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Disney truly is the most magical place on earth. Nothing beats the ambiance or the feeling of being taken to another world. I love Disney World! However, there are some challenges that come along with any trip to Disney. The walking, long lines, and unpredictable Florida weather is enough to scare anyone away. But please, don’t let me scare you into canceling your upcoming Disney trip! It is a truly amazing place and everyone should have an enjoyable time during their visit. Here are some tips and tricks I’ve learned on how to survive your vacation to Disney World.

The Florida Heat

I love Florida. It has beautiful blue skies, tropical green scenery, and warm weather. However, coming from a dry desert in the west, I was not used to the humidity. Humidity makes the weather feel even hotter than it is, and it leaves you feeling hot and sweaty all day long. Here are my best tips for beating the heat.

1. Wear the right clothing 

This one may seem obvious, but it is also very easy to overlook. Light, flowy clothing is the best option to wear in Orlando. I definitely recommend wearing cotton because of how breathable the material is. The last thing you want to do is wear dark, thick clothing. You will be sweaty and miserable all day. Make sure you also bring a good pair of sunglasses to keep the sun out of your eyes and bring a hat to protect your head and neck from the sun. Just make sure to hold on to them when you go on the rides so you don’t lose them! (I know from personal experience on that one). 

2. Bring a portable fan

Okay, okay. I know this one seems a bit ridiculous, but I swear to you it is so worth it. I got this one off of Amazon that has a battery operated fan and a spray bottle combined. It was perfect for those moments when we were overheating and just couldn’t handle the heat anymore. It really was a lifesaver until we could find somewhere with air conditioning to cool down. 

3. Stay Hydrated

This is another tip that seems simple, but is really easy to forget. We packed a large water bottle and brought it to all the parks with us. Disney has drinking fountains all over the park which makes refilling it with water so easy. My other tip in this category would be to keep your water bottle somewhere that’s easily accessible so that you don’t forget about it, and it doesn’t take too much effort to get to it. We also brought lemonade packets that we’d mix in to give us some variety. 

4. Find Air Conditioning

One of the best things about Disney World is that there is such a variety of things to do. They have rides, shops, and shows to keep all of the guests entertained. The best part about this is that most of these are indoors, and they have air conditioning inside. Sometimes the lines to the rides extend outside in the hot sun, but once you get inside the attraction, it has A/C! It gives such a nice break from the heat. If you just cannot take the heat anymore and don’t want to wait in a line to get inside to cool down, go check out a show or a shop! The shows give you a chance to get off your feet and cool down. Another great thing that Disney has to offer: they have fans mounted in nearly all the outdoor attraction lines. So even if you’re waiting in a long line to one of your favorite outdoor attractions, you’ll still have an opportunity to get some cool air. 

5. Wear Sunblock

I come from a family of fair-skinned redheads, so we couldn’t even walk outside without wearing sunblock, and if we did, we would for sure have a sunburn. There is nothing worse to ruin your vacation than a painful, blistered sunburn, especially because it’s totally preventable. Bring lots and lots of sunblock and apply it consistently throughout the day. I went on a whole trip to Florida without getting sunburned AT ALL! I prefer the spray sunblock because it goes on quick and easy, but if you prefer to lather up then go that route! This tip itself doesn’t help you cool off, but it sure helps to keep you safe from the hot sun.

The Florida Rain 

If you have ever visited Florida in the summer, then you know it’s the rainy season. It rains sporadically; sometimes it’s all day, sometimes it’s on and off, and sometimes it’s one and done. It’s not predictable and can be a bit of an annoyance during your trip. Here’s what I would bring to stay (semi) dry. 

1. Bring a Poncho/Umbrella

When it rains, it RAINS. You will get wet. But instead of swimming through the park, you can help yourself stay a little more dry and comfortable by packing a poncho. I wouldn’t cheap out and buy a $1.00 poncho. I would get one that’s a little bit nicer and a little bit more durable. My husband and I got caught in Epcot in a torrential downpour, and luckily were able to stay completely dry where our ponchos covered us. From the knee down, where our ponchos didn’t cover, we were absolutely soaked! We bought these ponchos, and they worked great for us. I would also bring an umbrella. There were days it rained so hard that we definitely needed both, and our umbrella was a lifesaver. It was a little windy as it was downpouring, and so make sure you have a little bit nicer of an umbrella that can handle the rain and wind. One thing though, if you go through security with an umbrella in your bag it will make the metal detector go off EVERY SINGLE TIME and they will inevitably search your bag. To save yourself a couple of minutes, take your umbrella out of your bag. 

2. Ziploc Bags

If you have things that need to stay dry, like a cell phone or camera, bring a gallon Ziploc bag and stick those items in there. It will provide a little bit extra protection and hopefully keep your items dry. If you have wet items, like wet socks, that you want to keep from getting the inside of your bag wet, then stick those in a gallon Ziploc bag. It protects everything else from the water by isolating the wet items in a waterproof bag. These Ziploc bags can also come in handy if you have leftover Disney treats that you didn’t finish and would be okay to carry with you all day, you can stick them in the bags. It’s the perfect multipurpose tool!

3. Pack some extra socks

If you decide to wear tennis shoes and it rains, your feet will be soaked. I would pack an extra pair of dry socks that you can switch into in the event it rains. I almost would recommend bringing an extra pair of shoes as well, but that takes up quite a bit of room in your bag and might not be realistic. If you wear sandals, just make sure they are broken in so that they don’t give you blisters or hurt your feet. 

Walking, walking, and more walking

If you take a trip to Disney World, expect to walk. A lot. The average amount that a person walks PER DAY at Disney World is 8 miles. I guarantee you’ll be having so much fun you won’t realize you’re walking that much. Here’s my two cents on how to survive the day walking that much, especially if you visit all four parks. 

1. Bring a Good Pair of Shoes

The last time I went to Disney World, I was just coming off major ankle surgery. I had only been back on my feet and walking for two weeks when we flew to Florida. I didn’t know how I was going to survive the trip, but I knew one thing: I needed a good pair of shoes. I brought a pair of broken-in tennis shoes with memory foam insoles. And somehow I was able to make it! Really, if I could survive a trip to Disney that close after having surgery, anyone can do it. If you don’t want to wear tennis shoes, you can find a nice solid pair of hiking sandals, like Tevas, to get you through the trip. I would not recommend wearing flip-flops or other types of flimsy sandals. Make sure your shoes are broken-in!

2. Moleskin

If your shoes are not broken-in as well as you would have hoped and you do develop blisters on your feet, bring some moleskin. If you’re unfamiliar with moleskin, it is like heavy duty band-aids made especially for blisters. They protect your existing blisters and keep them from rubbing and getting bigger, but you can also use it to prevent blisters from happening to begin with. Just place it on areas where your shoes rub and it will protect your feet. 

3. Pack a Lunch

Disney has some amazing food, but it can also get quite pricey if you are eating at the park all day. I would recommend packing a lunch or snacks so that you can eat throughout the day to limit the amount of food you are buying in the park. This also helps fuel you to keep going all day and hit all the attractions you want to. 

Well, congratulations! You made it through all of my tricks on how to survive Disney World. I hope you find these tips helpful on your trip to Disney World. What other tips do you have for a Disney World trip? Drop your suggestions below!