5 ways to beat the heat at theme parks this summer

Summer and theme parks go together like high temperatures and severe heat warnings. But there are plenty of ways to beat the heat and stay cool if you find yourself at a theme park on a scorching hot day.

Obviously the best way to avoid the heat is to hit your local theme park during the shoulder seasons in the late spring and early fall when crowds are lighter and temperatures are cooler. But that’s not always possible and sometimes you find yourself locked into a theme park visit when temperatures are heading toward triple digits.

What to do?

I’ve been to dozens of theme parks across the United States and around the world over the past quarter-century in pursuit of fun, and, for the last decade, material for the Funland theme park blog. The hottest day I ever spent at an amusement park was at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. It was 117 degrees on that July day, and it got so hot that the park closed a few of the tallest rides because of heat lightning.

Many of my suggestions fall in the common sense category. But it’s better to consider your options before you walk in the front gate than the next day when you’re nursing a heat hangover.

Most of my heat survival tips work for any theme park, but some are specific to Southern California parks. A few were culled from my “7 tips for tackling Disneyland in a day” story from 2012 that featured heat-beating recommendations.

Besides the obvious recommendations--wear a hat, use sunscreen and drink lots of water—here are tips to ease your personal heat index.

Take an afternoon respite

This is crucial on the hottest days of summer.

I rarely go to our local theme parks for an entire day, a benefit of having an annual pass. But if you have only one or two days at a park, presumably you want to get the most out of your stay.

My recommendation is always the same: Arrive early (preferably 15 minutes before the park opens), take a break from 1 to 4 p.m. (leave the park, if possible) and return after dark (and stay until closing). It’s a long day, but that midday break is invaluable and what makes a long stay possible.

It helps if you are staying at a hotel on the property or nearby. Go back to the hotel, relax in the pool, kick back on a lounge chair or even take a nap during the hottest part of the day. You’ll feel reenergized after the break and ready to tackle the rest of the day.

If you don’t have a hotel, schedule a late lunch at a sit-down restaurant. Get off your feet and enjoy the air conditioning. Most Disney parks allow you to make reservations days or weeks in advance at the most popular restaurants.

Avoid long lines

Standing in long lines with the sun beating down on you is the real killer at a theme park. I make it a rule never to wait more than 30 minutes for any ride. But that’s not always possible. But beware: A pair of back-to-back hourlong waits can knock you out of a park on a hot day.

I use the ride boards and the wait time apps that many parks offer. Avoid the long lines and go for the rides with the shortest waits. Save the most popular rides with the longest lines for the first two hours and last two hours of the day when traffic is lightest and lines are shortest.

If you can afford it (or better yet, if it’s free), opt for the line-cutting passes that allow you to skip to the front of the queue. It’s money well spent on a hot day.

And by all means, never sit around in the sun waiting for a parade or an outdoor show. I always tell people to show up at the very last minute and take the best available seat. There is usually a seat or spot to watch, maybe not front-row center, but better than creating an additional line for yourself after waiting in lines all day.

Get out of the sun

Catch an indoor show in an air-conditioned theater. The goal is to get off your feet and out of the heat for 20 to 30 minutes. Don’t be lured by an outdoor show with no shade and metal benches. You’re looking for a break from the heat, not to bake in the sun.

Many parks have indoor attractions that take 30 minutes or more to explore. The Animation Academy at Disney California Adventure features four attractions in which you can easily spend an hour on a hot summer day. I like to kick back in the air-conditioned lobby area and watch the artist sketches on the big screens.

Longer rides that take in the entire park are a great way to get off your feet and get out of the sun. Many parks have a train ride that takes 15 to 20 minutes to make a full circuit. Disneyland has temporarily lost its locomotive and riverboat during Star Wars Land construction, but the monorail offers a similar circuitous tour and a chance to relax.

Get wet

A cool splash on a water ride is a great way to beat the heat, but obviously this is not a novel idea on hot day at a theme park. Lines for water rides can stretch to more than an hour when temperatures rise.

On a hot day, try water rides late at night when the crowds are thinner. I don’t like getting wet at theme parks. That’s what water parks are for. But if I’m going to get wet at a theme park, I’d rather do it at night when the wet clothes will help cool off my skin after baking in the sun all day. What I hate is sticky wet clothes when I’m already hot and sweaty.

Most theme parks have some type of water play area or spouting fountains where kids can get wet on a hot day. Not my cup of (iced) tea, but lots of people love the water play areas and they are a great way to cool down. The most resourceful moms pack a bathing suit for their kids so they don’t have to trot around the park in soaking wet clothes. You’ll want a large sealable plastic bag to stow the wet bathing suit after the splash zone fun is done.

Many ride queues employ misters that cool off visitors while they wait. They help—if you’re standing right under them. A better option is a hand-held mister that combines a water bottle with a battery-powered fan. Disneyland sells them for $20, although you can find them for less outside the park.

Cool off with a treat

Nothing’s better on a hot day than a cold treat -- and theme parks know this. Vendors sell ice cream, frozen desserts and frozen drinks and more.

Parks increasingly are adding alcoholic drinks. Iced cocktails, cold beers, chilled wine and frozen concoctions can hit the spot during a heat wave.

But sugar and alcohol aren’t as good for you as water on a hot day. Moderation is key. You’re on vacation (at least for a day). Enjoy yourself. And don’t forget the sunscreen.