How to Beat the Heat at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure
/Updated 5/10/2019
Disneyland can get hot. In fact, during the summer it is not usual for temperatures to be in the nineties or low hundreds. Many Disney Guests aren’t ready to be in this heat. These tips will help make your summer time visit more enjoyable.
Stay Hydrated
An insulated water bottle is a must. Having an insulated water bottle means, you can go to any quick-service restaurant ask for a water cup. You can refill your water bottle throughout the day, and it will stay cold.
Cold Drinks can make a huge difference in your comfort level. Disney provides many places to get a cold drink. Because the menus change from check with Disney Dining on the app or online before visiting.
I love the Strawberry Margaritas at Rita’s Baja Blenders at the Pacific Wharf in DCA. Disneyland has many Frozen Lemonade Carts throughout both parks. You can also try a Dole Whip or a Dole Whip Float at the Enchanted Tiki Room.
Find Shaded Ride Queues At Disneyland
Stick to rides that are indoors or have shaded or indoor queues. Space Mountain is a great example. The outside queue provides shade and when you are inside its air-conditioned. Star Tours provides no outdoors shade but the inside queue is air-conditioned. Star Wars Path of the Jedi is in a dark and air-conditioned theatre to watch Star Wars clips.
The Indiana Jones queue is half indoors, and half outdoors. If you will wait, to go on Splash Mountain, the Queue is mostly inside. Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin line is indoors. Pirates of the Caribbean line is inside for most of the wait, this one of the longest and coldest rides.
Find Shaded Ride Queues at Disney California Adventure
Over at DCA Soarin’ has an indoor and outdoors queue, and they have misters outside. Radiator Springs Racers queue is outdoors, at the end of the line has misters. Most of the Monsters Inc. line is indoors and has air-conditioning.
Get Something To Eat At Disneyland
Restaurants are some of the best places to cool down. Several quick service restaurants have indoor seating. Bengal Barbecue has added indoor seating. The Red Rose Tavern has indoor seating. The Golden Horseshoe is indoors and has live entertainment and Ice Cream. Pizza Port has indoor seating.
Critter Country is small but the Hungry Bear has shaded seating. Since the Rivers of America has reopened, the view is fantastic. Tropical Hideaway is outdoors but there is some shade and Dole Whips.
Get something to Eat at Disney California Adventure
Smoke Jumper’s grill and Flo’s Cafe has indoor seating. And Air conditioning.
Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe in Disney California Adventure sells Starbucks coffee. Which means iced coffee, Frappuccino, and iced teas. Next to the Starbucks counter you will find Clarabelle’s Hand Scoped Ice Cream. Both indoor quick service locations offer air-conditioned indoor seating. This is one of my favorite places to cool down on a hot summer day.
Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta and Garden Grill at Pixar Pier are great quick service options. The seating is outdoors, but it is mostly shaded. There is live entertainment too.
Find Indoor Character Meet and Greets
At Disneyland many character meets and greets will be inside. The Royal Hall line is not air-conditioned, but has fans. Meet Chewbacca and Darth Vader in Star Wars Launch Bay the air is always on. You can meet Mickey Mouse at his house in Toontown. At Disney California Adventure the meet and greets outside. The only indoors one is Anna and Elsa at the Animation Academy.
Babies And Small Children
Babies and Children can cool off at the baby care center on Main Street in Disneyland. Or at the Pacific Wharf in California Adventure. Your child can sit and eat in air-conditioning. There’s a microwave and filtered water. Kids can decompress. You will find real changing tables and a child toilet and a little sink.
Know where the AC is at Disneyland
There’s plenty to do indoors. For example, at Disneyland, you can go to Star Wars Launch Bay where it’s air-conditioned.
Check out the Disney Gallery it’s air conditioned. Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln on Main Street or the Main Street Cinema is dark and empty.
I tell everyone to visit is the enchanted Tiki room. Not for the Dole Whips either. The Enchanted Tiki Room is always air-conditioned.
It’s also worth thinking about when you go Disneyland. Of course, you want the weather to be nice and sunny, but you also don’t want to spend all day looking for some shade or AC. when planning your trip, you can take a look at Disneyland tickets through Costco to find the right deals for the perfect time of the year that balances great weather with manageable temperatures.
Know where the AC is at Disney California Adventure
The Animation Academy at Disneyland is an underrated hidden gem. I mentioned the Anna and Elsa meet and greet at Animation Academy. There is plenty entertainment at the Animation Academy. All free and air-conditioned. It will be noisy in here so be aware if anyone has sensory issues. The lighting is also dim. This is also a place to catch a quick nap if noise does not bother you.
You can learn to draw a Disney character for free. A class starts every half an hour. The lobby has plenty of seating and videos and clips. This is a wonderful location to let your kids sit down and relax. The Sorcerer’s Workshop is my favorite because there are plenty of Activities. Mainly the Beasts Library. And there is Turtle Talk with Crush a fun show based on the Finding Nemo. You can easily spend two air-conditioned hours in here if you take your time.
In California Adventure the Disney Junior dance party is air-conditioned. The show is for preschoolers and young children. So please sit towards the back so the littles can see. Everyone is welcome just be sure you’re not blocking the children’s views.
The Frozen show at the Hyperion is about an hour. One hour of air conditioning you cannot beat that.
Head over to the Sunset Showcase Theater in Hollywood Land. Mickey’s PhilharMagic is a fun 10 minute 4D film that will help keep you cool. You will get a little wet.
Find Shade In Unexpected Places at Disneyland
Know Where Mickey and the Magical Map that is a shaded outdoor show at Fantasyland.
There is a shaded seating area behind Edelweiss Snacks. Characters stop by from time to time.
My favorite and under rated shady area is Toontown. Goofy and Donald’s house has shade if you know where to look. If you want to stay cool the bench near the water feature is an amazing place to hang out.
Find Shade in Unexpected Places at Disney California Adventure
An overlooked place rest is at The Silly Symphony Swings. The ground level has fans and benches.
Most places to find refuge from the heat are inside. Yet some annual pass holders will wait in long lines to find shade. Many will opt to wait for Toy Story Midway Mania or Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout. Radiator Springs Racers is outside but there are misters.
Get Wet
If getting wet does not bother you, go on Splash Mountain. Ride as a single rider, through the exit to bypass the long lines.
Grizzly River Run is a water ride and has a single rider line and offers FastPasses. Stand on the bridge near the drop and you can get soaked.
It is crucial to take good care of yourself drink plenty of water. Be sure to reapply your sunscreen every few hours. Wet kitchen sponges and freeze them. Bring them in an insulated bag. Frozen Sponges are an excellent way to cool down. Buy a handheld fans they fold up and fit in your pocket or purse.
Don’t suffer if you are hot. Ask Cast Member where are the air-conditioned shows, and character meetups are.
If you have questions, please ask in the comments below.
If you liked this post, these other posts may be helpful.
The guide to Disneyland with babies.
Bringing preschool-aged children to Disneyland
How to avoid losing your kids at Disneyland
