HOT! The Warmest Places in the Theme Parks

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03-10-2018, 09:19 PM
brad192

HOT! The Warmest Places in the Theme Parks

The latest post about the redo of the Odyssey area got me thinking about how incredibly hot that walkway that winds between Mexico & Norway that passes by the Odyssey building is. No shade to speak of, nothing but concrete that absorbs/reflects/radiates heat, and the lack of any place to grab a cool drink. I've only experienced it during non-summer trips & can't imagine what it's like in July, on a clear day, with temps around 95 degrees with Florida humidity thrown in for good measure. :faint: My vote for hottest area in Epcot, and then I started to think about the other parks...

MK & DHS I'm not so sure about, but AK - I know why it's always so hot there.

I took the Backstage Safari tour a few years ago, and one of the questions I asked our guides was "Why is it so hot in the park?" Their answer was "Because of all the foliage & the water needed to keep it alive, the humidity levels are quite high in the park." They also said that, when designing the park, they designed in a 10 foot high berm around a lot of the park perimeter, with obstacles, to try and keep out the indigenous wildlife. Makes sense, after all, who wants to be on Kilamanjaro Safari when an unsuspecting raccoon wanders into the lion area? Eww...:scared:

So, what's your vote for hottest area in the theme parks? Inquiring minds want to know! :mickey:
03-10-2018, 09:26 PM
texas211

Well, the AK reminds me of Bataan. Especially the walkway near Dino and Nemo.

Epcot, I felt area b/w Journey and the World gateway walkways (closer to the Land and so forth), though
the Gateway itself is so hot, late in the day.

MK, Fantasyland. Everything about it feels hot, and just in front of the castle..

MGM, again front of the Theatre. Too hot. And just in front of the Mermaid area.
03-11-2018, 10:06 AM
buzznwoodysmom

I find Epcot to be a very hot park. Lots of concrete, little shade....

I think the hottest I've ever been in Disney was in line for Big Thunder Mountain. It was a June trip and the line was long, we didn't have a FP. I just remember it being almost unbearable. We almost decided to just bail.
03-11-2018, 11:54 AM
brownie

Animal Kingdom always feels like the hottest to me.
03-11-2018, 01:07 PM
NickD100

I find Epcot to be the coolest park. It’s big and open. There seems to be a breeze off of world showcase lagoon. It also can be the coldest park. I have froze my butt off out there at Epcot. Again, that cold wet wind that comes off of the lagoon.

And the boardwalk can be hot too at times. It’s kinda blocked from a nice airflow as well.

MK is hot to me. Especially in fantasyland. It’s tight and all concrete. The buildings prevent wind and air flow.

Animal kingdom is hot too. Not a lot of breeze and the trees hold in the humidity.
04-06-2018, 08:19 PM
jennsky

I agree with all of that. I feel like we all know things get hot in Florida. Why don’t they create more shady areas?? Like big pergolas or plant more trees for shade or something! Sometimes I just can’t handle the heat down there. (Insert the Wicked Witch screaming “I’m MELTING!!” Lol!)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
04-07-2018, 03:12 PM
texas211

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennsky

I agree with all of that. I feel like we all know things get hot in Florida. Why don’t they create more shady areas?? Like big pergolas or plant more trees for shade or something! Sometimes I just can’t handle the heat down there. (Insert the Wicked Witch screaming “I’m MELTING!!” Lol!)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

B/c the humidity makes it worse. I feel AK is fairly shady w/ its trees, but feels the hottest. Probably b/c of the plants/water it is the most humid feeling.
04-09-2018, 12:44 PM
Speedy1998

AK gets my vote for park that feels the hottest, I think it is because of all the trees preventing any type of breeze from going through it.

MK - Tomorrowland is the worst. Lots of concrete, very little shade. (Fantasyland is a close second, but the buildings tend to provide more shade in the late afternoon early evening so I personally think it cools off earlier than Tomorrowland).

Epcot - The area between Futureworld and the World Showcase has got to be the worst on most days.
It seems like most days you will get some type of breeze off the World showcase lagoon, so once you get to the world showcase loop it is usually much better (plus the trees provide shade, and unlike AK there are not so many that they stop the breeze).

HS - In front of the Chinese theater is the worst, same problem as Tomorrowland, lots of concrete, very little shade.
04-18-2018, 03:53 PM
azcavalier

AK is always a few degrees warmer than the other parks. It's more humid, certainly.

In front of Cinderella Castle is the worst. One time we staked out a place to wait for the evening shows, and our youngest (probably about 8 at the time) actually got Heat Exhaustion. I had to carry her through that impossible mass of people all the way out to the monorail to get home. It was the worst.
04-19-2018, 09:33 AM
magicofdisney

It's all hot to me.

I will agree, however, that Big Thunder Mountain's queue is unbearable. I know they've put in ceiling fans, but for whatever, illogical reason, they're not always on.
04-19-2018, 07:17 PM
texas211

Quote:

Originally Posted by magicofdisney

It's all hot to me.

I will agree, however, that Big Thunder Mountain's queue is unbearable. I know they've put in ceiling fans, but for whatever, illogical reason, they're not always on.

If we are talking queues. I'll throw out the Speedway, Laugh Floor (soooo stuffy). I don't know why they don't do more cooling in places like JC, POTC, Kilamajaro, Bugs Life.
04-25-2018, 08:52 AM
Cinderelley

Well, because someone has to defend the Happiest Place on Earth, I don't really think it is that hot. It is certainly humid but not hot. I remember being at AK in early June and shivering when we got wet on Kali River Rapids. I went into Pizzafari and used the air hand dryer to dry my clothes. Most of the times I wear pants to the parks to stay warm.

I don't understand how you guys survive in the wintry weather.
04-25-2018, 05:25 PM
texas211

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinderelley

Well, because someone has to defend the Happiest Place on Earth, I don't really think it is that hot. It is certainly humid but not hot. I remember being at AK in early June and shivering when we got wet on Kali River Rapids. I went into Pizzafari and used the air hand dryer to dry my clothes. Most of the times I wear pants to the parks to stay warm.

I don't understand how you guys survive in the wintry weather.

You are from a state that is entirely desert!
04-26-2018, 05:17 AM
Cinderelley

Quote:

Originally Posted by texas211

You are from a state that is entirely desert!

Well, technically not entirely. Northern Arizona is very green and snows. I do live in the desert part though, and I thoroughly enjoy the summer months here - every degree of that 110 degree plus weather is beautiful!
04-26-2018, 08:46 AM
texas211

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinderelley

Well, technically not entirely. Northern Arizona is very green and snows. I do live in the desert part though, and I thoroughly enjoy the summer months here - every degree of that 110 degree plus weather is beautiful!

Sounds good overall. AZ is one of the states i'd consider retiring to.

I still say AK is the hottest, followed my MK castle area. I've bought a mickey bar, stuck it in a ziploc bag and stuck in my shorts. Just too hot.

When I'm home in DFW, I stay in the AC and we haven't much in the way of outdoor activities.
04-26-2018, 09:12 AM
Cinderelley

Quote:

Originally Posted by texas211

Sounds good overall. AZ is one of the states i'd consider retiring to.

I still say AK is the hottest, followed my MK castle area. I've bought a mickey bar, stuck it in a ziploc bag and stuck in my shorts. Just too hot.

When I'm home in DFW, I stay in the AC and we haven't much in the way of outdoor activities.

Every Easter we have a big family get together. At some point in the day, there is a giant ice fight with everyone trying to shove ice cubes down everyone else's shirt. I may start a new tradition with mickey bars in Disney World now. >:)
04-26-2018, 09:08 PM
Simba's Mom

Quote:

Originally Posted by texas211

You are from a state that is entirely desert!

Not entirely. We live in a part of Texas with Palm trees and humidity that causes a "feels like" temperature of about 20 degrees warmer than the actual temperature. Yes, parts of Texas are sub-tropical.
04-27-2018, 10:52 AM
#1donaldfan

Quote:

Originally Posted by texas211

Well, the AK reminds me of Bataan. Especially the walkway near Dino and Nemo.

Epcot, I felt area b/w Journey and the World gateway walkways (closer to the Land and so forth), though
the Gateway itself is so hot, late in the day.

MK, Fantasyland. Everything about it feels hot, and just in front of the castle..

MGM, again front of the Theatre. Too hot. And just in front of the Mermaid area.

I agree !! AK reminds me of Angeles City, PI ... at least before Mt. Pinatubo decided to crush our house on base. I've not been back since. The covered area at the Tusker House reminds me of what the main gate looked like at Clark Air Base. I love that area since it reminds me so much of that place !! Oh, and yea, it's hottest at EC for me, the World Showcase is scorching hot !!
04-28-2018, 02:15 PM
texas211

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinderelley

Every Easter we have a big family get together. At some point in the day, there is a giant ice fight with everyone trying to shove ice cubes down everyone else's shirt. I may start a new tradition with mickey bars in Disney World now. >:)

Yeah, just don't forget the ziplock bags. Else, going to be a bit uncomfortable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simba's Mom

Not entirely. We live in a part of Texas with Palm trees and humidity that causes a "feels like" temperature of about 20 degrees warmer than the actual temperature. Yes, parts of Texas are sub-tropical.

A) Was talking about that person being from Arizona. B) I've been to Brownsville. Its horrible there too. All of Tx I've lived in.. hot. Hence, bag of frozen peas in my lap while I have a cigar on the patio. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by #1donaldfan

I agree !! AK reminds me of Angeles City, PI ... at least before Mt. Pinatubo decided to crush our house on base. I've not been back since. The covered area at the Tusker House reminds me of what the main gate looked like at Clark Air Base. I love that area since it reminds me so much of that place !! Oh, and yea, it's hottest at EC for me, the World Showcase is scorching hot !!

Yeah, the WS area is crushing too.