Keeping water cold at parks

[carolb3]

Last time we went to WDW (2 years ago) we spent so much $ on water. This time around (Feb. '05) I want to bring bottles of water with us in a backpack. Does anyone have suggestions on how to keept the water cold? I heard you can freeze the bottled water and then take it that way. I will only have a styrofoam cooler and ice from the resort -- will that freeze the water? Thanks!

[disneysteve]

We do one of two things when we travel, depending on our accomodations. If we have a freezer, we fill our water bottle half way at nite and freeze it, then fill it the rest of the way in the morning. We carry it in an insulated bottle case and it stays cold pretty well. Then during the day, we refill it with fresh water and more ice from any of the restaurants.

If we don't have a freezer, we pack the bottle with ice in the morning and add water. Still carry it in the insulated carrier. And still refill it with more ice as it melts.

Either way, we always have nice cold water. Best part is its free. Much better than buying water all week.

[carolb3]

Thanks Steve! So simple, but I would not have thought of that!

[buzzlady]

If you have a bottle that you can not get ice into, what we did was fill the water bottle at night and put it in the cooler full of ice. In the morning we put it into the insulated case and it stayed cool for about 1 hour, but this was in July. It was better than nothing in the July heat.

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by buzzlady
If you have a bottle that you can not get ice into

If this is the case, I'd suggest springing for a new bottle. Go to WalMart or Target or Sports Authority and pick up a wide mouth sports bottle in an insulated carrier. We take ours everywhere and it has been worth every penny. We use it constantly, not just on vacation.

[luvdisney14]

I bring water or soda and ask the concession stands for a cup of ice. They give it to you with no problem at all.

[carolb3]

Thanks for the ideas!!

[deltachi8]

In August, I would take our Britta Bottle and fill it half way and freeze the night before and then top it off before leaving. Then during the day would refill with ice from the food stands.

The water was cold and tasted fine with the help of the britta bottle. I now use the darn thing all the time at home.

[stephaniebatesjones]

my very smart DH came up with this idea. we carry a large plastic bottle ( sorta like a large bottle that hawiian punch comes in) and fill it with ice from the resort. We put it in an insulated carrier that we found at a store ( and have not been able to find since). If you don't have an insulated bottle carrier, you can just use a back pack. Make sure it is not clear, and try to get one that will reflect the sun. Then every family member has their own spray bottle filled with ice and water. Each person drinks ( and sprays) from their own individual bottle. By the time they need refilling, the ice in the large bottle has started to melt. That way we always have cold water even though we have no freezer. This usually lasts us all day, but if you need to you can get more ice for the big water bottle. We sometimes even carry a large bottle and a medium one. This is alot to carry, but we always take a stroller with us because we have a dd that's is young enough to ride in it. But even when she is big enough to walk all day we will still bring a stroller because we can push all our stuff in it, and not have to carry it.

Good luck

steph