Planning a Walt Disney World Vacation during an Orlando summer is a popular choice. Most kids are enjoying their summer vacation, and families flock to the south to enjoy the warmer weather while making the most of their time away from school. Unfortunately, there are some downsides to this popular time of year that can make visiting The Most Magical Place On Earth a bit more complicated than during the shoulder months of spring and fall.
Welcome back to the new Disney Summer Series, where we are taking a look at every step in the vacation process to help you maximize the enjoyment of your Disney days. Last week we looked at choosing the right resort for your summer stay, and this week, we are looking at how to best prepare your body for the trip, as it may be a far cry from the relaxing, restful vacation you have in mind.
Get Comfy In Sneakers
Do you prefer sandals or flip-flops in the warmer months? You might find they don’t cut it when it comes to the support needed for your feet to cope with all the walking at Disney. Most people would agree that at least one pair of good sneakers or walking shoes is a must for the Disney theme parks, and if you aren’t used to wearing them, it will be worth getting some practice.
Sneakers can change how you feel when walking but also can change what you wear and the other things you pack. If taking new shoes, take the time to break them in first and give your feet a chance to become well acquainted with them. Disney is also well known for a tremendous amount of walking, so get those shoes moving and start training your muscles now.
Photo by Yuliia Dementsova on Unsplash
Skip The Air Conditioning
At home, we tend to air-condition jump our way through the hot days. Many of us go from climate-controlled homes to cars, to the workplace and back, leaving little opportunity to become uncomfortable. Walt Disney World won’t be so forgiving, and though you can weave your way in and out of shops in some areas to avoid the heat, the reprieve is short-lived and sometimes makes heading back into the hot weather harder.
When walking, skip the treadmill and get outside; if you don’t acclimatize your body to being active in the heat, you will likely feel overwhelmed when you arrive and can’t cool down efficiently. This one is hard to make yourself do when a more convenient option is available, though you won’t regret training your body to cope with the heat.
Make Water Your Routine
A Disney vacation can be much more active than some guests assume. You will be on your feet and moving for most of the day. In the summer heat, this can make it easy for you to become dehydrated, which causes all sorts of problems. Drinking water regularly throughout the day is the number one way to stay feeling good, but it might not be a part of your natural routine.
Practice before you leave home. One of those water bottles with the hours down the side is a great way to track your water intake and increase the regularity with which you drink it. If you can adopt this practice into your daily routine ahead of time, it will be a breeze to keep your body topped up with fluids and feeling good when you arrive.
Amazon Waterbottle
Work On Your Stamina
You don’t have to be able to work hard, but you do need to be able to pace yourself when it comes to your Disney vacation. Working on your stamina will undoubtedly pay off when you arrive; those rope drop-to-fireworks days aren’t going to walk themselves around. Even if you are routinely getting exercise, you still might not be prepared for the length of time you will spend on your feet.
Get the whole family moving a bit more in the lead-up to your trip, especially kids that might struggle with the added physical demands. Remember, this isn’t so much about fitness; the muscle groups that help you stand and walk for extended periods are different from your cardiovascular health and can vary in fatigue limits.
Get Sun Smart
Another factor of summer travel that can get the best of you is the sun. Sun safety is so important in a place like Walt Disney World, where your sun exposure is increased substantially. Get back to basics, practicing before you arrive. If you try and get a younger child to wear a hat for the first time on a vacation, it likely won’t be successful. Start early with regular sunscreen application, hats, and sunglasses.
Applying sunscreen several times throughout the day will be vital to keeping your skin comfortable and safe throughout your stay. Many of the attractions have outdoor queuing areas, and shade is limited. Starting your sun-safe routine early will make it easier when you are away and save you from uncomfortable sun-burn regrets that can ruin your stay.
Photo by Sam Chang on Unsplash
Thinking you will lose weight before you get to the Disney or Universal theme parks? Read my article here on that very topic and look at ways to improve your health rather than your weight.
What are your best tips for prepping your body for the next big Disney Vacation? Share your wisdom with the DIS Community below and let others be more prepared.
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