3. Cool down faster (with science)

Both California and Florida can get pretty hot from late spring to mid-fall. Sometimes water just isn’t enough, particularly when dealing with Florida’s brutal humidity. We did an entire piece on unusual ways to cool down in the heat, but here are two of the more unorthodox highlights.

Many people are familiar with the concept of using a neck towel or bandana soaked in ice water to cool down. In some parts of the world, people will add a squirt of Sea Breeze astringent to the ice water used to soak a neck towel. The minty astringent amplifies the cooling effect on the towel and can make it feel like it lasts longer. If you expect to find yourself suffering under the oppressive Florida or California heat, bring a travel sized bottle (or contact lens case) of Sea Breeze and a bandana with you. When things get hot, request a cup of ice water from any vendor who serves fountain drinks. Drink the majority of the cup to rehydrate, then add a little bit of Sea Breeze and soak your neck towel in it. Sweet relief! (Don’t drink the Sea Breeze, lol).

Another unusual hack to cool down has roots in South Asia. Science has found that on non-humid days, drinking a hot drink can actually cool the body down by encouraging sweat and signaling the brain to regulate the body’s temperature. While this trick requires breathable clothing and doesn’t work well in heavy humidity (Florida guests will have to save this one for dryer days), it’s a great trick if you need a coffee or tea fix but are worried about the heat. Enjoy that hot drink and the cooling benefits that come after it!

4. Dull the sting of long waits (with a 14 hour book)

Waiting in line is seriously the worst part of any theme park visit. While Disney has done a great job making queues more guest-friendly with interactive games and exciting visuals, long waits can still feel like an absolute slog. Some parents have taken to downloading videos for kids to watch, but the issue with these is you can get distracted watching your screen, and they can prove brutal to your phone battery if you’re streaming using Disney’s battery-hungry Wi-Fi.

While we don’t have to use this solution too often (we do our best to avoid long waits, if possible), one favorite option we found for passing the time in line is using audiobooks. Many people don’t realize how long unabridged audiobooks are these days—an average science fiction book clocks in at around 10-14 hours (we have a Brandon Sanderson novel that clock in at 55 hours!). A multi-way splitter can allow several family members to enjoy the book (or sharing a pair of Bluetooth earbuds if they can be separated), and the time really does fly. Audiobooks on Audible can be downloaded ahead of time, which eliminates the need to stream—you can just turn the Wi-Fi off.

Even better, Disney fans can enjoy audiobooks pertinent to their visit. A good example is the excellent Star Wars audiobooks available on Audible. Both the book Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire by Delilah S. Dawson and Thrawn: Alliances take place on Batuu (the first Thrawn book is excellent as well). Star Wars fans can learn the history of Batuu while you explore the parks.