Help me BEAT the HEAT

[Klayfish]

I haven't used cooling towels, but from what I've heard/read, they're only good for a short time. The heat and the sun will quickly warm the towel and water on it and you wind up with a hot wet towel fairly quickly. In years of summer WDW experience (almost all of our trips), the best things are: light clothing (nothing fancy for us, cotton is fine), drink plenty of ice water, and use the a/c rides during the mid-day. Hasn't steered us wrong.

 

[dclpluto]

Plently of ways to beat the heat in wdw.
Wear sunscreen
Wear a hat
Wear light color clothings
Wear light clothing
All inside places at wdw has air condition.plan the rides and shows that are inside in the afternoon and enjoy the air.

Take advantage of the free water

Climitaze before you go if you can. If your going to wdw in the summer get use to the heat back home the best you can. Get outdoors at home.

have common sense don't push it hard if you can't handle it or someone in the party can't.

 

[ZoZo]

These strategies have worked for me:

• Moisture wicking clothing, including underwear and socks. Target carries Champion brand workout clothes at pretty reasonable prices.
• Large visor to shade my face (cooler than a hat).
• Mini mister fan (bought at Walmart). Easier to carry than the big mister fans.
• Afternoon breaks. In October, I wouldn't take long breaks because the parks close earlier (breaks take up too much valuable park time if the parks close before 9:00 pm). But a quick break to take a shower and change clothes can do wonders if you're hot and sweaty.
• Spend time in air-conditioning throughout the day.
• Even small things like walking on the shady side of the street can help.
• I haven't tried cooling towels but have taken a washcloth in a zip local bag with iceman. Very refreshing!
• I also use Kleenex brand wet wipes on my face, arms and hands. Kleenex brand is great because they don't leave a sticky feel.
• One more thing: they make cooling wipes specifically for menopause symptoms. Can't remember the brand, but they're great at making you feel cool. Got mine at Target.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I didnt see it mentioned here but hydrate. Hydrate. HYDRATE. If you weigh 150lbs, aim for AT LEAST 150 ounces of water per day.

Other than hydration the best advice I could give is in terms of your clothing. Avoid cotton like the plague. No cotton socks, no cotton shirts, no cotton underwear.

And don't wear jean shorts, mostly because their a horrible fashion statement but they are also very hot.

 

[glassslippergirl]

We bought some Arctic Cool towels from Costco (Amazon has them too). Supposed to wet them and then grab end to end and snap them whatever that does. They then are supposed to cool. Have never tried them. Will see.

We use the towels from Costco. I like them. If I have access to a freezer, I wet them and freeze them overnight and put them in a zipper bag in the morning. They are nice and cool for the first use. After they warm up, we soak them in ice water whenever we can, but just snapping them does cool them down nicely for a little while.

 

[North of Mouse]

I am seriously intolerant to heat, and am looking for new strategies. We usually go to WDW in June, but are trying October this year to see if that helps (probably not much). I have tried misting fans with limited success. Soooo, now I am looking at cooling towels.

Any suggestions for good cooling towels or wraps? I looked on Amazon and the freezer wraps only last for 1 hour - have you found anything that lasts longer?

Any other tips/strategies? The heat from the last trip just wiped me out.

Tanks!

To be honest, 'most' everyone is sensitive to the kind of burning sun of the deep south. I'm from south LA and I don't know anyone that gets 'used' to being out in it all day like at the parks.

It can still be very hot and humid even in Oct. depending on the year - no way to tell - cooling aids help to a degree, but never was a huge help to me.

Water water water water and more water.
Your body is a master of temperature regulation...AS LONG AS IT HAS WATER.
Stacy

Oh, really?? Well, guess everyone I know has bodies that missed knowing how to master it even with lots of water.

 

[North of Mouse]

I didnt see it mentioned here but hydrate. Hydrate. HYDRATE. If you weigh 150lbs, aim for AT LEAST 150 ounces of water per day.

Other than hydration the best advice I could give is in terms of your clothing. Avoid cotton like the plague.

You do realize you're advising drinking almost 19 glasses of water a day, right?? Drinking too much water can 'kill' you - did you know that? That's seriously too much. Might want to be careful what you advocate others to do??
No matter how hot, you drink to satiate your thirst (which can take plenty) but no more!

As for clothing - my coolest clothes are cotton. The light airy pima cotton outer clothing are the coolest things I own.

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

I use a few things to help me when I have spent summers at WDW. When I was younger I had heat exhaustion and so was more sensitive in the past (all better now). When I was at WDW in the summer back in 2012, took a lot of precautions. I found the combination of efforts workable.

1 - I used a frogg toggs cooling towel - somewhat helpful.
2 - I took two frozen water bottles to the parks with me and utilized ice water at counter service restaurants for drinking.
3 - Water dumping - I used cold water on my frogg toggs, feet, wrists, and cool water on my head (and sometimes torso) frequently. Honestly sticking my head under running cool water was the best help by far. Add a fan to that and instant air conditioning. I memorized where the splash and play areas were at each park and used them plus didn't mind sticking my head under the faucet in the ladies restroom if needed - it worked. I live in Hawaii where the Iron Man is every October - and it is HOT - basically the athletes just toss cups of water over their head and down their backs - that is what I did - but as frequently as needed. I was wet most of the time but honestly it didn't bother me - I was grateful for the relief.
4 - I wore flip flops and soaked my feet in cool water as well - also helpful.
5 - Utilizing air conditioning was also important - I tried to plan the hottest parts of the day indoors as much as possible.
6 - I had a sunbrella that I sometimes used for my own personal shade, always had a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Have a great trip and stay healthy!

 

[amberpi]

Wide brim hats, starting the day fully hydrated, and taking a mid day break. Have a great time!

 

[LSUfan4444]

You do realize you're advising drinking almost 19 glasses of water a day, right?? Drinking too much water can 'kill' you - did you know that?

When walking 8+ miles a day in the summer heat, I'm drinking more than 150 ounces of water a day at about 145 pounds. If weighed 200 lbs I would drink at least 200 ounces of water with that much activity. In addition to water I usually supplement the electrolyte loss with products like Nuun as I prefer to stay away from sugary sports drinks. And yes, I am aware of hyponatremia. 4-5 liters of water a day is not a health risk for someone who is that active in the south florida heat in the middle of the summer.

In regards to clothing, athletes at just about every level (children to professional) have jerseys and clothing made of non cotton (or blends with very little cotton) materials because cotton just doesn't breathe and it withholds moisture rather than whicking it away from the body. You may prefer cotton and maybe it's the coolest items you own, but its pretty commonly accepted that there are other superior materials mad for keeping the body cool.

 

[North of Mouse]

When walking 8+ miles a day in the summer heat, I'm drinking more than 150 ounces of water a day at about 145 pounds. If weighed 200 lbs I would drink at least 200 ounces of water with that much activity. In addition to water I usually supplement the electrolyte loss with products like Nuun as I prefer to stay away from sugary sports drinks. And yes, I am aware of hyponatremia. 4-5 liters of water a day is not a health risk for someone who is that active in the south florida heat in the middle of the summer.

Wow, if that's what you're doing, to each their own. Look on line at what is recommended!
Approx. 2/3 at most, of your body weight, (or to thoroughly quench your thirst preferably) adding a little more for high exercise athlete (which walking at Disney is a lot and 'very' hot - high physical exercise it really isn't.) My Dr. would have a stroke if I told him I wanted to drink 145 oz. (my weight) water per day walking in the deep south heat. There would definitely be no room for me to eat anything nutritional. By the way, I'm also from deep so. LA

 

[LSUfan4444]

For many people who go to WDW, the daily mileage they accumulate is the most intense exercise they have all year. One half ounce of water for each pound of body weight per day is a good starting point and if thats all you can manage, it's better than say a glass or two. By getting closer to one ounce per pound it can have alot of other benefits. In addition to helping someone stay cool it helps the refueling the muscles and aiding in them in recovery. I run between 30-40 miles a week. Ride my bike somewhere between 50-150 miles per week. Swim about 8000 yards per week. And take strength and yoga classes regularly and the walking still takes it's toll on me and my legs when we go to WDW.


https://www.verywell.com/how-much-water-should-you-drink-3120428

 

[cgattis]

I like the Mission cooling towels. We've used the FroggToggs Chilly Pads for years, but they are very heavy, take forever to dry, and can get very stinky in between washings. The Mission towels don't get as cold to the touch, but are still cool, easy to refresh with a splash of cold water, and much easier to wash out at night in a resort sink.

My other must is my HydroFlask. As @LSUfan4444 says, I drink lots when I'm sweating profusely, no matter how hard I'm actually working out. I drink easily over a gallon of water a day doing nothing. It gets filled with ice and water before i leave the resort, at lunch, and again depending on the evening activities, and i top it off with water as needed, but there's always ice left in it. Those things rock.

 

[Srbright]

Oh, really?? Well, guess everyone I know has bodies that missed knowing how to master it even with lots of water.

Likely yes. For moderate activity in moderate heat NIOSH (The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) recommends 1 cup of water every 15-20 minutes. In an 6 hour period (10AM-4PM) that is between 144 to 194 ozs. That is 9 to 12 bottles of water.

Even if you consider Disney light activity in moderate heat (roughly 2 cups per hour) that still 6-9 bottles of water in a 6 hour period.

The heat there is no joke. Unless you really concentrate on making sure you're getting a cup of water at least every half hour if you are there in the summer then odds are you aren't getting enough.

Even in the humidity you sweat even if it doesn't feel like you are.

These aren't Livestrong or WebMD articles, these are actual researched articles on the amount of water needed by heat index rating. Any heat index (not temp) over 90 is considered "moderate" and we've had a couple of the "extreme" days while at WDW. So yes, both LSUFAN, myself, and the government agency charged with protecting workers health is advocating for 19+ cups of water a day. OSHA says "Under most circumstances extended hourly fluid intake should not exceed 6 cups per hour or 12 quarts per day." 12 quarts is 48 cups, so not even half of that

Stacy
Sorry for the delay in responding; I had to go to Germany for a couple weeks.

https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2011/08/12/heat-2/

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/heat_index/protective_mod.html

 

[Disneyforus]

Did anyone find a brand of cooling towels they like best?

Frogg Toggs Chilly Sport Cooling Neck & Head Band
by Frogg Toggs Golf
Link: http://a.co/7c5nZys

 

[Disneyforus]

Frogg Toggs Chilly Sport Cooling Neck & Head Band
by Frogg Toggs Golf
Link: http://a.co/7c5nZys

These are awesome! We also used them in Haiti when the heat index was +100 degrees. I cut them in half lengthwise, because the ones I bought were big squares and they were more comfortable around our necks that way... they stay cool for hours and all you need to do is rewet them if they start drying out.

 

[katmu]

Frogg Toggs Chilly Sport Cooling Neck & Head Band
by Frogg Toggs Golf
Link: http://a.co/7c5nZys

I used one of these last September. I thought it helped, along with some of the other tips mentioned already.

I wore a hat & wicking clothing, took lots of indoor breaks during midday, drank plenty of water, and wore spf 50 sunscreen.