Sweltering Walt Disney World summer days seem a lot more bearable when we mist and fan and cool off – and we’ve been known to ride Pirates of the Caribbean multiple times, sip most of the flavors at Club Cool at Epcot, aimlessly browse in the Animation Gallery at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or hope to get extra wet at Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Soaring temperatures are the perfect excuse for cold treats. Really cold treats. And all four theme parks have plenty, but we have a favorite in each park.
What is your favorite sweet treat to cool off?
Our picks:
Magic Kingdom. Hands down, the Pineapple Float with pineapple Dole Whip and pineapple juice at Aloha Isle in Adventureland. Maybe a tart, juicy pineapple spear on the side just for good measure (and a healthy dose of Vitamin C). Find a shady spot and enjoy a taste of childhood.
Epcot. A toss-up between a brain-freezing shaved ice with fruit syrup (tangerine is our favorite) at the Kaki Gori kiosk at the Japan Pavilion or a mango margarita from the kiosk at Mexico Pavilion. A perfect spot for cooling off is the “Spirited Beats” exhibit in the tiny museum at the back of the Japan Pavilion that explores the anime (Japanese animation) mania. Cool and quiet.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Peanut-butter-and-jelly milkshake. Need we say more? Ever since the 50’s Prime Time Cafe opened, we dream of this calorie and carb-laden delight. Late afternoon, slip into the adjacent Tune-In Lounge, take a seat at the bar and order your shake. It’s an oasis of sweet sanity on a hot day. The calories may force you to skip dinner.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom. For grown-ups a cold Safari Amber Beer under the thatched roof at Dawa Bar in Africa with live African music is a delightful way to forget the heat. Or a frozen cappuccino from Royal Anadapur Tea Company in Asia . . . either way, you can cool off more at Kali River Rapids or just hang out in the gorilla area of the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail – we can spend hours watching these marvelous creatures in the lush vegetation.
Tell us your favorite way to beat the heat!
Comments
I stand strong with Team Citrus Swirl.
I would actually vote for the Mega-Berry Smoothie @ Prime Time. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the PB&J milkshake, but on a hot hot hot day, I want tangy cold raspberry deliciousness.
What about the Strawberry Swirl? Oh yeah, you took that away from us…
I am going to have to go with the Mickey ice cream. Just love it too much! 🙂
PBJ malt at 50’s is really good but the margarita at Mexico is awesome.
I have to go with the Mickey Head Ice Cream – close second is the Dole Whip.
Chocolate Covered Bananas! You can get them in any park and they have been a Disney Tradition in my family since my dad was little!
The Pineapple Float is the best thing at Disneyland.
Everyone should try one.
There are always large lines by the tiki room.
I love the Dole stand in Magic Kingdom, mmmmmm 8)
When I was a kid, my favorite way to cool down at the Magic Kingdom was with a Dole Float and a Disney Handwich from the Lunching Pad in Tomorrowland. Sure, to eat the two at the same time took a little walking, but it was worth it. Too bad there aren’t Handwiches anymore, but I still enjoy the Dole Float very much.
Dole Whip…definitely.
I LOVE the dole whip and the pb&j milkshake but in AK I LOVE the frozen chai latte or it may be called chai freeze.
Dole whip is definitely my all time favorite treat. Bad thing is I crave them all the time and now live 3 hours away from MK grew up 20 minutes away from DL. I have tried and tried to recreate the wonderful treat at home and still don’t have it down. I am having fun trying though and maybe one day I will get it right.
Love the gelato at that little stand in “Italy” at Epcot.
Every time I’m at the Magic Kingdom I have to get a Dole Whip. I raved about them so much that my family had to try them and they also got hooked. Then they started raving about them and got others hooked too.
Now I’m really craving one.
Give me a Frozen Strawberry Pop anyday!!!!!
My favorite is the Dole pineapple whip … but a close runner up is Mickey’s Ice… Just love everything about Disney..
What about the strawberry swirl? Does no one else miss this besides my family?
Looks like I am going to have to try the pineapple dole whip on out next trip.
Right now the Mickey head ice cream is my favorite because it brings back memories of my daughter (then 4) being covered from head to toe in it in a matter or minutes waiting for the Jungle Parade and AK.
I tried the dole whip pineapple float for the first time last year… it was amazing – however def a treat for 2+ ! LOL … As a kid (and still now) nothing says Disney on a hot day like a strawberry bar… I ate those things every day at Disney since I was 5 :o)
Hey Don’t Forget that walking up to any restarant and ask for a cup of water. Cups of Water are on the house. Don’t wait to Hydrate!
Magic Kingdom – Dole Pineapple Whip Float with Pineapple spear, eaten on one of the side walkways of the Castle.
Epcot – Peach Oolong tea is Oh-My-Gosh fabulous 🙂 Taste exactely like the gummy peach rings eaten in the shade looking at the Koi Pond.
Hollywood Studios – Carrot Cake cookie with cream cheese icing eaten inside of the Writers Cafe while watching classic Disney cartoons.
Animal Kingdom – Soft serve icecream near Asia or is it Africa? While watching the Chimps.
But all time Favorite is the classic Mickey Icecream and is a must for any trip 🙂
When my wife and I were at the park last week, we got had an Ice Cream Sandwich at Hollywood Studios that was just awesome! 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream between two great big soft chocolate chip cookies. It was fantastic!
The pineapple float is hands down my favorite. I learned about it from an unofficial travel guide to WDW and had to go back everyday for one. Even if it was cold (we were there in February last time). A great treat no matter the weather!
My husband and I were at Disney World from August 13 through August 19 of this year. The temperatures were 95 degrees with a heat index of 106-110. Our ways to beat the heat?
We went and purchased bottled Evian water and froze it in the fridge at the resort and every morning we would make sure that it was packed up in one of our little personal cooler bags (freebie gifts from a KC Royals game) where the bottom held cold drinks or frozen drinks and the top held food. Since we were on the dining plan we didn’t really need to pack food so it was used for my insulin and something sweet in case of my blood sugar going down.
If it got too hot during the day there were plenty of inside attractions where we could cool off.One of these places is the “Polar Hut” at Epcot where you can sample different kinds of soft drinks from all over the world. There are also the different shows and attractions located in each park, especially Epcot and Animal Kingdom.
If you are going to be at the resort more than just a few days take the advantage of the early morning hours and late hours for the parks. If you have kids traveling with you then just go back to the resort if you are on property and enjoy the pool. My personal favorite? Ol’Man’s Swimming Hole over at Port Orleans Riverside. There are water slides which both young and old will enjoy, a kiddie pool, and a hot tub. If you have a “Park Hopper Magic Your Way Water Parks And More” ticket then take advantage of going to the water parks. Typhoon Lagoon has a great spot for the kids to cool off. There is also an area called Hideway Bay where you can watch the riders coming off of the Crusher Gusher and a separate area where the kids can play safely. You can go and lay in the water or grab a lounge chair and sit with your feet in the water with a good book. Just make sure you bring tons of sun screen.
Where light clothing to reflect the sun, a hat to keep the sun off your face, comfortable shoes, sun screen, and don’t forget your camera….
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