The Heat is On

Summer is here and things are warming up.  It's in the 90's here at home today. We tend not to go to Disneyland in the heat of summer but if the opportunity arises, we show up no matter what time of year. I think I have been to Disneyland every month of the year except January. We've been there when it's been 75 degrees at the end of July and 90 in early November, you just never know.

But when things warm up, you need some built in escapes to get out of the heat. Here are some of our favorites.

Enchanted Tiki Room - Great air conditioning in there (a requirement for electronic devices) very cool and dark which makes it seem even cooler. Plus its a great show no matter how many times you see it.

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln - Again, they keep it very cool and since so few people actually show up to watch the wonderful show and impressive animatronic President, there is very little built in body heat that crowds can generate.

Golden Horseshoe with Billy Hill & the Hillbillies - It's a little warmer in here since they keep the front doors open and by showtime, the place is packed.  Still the A/C is on and you are out of the sun.

Mark Twain Steamer - Once the boat takes off from the dock, you can usually get a bit of a cool breeze coming off the water even on hot days. You may have to follow the shade as you make your way around the Rivers of America.

Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and it's a small world - The length of these rides (10 to 15 minutes) inside their air conditioned show buildings is really a good way to get out of the sun.  And the outdoor queue lines tend to move very quickly so the time waiting to get on the rides tends to be fairly short unless the park is really crowded.

If you want a cool place to eat counter service style, go to the Hungry Bear.  The seating is outdoors but you are right on the water and the two tiered dining areas are covered in heat relieving shade.  Indoors, it's all about the Blue Bayou but you better have called ahead for a dining time and be prepared to pay for that very cool setting.

It may be cool in there but Captain EO and Innoventions are two places we avoid at all costs  They actually make a better alternative when its pouring down rain and other rides and attractions begin to shut down.

You can make case for Splash Mountain but there's a difference between getting out of the heat and getting soaking wet. The two are not interchangeable.

Over in DCA, shade was never their strong suit but it is slowly improving.  Aladdin, coming in at around 50 minutes, is a great way to stay cool but to get the best seats you need to get there a bit early and the queue line has you standing right in the sun waiting to get in. The lacy trees they have planted just don't cut it.

The Disney Animation Building is a fun way to spend time with Turtle Talk with Crush and staring into the Toy Story Zoetrope.  The adjacent Off the Page retail store may be my favorite in either park.  If you have kids, head down the street to Playhouse Disney.  For those not inclined to sit on the ground (me) there are cushioned benches along the side and back.

I enjoy the two 3D shows in DCA - Tough to Be A Bug and Muppets 3D. They are nice and cool with indoor gathering areas prior to the shows starting. Some people have gotten rather tired of them though. '

Grizzly River Run is in the same category as Splash Mtn. only you will get even wetter. The line gets long for GRR when the heat is on.

And DCA may have the best solution when you're just plain hot and miserable - they serve beer.