How to Cool Off at DCA

In the hot California sun in the middle of summer you can feel like you're melting.  The most obvious ways to keep cool are to step inside stores or stop by your hotel room for a while, but there are things you can do to stay cool and still have some fun at the same time, especially at Disney California Adventure. Here are just a few ideas to help you beat the heat.

​Get Wet

You may have noticed that Disney California Adventure only has one water ride so it may seem like that's not the easiest option, but there are other ways to get wet in the park!

• GRIZZLY RIVER RUN | Grizzly Peak - You can ride GRR and get soaked, but there's another way to get soaked without stepping on the ride. There's a viewing platform near the final drop where guests can stand, watch the rafts come down and get drenched and they go by! No waiting required!

​Go Inside

There are other places you can go besides boring stores where you can still have a little fun and get out of the hot summer sun.

• GHIRARDELLI SODA FOUNTAIN | Pacific Wharf - Even if you don't want to buy any ice cream you get a free piece of Ghirardelli chocolate just for stepping inside!
• THE BAKERY TOUR | Pacific Wharf - Just across from the soda fountain is the Boudin Bakery where you can see and learn how San Francisco-style sourdough bread is made and get a free sample for coming in! There are chairs and tables inside, too, so you can take a load off.
• ANIMATION PAVILION | Hollywood Land - In Hollywood Land there's the Disney Animation pavilion that has a nice large area for kids to run around.  While you're there you can see "Turtle Talk with Crush", have fun in the Sorcerer's Workshop with some interactive activities or learn to draw a Disney character in the Animation Academy. The Animation Pavilion is highly underrated!
• MICKEY'S PHILHARMAGIC | Hollywood Land - This is a gem of a show that doesn't get the crowds it deserves! Join Donald as he runs amok through classic Disney films while you cool off in a large air-conditioned theater. This attraction never has a wait and is long enough to cool you down while you still have fun.
  

Check out our video below to see for yourself what you can do while you cool off. How do you like to beat the heat in Disneyland on a hot summer day?