Mr. DAPs’ Disney Survival Guide: Heat
It is that time of year where it gets pretty warm at the Disneyland Resort (really just about ALL the Disney Resorts worldwide are hot right now). I thought I’d take a few minutes to revisit some heat tips that I have mentioned in the past. It is never fun to have a Disney day cut short because of heat fatigue or even worse, heat stroke!
Here are a few tips that I hope will help you have a healthy and happy trip to Disneyland during the warm summer and fall months!
1. Drink LOTS of fluids! When doing this, make sure it isn’t too cold as it will cause cramps. You also want to avoid drinks with lots of sugar *cough* soda, or alcoholic beverages as these will actually dehydrate you!
2. Wear light weight, lose fitting, light colored clothes. It’ll help keep you cooler!
3.Get and stay indoors as much as possible, preferably somewhere that is air conditioned. If you can’t do this, utilize shade. Trees are there for a reason right? If you do need to be outside. Take breaks from being in the sun by taking refuge occasionally inside or in the shade.
4. If you are at Disneyland consider hitting the following attractions for some easily and quickly accessible and wonderful air conditioning (there are more but these are some of the quickest and easiest to get into):
Disneyland:
Opera House
Main Street Cinema
Innoventions
Captain EO
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
The Golden Horseshoe with Billy and the Hillbillies
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Disney California Adventure:
Animation Building
Blue Sky Cellar
Muppets 3D
Monsters Inc. – Mike and Sully to the Rescue!
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
5. Protect yourself from the sun. Wear a hat! SUNSCREEN that is at least 30 SPF is a good idea.
6. Don’t exert yourself too much in the heat!
7. Do NOT leave your loved one (pet or child) in your car. This is never a good idea but it is even worse when hot!
Also to finish up this safety post I should also include symptoms of dehydration and heat stroke. For dehydration, people should watch out for the following symptoms:
- thirst
- less-frequent urination
- dry skin
- fatigue
- light-headedness
- dizziness
- confusion
- dry mouth and mucous membranes
- increased heart rate and breathing
Some kids might also have some of the following symptoms:
- dry mouth and tongue
- no tears when crying
- no wet diapers for more than 3 hours
- sunken abdomen, eyes or cheeks
- high fever
- listlessness
- irritability
- skin that does not flatten when pinched and released
If any of these become an issue, you need to be drinking more water! In extreme cases, you might need to seek medical attention so they can rehydrate you in a more dramatic fashion. Hopefully it does not reach this point.
Be aware of common symptoms of heat stroke. They can include:
- headache
- dizziness
- disorientation, agitation or confusion
- sluggishness or fatigue
- seizure
- hot, dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty
- a high body temperature
- loss of consciousness
- rapid heart beat
- hallucinations
Make it a GREAT day!
-Mr. DAPs
Mr. DAPs is the founder of DAPs Magic, the unofficial Disney fan club. He is the editor for DAPs Magic Disney News and posts regularly on DAPs Magic Geeks Corner. He is the co-host of Geeks Corner (www.thegeekscorner.com) and also has a photoblog mrdaps.com. He is a Disney expert and visits Disneyland regularly.
