Tips for dealing with the heat in Orlando

If you’re stuck to going abroad during school holidays then you might find yourself on holiday during some of the hottest months. Having done this ourselves, here are some tips for dealing with the heat in Orlando!

Be sensible!

Whether you’ve been to Orlando numerous times before or this if your first visit, it’s easy to make some sensible choices. Although they might seem obvious, by following these simple tips you’ll be able to stay healthier on holiday:

Wear a hat

I am not a hat person and I actually hate wearing one. However, when you’re somewhere as hot as Orlando you need to wear one. A hat might make your head a bit sweaty but it will help to protect you from the sun.

Stay hydrated

I can’t stress enough how important it is is to make sure you’re staying hydrated. I know it can be easy to forget to drink when you’re out having fun but the good thing is, the parks make it easy to get water. There are plenty of water fountains dotted about and you can even get free iced water at Disney parks (see below).

Use SPF

This is another thing that’s easy to forget about when you’re having fun. Sun cream needs to be reapplied numerous times throughout the day. It’s advisable to use SPF50 where possible, especially on children. You can get travel-sized bottles or sprays, which are easier to carry around in your bag.

Pick your times carefully

The sun is hottest in the middle of the day so if you want to stay cooler, plan your time well. If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World resort make the most of magic hours and the free transportation. Head to the parks first thing in the morning, take a break in the middle of the day then head back in the afternoon. A break in the middle is the ideal time for lunch, a swim or maybe even a nap!

Dealing with the heat in Orlando at the theme parks

Make the most of the slower rides

Even though you’re spending the day at a theme park, it doesn’t have to be all about the big thrill rides. There are plenty of slower rides to enjoy and a lot of these are indoors. These are some of my favourites:

Free iced water

Not everyone knows this but certain quick-service restaurants at Disney World offer free cups of iced water if you ask. We knew about this beforehand but wasn’t sure about the specific locations. Cast members will gladly point you in the right direction though if you ask.

A favourite of ours was Cosmic Rays in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom. There’s loads of seating here and you can sit for as long as you like. As for a couple of cups too so you can fill up your water bottles before heading out again.

See a show

Being so hot can be exhausting, especially when you’re on the go all day. Most of the theme parks have various showing going on over the course of the day. These include (but not limited to):

Walt Disney World

• Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
• The Festival of the Lion King
• For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
• Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
• Feathered Friends in Flight!

Universal Orlando

• The Bourne Stuntacular
• Horror Make-Up show
• The Blues Brothers Show

Sea World

• Orca Encounters
• Dolphin Adventure

Have an extended lunch break

Days at the theme parks in Orlando can be long and extremely hot during the summer. There’s nothing wrong with having a break when you need it and lunch is a great time for this. Pick an indoor quick-service restaurant and take your time. No one will rush you once you’ve finished eating. This is a great time to rest your feet and make the most of your hand-held fan and free iced water!

Must have products

Before you jet off to Orlando, you might want to think about investing in a few items to take with you. When dealing with the heat in Orlando, some items are better than others. These are some we’ve tried ourselves.

Cooling towels

I was a bit dubious about cooling towels before I used them for the first time. Essentially, it’s just a towel that you soak in water but in reality, they really do work. Once you have soaked the towel with water you can then ring it out and it will stay cold for some time.

We found cooling towels to be one of the best things to cool us down on our holiday to Orlando in 2023. I tended to have mine around my neck whereas John tucked it into the neck of his t-shirt. This kept me a lot cooler in general and I could then use it to wipe my face when needed.

Many cooling towels come in plastic packets, which can you attach to your bag with a clip. This makes them easy to grab when you need them or put away when you don’t.

Buy cooling towels on Amazon.

Hand-held fans

A hand-held fan is going to be one of the best things you buy for a summer holiday to Orlando. As a family, we now have three fans and take them everywhere in the summer. These fans are USB chargeable and will fit in most bags.

At places like Disney or Universal, a lot of the queues are outside, with fans only blowing in certain areas. Having a hand-held fan means that you can stay a little bit cooler while waiting to get on the next ride! Our fans have 4 different speeds and the handle can be bent, meaning you can rest it easily on a table.

Buy hand-held fans on Amazon.

Insulated water bottle

July and August can be really hot in Orlando. There’s nothing worse than going to get a drink and it is warm. Insulated water bottles, such as those from Chillies, can help to keep your drinks at the right temperature.

Make your bottle even cooler by keeping it in the fridge before heading out for the day. When you fill it up, add some ice if possible!

Buy water bottles on Amazon.

Read more about our Orlando holiday:

• Staying at the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village and Spa
• Lunch at the Rainforest Cafe
• Breakfast at ‘Ohana
• A day in paradise at Discovery Cove
• Tips for dealing with the heat in Orlando
• See a dinner show at Pirate’s Dinner Adventure Orlando
• Our 2 week Orlando itinerary
• What our holiday to Orlando really cost