Be sure to bring your water bottle!
By D’land Diva
Some of you may find it hard to believe this, but Disneyland can reach temperatures of over 100 degrees F. I’d like to say it was just summertime that this happens, but truth is, we had a heat spell this past JANUARY that brought temperatures into the upper 90’s.
This being the case, it pays to check the weather before your Disneyland trip and it pays to plan in advance for those super hot days.
Here are some helpful Diva Tips:
1) Plan. When doing your Disneyland Resort trip planning, be sure to add breaks to your schedule. If you learn that the weather will be particular warm during your trip, plan carefully. Sometimes it is helpful to get the park at opening, go back to your hotel for a nap and a swim mid-day and then return to the park after 3 or 4 pm (when those ocean breezes begin to kick in). Also be aware: MANY of the ride and attraction queues at the Disneyland Resort are outside. If there is an hour long wait for a ride, you may be standing in direct sunlight for an hour.
2) Stock Up. I’m going to go against some of my own previous Diva advice here, but if you don’t want things that break, do not go to the dollar store to get your sun care items. I know, I know, it is much cheaper. But our personal fans we brought into the park with us? Broke. Our misters? Broke. Our special toys for the long lines? Broke. So you may want to consider adding just a bit more to your budget and shopping at Amazon or Walmart or Target before your trip. Here are some items that might be helpful on hot days:
– Hat. It is helpful to have a hat with a wide brim that also skims the back of your neck. Here is a great example. I speak from experience here, back of the neck sunburns- ouch!
–Sunglasses.
–Cooling bandanna. Wet, wrap around your neck and keep cool. Here are some good examples.
–Fan mister. These ones are small and cute. If you want to bigger one, these are a good option (but be aware, your water will get warm after awhile on super hot days).
– Moisture wicking socks. These are extremely helpful when it comes to preventing blisters. Here is a good option.
–Sunblock. We have found in the D’land Diva family that it is helpful to have a stick sunblock for the face and a spray or liquid for the rest of our body.
–Water bottle. You can get free water cups in the park, but if don’t want the hassle, it is good to have your own water bottle. You can also buy a hydration backpack which looks like this.
The Haunted Mansion
3) Take Advantage of Indoor Rides. Yes, there are many rides that are indoors at the Disneyland Resort, but I’m talking about the attractions and rides that are 15 minutes or more of blissful air conditioning. Some suggestions?
At Disneyland: Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Captain E.O., Golden Horseshoe Stage Show, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Innoventions Building
At California Adventure: Disney Junior- Live on Stage!, Muppet Vision 3D, Disney’s Aladdin- A Musical, It’s Tough to Be a Bug, Disney Animation Building
4) Take Advantage of Water Rides. You will most definitely get wet on Grizzly River Run at California Adventure. You will probably also get wet on Splash Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. Now, these rides do get more crowded on hot days, so my recommendation is to get there early and enjoy your cool wet clothes for a bit. Grizzly River Run and Splash Mountain also have fastpasses so grab ’em!
Water play area in a Bug’s Land at California Adventure
There is also a splash area in a Bug’s Land at California Adventure. This is your opportunity to just get soaked! Let the kids run around and cool off for a bit!
5) Go to First Aid or the Baby Care Center. If you are just beyond heat exhausted and maybe on the verge of a heatstroke, there are beds in cool air conditioning at the First Aid centers at Disneyland and California Adventure. There is also ice cold filtered water at these locations. Heatstroke happens, even at the Happiest Place on Earth. If you have little ones, consider changing their diaper or nursing at the Baby Care Center where it is nice and cool, You can also plan to feed your little ones here, as they have high chairs. This gives the family a cool break as well.
So there you have it, just a few suggestions for keeping cool at the Happiest Place on Earth. I once read that one of the funniest questions asked of a cast member was ” Can you please turn down the heat?” Unfortunately, Disney cannot control the weather, but there are some things you can do to stay cool and keep the happy in your vacation.
