Beating the Heat at Disneyland- How To Stay Cool 

The weather at Disneyland is often mild. Sunny days and perfectly cool nights are typical for many days of the year, but sometimes it can get hot. Really hot. I’ve been to Disneyland often on hot days and have lots of tips to share with you. The heat can sometimes dampen the fun if you visit during the scorching summer months. But fear not! With a bit of planning and some simple strategies, you can stay cool and make the most of your visit to the happiest place on Earth. In this guide, I’ll share some valuable tips to help you beat the heat and stay cool at Disneyland.

Check out my podcast episode about beating the heat at Disneyland for lots of great info.

Discount Disney Park Tickets And Hotels

Please be aware that all Disney parks require park tickets and a theme park reservation. Make sure you have both! Please don’t pay the full price for your Disneyland tickets or hotel. My partners at Get Away Today have the very best deals on tickets and hotels. Their customer service is top-notch, and they even have layaway plans. You can find them by clicking on the image below or by calling 1-855-GET-AWAY. Make sure you tell them Melissa, from Mix In Some Magic sent you the best deal!

They have great deals on hotels! Many of their properties offer a free night with a stay, free parking, extra discounts, or a complimentary breakfast! You save the most money when you purchase a vacation package and bundle your hotel rooms with one of their discount resort ticket offer.

If you book a package with park tickets and a hotel room, you can use my code MIX10 to save an extra $10. That’s more churro money, friends!

I have a bunch of hotel reviews that might be helpful for you if you’re still trying to decide where you’d like to stay.

Is It Worth Going To Disneyland In The Summer?

Yes! Even though it’s hot, visiting Disneyland during the summer is totally worth it! However, you should plan for higher crowds, long lines, and heat. I’ve got a guide to dealing with crowds at Disneyland, and this post will help you beat the heat while you’re at Disneyland this summer. 

What Month Is Disneyland The Hottest?

Disneyland is usually the hottest in August and September. If you visit earlier in the summer, you’ll have a better chance of milder weather. Of course, the weather is finicky. Checking the weather frequently leading up to your trip is one of the best ways to be prepared! 

​Top Tips For Beating The Heat At Disneyland

Here are my top tips for beating the heat at Disneyland.

1. Dress Appropriately: One of the most important aspects of staying cool at Disneyland is choosing the proper clothing. Opt for lightweight, breathable fabrics that allow for better air circulation. Loose-fitting, moisture-wicking clothes are ideal for keeping you comfortable in the heat. Remember to wear a hat or cap to shield your face from the sun, and apply sunscreen generously to protect your skin.
2. Stay Hydrated: Staying hydrated is crucial when battling the heat. Disneyland offers several water fountains and hydration stations throughout the park, so bring a refillable water bottle to quench your thirst. Additionally, you can ask for a complimentary cup of ice water at any counter-service restaurant. Drink water regularly to keep your body temperature regulated and prevent dehydration.
3. Take Advantage of Indoor Attractions and Shows: Disneyland provides a wide range of indoor attractions and shows that offer entertainment and a break from the heat. Explore attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, or the Enchanted Tiki Room, where you can enjoy some cool air conditioning while immersing yourself in the magic of Disney.
4. Utilize Genie Plus: Genie Plus is Disney’s virtual queuing system that allows you to reserve a time slot for popular rides. By utilizing this service, you can reduce your time waiting in long, sun-exposed lines and spend more time in shaded areas or indoor attractions. Plan your 
5. Genie Plus selections strategically to avoid waiting in the heat for extended periods. Check out my guide to using Genie Plus at Disneyland. 
6. Seek Shade and Rest Areas: Disneyland offers various shaded areas and rest spots throughout the park where you can take a break from the sun and recharge. Look for shaded benches, umbrella-covered seating areas, or quiet corners under trees. Take advantage of these locations to cool down, have a snack, or relax before continuing your adventure.
7. Use Cooling Products: Consider bringing or purchasing cooling products to help combat the heat. Portable fans, misting spray fans, and cooling towels are excellent options to keep yourself refreshed. These items are available for purchase at many merchandise locations within the park, but you can save money by purchasing them ahead of time. Cooling products can make a significant difference in your comfort level.
8. Plan Your Schedule Wisely: To avoid the peak heat hours, plan your visit strategically. Arrive at the park early in the morning or later in the evening when the temperatures are generally cooler. Take advantage of the cooler hours to enjoy outdoor attractions and shows while minimizing your exposure to the heat.

Top Attractions for Hot Days

If you’re visiting Disneyland, you’ll have to wait in a long line at some point. This can be tough when it’s hot. I’ve made a list of the best attractions to visit on hot days. If you’re going to wait in a long line, it might be shaded or indoors. Staying out of the sun is key to beating the heat at Disneyland!

Disneyland

Tomorrowland

Star Wars Launch Bay- Inside with air conditioning. Lots to see and explore

Space Mountain- Line is mostly indoors or shaded.

Star Tours- The line is primarily indoors or shaded.

Toon Town

Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin-Line is entirely indoors and air-conditioned

Toon Town Houses- Lots to explore inside

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway- Most of the queue is air-conditioned and inside. 

Fantasyland

Avoid during the hottest parts of the day, if possible. 

Critter Country

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure(opening late 2024)- Water ride. You will get wet!

New Orleans Square

Haunted Mansion- Long, indoor ride. The line is mostly shaded.

Pirates of the Caribbean- Long, indoor boat ride. The line is mainly shaded or indoors.

Adventureland

Indiana Jones- Line is mostly shaded or indoors

Enchanted Tiki Room- Long show indoors.

Main Street U.S.A.

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln- Long show indoors

Main Street Cinema- Old Mickey Cartoons, indoors

Shops on Main Street- Indoors

Disneyland Railroad- Long ride, shaded

Disney California Adventure

Hollywood Land

Animation Academy- Lots to do and explore in a large, air-conditioned building

Monster’s Inc, Mike, and Sulley to the rescue!- Indoor ride with mostly shaded lines.

Pixar Pier

The Little Mermaid- Indoor ride with mostly covered line.

Grizzly Peak

Soarin’- Indoor ride with line mostly shaded or indoors.

Grizzly River Run- Water ride. You will get wet!

Shows And Entertainment

Shows are a great way to beat the heat at Disneyland! They offer you a chance to get out of the sun and recharge. 

Disneyland

Tale of the Lion King- A fun show that’s completely shaded with plenty of seating. Check your app for showtimes.

Fantasy Faire Theater- Show rotates between Beauty and the Beast and Tangled. Twenty-five minutes long and completely shaded. Seating is limited. Check your app for showtimes. 

California Adventure

Rogers: The Musical Live at the Hyperion- Check your app for show times.

Disney Junior Dance Party- 23-minute indoor show that little ones will love! Check your app for show times.

Mickey’s Philharmagic- A fun, short movie in a theater with comfy chairs and cold air conditioning! 

What to pack

A well-packed park bag can make or break your Disney day, especially when it’s hot! Here are a few things you’ll want to make sure you’ve included so you can beat the heat at Disneyland. Find a complete list of what I bring to the parks here. Check out my printable packing list for the Disneyland Resort. 

Cooler backpack or bag

Bring something with you that will help keep your water and snacks cool. We have a cooler backpack that we love. You can take backpacks with you on all the rides at Disneyland! You can find some of my favorite options here. We like to freeze water bottles to act as ice packs for our backpacks. They slowly melt throughout the day, so we always have cold water. Plus, they keep everything else nice and cool. Coolers make beating the heat at Disneyland possible! 

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is essential, even on overcast days. Please don’t skip it! Some of my family members(including myself) have very fair skin, and finding a sunscreen that gets the job done has been tricky. It’s best for us to start with a rub-in-style sunscreen and then use a spray sunscreen for touch-ups. I searched long and hard to find sunscreen to really protect my kid’s face, and I finally found one! You can find it here. 

Hair ties 

A hair tie is a lifesaver on hot days and for wild rides. I always keep one on my wrist and a few backups in my park bag.

Body Glide

One word. Chaffing. Don’t let it happen to you! The chances of this happening to you or someone in your group on a hot, sweaty day are high. Body glide has saved our trip many times, and we always have it with us.

Sunglasses

I hate squinting. I don’t go anywhere without sunglasses. You can bet I’ll have them at Disney! I love these sunglasses!

Hat

It’s my mission to keep the sun off of me. A hat helps tremendously! If I don’t have my Mickey ears on, I’ve got my hat. Make sure you have hats for your little kids too.

Water bottle

Stay hydrated! Keep a water bottle in your backpack to refill at drinking fountains and water bottle refill stations. You can also ask for cups of water at any quick-service restaurant and use them to fill your water bottle. We often refill disposable ones throughout the day, but these Disney water bottles are great!

Umbrella

An umbrella is useful for rain, but it’s also useful for the sun! You will encounter one(or both) of them on your vacation. I love pulling out my umbrella to keep the sun off us on long hotlines. I love these umbrellas because they’re tiny and don’t occupy much space.

Cooling towels 

You will need these if you’re visiting Disney during the hot months! They are a game changer. I get mine wet before we get to the park and keep them in a ziplock bag. Then, they are ready to go when you need them. You can re-wet them in the bathrooms during your visit. When you come home, you can throw them in the washing machine and reuse them on your next trip. I was skeptical, but they were lifesavers! You can sometimes find them in the parks, and that’s a good option in a pinch, but they’re pricey. It’s probably better to buy them beforehand. You can find them here.

Neck Fan

This is another family favorite! The hot months at Disney can be brutal. These neck fans make them more bearable. I like them because they are hands-free and lightweight, and you can recharge them using a USB. Make sure you pull back long hair before you use them!

Park strategy for hot days

If you plan to beat the heat at Disneyland, you need a plan. Don’t just waltz in at 11 am, thinking you’ll have a great day. You’ll wind up in a long line for Peter Pan at 3 pm with the sun beating down on you, and you’ll be miserable! Here are a few tips to help make your day run smoothly. 

Arrive early

Seriously, hear me out. This is important. I recommend arriving at the security checkpoint 45- 60 minutes before the park opening. If you’re parking, arrive even earlier. This is called Rope Drop, and this one thing will be critical in beating the heat at Disneyland. Crowds are much lower in the mornings, and it’s much cooler. You’ll be able to get on lots of rides while everyone else is still waking up and getting breakfast! This means that by the time it gets hot, you’ll have a good portion of your top rides completed! Check out my full guide to Rope Dropping at Disneyland for all the details. 

Take a break

Late afternoon in the heat at Disneyland can be challenging. Plan to take a break at this point to recharge. You can head back to your hotel to nap or swim. You don’t have to leave the park for a break, though! See an indoor show, browse the shop, have a late lunch or early table service dinner(make reservations ahead of time!), do some shopping, ride the Disneyland railroad, or take a break in the lobby of the Grand Californian. Plan some type of break into your day to rest a bit away from the heat. A small break makes a difference! 

Avoid Fantasyland In The Afternoon

Stay away from Fantasyland when it’s hot. Fantasyland is utterly miserable in the heat of the day. Save it for mornings or evenings when it’s cooler. The lines here are the longest during the afternoon, and most have minimal shade. 

Grab A Cold Treat Or Drink

Nothing like a cold treat on a hot day! A sweet treat can go a long way to help you beat the heat at Disneyland. My favorites at Disneyland are the Dole Whip float from the tiki room, a mickey shaped ice cream bar, or a big scoop of ice cream from Gibson girl ice cream parlor. Over in California Adventure, I love anything from Ghirardelli Soda Shop, a soft serve cone from the Cozy Cone in Car’s Land, or “It’s lemon!” from Adorable Snowman Treats. 

Or, grab some cold drinks and find a shady spot to enjoy them. I love a Diet Coke with a squirt of cherry from the refreshment corner. Just make sure that you’re drinking lots of water. There’s a drinking fountain around every corner, and you can also get free cups of ice water at any of the quick-service restaurants. You can’t beat the heat at disneyland if you’re dehydrated!

​Water Rides

Water rides are a great way to cool off on a hot day at Disneyland, especially in the middle of the day. Grizzly River Run and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure(opening in late 2024) are the best places to cool off on a water ride! Enjoy them when the heat at Disneyland gets to be too much.

Visit Disney Characters

Taking a break to visit Mickey Mouse or one of his friends is a great way to beat the heat at Disneyland! You can enjoy the air conditioning at Mickey’s house in ToonTown while waiting to meet him! Visiting Elsa and Anna in the Animators Building in California Adventure is also a great option. 

Dining when it’s hot

No one likes to eat in the blazing sun. Let’s avoid that at all costs. You need to enjoy your meal in the shade or, better yet, the air conditioning. Here are my top choices for shady or air-conditioned quick-service dining. Beat the heat at Disneyland while you’re dining!

Disneyland

Hungry bear- Lots of shade/cover and tons of tables! I love a place with tons of seating.

Rancho Del Zocalo- Lots of shade/cover and tons of seating

Golden Horse- Inside dining with lots of seating downstairs and even more upstairs. Bonus if you time it to catch a show during your meal!

Pizza Planet- Inside dining with lots of seating.

Red Rose Tavern- Inside dining with tons of seating. Outdoor shaded tables

Plaza Inn- Inside dining and outside(shaded) seating available.

Disney California Adventure

Paradise Gardens- Tons and tons of shaded seating- often live music

Flo’s V8 Cafe- Indoor seating and outdoor shaded seating

Smokejumpers Grill- Indoor seating and outdoor shaded seating

While the summer heat at Disneyland can be challenging, it shouldn’t deter you from experiencing the magic. By following these tips, you can beat the heat and stay cool throughout your visit. Dress comfortably, stay hydrated, take breaks in shaded areas, and utilize indoor attractions to escape the sun’s rays. With a bit of preparation and thoughtful planning, you’ll be able to fully enjoy your time at Disneyland while keeping cool and creating unforgettable memories. Beating the heat at Disneyland is possible! You can do it!

If you’d like a step by stey touring plan, check out my downloadable park itineraries!

Make sure to check out my podcast for lots of Disney planning information! You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Just search for “Mix In Some Magic” Follow me on Instagram for lots of Disney tips and fun!