Air conditioning in the parks

Disneymom1102 · Jul 15, 2017

Hi everyone!
I'm curious where in MK, AK, and Epcot we can take breaks in the air conditioning. Restaurants, other seating areas, etc. It will be mid-September when we go and I'll be 8 months pregnant with a toddler in tow so having some places to sit and cool down is super important. Thanks!

ChristineOH · Jul 15, 2017

Air conditioned shows are great. We saw the Frozen Sing Along just for that, and that only, but it was so funny I laughed till I cried.

QS restaurants we like to hit-- even if it's just for snack or drink--
AK: Satu'li or Pizzafari
EP: Sunshine Seasons
DHS: Backlot Express
MK: We usually try to get a lunch ADR at BOG, but Cosmic Rays or the Pinocchio restaurant work too. They can just get chaotic.

OKW Lover · Jul 15, 2017

Lots and lots of places to do this. Many (most?) restaurants have inside seating and there are several attractions with long cycle times that will get you out of the heat/humidity. Also, if you really find yourself needing a break, seek out the First Aid/Baby care centers in each park.

tinka-belle · Jul 15, 2017

Some good places for A/C or to get out of the rain for while:

AK: Pizzafari, Restaurantasaurous, Satu'li Canteen, Nemo show, Festival of the Lion King show

MK: The shops on either side of Main Street are mostly connected, no place to sit but you can cool off for a while.
Columbia Harbor House is not as hectic for counter service, Gastons Tavern has a small indoor seating area, Pecos Billl's, Pinocchio's is OK and next to It's a Small World to
duck into for a ride with an inside que area. A/C is usually cranked up enough in the Tiki Birds show for us to cool off but a fairly short show. Dumbo rides have an indoor
que now and benches in the kid's play area midway through the que. We avoid Cosmic Ray's since it's often crowded.

HS: Frozen Sing a Long show, Great Movie Ride, Muppets show, Toy Story line is mostly inside but you will be standing. Backlot Express, PizzaRizzo, ABC Commissary for CS.

Epcot: The Land pavilion has Soarin' and the Land rides and Sunshine Seasons CS, can spend some time in there. Electric Umbrella indoor seating. Also the movies in France (seats),
China (standing), and Canada (standing). China movie exits into some connected shops so can spend some time there. The Mexican pavilion inside the pyramid. Liberty Inn
at the USA pavilion has lots of indoor CS seating.

Of course BOG and any park TS restaurants, but need and ADR for those so not available spur of the moment.

heidijanesmith · Jul 15, 2017

tinka-belle said:
Some good places for A/C or to get out of the rain for while:

AK: Pizzafari, Restaurantasaurous, Satu'li Canteen, Nemo show, Festival of the Lion King show

MK: The shops on either side of Main Street are mostly connected, no place to sit but you can cool off for a while.
Columbia Harbor House is not as hectic for counter service, Gastons Tavern has a small indoor seating area, Pecos Billl's, Pinocchio's is OK and next to It's a Small World to
duck into for a ride with an inside que area. A/C is usually cranked up enough in the Tiki Birds show for us to cool off but a fairly short show. Dumbo rides have an indoor
que now and benches in the kid's play area midway through the que. We avoid Cosmic Ray's since it's often crowded.

HS: Frozen Sing a Long show, Great Movie Ride, Muppets show, Toy Story line is mostly inside but you will be standing. Backlot Express, PizzaRizzo, ABC Commissary for CS.

Epcot: The Land pavilion has Soarin' and the Land rides and Sunshine Seasons CS, can spend some time in there. Electric Umbrella indoor seating. Also the movies in France (seats),
China (standing), and Canada (standing). China movie exits into some connected shops so can spend some time there. The Mexican pavilion inside the pyramid. Liberty Inn
at the USA pavilion has lots of indoor CS seating.

Of course BOG and any park TS restaurants, but need and ADR for those so not available spur of the moment.

Great ideas above!

One of our favorites is the Land Pavilion, as stated above. Soarin, Living with the Land and a movie is there. We like Sunshine Seasons, there is quite a variety and plenty of spots to sit and relax.

beccasmom · Jul 15, 2017

The Hall of Presidents is a nice cool break, but will be closed during your trip. Any indoor restaurant will work, but some are quieter than others. I love to duck into the pavilions in Epcot like The American Adventure, China, France and Canada, although in China and France you'll be cool, but will also have to stand. The stores are all pretty comfortable too, even with the doors open! And a Dole Whip, ice cream cone or frozen drink helps a great deal too!

oceanmarina · Jul 15, 2017

In MK the huge emporium store always has champion air conditioning (we will duck in there for a shopping break to cool off) but be warned you will come out of it a little poorer as my kids always see a few stuffed animals or figurines that they absolutely have to have!

iujen94 · Jul 15, 2017

Philharmagic at MK would be a great place to cool down - it almost never has a wait longer than 10 minutes, and is a great show that would be appealing to your toddler too. Same thing for the Muppet 3-D show at DHS.

Dismama2boys · Jul 15, 2017

Definitely use the baby care centers! There are places to sit, a movie and books to entertain your toddler, restrooms, and a water cooler. Also outlets to charge your phone.

gap2368 · Jul 15, 2017

Do not forget about first aid if you feel you need a quiet cool place to lie down for a bit. All theme parks have one

maxiesmom · Jul 15, 2017

beccasmom said:
The Hall of Presidents is a nice cool break, but will be closed during your trip. Any indoor restaurant will work, but some are quieter than others. I love to duck into the pavilions in Epcot like The American Adventure, China, France and Canada, although in China and France you'll be cool, but will also have to stand. The stores are all pretty comfortable too, even with the doors open! And a Dole Whip, ice cream cone or frozen drink helps a great deal too!

I like the entry in China, before the movie. There are lots of benches and the air conditioning is usually cranked way up.

jsmla · Jul 15, 2017

The Pixar Short Film Festival (18 minutes) and American Adventure (30 minutes) shows at Epcot usually have little to no wait and take place in nice seated air conditioned theaters.

Not a show but Conservation Station in AK is low key and air conditioned wth seating scattered around the area. There's a petting zoo for the little one. I've never had a problem walking into Finding Nemo (30 minutes) in September.

Magic Kingdom has Philharmagic, Carousel of Progress and the Country Bears.

Is there still a film at One Man's Dream at the Studios? That was an easy walk in.

pjhootch · Jul 15, 2017

In MK-we have ducked into It's a Small World if the line is really short- to get out of the sun and cool off. The song makes me crazy, but it is dark and cool in there. Remember you can ask for a cup of ice at any QS place if you need to cool off quickly.

disneyguy07 · Jul 16, 2017

Dismama2boys said:
Definitely use the baby care centers! There are places to sit, a movie and books to entertain your toddler, restrooms, and a water cooler. Also outlets to charge your phone.

Wanted to echo this one.

A lot of folks have mentioned restaurants, I would also recommend cutting through gift shops to get even a few minutes of A/C. Though that might be a little harder with the toddler.

In terms of parks, Animal Kingdom is the toughest to find A/C. The Nemo and Festival of the Lion King shows are both inside, but you have to queue outside. Dinosaur is also a good one since the queue is inside.

disnut8 · Jul 16, 2017

maxiesmom said:
I like the entry in China, before the movie. There are lots of benches and the air conditioning is usually cranked way up.

I was going to post this and wanted to mention that you don't even need to see the movie. You can go in there, and look at the displays on the wall or just sit on the benches.

Simba's Mom · Jul 16, 2017

ChristineOH said:
Air conditioned shows are great. We saw the Frozen Sing Along just for that, and that only, but it was so funny I laughed till I cried.

QS restaurants we like to hit-- even if it's just for snack or drink--
AK: Satu'li or Pizzafari
EP: Sunshine Seasons
DHS: Backlot Express
MK: We usually try to get a lunch ADR at BOG, but Cosmic Rays or the Pinocchio restaurant work too. They can just get chaotic.

That's what I do, also. The advantage is that you can stay as long as you want/need to, a show has a definite beginning and end. Columbia Harbour House and Pinocchio's Village House both have quieter upstairs also.

Narnia_girl · Jul 16, 2017

We ducked into Pinocchio's Village Haus for lunch last week because we were melting in the heat. By the time we left I was shivering. They keep that place plenty cool.

maxiesmom · Jul 16, 2017

disneyguy07 said:
Wanted to echo this one.

A lot of folks have mentioned restaurants, I would also recommend cutting through gift shops to get even a few minutes of A/C. Though that might be a little harder with the toddler.

In terms of parks, Animal Kingdom is the toughest to find A/C. The Nemo and Festival of the Lion King shows are both inside, but you have to queue outside. Dinosaur is also a good one since the queue is inside.

The gift shop by the exit of Dinosaur would work too.

Roo2 · Jul 16, 2017

For the OP, who is 8 months pregnant for their trip- please do NOT ride Dinosaur in AK! It is NOT safe for pregnant women (or anyone with back issues). Just wanted to be sure you know it is a very bouncy/jerky ride!
To cool off, can also walk through the shops in Hollywood Studios to keep cool, instead of the hot main street. Each block of shops is connected (just like at MK)- but in HS you will need to step outside to cross between shops about halfway down the street. The same for Animal Kingdom- walking through the main gift shop in front of the Tree of Life, right by the 1st big bridge, can cut down on a lot of hot sidewalk walking.
In Epcot, Club Cool is another great place for AC, plus free soda! And the Seas with Nemo and Friends building is a great place to cool down, with lots to see in the aquariums (plus benches!), Turtle Talk with Crush, etc. If the wait to get in is long, you can go right in to the aquarium area through the gift shop door, to the left of the main entrance. Just walk up to the glass doors and they will slide open automatically!
Waiting to walk through the World Showcase until after 6pm makes it much cooler and more enjoyable. Using the Friendship boats that cross the lake between Futureworld and the World Showcase can be a nice break, too.
My last suggestion is to keep a ziplock baggie in your bag, filled with ice and a washcloth- pull it out, wring it out and wipe your face and neck- instant air conditioning! Keep refilling it with the free cups of ice water you can get from every quick service place- and be sure to stay hydrated by drinking the remaining ice water yourself!
Hope you have a magical trip!
Roo2

bbjunkie · Jul 16, 2017

I also want to mention two things that seems to get overlooked at Epcot...

You can enter The Living Seas through the gift shop at the end and go into the see all of the aquarium and other interactive features. My family can easily spend an hour in there.

The same is true for Spaceship Earth: go in the exit doors to "play" all the games and participate in the activities.

Both are air conditioned and both have some benches.

Air conditioning in the parks

Mouseketeer

DIS Veteran

Retired and living 2 miles from The Castle.

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

The Mean Squinty Eye Works

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Mouseketeer

DIS Veteran

<font color=green>everything went to "H*** in a ha

He's not a tame lion, but he is good.

The Mean Squinty Eye Works

Greatest Disney Vacation Planner Ever

DIS Veteran

Share this page