6. Ditch your shorts—but not in the way you’re thinking…

Image: Disney

If there were ever a place where shorts and a tank top feel like a necessity, Florida is king on that list. Florida’s insane heat doesn’t come from high temperatures but rather from its brutal humidity, where 80 degrees can feel like a hundred because of the moisture in the air.

Surprisingly, wearing less clothing isn’t actually the best way to cool down at Walt Disney World. The best clothing for extreme humidity is light-colored, breathable garments that fit loosely and help wick away sweat while circulating air. Tight fitting clothing will just trap warm sweat against your skin while tank tops and shorts leave you directly exposed to the sun. Instead, choose loose breathable clothes in fabrics with good moisture-wicking properties like synthetics that hang away from your body (you may want to skip the Under-Armor shirt during your Disney trip for this reason). Loose pants will also do much more to cool your legs than shorts, which will just leave you repeatedly getting stuck to sticky ride seats. You can also upgrade your clothing choice by choosing clothing items designed to help you cool down or quick dry.

7. The power of peppermint

Image: Wonderferret, Flickr (license)

Planning on visiting Walt Disney World in the summer? You’re going to need a mint.

Peppermint oil sends a powerful signal to the brain that can help you cool down in the heat, and there are so many ways to take advantage of its cooling properties. While you could easily just keep a tin of strong mints like Altoids with you, the best way to take advantage of peppermint’s cooling properties is with a good quality essential oil. So long as the oil is good quality (like the one made by Doterra), you can carry a small bottle of peppermint oil and pour a drop straight on your tongue to cool down—just make sure your oil is safe for ingestion. You can also combine peppermint and lavender with distilled water and an emulsifier to make a DIY cooling spray. As an added benefit, peppermint oil can also help you wake up when you’re tired!

8. Hack your pulse

Image: Torbakhopper, Flickr (license)

Feeling extra hot and need to cool down fast? This hack goes full old-school-Epcot and utilizes science  to quickly bring your temperature down. Your body has several pulse points where the application of ice or cold water can quickly cool your blood. The easiest way to do this is to find the spot on your wrist where you can feel your pulse, then run that spot on your wrist under cold running water. If you can’t get access to consistently running water (because Disney’s sinks are automatic), try applying an ice cube wrapped in a napkin to that spot.

You can also get similar results by applying an ice pack or a cold cloth (like your icy Sea Breeze towel) to the bottoms of your feet or to your cheeks. These two spots on your body don’t contract the same way as your other blood vessels when exposed to cold, which ultimately helps you cool down faster.