HOW TO SURVIVE SUMMER AT WDW

Summer is an incredibly popular time at Walt Disney World. Of course, anymore, every season is busy season, but Summer and Winter seem to be the busiest, and rightly so! Summer makes perfect sense for family travel. The kids are out of school, the weather is nice and you're DYING to get away from the monotony of your day-to-day and soak up those rays of sunshine!

However, if you're planning a trip to the Sunshine State to visit Mickey Mouse and the gang, you're going to need a plan if you want to get the most out of your vacation. As a travel agent, previous Orlando local and annual pass-holder, I'm here to give you my top tips on how to make your summer vacation the MOST magical it can be!

BE FLEXIBLE \\

I get it. I'm a list girl, too! When I make a plan, I like to stick to it and I can sometimes have a hard time veering from said plan because I know what I want to do and see and let's be honest....I want those check marks! haha

BUT, when you're going to a theme park during peak season, in 100 degree heat and humidity, with KIDS, there are definitely going to be some surprises. So, my number one tip for an enjoyable vacation is to create a very loose plan for the day and go into it knowing that it will change. Have some secondary ideas at hand, that way you're prepared for whatever the day will bring!

Here are some things to think about when you're creating plan A and B.

* Unexpected weather (in Florida, anything can happen)

*Ride queues are too long

*Ride shut down unexpectedly

*Kids are tired/cranky

*It's too hot outside

KNOW YOUR LIMITS \\

Seriously. This is important. Remember that loose plan that I mentioned? Cut that plan in half.

I KNOW how hard it is to not put every single attraction, meet and greet, dining experience and show on the list of things to see/do, but you will thank yourself GREATLY if you go into this knowing that there is no possible way you're going to get to it all. I lived there for two years and visited on a weekly basis and I haven't come anywhere CLOSE to doing it all.

Pick 2-3 items in each category, per day that are your MUST DO's (have alternates) and then anything extra that you can do on top of that is the icing on the cake.

And if one of your must do's is seeing the fireworks and you're traveling with young kids, plan an afternoon trip back to the hotel for naps and quiet time (the only exception to this rule is Fourth of July)...you'll thank yourself later.

STAY COOL \\

This is one that I get asked about a lot. "Is it possible to spend a full day in the parks in the summer and actually have a good time?" The answer is yes! With careful planning.

We once did an entire day at the Magic Kingdom for the Fourth of July and it. was. ROUGH. We were total newbies at being pass-holders, we had only been living there for a couple of months and we almost called it quits halfway through the day because it was SO HOT and SO crowded, that the thought of waiting another 5 hours for the fireworks was honestly unbearable. But, we stuck it out (and I'm so glad we did because the fireworks were WOW.), and I learned a ton that day.

Here are my tips to surviving all day marathons in the summer:

1. Purchase a cooling towel. Never in my life did I think that a little piece of wet fabric could bring so much relief, but they truly do help. These are the ones that we have and we love them!

2. Plan all outdoor attractions for early morning and then starting around 11:00-12:00, try to plan some indoor activities and/or down time at your resort! Most rides at the Magic Kingdom have indoor queues, the Little Mermaid, Mickey's Philhar Magic, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Buzz Lightyear, and Peter Pan, to name a few. Of course they don't have to be rides, you can also do shows or have a special character dining experience! -- PRO TIP: Don't shy away from taking Disney transportation and exploring some of the surrounding resorts for lunch! It makes a great little excursion and gives you a much needed AC break!

3. Be intentional about which parks you're visiting and what time! In my experience, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom are the two parks that offer the least amount of reprieve from the heat. There are few attractions with indoor lines and only a couple of shows, which means you're limited to shopping and dining as options for cooling down. Depending on your level of park experience and party size, I have a few different ways of incorporating these parks into your itinerary, if they're on your must-do list. Click here to schedule a quick, complimentary consultation with me, to learn more!

4. HYDRATE! I really can't stress this enough. Summer humidity is no joke in Florida, especially with thousands of people around you. Another purchase you can make that will be a lifesaver is a Hydroflask. They seriously work. Fill it up every chance you get with ice-cold water (there are tons of water stations around, but you can also fill it up for free at any quick-service restaurant. Just ask them for water cups). You can also buy some Liquid IV to add electrolytes and amplify hydration!

5. Wear loose, comfortable light colored clothing. You'd be surprised how much heat a dark colored tank top can retain. And I know it sounds counter-productive, but breathable leggings do help! Personally, I prefer them over jean shorts. And don't forget the comfy shoes!

6. Don't sleep on your resort pool! Take advantage of what you're paying for and spend a day enjoying the amenities. OR spend the day at one of Disney's two water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach!

WRAP UP \\

Bottom line, you CAN have an incredible, enjoyable vacation at Walt Disney World in the Summer, with some careful planning and realistic expectations.

I hope this has been helpful and Happy Disney!