How do you keep cool at the parks?

[Pluto468]

I'm starting to pre-pack for our end of June trip & want to make sure I bring things along that will help with the heat. We're bringing shorts of course but what else do people wear or use to keep cool? I've seen ads for neck fans and cooling towels but do those really work? They look sort of inconvenient/drippy.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

We use small battery powered fans and a solar umbrella.

 

[mdmost]

Lots of frozen drinks like frozen apple juice, frozen lemonade, the knockoff LeFue’s brew at Maurice’s Treats.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I have a big difficulty with the heat and have tried many things over the years.

I bring a freshen up baggie with me, and every time I use the rest room I freshen under arms and splash cold water on my face and wrists. I then reapply my factor 50 sunscreen.

I use a black umbrella as a sun shade. I found this works best for me, as any type of sun hat really annoyed me.

I also plan my parks days so that I have time out of the sun between the hours of 1 and 5 pm, things like a table service restaurant, a show or just literally sitting in an air con area like Animation Academy in California Adventures.

Staying hydrated is also important and things like the chilled fruit are great too. I have learned over the years that even one alcohol drink in the hot part of the day does not agree with me. Alcohol in the evening when its cooler Im ok.

 

[kim3339]

I got a small fan off amazon. I used it yesterday & it was surprisingly strong. Best part is it's usb charged & the same outlet charges your phone, so a little space saver too.

 

[evilmommie]

Yes, the cooling towels work. Especially when frozen. I'm the queen of keeping cool, as I have an auto immune disease that is triggered by heat.

Here's what works for me:
1. Hydration prior to park visits
2. Keeping hydrated while in the park. Yes, you can carry your own water bottle, etc. But. I'm telling you...those cups of ice water from the quick service restaurants taste great on a hot day. Sometimes the CM will also give you a larger cup than the little mini.
3. I used an umbrella when the parks first reopened and it was great!! BUT! I pretty much can't do that now as it's a lot more crowded. I would recommend a small one that you can tuck away if you have room and use it when you're standing in an exposed spot for awhile. Here's the one I use: https://www.solbari.com/products/wo...MIvpS8kcOe-AIVp8LCBB0ndQIOEAQYASABEgJy7_D_BwE
4. Cooling towels. Yes, they can be a bit drippy. But, I freeze mine...and they are perfect if it's super hot and I need cool off. Here are the ones I use. YMMV. They have clips that are convenient for attaching inside your backpack or whatever. I've had one of the plastic bags break, but I just put it in a ziplock. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088PNV3ZF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
5. I don't like the mini fans...they are buzzy and annoying. LOL
6. Go on all of the wet rides! That's always the original Disneyland way to cool off.

 

[mdmost]

If you are seeking cold water, the fountains usually are not cold. Go into a quick service restaurant and ask for a cup of ice water. It’s free and they usually have a set aside area to get you water quickly.

 

[lalasmama]

HYDRATE!

Otherwise we definitely use the cooling towels. I prefer the ones from Disney; we had other ones that were rubbery, and I dealt with it but it wasn't my favorite.

I wear a white hat with vents. It's light- weight (Columbia brand). I'd get annoyed with an umbrella, so this seems like the next best thing. Bonus: I can always stick it under some water for additional cooling. White reflects heat so it seemed reasonable to try.

 

[Becca1007]

Also ... know where you can escape the heat for a bit in each park.

In DL, I like to rest in the fantasyland theatre, under the monorail behind the Matterhorn or in the Star Wars Launchbay. Runner up spots are the accessible experience Submarine Ride and Small World.

In DCA, under the silly symphony swings, in the Animation Building or I've been know to take a nap in the lobby of the Muppets Theatre (cool, dark and usually pretty empty).

 

[evilmommie]

Also ... know where you can escape the heat for a bit in each park.

In DL, I like to rest in the fantasyland theatre, under the monorail behind the Matterhorn or in the Star Wars Launchbay. Runner up spots are the accessible experience Submarine Ride and Small World.

In DCA, under the silly symphony swings, in the Animation Building or I've been know to take a nap in the lobby of the Muppets Theatre (cool, dark and usually pretty empty).

Yes!!!

A couple of more @ Disneyland
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. So cool, comfy and refreshing in that theater. I’ve taken many a fussy, hot baby in there and they have fallen asleep. Maybe even Mr. Evilmommie hahaha

Main Street Cinema
Nice and cool and dark. A few benches…I’ve seen people take a load off and sit on the ground. Catch a vintage short cartoon that are about 5-10 mins.

DCA
I think Turtle Talk with Crush is one of the best ways to cool off. Again, cushy seats…AC is usually blasting…and a fun show! Crush never disappoints.

 

[Louis63]

I wear a cloth bucket hat and keep it wet

 

[Pluto468]

Wow! Thank you all so much for the great replies and all these ideas. I'm going to buy some of the items mentioned. I think I'll also build in shade/hydration breaks for our days.

 

[DLgal]

UV blocking umbrella. I use it between June and September whenever the temps are forecast to be above 85. Keeping the strong sun off your skin (not just your head) makes a HUGE difference. I never have an issue with crowds. I've never once hit anyone in almost 7 years of using my UV umbrella consistently. My younger son uses one as well, due to body temperature regulation issues.

Cooling towels DO help. But we prefer the Mission brand lightweight ones to the rubber chamois type.

Splash Mountain and Grizzly River run. Best way to cool down on a hot day.

Also, Icees. There are lots of slushy drinks available at the DLR in summer. They are everywhere.

And this sounds counterintuitive, but eat lots of SALTY FOOD. The salt will help your body hang onto the water so you won't get dehydrated as quickly.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Cooling towels. Lots of water. Iced lemonade, ice cream, or Dole whips. Bring some hydrating drinks (Gatorade or Body Armor are my choices). If you're staying at a hotel close by, go back to the hotel from 2-4 (hottest time of the day). If that's not an option, the Animation Academy at DCA is pretty great for a couple of hours.

Ride the water rides in the morning or get genie+. Otherwise the lines will be really long from about 11AM onward.

We'll be going that last weekend in June and I'm not thrilled about the temperatures, but when I was a passholder, I used to go in August when it was 110 degrees, so 90s isn't that bad. It'll be okay if you pace yourselves.

 

[Kerr84]

My sister was raving about the cooking towels and I kept saying I didn’t want to use them because you get all wet. I was wrong. They are soooo nice! I went to WDW twice last summer and they were amazing. We use a stroller fan for my daughter.

 

[PirateBrigade]

All great tips above. A few from me:

• I fill a 32oz hydro flask with pure ice and periodically fill it with water throughout the day. We take a hotel break during the worst of the heat, and I’ll refill the ice there.
• I wear high performance workout clothes designed for marathon running (Nike dri-fit) to help wick away sweat and stay cool. Be careful, I’ve found that these branded shirts that are sold at Dept stores (Kohl’s, Macy’s)/online are cotton/poly blends, while the Nike store itself will sell the higher performance 100% polyester versions at full retail price. HUGE difference in feel and performance, go for the better clothes.
• PS I don’t wear the tiny little running shorts in the park, that’s weird. Don’t do that.
• Avoiding the sun is key - hat, visor, going inside. Heat is one thing, direct sunlight will just wear you down even more.

One day I will experiment with a full on active cooling vest on a 100+ degree day.

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

We love our Frogg Toggs Chilly Pads. They don’t drip or get you wet but are very refreshing. They are large so I cut it in half so 2 people can use it.

I never thought of using a personal fan but I saw a Disney vlogger suggest one so I bought it from Amazon and I’ll see how it works next month.

 

[sjmac42]

Another vote for cooling towels, they work really well. A good quality one won’t drip everywhere and are fine to use with room temp water. You just snap them or give them a shake and they work well.
The other essential is a wide brim hat, not just a cap. Something you can wet and ring out is even better. Also take a change of socks, amazing how a pair of sweaty socks can make you feel hot and uncomfortable.
And drink plenty of water of course.

 

[V.I.N.CENT.]

Mission cooling towels and hats. You can dunk the hats in water and they stay cool but don't drip.

 

[Corpsebride]

All of the above. I also bring sandwich size Ziplocs filled with ice. Back of your neck or just dropped down a tucked tshirt really keeps you cool. Don't overdo it. Have a great time!