What to Wear in Disney World in July
After deciding to take one of the most magical trips you will ever take, and you have spent months trying to figure out every single detail to make it perfect. After months of planning, you are finally down to the single digits when it comes to counting down the days until you head out! The last thing you need to do is pack.
Packing can be a little scary, especially since you have decided to go during the month of july. July can be very intense at Walt Disney World, for multiple reasons. The heat and the crowds can cause a little stress, but as long as you are prepared, there is nothing to worry about.
Today, we are going to discuss everything you need to know when it comes to what to wear in the month of July for central Florida. Let’s get started!
July Weather
July marks one of the busiest, if not the busiest month of the year at Walt Disney World. School is out, the weather is warm, and the Fourth of July, though at the beginning of the month and only one day, brings crowds like you wouldn’t believe. Now, I say this to prepare you, not to scare you away, of course. The crowds can be a lot, but honestly, as long as you’re prepared and do little things to avoid the massive crowded times and areas, it really will not bother you very much.
One of the ways to do this is to get up early in the morning and rope drop the parks. What rope drop means is to arrive to the parks before they even open in order to make complete use of your day. They will usually let you into the parks, but they will only let you walk up to a certain point. The crowds might seem overwhelming at first, but it is only because you are all together at once.
Once that crowd spreads out, you will realize that you made an excellent decision coming to the parks early. The day only gets more crowded as it goes on. Getting there early provides you with the opportunity of knocking out tons of activities before noon and the most crowded time of the day. During the most crowded time, you can also take the opportunity to go back to your resort and relax for a little bit in order to avoid the crowds at the hottest time of the day. Later in the evening, you can head on back, and you will feel so much better.
The temperature in central Florida’s July has a high of 92 and a low of 74. This is combined with high humidity most of the time. The sun can be very intense, and with the sun mixed with high humidity, it can be extremely hot and uncomfortable. Honestly, if you are not a fan of hot weather, July is not the time for to you head to Disney World. However, if you do go, just keep in mind that the heat is absolutely no joke.
Something else to keep in mind are quick rain showers. It is very normal for Florida to have a quick rain shower or rain storm in the mid afternoon, almost every day. This tends to happen mostly in later summer, but it can still happen at any time during the year. Usually these rain showers are not very long. Every now and then you will get a longer one, but in my experience they usually are no more than an hour.
During this time, you can go inside a building, such as a gift shop, a restaurant, or an inside ride in order to wait out the rain. Whenever the rain is gone, it almost looks like nothing happened and the sun has been out all day. It usually is a warm rain with sometimes, if rarely, a breeze, so you are going to want to bring protection against the elements in case they hit throughout the day. We can talk about this a little later.
The weather is something that really needs to be talked about when it comes to packing for Walt Disney World at this time, because you want to be comfortable, but also for safety reasons. You really need to stay cool throughout the day in order to avoid becoming overheated. Please take the best safety precautions when it comes to protecting yourself against the heat, which we will also be discussing.
Summer Clothing All the Way
You can look at what to wear in July in a couple different ways. One: it can be overwhelming because you want to stay cool and comfortable, but there are some articles of clothing that do not fit this description, but you really want to wear them.
Two: packing for July can be really easy because you literally pack all your t-shirts, shorts, and tank tops, and you are done. My suggestion to you is to try and go with the second option. There are some exceptions to bringing along articles of clothing that might not be the best for heat and humidity, but you just have to bring them. I’ve been there. As long as you are comfortable, you can essentially wear whatever you want. Remember, these are all just suggestions.
You are going to want to want to just pack as many as your summer clothes as you possibly can. Very rarely are you going to need anything long-sleeved or any long pants. If anything, you might need a light jacket or a light sweater in order to block the cooler mornings when you first head to the park. In case it rains, this jacket can protect you against the rain as well.
Make sure it is one that you can easily put around your waist or in a bag. Believe me when I tell you that you will most likely not need your jacket for a long period of time in the mornings. You just never know in the mornings and later in the evenings. While I do not think you will need anything in the evenings, there is a chance that things can really cool down.
There is also the crazy amounts of air conditioning in the buildings. The air conditioning feels great when you walk inside at first, but then it can get really cold after a while. Depending on how long you are inside, you might need that light jacket or sweater.
Now, like I said, you are going to want to pack almost all the summer clothes that you have. This usually includes (this list includes articles for both men and women):
- Tank tops
- Halter tops
- T-shirts
- Shorts
- Gym shorts
- Capris
- Sundresses
- Skirts
- Flip-flops
- Sandals
- Tennis shoes
I mentioned earlier that the low for July is usually around 74 degrees, which is still pretty warm. This does not mean that you won’t be seeing cooler weather at all. After walking around in 92 degrees all day, 74 is going to feel pretty cool at night. You might want to use that rain jacket you brought along.
However, during that 92 degree day, you are going to want your clothing to be as comfortable as possible. In my opinion at least, this does not mean really tight fitting clothes or really short shorts or dark colored clothing that absorbs the sun’s rays like crazy.
Articles of clothing that are a darker color tend to become much warmer than clothing with lighter hues. Having worn even just an all black t-shirt in the month of July while at Disney World, I can attest to this. I was able to be comfortable because I had shorts and tennis shoes on, but all the heat was absorbed right around my t-shirt.
Now, when it comes to fabric, you’re going to want to choose light and breathable ones. Loose clothing that doesn’t cling to your skin or feel scratchy at all will only make you feel more comfortable. This is of course your choice, and whatever you are most comfortable with is what you should wear.
I’ve even found that skirts can sometimes even be very comfortable to wear whenever it is hot. A skirt is, obviously, very breathable and can be comfortable walking around in amongst hot weather. So, believe it or not, a skirt or a sundress made from comfortable and breathable fabric would be perfect for walking around all day in the hot sun.
The next question you should ask is what kind of shoes one should wear to the parks in the month of July. There are different kinds of shoes that people can wear; for whatever they might deem the most comfortable for walking around all day is what they should wear. Tennis shoes, or some type of sneaker, with a very comfortable and cushy soul is your best bet.
Believe me when I say that you will be walking like crazy all day, starting and stopping along many paths. You will also be standing in line for multiple things for long periods of time. All of this combined with the hot temperature of the month can become very exhausting. So, at the very least, you are going to want to make sure you have a good and comfortable pair of shoes.
Tennis shoes might not be your favorite or most comfortable pair of shoes, so I will say that certain types of sandals and/or flip-flops can be comfortable too. The only thing with these is that you still want a comfortable and cushy soul that supports your foot throughout the day. Flat flip-flops with uncomfortable straps and no support will be one of your worst enemies during your time down there. Your feet will most likely hurt, I’m not saying they won’t. However, they will hurt a lot less with a good pair of shoes that support you.
What to Pack for Young Children and Kids
If your party includes kids and/or young children, you are most likely packing for them as well as yourself. Luckily, a lot of the same lines for packing clothes in the summer goes for them as well as for you. The last thing you want is for your child to be is uncomfortable when they are supposed to be having the most amazing time.
Disney World for kids is absolutely amazing and magical, but it can be overwhelming sometimes too. You just need to think about what are the most comfortable articles of clothing that they own? What are some articles of clothing that your children love to wear all the time?
More than likely, pieces of clothing that your child likes to wear all the time, they will agree to wear it at Walt Disney World, even when it is really hot out. You are also going to want to make sure the fabric is loose and breathable, so they do not become overheated. A lot of times, I usually see children in shorts and t-shirts and tennis shoes. Usually, they do not care what they are wearing.
Something that is very popular, however, are the popular princess dresses that many little girls are walking around in. They even have a knight’s cape, shield, and sword for any children who would like to dress up as a knight. Having your child dress up is the most adorable thing and creates many memories. I just suggest that you bring an extra pair of clothes for them in case they get super hot and uncomfortable while walking around in it all day.
Young children and older kids can also more prone to the sun’s rays than adults. You’re going to want them to wear light colors in order to deflect the sun, but perhaps bring a hat and/or sunglasses for them as well for protection. You want them to be cool, so long sleeve shirts and long pants are out for the most part. However, that is what sunscreen is for. A hat and/or sunglasses can provide extra protection from the sun, and this way you do not have to reapply sunscreen as often for your children.
Lastly, a light rain jacket will do wonders due to those pop up storms that always seem to happen in Florida, especially during this time of year. A rain jacket keeps the wind off while keeping them dry, but it will not overheat them like crazy. There are also the options of rain ponchos, which are sold at Disney World but can also be brought along from home.
Sun Protection
If there is one thing that you take away from this article it is definitely all my information about protecting yourself from the sun! The heat and the sun’s rays in central Florida are very intense to begin with. When you pair this with the month of July and the middle of summer, it can sometimes get very unbearably hot and crazy.
In my experience, t-shirts tend to be better when it comes to protection from the sun. The reason I say this is because your shoulders are one of the easiest and first things to become sunburnt when walking around in the heat. That has, at least, been my experience. Tank tops are cooler, yes, but in order to prevent painful sunburn, t-shirts are way more protective.
Obviously, you do not have to wear them, just constantly reapply sunscreen as much as you can. I’m here to tell you that you might have to do this more often than what you have done in the past. I will admit that I am a very fair skinned individual, so I have to apply sunscreen like crazy and then constantly reapply, or I will get sunburned extremely quickly. The sun and heat is also just way more harsh than many places.
Growing up in the north, the sun affects me like crazy, and this combined with the extreme heat does not make a good combination. So, if you are not used to the sun’s extreme rays, and the heat, take extra precautions. Sunscreen is something that you absolutely must bring.
This is especially because you are going to be wearing lighter clothing and clothing that does not provide very much protection. You have to find a balance when you go to Walt Disney World in September. You want to stay cool and comfortable, but you also need to be protected from the sun.
Something else that I have noticed is becoming more and more popular over the years is a parasol (or an umbrella acting like a parasol). This is very handy. After awhile, the sun can actually hurt, and you are going to be walking around like crazy all day long. A parasol or umbrella will provide that portable shade that is so comfortable, you might not mind strolling around all day in the park.
Being an individual who does not take heat very well, this is an excellent way to walk comfortably around the parks. You do not have to feel silly either; there are so many people using them throughout the day. Each time I travel to Walt Disney World, I’ve noticed more and more people walking around with them. I actually have begun to carry one around with me as well. It blocks out so much of the sun and protects you from the heat in such an efficient way.
Lastly, you are going to want to bring some sort of hat and sunglasses. That sun is harsh and very bright. A hat will, obviously, keep the heat off your face and protect your face and scalp from the sun. Sunglasses will make it so much easier to walk around because you are not going to want to constantly be squinting throughout your day.
After awhile, it hurts, it gets annoying, and you will most likely develop a headache. It is pretty straightforward, and it is easy to avoid. Bring a hat and sunglasses. If you forget them, buy them in any gift shop. They are useful and can be used outside of the Disney parks. You also will have an awesome new hat and sunglasses that are Disney themed.
Recap
In conclusion, it does not have to be overwhelming to figure out what you should be wearing at Walt Disney World in July. It is a very hot month that usually sees pop up rain showers and rain storms in the afternoon. As long as you are prepared, there is nothing to worry about.
You want to wear loose clothing with breathable and comfortable fabric so you can walk around in the heat all day with no problem. There are possibilities of pop up rainstorms and/or rain showers, so make sure that you have a light jacket that keeps you dry and protects you from the light wind those rain storms can sometimes bring. That jacket can also keep you protected from a cooler earlier morning and possibly cooler evening in the parks.
Remember, the sun and heat can be brutal in September. Not only do you not want sunburn, but protection from the sun is a safety concern as well. You are right in the middle of Florida. Make sure you are bringing clothing that deflects the sun, which tend to be lighter colors. You are always going to want to reapply sunscreen like crazy and also bring along a hat and sunglasses in order to keep the sun off of your face.
You are also going to want to have the most comfortable shoes that you own because you are going to be walking a lot. Make sure you have a pair of shoes that provide the ultimate support for your feet as well as legitimate protection.Once you think about the pieces of clothing you have that meets all of these credentials, packing for the month of July should be no problem!
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