9 Ways to Beat the Heat at Disneyland this Summer

Summertime is here and it’s heating up at Disneyland! A day at Disneyland is a big deal and you don’t want the heat getting you down! Keep reading to find out how to beat the heat in the parks!

But first a story! A while back, my family went to Disneyland in September. This was in 2010 and it was well before the time that Disneyland was always crowded. Back then there were times when you could go to the parks and see hardly a soul in sight. I am talking walk on every ride all day long. It was magical! We took our 2 little girls at the end of September, hoping to have just the most perfect week ever. And we did! But the weather… it was so unbelievably hot! I remember vividly someone in front of us in line for Pirate’s asked their friend what the temperature was and he said 115 degrees! 🥵 I am telling you, it was HOT! We rode “it’s a small world” about 10 times in a row just for the air conditioning. Haha! So since that trip, I have implemented a ton of ways to beat the heat at Disneyland and I want to share them with you!

And YES, you can still have so much fun on super hot days but make sure you are well prepared!

THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. I MAY EARN COMPENSATION WHEN YOU CLICK ON THE LINKS AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU.

1-Hit the Water Rides

There are 2 water rides at Disneyland that are guaranteed to get you wet! And I don’t know about you but a water ride on a hot day is so necessary! I promise you can’t go wrong with a water ride on a hot day! They are:

Disneyland: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (coming soon)

California Adventure: Grizzly River Run

2-Stay Hydrated

When I say drink a ton of water, I really mean it! The worst thing to happen at Disneyland would be to get sick and dehydrated. Make sure you either purchase bottled water, bring your own bottle and fill it up at filling stations around the park or ask for free water at any counter service restaurant. Drink more than you think you need!

3- Take a Mid-Day Break

The heat is going to be the worst in the middle of the day. So use this time to go back to your hotel room and take a nap or swim and come back at night when it is significantly cooler. If you don’t have a close enough hotel room, consider taking a break in the Grand Californian lobby, shopping in Downtown Disney or taking a nice long lunch break in an air conditioned restaurant.

4-Indoor Rides and Attractions

This is a great time to take advantage of those indoor rides and attractions. There are many so you can easily get a break from the heat here and there throughout the day. However, keep in mind that a lot of these queues are outdoors so standing in line in the heat could get to be exhausting. I have made a note next to each ride as to whether the queue is indoor or outdoor.

Disneyland Rides/Attractions

• Enchanted Tiki Room (outdoor queue)
• Indiana Jones Adventure (Outdoor/Indoor queue)
• Pirates of the Caribbean (Mostly outdoor queue)
• Haunted Mansion (outdoor queue)
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (outdoor queue)
• Rise of the Resistance (Outdoor/Indoor queue)
• Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run (Indoor queue)
• Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (Outdoor/Indoor queue)
• Peter Pan’s Flight (outdoor queue)
• Snow White’s Enchanted Wish (Outdoor/Indoor queue)
• Pinnochio’s Daring Journey (Outdoor/Indoor queue)
• it’s a small world (outdoor queue)
• Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (Indoor queue)
• Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin (Indoor queue)
• Mickey and Minnie’s House’s (Mostly indoor queue Mickey’s/ Outdoor queue Minnie’s)
• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (outdoor queue)
• Space Mountain (Mostly indoor queue)
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (Outdoor/Indoor queue)
• Star Tours: The Adventure Continues (Indoor queue)
• Disneyland Monorail (outdoor queue)
• Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (Indoor queue)
• Main Street Cinema (No Queue)

California Adventure Rides/ Attractions

• Soarin’ Around the World (Outdoor/Indoor queue)
• Monsters Inc, Mike and Sulley to the Rescue (Outdoor/Indoor queue)
• Animation Academy- Sorcerers Workshop, Turtle Talk with Crush, Character Close-Up (No Queue)
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! (Outdoor/Indoor queue)
• Web Slingers: A Spiderman Adventure (Mostly outdoor queue)
• The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure (Indoor queue)
• Toy Story Midway Mania (Outdoor/Indoor queue)
• Mickey’s Philharmagic (Indoor queue)
• Disney Junior Dance Party (No queue)

5-Be Prepared

Bring things to help keep you cool! These make such a big difference, I swear by them!

Cooling towel– These are a lifesaver for those super hot days and they are small enough that you can easily carry them in your bag!

Handheld fan– I have this exact fan and it came in handy so many times on my last trip! Standing in lines can get hot and it’s nice to have this little fan that you can easily store in your bag.

Neck Fan– I don’t personally have one of these but I know people who do and swear by them.

Liquid IV– I love Liquid IV for making sure I am staying super hydrated on hot days but don’t buy it on Amazon. It is super expensive there. Instead go to Sam’s Club or Costco. But this is a must have on super hot days!

Anti-chaf balm– There is nothing worse than walking around with chafed legs all day at Disneyland. Get ahead of the problem by using this before the sweat even starts!

See other park bag must-haves here

6-Take Advantage or Morning and Nighttime Hours

Morning and nighttime hours are going to be your best bet to beat the heat at Disneyland. And it’s going to be your best bet for beating crowds as well. So hit the parks running in the morning, take a nice long afternoon break to nap or swim and come back refreshed for the evening hours when it’s significantly cooler.

7-Get Some Cool Treats

The heat is a great excuse to get an ice cream cone or a cold Mint Julep to help you cool down!

8-Make a Reservation for Indoor Dining

Disneyland, California Adventure and Downtown Disney have some awesome restaurants that you could easily kill some time at in an air conditioned building. Make sure you make a dining reservation 60 days in advance, use Mouse Dining to help if you can’t get a reservation or try for the walk up wait list earlier in the day. Taking a break in the air conditioning and sitting down for a meal is a game changer in the heat!

9-Dress Appropriately for the Weather

And one last tip to help you beat the heat at Disneyland! This one is huge! You need to make sure you are dressed appropriately for the heat. This is the time to wear the shorts and tank tops. No pants and jackets are going to work here. Haha! Wearing weather appropriate clothes is going to make a huge difference in how you feel while at the parks!

There you have it! 9 ways to beat the heat at Disneyland this summer! I hope this helps and realize you can still have so much fun even when the weather is less than ideal.

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