Planning Your Summer Vacation at Walt Disney World

School is almost out for the summer and it's time to plan your family's summer vacation at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. After all, is there a better place to spend time with your family that at Disney? In my opinion, not really; however, if you're going to visit in the summer, be prepared for hot weather, large crowds, and higher than the rest of the year hotel rates.

Sure, there are downsides to visiting in the summer, but there are upsides, too. For one, the four theme parks at Walt Disney World are open later (sometimes until midnight or 1am!). And, because there are more people in the parks, the entertainment in each park such as parades and shows are presented more often (for example, in the Magic Kingdom, the nighttime parade, SpectoMagic, is presented twice nightly during peak periods but isn't even presented once during times of slow attendance).

Here are some tips to help you plan your summer vacation to Walt Disney World and get the most out of your vacation. (Also, be sure to check out the tips from an article I previously wrote, 7 Tips for Saving Money on a Walt Disney World Vacation. These money saving tips apply all year - after all, nothing beats saving some money, especially in this economy! http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/623005/7_tips_for_saving_money_on_a_walt_disney.html).

Be Prepared for the Weather

The average high temperature for the summer months in Orlando (June, July, and August) is 91 degrees with the average low temperatures in the mid 70s. And, most summer afternoons in Orlando there are rainstorms. The rain usually lasts only an hour or so, but it can be severe with thunder and lightning.

Be sure you pack light, airy clothes to wear while in the theme parks. While many of the queue areas for the attractions are indoors or undercover, you will find yourself queuing outside, often in direct sunlight. And in the Magic Kingdom, the daily parade is presented at 3pm; a time when the sun in most intense. Because you won't want to miss the parade, be sure you wear lots of sunscreen (actually, it's a good idea to apply sunscreen several times daily regardless if you're in direct sunlight or not - the Florida sun can be intense and nothing ruins a vacation faster than a bad sunburn!).

When it comes to the rain, the best thing to do is to duck into a restaurant for a meal or an indoor show and enjoy yourself as it passes by. Also, don't wait until you're in the theme parks to buy rain ponchos. Sure, the ones they sell in the theme parks have a cute Mickey Mouse on the back, but they'll set you back about $10 each. The better option is to buy yours before visiting from a store like Wal-Mart where cheap disposable rain ponchos will cost around a dollar. Also, rain ponchos are a great way to stay dry (mostly) on those water rides like Splash Mountain or, if you're visiting Sea World and want to sit in Shamu's splash zone during the, Shamu show!

Take Advantage of the Water Parks and your Hotel's Pool

One of the best reasons to stay at a Walt Disney World hotel (and there are many reasons to do so), is that when it's the hottest during the midday, you can just hop on a monorail or boat from the theme parks and spend some time in the hotel's pool - all of which are only a few minutes from the parks. Spend some time cooling off and avoiding the crowds (and midday tends to be the busiest at the parks, too). When it starts to cool off, and the crowds start to thin out, head back to the theme park cooled off and refreshed!

Also, there are two water parks within the Walt Disney World resort; Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Disney's Blizzard Beach. Both water parks charge admission and are open to anyone regardless if you're staying at a Walt Disney World hotel or not. Many of the ticket packages you buy for admission to the four Disney theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom) include admission to the two water parks. These places are a great place to spend the day, or just a few hours cooling off. Disney's Typhoon Lagoon (my favorite) is a tropical oasis will sand beaches, palm trees, both tame and wild water slides, and a lazy river that circles the whole park. Disney's Blizzard Beach is Disney's version of a ski resort "thawed out" (including a ski jump turned slide!) Most of the other attractions in this water park are similar to those at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon.

Drink Lots of Water

This may sound like a no brainer, but when you're surrounded by fizzy soda at every turn, it's easy to forget. It's hot and your body will be working overtime to stay cool and hydrated. There are water fountains throughout the parks and they sell bottled water, too, at most food locations. The bottled water they sell is pricy, especially since you'll need to drink several daily. The best thing to do is bring a large bottle of water with you each day (and buy your water from a store and don't be tempted to take the one that hotels leave in your room; it's convenient but at several dollars per bottle added to your hotel bill it's not worth it). When the bottle of water your bring with you to the parks is empty, refill it at one of the water fountains in the parks (don't worry, either, the water from the water fountains is filtered and just a good as bottled water - after all, do you think Disney would serve bad water and risk someone complaining about the water from the fountains?!).

Above all, have fun. Walt Disney World is a great place to spend time with your family and make memories that will last a lifetime.