Keeping Cool at Walt Disney World

Once upon a time it was summer in Florida. That can only mean one thing. It's hot! Really hot! Yet, for throngs of vacationers with school children, it is also the only opportunity to visit Walt Disney World. The happiest place on earth can quickly become the grumpiest, as soon as any well mannered, normally calm demeanored parent waits in a 2 hour line in ninety degree heat with their kids. It would stretch the best of us to our limits.

Have faith, however, in the attention to detail department. I am positive it must exist at the Walt Disney World Resort. Walt himself set the standard for the distances between waste receptacles after studying guests one day when Disneyland in California opened. He carefully observed if guests were given candy how far they would walk before dropping the wrapper. The trash bins were then placed accordingly. So, rest assured, they know you're hot and your kids are hot. And it will be very unlikely you will enjoy yourself unless the problem is quickly remedied. So, here are some tips on keeping cool.

Fork over some bucks for a misting fan. Around all of the parks you will find galvanized buckets of large misting fans full of water and packed in ice. They are priced under twenty dollars and include batteries.

Keep getting wet. Disney provides opportunities that you may never have known existed to get wet. They do this in creative fun ways. Your kids play and get wet, cool off and have fun. Here are just some of your options.

The Magic Kingdom

Frontierland: Located just before the Jungle Cruise is an innocent gathering of what I like to call "Tiki Men". They randomly shoot large sprays of water. Just behind you on Aladdins's Magic Carpet Ride, it's fun to observe the Camel spitting water at people walking by. Most people have no idea where the drops come from. It provides a little people watching fun while your kids get soaked.

Winnie-the-Pooh Play Area: Located by the Mad Tea Party Ride. This provides a place to sit and rest while letting the kids run around on the playground and it also provides a small water playground and shaded areas to sit.

Donald's Boat: Found in Mickey's Toontown Fair, it offers lots of opportunities to get wet with jets of water bubbling up in Donald's front yard.

Tomorrowland: There is a misting station located here that everyone can walk through without getting completely wet but still cooling off. This is particularly helpful for people with babies in strollers.

Splash Mountain: Of course, if you want to get soaked to the bone you can find this ride in Adventureland. This ride is always worth the wait.

MGM Studios

Honey I shrunk the kids Movie Set Adventure: This provides a place for kids to run and play in a shaded area and get wet, on occasion, from the giant, leaking garden hose.

Coca-Cola Misting Station: This is located on Mickey Avenue toward the back of the park. Get misted by a giant Coca-Cola.

Epcot

Between Future World and the World Showcase you will find an area with water shooting from the ground.

Imagination: This has a fun area with jumping water. I do not believe it was intended to get people wet but somehow my children always find a way here.

Animal Kingdom

Kali River Rapids: This is perfect for kids 38 inches and taller to cool off quickly on a roaring rapid ride.

Downtown Disney Marketplace: This has an area with dancing water shooting from the ground. You can always find lots of kids running through the fountain. You can also keep your eyes out for naughty Stitch who likes to spit on guests from the top of one of the buildings.

The Resorts at Walt Disney World all have pools of course. The value resorts have creative theme pools. Some of the moderate resorts and all of the deluxe resorts have at least one pool that boasts a water slide.

Water Parks: This probably offers the best place to keep cool at Disney World. Currently there are two parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. When you make reservations ask about the Water Park Fun and More pass. It is a very economical way to add the water parks to your tickets.

So, keep cool, and enjoy your summer vacation at Walt Disney World. Hopefully, the only Grumpy you see will be following Snow White and everyone can live happily ever after.