Common advice ignored

[suzanny]

I'm one of those weirdos who carries around an open umbrella, rain or shine! I picked up a small UV umbrella at walmart for $5. it's meant to be attached to a beach chair, but I tote that thing around to keep me in perpetual shade, no matter where I am! I absolutely hate the ponchos, too hot. But I will keep that umbrella open all day. My kids can find me in a crowd, and the sun doesn't bother me. Between the umbrella, sunglasses and a hat, I don't ever have to deal with sunscreen in my eyes from sweating it off, plus I am always prepared for a quick rain shower.

I usually only see maybe one or two other people doing this. At least one Japanese lady and another fair-skinned like me. ;-) I can imagine giving that advice to someone else while they smile and nod and quickly back away... crazy umbrella lady.

 

[BostonEd]

If I get thirsty in the parks I drink OUT OF THE FOUNTAIN.

Thank you for being sensible! People go through all these lengths to get water, when there are fountains everywhere. Yes, the water tastes a little funny in central FL, but it's safe. You get used to the taste really quickly.

 

[DVCjj]

I would never not bring a poncho AND an umbrella. We use ponchos for the water rides. On my last trip, our very last night we were parked in front of Cinderella Castle waiting to watch the new projection show, and it started POURING. We decided to tough it out with an umbrella and a large vinyl drop cloth I'd brought if we ever wanted to sit on the ground. The rain lasted at least 10 minutes and if we hadn't had those items, we would have been miserable because we weren't leaving without seeing the new show! I also used the umbrella as a parasol once at HS when we were waiting for the Stars Wars outdoor show. I didn't care how stupid I looked, it was 12-1pm ish, blazing hot sun and I'm pale as Casper. This lady does not CARE how stupid she looks, she's comfortable! I just pretended it was 1916 and parasols were normal for "ladies". LOL So ponchos and umbrellas for each person are a necessity for my family. (Totes size)

I have never NOT taken a small umbrella and a poncho to any WDW trip. Even if TV/iPhone forecast says no rain.
It's a Florida lie. Just happened last week while there. Usually the umbrella is teeny as in a child's fold up umbrella. But always in my tote or backpack. Saved many a day. I hate being wet.

 

[NewbieMouse]

I also ignore the bring your own snacks tip as I prefer something deep fried or rich while I'm on vacation. No granola bars for me. Gimme the churro! LOL

Also agree on the water. We also don't split food or take busses. We are on vacation, not an episode of Survivor.

I love this! We never take our own food - that's half the reason we're at Disney! If I tried to give my kids (or DH, for that matter) a granola bar or some carrot sticks, they'd look at me like I'd lost my mind.

 

[RileyAndDisney]

When I was in Disneyland in Summer 2016, I swore by the "ice water at quick service" hack. It was really nice when I just wanted a little bit of water, I would drink it in between attractions, and throw it out when I was done. I liked it so much better than carrying a water bottle, I didn't have to find space in my bag and it alleviated the weight that a water bottle would create. I don't think I ever waited more than 3 mins to get a cup, there was ICE, and it was free!

I also had super cheap, thinner than a grocery bag, dollar store ponchos. They worked for riding Grizzly River Run then tossing them, but we would have never survived if we used them for rain. Imagine having a giant plastic grocery bag, getting inside of that, and trying not to rip it at a theme park. Yeah

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Thank you for being sensible! People go through all these lengths to get water, when there are fountains everywhere. Yes, the water tastes a little funny in central FL, but it's safe. You get used to the taste really quickly.

Brita Bottles. We fill them at the fountains and are never without cool, fresh tasting water.

 

[Babrook]

Yes, the water tastes a little funny in central FL, but it's safe. You get used to the taste really quickly.

Embrace the taste of the water. It lets me know I am at WDW. The Coke here, as a result, tastes a bit 'off' - it tastes like Disney Coke. "Part of the Magic".

Also I've always found ponchos to be more trouble than they are worth. I'd rather get a little wet then still get a little wet because the ponchos aren't perfect (shoes, face, etc) in addition to carrying the dumb thing around, especially when it is wet. Plus the person that compared it to feeling like steamed seafood? Spot on. Nasty stuff.

Being able to go bagless at WDW is liberating.

 

[happyplace79]

The advice that you must wear good sneakers in the parks. I think I'd probably die of heat stroke if I wore socks and sneakers in the FL heat. Sandals or flip flops all the way.

I gave the dollar store ponchos a try once, but they really are cheap crap that tears very easily. The Disney ones last. We reused them quite a few times.

The free water I've tried a couple times, but the taste isn't so great. I love that when they offer ice water at the resorts and sometimes outside the restaurants they put lemon in it. Much better. Maybe that will be my new tip. Travel with sliced lemon so you can drink the free water.

Try the crystal light or cool-aid packets that you poor in water, works much better.

 

[happyplace79]

It came a flood at Hollywood Studios when we were there last January and those Dollar Store ponchos were a life saver. It would stop for awhile and then poor down again, we just shook them out and stuck them in our bag so we could pull them back out when the rain started again. Worked just fine for me and my friend. We always pack one in our park bag. Never had a problem.

 

[Chuckers]

Try the crystal light or cool-aid packets that you poor in water, works much better.

For me, the problem with those is that you really need a 16/20 oz bottle or you're folding the packet hoping the rest doesn't spill out. They're great when you get bottled water. The liquid enhancers work better when you just have a cup of water.. you can squirt a little in and you've got flavor!

 

[srwarden1928]

I never carry the snacks, water, etc into the parks because I never carry a BAG of any kind into the parks. If it won't go into a pocket, it stays in the car or at the resort. Plus I don't like water, so I generally keep hydrated with Cokes. At least the walking helps me to burn off the extra calories. I also never take a break in the middle of the day. To me, time out of the parks, when that is my purpose for being there in the first place, is time wasted. I do eat at some of the excellent TS restaurants at some of the resorts. I also visit DTD sometime in each trip. Other than that, I want to be in a park as much as possible.

 

[JFox]

In all my trips I've never used a poncho. Wearing let alone carrying a wet pinch does not appeal to me. If it's raining I will go into a shop. If needed a jumbo shopping bag could do the trick. Also, there are pertly of places to replace a too wet shirt.

 

[keepswimming76]

For me the poncho dilemma comes down to preference and time of year. Our first few trips were at the end of September and we had at least one day of straight downpours. During those, the nice Disney ponchos were fantastic. Our last September trip in 2014 it rained most of the week. There was one day where rain was bouncing back up from the ground! We would not have been able to tour the parks if we did not poncho-up! We wore them and still got wet....while holding umbrellas part of the time.

Other trips we've made during May or December the rain that did occur swept through quickly and was not a huge deal. That's where for me the Dollar Tree ponchos are handy (as noted in my picture). I don't like getting wet at all and they do a decent job in the light rain.
The advantages of the cheaper ones are they are smaller and when the rain ends they are easier to pack back up, or simply toss out compared to the Disney ones. But they do not work as well.

As for the water debate, I drink a lot of H20 so I carry my own bottle. I will refill it at the drinking fountain throughout the day. Yes it does not taste as good, but it does the job and is free.

 

[hsmamato2]

The water thing..... I've never bothered after one trip with a brita filter bottle when the kids were little...... we drink from fountains,or stop in the pickup line at any qs place to grab some....I've ignored quite a bit of advice from here over the years... brining my own hand soap, an over door holder for lots of stuff....etc etc.The only snacks I pack now(adults) is if I have a special diet need,otherwise nope.

 

[DisneyMom93]

Ponchos - for rides only - I pack the cheap $1 ponchos for water rides. When I'm done with it for the day I offer it to someone on the water ride line. Some women are very grateful! Otherwise I trash it and use a new one the next time. My husband and kids like getting wet so I only need to carry one.

Rain jackets - for rain only - We go in November and it doesn't rain much, but I watch the weather until the morning of, then if it calls for rain, we bring thin packable rain jackets and we wear quick dry shorts or skorts.

We once spent a rainy day in Epcot. It was empty and we had so much fun.

I HATE paying for water. I order 2 cases delivered to the room (to drink when we are in the room) and we each take one in the morning (we drink water with every meal) and we grab a quick croissant or muffin on the way to the bus. Then we toss it. At the parks we get ice water when we can, and will buy bottled if need be. It's vacation... not gonna penny pinch when someone is thirsty.

I used to bring goldfish crackers and fruit snacks for my kids, but only when they were toddlers.

 

[DisneyMom93]

Actually I don't know if I found a tip or did it on my own, but I do bring foaming hand soap for the hotel room. Bar soap drives me crazy. It's slippery and messy. I got the Mickey shaped Method one at Target.

My tip: Clorox wipes! I wipe down light switches, knobs, tv remote, phone, and bathroom faucets, sink, countertop, toilet seat, etc, when we first check in. Hotel rooms and public bathrooms skeeve me. Oh, and I wipe down the airplane arm rests, buttons, tray table, etc. After all that I just enjoy the vacation! Until I have to wipe down the tables every time we eat.

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm a bare footer too! I know the carpet is dirty but I don't care. I look at it this way--my skin is a semi permeable membrane. Nothing nasty is getting through that membrane that will hurt me. No one died from a bit of dirt!

LOL! I know! My friend lets her kids run barefoot all summer long, but was skeeved out that I wanted to hang their clothes in the closet. I have no idea what is on every surface their little feet touch, but I bet it is far more "environmental" than air in a closet.

 

[quandrea]

Actually I don't know if I found a tip or did it on my own, but I do bring foaming hand soap for the hotel room. Bar soap drives me crazy. It's slippery and messy. I got the Mickey shaped Method one at Target.

My tip: Clorox wipes! I wipe down light switches, knobs, tv remote, phone, and bathroom faucets, sink, countertop, toilet seat, etc, when we first check in. Hotel rooms and public bathrooms skeeve me. Oh, and I wipe down the airplane arm rests, buttons, tray table, etc. After all that I just enjoy the vacation! Until I have to wipe down the tables every time we eat.

I do this too. Dd has life threatening allergies. I wipe most surfaces down for residue. On a plane, the airline knows of her allergies and has us board early to prepare our area.

I love that Mickey soap!

 

[maxiesmom]

I ignore all the advice to go bagless and cram everything into pockets. To me having pockets full of stuff is uncomfortable. I have to carry an inhaler, sunblock, my phone, and other things. No way do I want all of that in my pockets. I'd much rather spend 10 minutes in bag check and carry my stuff in a cross body bag.

I also won't go ask for free ice water. I'd much rather spend money and get a bottle of nice, clean flavored water. It is more portable that way too.

 

[Nancyg56]

I do not go bagless either. I use a small cossbody bag.
I dont bring food with me.
I do not buy souvenirs at home and bring them with me.