When choosing your summer travel destination, a lot of families set out for that once-in-a-lifetime destination trip. For some groups, that’s heading to an island getaway or maybe seeking out new adventures in a faraway destination. For others, though, Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, remains an appealing option for so many families.
Although days can get hot in the summer heat, the Southern California climate offers some of the best weather in the country throughout the year, especially when compared to Florida’s scorching summer climate. Still, being prepared for a Disneyland vacation remains imperative so you can beat the heat. We’ve got you covered with the best tips, tricks, and information for maximizing fun while staying cool and relaxed this year on your Disneyland vacation.
1. Fans, Misters, and Cooling Towels
No matter how prepared or accustomed someone might be to heat, temperatures at Disneyland can become uncomfortable in the summer. The amount of walking and inevitable crowds only adds to the warmth, which can cause unwanted anxiety.
To combat the heat, especially in the glaring sun or close-quarter queues, utilize portable fans, misters, and cooling towels. My past trips in July and August were made bearable with this small portable fan from Amazon and cooling towels purchased at Disneyland. The latter helps bring down the core body temperature remarkably well.
Of course, Disneyland offers all three for sale at usually marked-up prices. However, buying these items ahead of time saves money and alleviates stress. Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and hotel gift shops will have each.
2. Bring Extra Clothes
Although guests may not like to think about it, high temperatures mean sweating. Dressing in appropriate attire, such as shorts and cotton shirts that breathe well, will help. However, nobody is impervious to heat.
In this case, bring in extra clothing, particularly shirts, socks, and underwear, and store them in a purse, backpack, or locker available to rent. After hours of sweating, changing midday or early evening can be beneficial and make for a more pleasant experience. Moreover, extra clothes come in handy if you plan on riding any of the attractions where you may get wet or often drenched, such as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure or Grizzly River Run.
3. Wear or Bring Layers
Despite the high temperatures that typically come in the summer, many also forget Southern California’s unpredictable or varied weather. Morning and evening temperatures will often be significantly cooler than the heart of the day.
Wearing or bringing layers proves key. Light jackets, sweaters, and sweatshirts will be best for those colder moments. Plus, as stated, Disneyland has lockers available to rent for anyone who doesn’t want to carry these around all day.
4. Cool Treats, Drinks, and Hydrating
Although it may seem like a no-brainer, some visitors forget or underestimate the importance of staying hydrated. Remember to drink plenty of water during the day to prevent dehydration, headaches, and fatigue. Guests can bring their own water from home and refill it for free at various stations and quick-service restaurants.
Besides water, both parks offer numerous refreshing drinks and treats that will satisfy anyone. Visitors can never go wrong with the classic Dole Whip or Dole Whip float available at The Tropical Hideaway in Adventureland and Trader Sam’s/Tangaroa Terrace at The Disneyland Hotel.
Guests can indulge in ice cream at the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor and Carnation Cafe on Main Street, as well as The Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland. Disney California Adventure has ice cream at Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream on Buena Vista Street, soft serve at the Cozy Cone in Cars Land, and milkshakes and sundaes at Flo’s V-8 Cafe in Cars Land and the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain in San Fransokyo Square. Check out the complete list on the Disney Parks Blog website.
For refreshing drinks, I recommend the various lemonade offerings, including traditional watermelon, strawberry, and frozen options. These are located at multiple carts throughout the park. Many parkgoers will always enjoy the Boysen Apple Freeze from Maurice’s Treats in Fantasyland, a Mint Julep from the aforementioned bar in New Orleans Square, the Cold Brew Black Caf from Docking Bay 7 in Galaxy’s Edge, and the snow cones/cups from the Abominable Snowman Frosted Treats on Pixar Pier. Don’t forget to utilize mobile order to save time in line!
5. Shade is Your Friend
Parkgoers should always take breaks during hot days at theme parks. Importantly, staying out of the sun whenever possible will help guests to relax, recharge, and cool down. Whether to chill or eat, the shade will be your best friend during the summer.
In Disneyland, the best-shaded areas to cool down and relax will be the tables right outside the main gate, the It’s A Small World Promenade, the seating next to the former motor boat water area under the Monorail Track, the benches near the Hungry Bear Restaurant, and Pelican’s Landing next to the Rivers of America.
Quick-service restaurants with umbrellas or canopies (available to anyone whether you’re having a meal or not) include Plaza Inn, Refreshment Corner, and Jolly Holiday on Main Street, the Galactic Grill in Tomorrowland, the River Belle Terrace in Frontierland, and Tiana’s Palace in New Orleans Square. For a sit-down restaurant with outdoor shade, visit Cafe Orleans or the Carnation Cafe.
In DCA, Flo’s V-8 Cafe and the Paradise Gardens area offer ample shade and lots of table space, while the benches outside Soarin’ and along Redwood Creek offer some respite thanks to the tall buildings and trees. Likewise, Lamplight Lounge Boardwalk Dining has beautiful views in addition to being out of the sun.
Make sure you take advantage of any of the indoor sit-down restaurants in the parks and at the resorts as well!
6. Prioritize Indoor Attractions
While each guest has their list of preferred attractions, one should consider the weather. Disneyland has 26 indoor attractions and 18 outdoors. At DCA, you’ll find nine indoors and 14 outdoors.
A useful strategy will be to hit the outdoor ones early in the morning, preferably close to when the park opens. Arriving at “rope drop” allows guests to get quite a few attractions done quickly, such as Big Thunder Mountain, Dumbo, and the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland or Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and the Incredicoaster at DCA.
That “rope drop” strategy leaves the hottest part of the day free to enjoy indoor air conditioning. During midday, aim for attractions that keep you inside for extended periods, such as Rise of the Resistance, Indiana Jones Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, It’s a Small World, The Enchanted Tiki Room, The Main Street Opera House, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, Mickey’s Philharmagic, and Mickey and Minnie’s houses.
7. Sunscreen and Sunglasses
In between time indoors or in shaded areas, a great deal of your summer Disneyland trip will be in the hot sun. Preparing for that proves crucial to avoid exhaustion and sunburns. Even on overcast days, one should still wear sunscreen. Speaking from experience, sometimes the cloudy days will be the most unforgiving and damaging without proper SPF and reapplication.
Although not everyone likes to wear sunglasses, they’ll help reduce glare and prevent headaches and eye strain. Those with light eyes need to be especially careful. Nothing dampens a vacation more than suffering from sun exposure when one can easily manage it.
8. The Disneyland Railroad
An often overlooked and underrated attraction, the Disneyland Railroad provides guests with much-needed rest and transportation throughout the park. Walking in the summer can be tiring and hot. Enter one of Walt Disney’s crowning achievements.
Disneyland has five trains: the C.K. Holiday, the E.P. Ripley, the Ernest Marsh, the Ward Kimball, and the Fred Gurley.
Regardless, the Railroad allows visitors to travel between lands with stops at Main Street, New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown, and Tomorrowland. Passengers can also enjoy a leisurely grand circle tour of the entire park, which takes approximately 18 minutes. Rest your feet, get out of the sun, and enjoy the one ride guests can stay on as long as they wish. Someone could ride all day long if they so desired.
9. Single Rider and Outdoor Queues
Taking a cue from the early morning “rope drop” and indoor attractions strategy, the single rider option can save time in those long outdoor lines. While not an option for everyone, those who don’t mind their party being split up should definitely take advantage of this time-saver. Attractions with single rider queues include Space Mountain, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Radiator Spring Racers, Goofy’s Sky School, Grizzly River Run, the Incredicoaster, WEB SLINGERS, and Soarin’.
Additionally, visitors should take notice of attractions with outdoor queues, such as many Fantasyland rides, Big Thunder Mountain, or Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout. Ride these in the cooler, early morning, or at night when temperatures have dropped back down.
10. Take Hotel Breaks on Long Vacations
Midday hotel breaks will be most beneficial for those visiting the Disneyland Resort for multiple days in the summer, especially three or more days. On days when the heat becomes uncomfortable, head back to your hotel for a few hours to freshen up, nap, or even enjoy a dip in the pool. You’ll return to the park feeling re-energized and have the hottest temperatures behind you.
Of course, this will work best for guests staying on property at one of Disneyland’s three resorts or hotels within walking distance. If this way of thinking sounds appealing, summertime visitors should choose their hotel accordingly.
11. Crowd Expectations
Over the years, summers at Disneyland have been among the busiest times. However, in recent times, significant changes have occurred across the resort. Disneyland typically has no off-season anymore, and while summer will still be busy, some days may be manageable crowd-wise.
For example, lower-tier Magic Key holders are blocked out for a majority of the summer, lessening the crowd. Schools will be out in July and August. However, June and September (which still counts as summer weather in Anaheim) will often not be as crowded as expected.
An excellent resource for crowd predictions will be Is It Packed. Though not an exact science, this site is often very accurate and can help visitors choose which days they’d like to attend.