Have you ever been to Disney World in August?

Let me paint a picture for you. It’s 98°. You’re standing in an outdoor queue for a ride with a 2-hour wait time, desperately trying to inch closer to the fan that’s fifteen feet ahead of you. The Dole Whip you got earlier in the day to cool off melted into a sticky mess as you ate it, and the evidence is on your shirt. Listen, we love Disney World, but in the summer it can be ROUGH. So, sometimes we do some questionable things to survive the heat — but don’t knock ’em til you try ’em!

The DFB staff has spent a lot of time in the parks in the brutal summer sun. So, how do we manage? Well, let’s take a look at some of the crazy things we’ve done. 🫣

1. Play in the “Kids” Splash Pads

Listen, just because we’re adults, doesn’t mean we don’t need a fun way to cool off too! It is Disney World, after all. One of our favorites is the Casey Jr. Splash ‘n’ Soak Station in Storybook Circus in Magic Kingdom.

There are plenty of water jets, so there’s room for all of the kids and you to cool off. If you’re in EPCOT, the Liquid Layer splash pad is also a good option. The jets aren’t as high for us taller adults, but they’ll get the job done.

There are a few misters and other smaller fountains around the parks as well, like the Cool Ship misters in Tomorrowland and the Tiki misters in Adventureland, both in Magic Kingdom.

If you’re coming to Disney World in the summer, you might want to take advantage of these water areas (and bring some water-friendly shoes!)

2. Use Cooling Tools That Are Less-Than-Fashionable

It’s fun to plan a perfect park outfit for all of those Disney World photo-ops, but in the summer, sometimes looking put-together really just isn’t on the table. Do we take advantage of neck fans, cooling towels, and misting fans? Absolutely, we do.

If you think you’re too cool for such devices, you’re probably setting yourself up to stare longingly at the family in line next to you who did bring one, hoping to catch any runaway droplets that come your way. And while we’re at it, sometimes you need to soak a cooling towel in cold water and just wear it over your head for a minute. Or 10, we’re not judging.

Trust us, you’re going to forget all about looking “cool” when you’re sweating in places you didn’t even know you could.

3. Camp Out in the Air Conditioning

Does Disney want you to hang out in its stores? Absolutely. But sometimes we’ve stayed in them looooong past the time we decided we weren’t going to buy anything. Any place that has air conditioning is like an oasis when you’re in Disney World!

Speaking of cold rooms, sometimes you just gotta sit through the Hall of Presidents four times in a row to cool off and gather your senses.

There’s no shame in it. Traipsing around Disney World is a lot of work in the summer heat.

4. Stay in the Bathroom … Longer Than Necessary

Sometimes the park is so busy that the only place you’ll find an air-conditioned space and some privacy is in the bathroom. So yes, we are guilty of sitting on the toilet for an extended period of time occasionally. It’s NECESSARY sometimes, don’t judge us!

And while you’re in there, sometimes you just need to splash some water on your face to cool off.

5. Abandon the Park

Lastly, sometimes the best way to stay survive the heat is to just throw up your hands, say “No park is worth this,” and head back to your resort pool.

Disney Resort pools generally still have that Disney vibe, so you’re not completely giving up on the experience. Sometimes ordering a fruity drink, taking a dip, and going back to the parks once the sun goes down is the best way to enjoy your trip.

So yes, have we done some unpopular things in Disney World to beat the heat? Definitely. But, Florida gets hot, so you need to get by somehow! What are your favorite tricks? Let us know in the comments — this is a judgment-free zone.

We’ll keep bringing you all the latest Disney tips and tricks, so stay tuned to DFB for more!

Read about the 5 MAJOR changes coming to Disney World in May

Have you done any of these things in Disney World before? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Don’t Judge Me For What I Did in Disney World Last Summer first appeared on the disney food blog.