Heat exhaustion ran rampant this July at Walt Disney World, with everyone from a baby to an 81-year-old suffering.
Walt Disney World Heat Exhaustion Report
In response to a request by Florida Politics, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District released a call log of heat-related incidents at Walt Disney World in late July 2025. Emergency services responded to 86 calls over 11 days, the log reveals. About 1 in 4 ended with a hospital visit; other patients were either treated and released or refused care.
The youngest guest to be treated was a baby under 1 year old. The complaint logged was a “fever” at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT on July 21. He was treated and released.
The oldest guest was an 81-year-old woman with heat exhaustion at Exposition Park, the food truck location in Disney Springs, on July 18. She was transported to the hospital without lights or sirens.
The incidents vary from several guests being “just overheated” to at least five reports of heat syncope (fainting). Some reported dizziness, nausea, or malaise. A 14-year-old at Disney’s Animal Kingdom was transported to the hospital after vomiting. A 44-year-old who felt overheated said her Apple Watch reported a heart rate of 160 beats per minute (an average BPM is between 60 and 100).
The highest number of calls took place 15 on July 27, although July 29 had the highest index of the month at 113°F. Orange County, where most of Walt Disney World is located, has been under a heat advisory 13 times this year.
According to Will Ulrich, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Melbourne office, July is Florida’s hottest month with an average high temperature of 92°F, and this was the 14th-hottest July on record, dating back 130 years.
“Heat is a silent killer,” Ulrich told Florida Politics. “You can feel it, but you can’t see it. We always preach about people taking protective actions against severe weather and tornadoes and things like that. But temperature extremes have to be considered, too, especially in a state where we see so many people enjoying the outdoors year-round.
“People who live in Florida are used to the heat in June, July, and August, but all it takes is temperatures just a couple degrees above normal to really start to take a toll on the human body. […] Of course, with our tourism capital of the world — Orlando — we have visitors that aren’t necessarily acclimated to the heat.”
Free water is available at all restaurants in Walt Disney World. Quick-service locations often have self-service ice water stations. There are water fountains and bottle fillers (check out our list) throughout the parks. And there are first aid centers in each theme park and Disney Springs.
Florida Politics also noted that Orange County Fire Rescue received eight heat illness calls from SeaWorld Orlando and one from Universal Epic Universe during the same July period. There were no reported calls to Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure, but Universal uses a private ambulance system, so records are harder to obtain.
Heat exhaustion symptoms can include (but are not limited to) fatigue, dizziness, faintness, nausea, headache, weak pulse, and heavy sweating. Heat exhaustion can be treated with time in the shade and drinking water.
Heatstroke, on the other hand, is when someone’s body temperature reaches 104° F (40° C) or higher, which can cause confusion, vomiting, rapid breathing, and more. Heatstroke requires emergency care and can lead to long-term health struggles.
Disney declined to provide a statement to Florida Politics about their story.
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