tips on dealing with the heat from southerners?

We'll be there next Saturday - and I'm looking forward to heat with some trepidation. I'm in Alberta, where we literally can count on one hand the days that go over 30 degrees (about 85 Fahrenheit) in the hottest part of the summer. I'm looking at temps around that for next week PLUS an extra 10 or so degrees with the humidex. Not only do I not have my "base tan", LOL, but we actually still had snow on the ground a week ago. Any tips for surviving the shock? I'm thinking stay hydrated ,take it slow, and seek out air conditioning or a pool as needed. I think I'm more worried about the humidity than anything - even when it is hot it is very dry here, so I'm afraid I'll feel like I'm being smothered! Any other advice?

I finally broke down and bought one of the cooling towels to take to the parks during our summer visits but even a washcloth would do in a pinch. I usually wet it, put it in a sandwich bag, and throw it in the freezer/fridge for the night. When my boys were young I used to use the misting bottles to help keep cool.

I'm not a southerner (I'm actually from NB, lol) but I really recommend afternoon breaks. It seems to take a lot of time but really is worth the 3-4 hours of down time in an A/C bus then your room and/or pool. If you can't give up that much time in your plan then I'd recommend scheduling a late lunch that you can linger over. Or to split the difference between break and no break, we have scheduled meals outside the park- take the monorail to one of the MK resorts for lunch or take a boat from HS or EP (we haven't actually done the boat but it could certainly work!). One year we just sort of camped out in the ABC Commissary for a long time in the middle of the afternoon. It wasn't busy so nobody seemed to mind. We even brought in snacks from a cart outside.

Also- people speak highly of those cooling towels. We didn't find them worth the hassle of lugging around but they might be worth a try!

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You're on the right track. Take it slowly and be sure to stay hydrated. At many of the parks you are in and out of air conditioning on rides/shows etc so that helps. When visiting in the midst of summer, we would often plan a sit-down mid-day meal in an air conditioned venue to help cool off. After lunch, we would most often return to our resort for some down-time in the air conditioning or by the pool. We would then return to the parks in the evening. While still hot, you wouldn't still have the sun beating down on you.

Be sure to use sun screen!!!

Well, what I do. I know the pain. It was hard when I moved from Detroit to Texas.

1. A good hat. Keep the sun off you. I wear sunglasses w/ croakies so I can adjust my hat easily and not lose my sunglasses. I clip my hat o onto my lanyard or backpack to help it dry when I can. A carabiner helps.
2. Plenty of cold drinks. I really like the frozen lemon vodka drinks from vodka.
3. Extra socks. Feet heat up, get wet/sweaty, swap them out. Need to keep the feet dry. Might even splash some goldbond (comes in travel containers).
4. During really hot times of the year, I bring my Geigerrig. The greatest thing. Kind of like a camelbak, but way better. It has a squeeze bulb you use to pressurize the water. So you can spray it out. No sucking on a hose. I fill it w/ icy water before we leave the resort. Nice cold spray mist. If we go in the summer, I pack it.
5. I bring a small towel. Wipe my sweat away as I go. If i want, ice it down w/ some cold water and wipe my face. Helps to feel refreshed. Especially if you can get some good AC.

1. Sun Screen
2. Drink lots of water (avoid Alcohol and soda... at least during the hottest part of the day).
3. Start drinking water before you are even out in the sun, if you feel thirsty you are already on the path to dehydration.
4. Stay in the shade as much as possible.
5. Where at hat with a wide brim (or at least where a baseball cap to keep the sun off of your face).

Just remembered at most dining locations in Disney you can get free ice water. Even if we get something else to drink, we always get the ice water too.

I have lived my entire life in Alabama so I am about as acclimated to the heat and humidity as one could be but since I live in it, I can offer some tips. I use these tactics when I am in WDW in the summer.

First, get to the parks early to beat as much of the heat as you can. Always stay in the shade as much as possible. If you were to see me at WDW, you would probably notice me crossing pathways at diagonals going from shade to shade to avoid walking in the direct sun. Even in the morning it is important because you will be more dehydrated the more you are in the sun plus you are more likely to get sun burned which is really going to hurt you in the future days if it happens.

Stay hydrated. Do not wait until you are feeling thirsty to drink water. Steadily take little sips or drinks. If you aren't having to use the restroom regularly, you are dehydrated and aren't drinking enough. If you find yourself really thirsty, you are already partially dehydrated and will most likely get really tired a few hours later.

Wait a little later to eat lunch. The later you can wait to take lunch, the hotter it will already be and you will be out of the heat and sun at some of it's worst. Eat inside in the A/C if possible and take a little bit to cool off and get hydrated back up.

Finally, think about the inside attractions and shows in each area. Every so often, do one of those where you can sit inside in the A/C and take a break. For example, do splash mountain and big thunder and then go to see the country bear jamboree. Do a couple more attractions and then go to the hall of presidents.

Clothing also makes a big difference. I wear dry fit type golf shirts because they are designed just for this type of situation. They breathe well and evaporate off perspiration quickly which helps you stay cooler. I see people wearing cotton t-shirts all the time and they are soaked with sweat and look like they are smothering. Cotton holds the perspiration instead of evaporating it off quickly which basically ends up being like wearing insulation. Cotton t-shirts are not the best idea. Also, wear light colors, white or grey. Do not wear black or dark blue. The dark colors absorb more of the sun's spectrum and get much more hot. Wear light colored, dry fit shirts for a couple of days and then wear a t-shirt and I promise you will never wear another t-shirt around that place again.

Some people leave in the afternoon and go to the resort for a couple of hours but I have found that that puts you in the sun and doing a lot of walking to get to buses and the resort and then back again. Going to the pool in the afternoon while it is hot sounds like a good idea but it puts you in the sun for a couple of hours.....not good.

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Originally Posted by Speedy1998

Just remembered at most dining locations in Disney you can get free ice water. Even if we get something else to drink, we always get the ice water too.

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Just remember that you will need to keep the electrolytes up as well. Water will wash out the electrolytes if that is all you are drinking. Last thing you need is to cramp up with all the walking in the heat and humidity.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. All those other tips and tricks are good too, but the number one thing is to make sure your body stays well hydrated. We tend to sip on water constantly through the day. I can tell when I haven't had enough water, my body literally feels like it can't cool itself.

Other than hydrating we still bring our misting fan and we take midday breaks during the hottest parts of the day. Nothing better than a cool, welcoming pool when it's so hot in the parks.

Everyone has given you great advice.
When you start feeling thirsty, you are already a quart low on liquid, so don't wait to start hydrating. Alternate water and beverages like PowerAde/Gatorade to keep your electrolytes up (check with the doctor if you have kidney problems). They have powder mixes of these that would be easy to carry into the park and mix with water.
If you don't go back to your resort in the heat of the day or stop in to have a sit down meal at a restaurant, alternate outdoor rides with indoor rides ie Jungle Cruise, then Pirates, then Splash Mountain (to get wet) then Big Thunder, then Haunted Mansion
With high humidity, your body may not cool down with just perspiring (the sweat doesn't evaporate). Be aware of that. If you start feeling lightheaded, nauseated, dizzy, etc, you should head back to your room for a while. Take slow sips of fluids even if you are nauseated.
Last time I went at this time of year, I didn't think it was bad at all. I am from Phoenix though, so 85 is an early spring day for us.
If you are really concerned about it, I will be there at the same time you are. I can PM you my phone number, and you will have an ER nurse at your disposal

Take your time, get the free ice water often and enjoy the shops with their amazing AC !! If you can, plan to rope drop the park, exit for some nap or pool time around noonish, then head back to a park that evening ..... that has been our plan of attack for many years !!

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Originally Posted by Cinderelley

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If you are really concerned about it, I will be there at the same time you are. I can PM you my phone number, and you will have an ER nurse at your disposal

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What a lovely offer! I don't want to bother you, and they have first aid stations everywhere, but somehow I'll feel comforted knowing there is a friendly face in the crowd....even though I could walk right by you and never know, LOL Kind of weird, actually, to think that we may "know" people from Intercot that we see in the parks and not realize it!

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Originally Posted by mom2morgan

What a lovely offer! I don't want to bother you, and they have first aid stations everywhere, but somehow I'll feel comforted knowing there is a friendly face in the crowd....even though I could walk right by you and never know, LOL Kind of weird, actually, to think that we may "know" people from Intercot that we see in the parks and not realize it!

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We know who you are.. you have the disney illness.. we can see you.. you can't see us..

Who know when Disney lurks in the hearts of men...

The Disney Shadow knows...

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Originally Posted by texas211

We know who you are.. you have the disney illness.. we can see you.. you can't see us..

Who know when Disney lurks in the hearts of men...

The Disney Shadow knows...

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A mouse of mystery who strikes magic in the heart of.... okay, that's all I got...

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Originally Posted by mom2morgan

A mouse of mystery who strikes magic in the heart of.... okay, that's all I got...

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in the heart of the young and young at heart.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mom2morgan

What a lovely offer! I don't want to bother you, and they have first aid stations everywhere, but somehow I'll feel comforted knowing there is a friendly face in the crowd....even though I could walk right by you and never know, LOL Kind of weird, actually, to think that we may "know" people from Intercot that we see in the parks and not realize it!

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Well, if you see someone running around with the plush Maleficent ears hat (not the hard band type), that is most likely me. I haven't seen anyone else with it, even though I bought it at Disney World. Feel free to say Hi if you want. I've travelled all over the country and met up with people I talk to on the internet. It won't phase me at all.

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Originally Posted by Cinderelley

Well, if you see someone running around with the plush Maleficent ears hat (not the hard band type), that is most likely me. .

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hahahhahahahah