The middle of a Walt Disney World vacation probably isn’t when anyone wants to start throwing their carefully planned itinerary out the window.
This week, however, the weather may give guests a good reason to do exactly that.
Extreme heat is affecting Central Florida, with a heat advisory covering the Disney World area during a massive portion of the day. The advisory stretches from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., when visitors are encouraged to take precautions and avoid prolonged exposure to the heat when possible.
For guests planning to spend 10 or 12 straight hours inside a Disney theme park, that could mean making some major adjustments.
Disney World Faces Dangerous Heat
We recently covered the heat advisory and the potentially dangerous conditions surrounding Walt Disney World.
The heat advisory begins at 11:00 a.m. and continues until 8:00 p.m. across much of Central Florida.
During that window, heat index values could range between 108 and 111 degrees. Temperatures themselves are expected to climb into the mid-90s, with high humidity contributing to how hot it actually feels outside.
Anyone familiar with Disney World knows how much time a typical park day involves outdoors.
At EPCOT, guests can walk considerable distances simply traveling between attractions and World Showcase pavilions. Disney’s Animal Kingdom has several outdoor experiences, while Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios also require plenty of walking between air-conditioned buildings.
Those walks become considerably tougher when the heat index climbs above 100 degrees.
Consider Changing Your Entire Park Day
Instead of treating this like an ordinary summer day, guests may want to restructure their plans around the weather.
That starts in the morning.
Arriving for park opening gives visitors several hours before the advisory begins at 11:00 a.m. Prioritize outdoor attractions and experiences during that period rather than saving them for later.
Then consider leaving.
Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels have the advantage of being relatively close to the parks. Heading back to the resort for several hours can provide a break from the hottest portion of the afternoon.
You don’t necessarily need to stay away until 8:00 p.m., but remember that the advisory remains active into the evening.
If returning earlier, continue drinking water and finding air-conditioned breaks throughout the night.
Staying in the Parks? Head Indoors
Not everyone can easily return to a hotel in the middle of the day.
If leaving isn’t practical, your attraction strategy becomes much more important.
Try alternating outdoor activities with longer indoor experiences. Schedule lunch during the afternoon instead of eating quickly and immediately returning outside.
At EPCOT, spending time inside the park’s pavilions can provide a break from walking around World Showcase. At Magic Kingdom, indoor attractions can become particularly valuable during the afternoon.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios also offers several indoor shows and attractions, while Disney’s Animal Kingdom guests may need to be especially thoughtful about where they’re spending the hottest hours.
The objective isn’t necessarily getting fewer things done. It’s avoiding hours of continuous exposure.
Storms Add Another Challenge
The weather forecast could get even more complicated throughout the week.
Widespread showers and storms are expected, with some heavier rain possible around lunchtime. Storms won’t necessarily last all day, but Central Florida can experience intense downpours over relatively short periods.
Lightning can also affect Disney World’s operations.
Outdoor attractions and entertainment may temporarily close when storms move through the area. Guests should watch the My Disney Experience app throughout the day to see which attractions remain available.
Rain doesn’t necessarily mean the heat disappears, either.
Conditions can remain extremely humid, and temperatures can climb again once storms move away.
That makes preparing for both types of weather important. Ponchos and umbrellas may be necessary, but don’t forget water bottles, cooling towels, portable fans and sunscreen.
A Midday Resort Break Could Save Your Park Day
Disney World guests understandably want to squeeze everything possible out of their vacation.
This week, slowing down could actually help.
Getting exhausted during the afternoon makes it much harder to enjoy nighttime entertainment or stay until park closing. A few hours in air conditioning could leave guests feeling much better when they return.
Families with young children should be particularly careful about trying to maintain an aggressive touring schedule during extreme conditions.
The same applies to older visitors and anyone who knows they don’t handle extreme heat particularly well.
And if anyone in your group begins feeling unwell, don’t try to push through simply because another attraction is on the itinerary. Disney World has First Aid locations available inside its theme parks.
Disney World Isn’t Closing, But Guests Should Pay Attention
It’s important to make the distinction clear: Walt Disney World isn’t closing its theme parks because of this heat advisory.
Guests also aren’t being ordered to leave at 11:00 a.m.
Instead, the advisory identifies the lengthy period between 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. as a time when people should take additional precautions and limit heat exposure when possible.
For Disney World visitors, that could mean changing plans that were made months ago.
Get to the parks early. Prioritize outdoor experiences before temperatures climb. Drink water regularly. Spend more time indoors. Take a long resort break if possible.
Most importantly, don’t treat leaving the park for a few hours as losing part of your vacation.
When the heat index could reach 111 degrees, that afternoon break might be what allows you to come back and enjoy the rest of the night.
