Where can I get the ice packs for around the neck?

[Disney loving Iowan]

We will be going in Sept. with MIL and my Aunt and we want to make sure that they will be okay in the heat. We thought that getting some of those ice packs that you wear around your neck could be helpful but I'm not sure where to get them. I'm hoping they won't be too expensive. Any help you could give me will be greatly appreciated!

[maddiesmom0116]

Originally Posted by Disney loving Iowan

We will be going in Sept. with MIL and my Aunt and we want to make sure that they will be okay in the heat. We thought that getting some of those ice packs that you wear around your neck could be helpful but I'm not sure where to get them. I'm hoping they won't be too expensive. Any help you could give me will be greatly appreciated!

I same you could buy and take with you at CVS the other day. They were on one of those little merchandisers that hand off the sides of a end cap of one of the aisles. You would need to freeze it in a cooler before going to the parks. I didn't notice the price.

[chartle]

If you are talking about what I think you are talking they aren't ice packs that scarves that have water absorbing crystals in them that soak up water.

We don't like them as they cool off quick and just feel warm and slimy.

Maybe they would work in low humidity but not in Fl.

Its like misty mates. Without a fan and Fl's humidity I don't see how they work.

[marciemi]

We used them on our summer 2007 trip. They do tell you on them NOT to freeze them or if you do, to NOT use them directly on your skin then. My kids didn't like them around their necks because then they ended up with the ring of their t-shirts all wet and "icky" feeling later. However, they did wrap them around their heads and hats (if they were still frozen).



But I agree - although they strongly recommend using them by just dipping them in cold water in say the bathroom sinks, they ended up being more of a hassle to carry than they were worth. I think after the second day we just ended up leaving them behind or carrying one wrapped around a spare frozen water bottle to use later in the day.

Oh, and edited to add that when you bring them home, be sure to lay them out carefully somewhere and make sure they're fully dried out before packing them away for your next trip if you don't want them to end up completely covered in mold. Just saying!

[MHSweb79]

Yes, the necktie-shaped things with the crystals did not work for us in WDW. We followed the directions but slime came out anyway and irritated our skin. Plus they didn't stay cold for long at all. The humidity in FL is not good for this type of cooling system - you need to feel the evaporation in order to feel cooler.
I got Misty Mates for our upcoming trip, but I also picked up a few small instant ice packs at the dollar store (the kind where you crack the capsule inside and the whole pack turns cold). I figure if I'm dying of heat in Animal Kingdom a little ice pack to pat down my neck and face will come in handy. Then I can just toss it when it's not cold any more.

[Ggatorgirl]

I was at WDW t 2 weeks ago, and I brought a wash cloth from the room in a ziploc bag When the heat became too much, I could soak the cloth in a water fountain and wrap that around my neck. Not high fashion, but it worked fabulously in cooling me off.

In retrospect, next time I would use the hand towel. The larger size would make it easier to keep around your neck. This time I had to hold on to it to keep it in place.

[eeyoresmom]

Sporting goods stores

[marciemi]

I'm sorry - to answer your original question, there are a zillion of them on ebay for a very reasonable price. Many even in Disney themes.

[Baltazar]

Originally Posted by Ggatorgirl

In retrospect, next time I would use the hand towel. The larger size would make it easier to keep around your neck. This time I had to hold on to it to keep it in place.

I would suggest this as well.

get it wet in a sink and wipe your face and neck, works great.

[3disAddicts]

I absolutely agree with several other posts. I've tried the cooling wraps as well, and yes, they do get icky. Not worth the money or effort. The washcloths work fabulously!!!!! Just make sure they are somewhat of a thick material so that they don't dry out quickly.

[sharadoc]

We haven't been in August for ages, but we are going to try our old trick, which was to wear a bandanna soaked in cold water around our heads. We also have the cool scarves and will give them a try. The bandanna trick usually worked well for us because we could re-wet it whenever we went into a bathroom, and they're big enough to wear around your neck or head.

[reagan75]

To OP, I found some at Walmart on clearance recently for $2 each.

[ParrotBill]

Here's what I do:

Freeze 2 bottles of water each day.
As we go out each day take 2 water frozen bottles and 2 washclothes.


Place one bottle in a bottle holder and keep one washcloth handy.
Wrap one bottle in a washcloth and store inside a bag.

As the first bottle thaws, use washcloth to catch cold condensing moisture and use to wipe face and neck.

Later, use second bottle and washcloth the same way.

When you return to room, wash both washclothes and dry.

When it's really hot we also use one of those Disney mister bottles. We fill it with ice water once in a while.

Repeat each day!

[Disney loving Iowan]

Thanks for all the information! I thought those things were more like ice packs. I didn't know about them having the crystals. Not sure what I will do now. I didn't want to use anything that would be messy or get my shirt wet. I will have to give my fellow travelers all the info that you have given me and let them decide what they want to do. We will consider all the info that you all have given us. My aunt works at Wal-Mart so I will tell her to check there for the clearance ones if she decides to go with them!

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I have used them, not only at WDW, but working in the heat. they work great.

the only thing is, don't buy the cheap ones. I bought mine from several sources, and have used them for years. They also make full body vests for wear under body armor and other applications.

also, when you first get them, wet them and let them dry several times on a towel, the "slim" goes away. you can re-activate them by putting them under the faucet in any restroom.

here are a couple of places.
(the second one was used because they had a pattern that DW wanted to match her outfits!)

http://www.coolbandanas.com/

http://www.healthandbodystore.com/index.html