Finding misting fans and good water bottles?

[lenshanem]

I've been into Walmart, Walgreens, Target... Where do they put the misting fans?!? I can't find them anywhere! I know the Disney ones are huge and expensive. I'm looking for a cheap misting fan for my youngest and a few small personal fans for the rest of the family. Any suggestions?

Also, any suggestions on good water bottle brands to carry? I would like them big enough that we can put ice in them, but also with a hook or something to attach to our individual bags. Maybe even with a strap? (Everyone is responsible for their own water, kids included! And we're not against drinking Florida water!)

I usually pack disposable water bottles, but we're going in July and I know it will be so hot we'll need to stop and get ice. Just filling them up at the water fountain won't work in 100 degree heat.

It has been years since we've gone in July, but we had to move our dates. I'm sick with worry about the heat. I remember it and not too fondly!

Thanks for any help.

 

[Karbase8]

I was at Dick's Sporting Goods this weekend and I saw a misting fan/water bottle all in one, I am not sure if it had a strap or not. Maybe do you have a camping store (REI) near you or a sporting goods store may have something of what you are looking for. We are going in August, my plan so far is to just do water bottles, I am shipping a case of water to my hotel, I did hear a tip not sure if it's true if you buy the case from Staples and you are Staples rewards member (for free) they will ship the water for free. Also, I do not do well in the heat, I got these cooling towels called Chilli Pads that when you wet them you can put them around your neck to keep cool. They are 12-14 dollars each. I found them at the sporting goods store, I think a cold rag may do too. If I see the misting fans elsewhere I will let you know!

 

[lenshanem]

Thanks. I was looking at those cooling clothes, too. I did find something online... Don't know where I'll find them -

O2 carabiner misting fans. Looks promising.

 

[lenshanem]

Hey, do those pads look easy to cut in half? I read they were rather big.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I bought a couple at a dollar store a few weeks back. Asked about them and was taken right to them.

 

[tinkerszs]

Walmart on the shelf with the regular fans. They had three different kinds and sizes.

 

[brennicksmom]

We just got back from 16 days!!! It was a lot of fun. We took Camelback insulated bottles and got carriers to put them into from Walmart in the camping department. The Camelback bottles have about a 2 1/2 inch opening and keeps the water cold for longer than the water lasted. We would ask for a cup of ice water from any counter service -for free- and would pour it right into the bottles. They do not have a hook or strap on them, but we got straps that cradled the bottles with a carabaner clip and hooked them to our belt loops (or just the elastic top of our shorts).

We also would fill them in the morning before we caught the bus from our resort with ice water from the QS food area at POP. The ice from teh machines went right in with such large openings. We saw a lot of people filling their own bottles with water from the soda fountains at the resort.

This was our 8th trip and we din't need to buy a bottle of water once. It was always fresh and cold and filtered. We got the bottles from Dick's Sporting Goods. Bass Pro has them, as well as several online shops. We have been using the same bottles for about a year and they are great. I can't believe we never did this before.

I also second the Frogg Toggs Chilli Pads. I bought 4 of them before our trip. 3 of them were scarf shaped and 1 of them was more square. We only used the scarf shaped ones and they were terrific. I bet they cooled us at least 10 degrees. When they would dry out or not feel as cool we would run sink water over them, pour iced water over them, or just flap them in the air a bit. If we had thought more about it I may have put snaps on them to hook them around our necks, but they never felt like they were in the way. They also do not get your clothes wet at all, even when just re-wetted.

If you want you can PM me with your cell and I can text you a pic of the bottle with the holder. (I haven't figured out how to load pics on here).

 

[mecllap]

We don't like the extra weight and bulk of the misting fans -- just a regular, smallish size, $1.00 spray bottle works for us (keep your spray to your group and not on others (altho I love it when another kid gets me with their sprayed-water -- not everyone does). I also prefer a plain kerchief that I rewet every so often in the bathroom, to the "fancy" sometimes gooey ones -- it also has other uses -- mopping the brow, squeezing water onto the hair, etc. It is helpful to drink a lot of water (the spray fan helps DGS do that -- he sprays water into his mouth -- and a side bennie for me, is that he helps keep an eye out for water fountains --(which are handy to restrooms, which I need more often these days)). Ice can be nice, but water fountain water actually is helpful, too. Do seek out shade. If you can be careful with a small umbrella, and not bump into other walkers, one can be handy while walking through sunny areas (folds up and hangs from belt or belt clip). Go in the morning, and take a break mid-day and maybe go back in the evening. A hat, or at least a visor, is essential. Wear cargo pants, and not a backpack that will get your back extra heated. Take special care of your feet (bodyglide can be helpful). Take a cheap poncho every day.

 

[Minnie72200]

We're going in August. I know we're going to start melting the minute we walk outside, but my partner says most ride waits won't leave you stranded outside in the sun too long if you pick your rides well (she has been, I haven't). Is a mister bottle with fan necessary this time of year when you're out at the parks all day, or can you get by with just a fan? I'm nervous about lugging around a water bottle, camera, and misting fan all day and it being too much to carry.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Walmart on the shelf with the regular fans. They had three different kinds and sizes.

This is exactly where I found them out our WalMart!

We looked all over the store... in the summer section/sporting goods... but nope. With the regular fans!

We used to live in Central Florida, and they are everywhere there! Every drug store, every grocery store! So if you can't find them before you go, you might be able to stop at a WalMart on the way there and get one.

 

[momH2the4th]

I just bought water bottles that also have a mister on them for my kids use at camp. I bought them at Academy. It's a sports/outdoors store. I also got them the little individual fans at Wal-Mart. My Wal-Mart has the fans near the front of the store right now. I guess since it's so hot in Texas!

 

[magchavez]

You have to get the Hydro Flask water bottle. I have several of them and love them. I put ice in them and the ice will still be there 12 hours later. I even left one in the car for several hours last summer and there was still ice in it when I returned. There is a whole thread on the podcast board about these water bottles. Go to hydroflask.com. I think if you enter DIS at checkout you get 10% off. They are so worth every penny.

 

[lisaisanurse]

Misting fans are $5 compared to Disney's $25...same thing, just not Disney themed.................all the stores around Disney have them even Publix!

 

[michele2042]

I got a mister at Academy sports. wasn't a fan but the fine mist came in handy all through our trip. Of course, my adult son and his girlfriend laughed at me at first but before long they were both wanting me to "mist" them. It was slim and fit pefectly into my bag. Loved it, will definetely be taking it back when we go this august. I think it cost around $9.99. The fans, to me, just blow hot air, that little mist of cool water did the trick.

 

[Fantasmic23]

After listening to the "Beat the Heat" Dis Unplugged podcast (6/8/11), I'm seriously considering purchasing "MistyMate" personal misters for our August trip:

http://www.mistymate.com/

I'm going to look in Walmart and Target today, but Amazon.com has a 3-Pack for $14.97:

http://www.amazon.com/MistyMate-Per...9UM8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309521681&sr=8-1

Does anyone have any experience with MistyMate?

Frosty Towels look (and sound from the podcast) promising, too:

http://www.frostytowels.com/

 

[Moira222]

I bought ours for $7.99 at KMart. I found it on an endcap

 

[mrseace711]

I was in Wal-Mart this A.M. and also found them with the regular fans.

 

[ZoZo]

Yep, Walmart usually has them with the regular plug-in floor fans (in the hardware section of the store). They often have a selection of hand-held fans and mister-fans, including my favorite "mini mister fan". It's small, costs about $3 or $4, but is great! It's not heavy and clunky like the larger-size mister fans, which I find a pain to carry around. The mini-misters easily clip to a belt, fanny pack, or other items with a built-in carabiner clip. LOVED mine.

Regarding water bottles, Brita has begun making their filtering water bottles agin (they discontinued them for a few years, but are making them again). I found mine on sale at Walgreens for about $7 (regular price is around $10).

But on my last few trips, I got a Rubbermaid water bottle that worked great. It has a wide, screw-off top that allows you to put ice-machine ice and water in very easily. I filled mine at the POR food court pop machine every morning, using ice-machine ice and filtered water from the pop dispenser. During the day, I refilled with free cups of ice water from CS restaurants at the park. Worked like a charm!

 

[lenshanem]

.

I also second the Frogg Toggs Chilli Pads. I bought 4 of them before our trip. 3 of them were scarf shaped and 1 of them was more square. We only used the scarf shaped ones and they were terrific. I bet they cooled us at least 10 degrees. When they would dry out or not feel as cool we would run sink water over them, pour iced water over them, or just flap them in the air a bit. If we had thought more about it I may have put snaps on them to hook them around our necks, but they never felt like they were in the way. They also do not get your clothes wet at all, even when just re-wetted.

I bought the Chilly Pads, but the towels and the size is very awkward. Wish I would have gotten the bandanna ones. Was the length something you could tie around your neck? You mentioned you wished you had put snaps on them. Do you have any pics? How did you wear them? Thanks so much!