How to Survive Disney World in the Summer! (It's not too late to book that last minute trip!)

Summertime in Disney World, your first thoughts-hot, humid, and down right miserable.  Well, there are ways to enjoy the Happiest Place on Earth during the summer. I know what you're thinking, "There's NO WAY I'm heading there in that heat!" With a little planning, a Disney trip in the summer can be enjoyable!

​This is actually the first summer in 5 years that I haven't been to Disney World. As everyone knows, Central Florida is hot in the summer and being on the black asphalt makes it feel even hotter. So, how can it be enjoyable? Planning to get up early and take advantage of the morning Extra Magic Hours is a definite must during the summer. You can hit those popular attractions during this time, as long as you are staying on Disney property. (Extra Magic Hours are different than Early Morning Magic, which is a ticketed special for Magic Kingdom. Extra Magic Hours are included in the price of your Magic Your Way Package.) Go to as many attractions as you can until lunch. You can plan on eating in the park or go back to your resort and enjoy a restaurant there. This break is a MUST if you want to maintain sanity during the summer months.

During the break you can enjoy the resort's pool(s), relax, or take a nap (maybe do all 3). You want to have your children do this as well. This helps to avoid meltdowns during the heat of the day! Plan on going back to the park around 6:00 pm. Some people are going back to their resorts to get ready for supper, so this gives you another opportunity to hit some attractions or catch supper in the park. Later on for example, if you have seen the Electrical Light Parade at Magic Kingdom, go on rides or see characters during the first parade and plan on watching it the second showing if you haven't. 

You may also want to stay late for the Extra Magic Hours in the evening that is included in the Magic Your Way Package. The park may stay open up to 3 hours after it closes to the general public. Please see the park hour schedule available in your resort's lobby for a list of Extra Magic Hours for morning and evening.

If you are lucky enough to have a few days in Disney World, there is another way to beat the heat. This is a plan that my family has done in summers past and plan on doing next year. We plan on staying 4 nights. The first day/night we enjoy the resort and maybe Disney Springs. The second day we go to the parks in the morning, go to the resort at lunch, and then back to the parks about 6:00 pm. The third day we hit a waterpark and enjoy the resort. The fourth day we go back in the parks as stated on the first day. Putting a day between our 2 park days has been beneficial for my family. It provides an opportunity to slow down and not be exhausted from the heat and the rushing around.

A plan is essential during the summer. If you book a last minute trip, fast passes will already be spoken for most times, so you need to take advantage of given opportunities. This is why you book your Disney World vacation through a Disney travel planner like me. I will make those travel dreams into magical memories!