor attractions that will allow your body to cool down and relax before heading back out into the sun.
Head into the air conditioning every hour or so to allow your body to cool down.
Have a Plan
You don’t want to add any additional steps to your day if you don’t have to. Have a plan on how you want to tour the Parks so you aren’t wasting time walking back and forth.
Make sure you know the top must-dos for the day so you can create a touring plan that prevents crisscrossing and a lot of extra steps.
You won’t want to be walking any more than you need to during those hot summer months.
Dress for Success
In this case, we mean to dress for the heat. Don’t wear a lot of heavy clothes, but instead look into Dri-Fit and similar, breathable clothes. This might not seem like a big deal, but having clothes that are made for heat and humidity will make a big difference.
Consider having extra shoes so if one causes blisters because of the heat and sweat, you will be able to change them out giving your free some relief.
Although we love the matching, fun shirts, make sure that they aren’t going to cause you to be uncomfortable during the summer.
Drink All the Water
Drinking water and staying hydrated is SO extremely important in Walt Disney World and even more important during the summer months. Since you will be sweating a lot during the summer months, your body needs even more water to stay hydrated.
Make sure you have plans on how to stay hydrated. Bring your own water bottle, purchase a case of water from a delivery service, or stop by the quick-service locations for free ice water.
No matter how you are going to get water, make sure you do so often during your vacation. We also recommend hydration packets as well.
Wear Sunscreen
Do not forget to wear and reapply sunscreen often throughout your Walt Disney World trip. The Florida rays are strong and can really impact your trip if you aren’t careful.
As you remember to drink water, take time to reapply your sunscreen as well to keep yourself protected.
Chill Out
Finally, make sure you take time to just chill during the summer months. The crowds and heat will be a lot so allow yourself some time to just sit and relax.
Enjoy an extra snack, watch the cavalcades or enjoy walking through the shops. By taking time to chill in the Parks or at the Resorts you will be able to handle the hat more which is important during the summer.
As teachers, many of us head to Walt Disney World during the summer months and have wonderful trips. We keep these tips in mind to help us have a great experience even when it is hotter than we are used to.
We hope that these ten quick tips for summer in Walt Disney World will help you have a wonderful time as well.
