Keeping cool?

[kydeb1346]

OK, what are your best ideas for keeping cool in the parks? Any must have gadgets or items that you used that worked well? I know the drinking water to keep hydrated but wanted to see what else all you experts recommend! Thanks!

 

[DVCLiz]

Really, my best idea is air conditioning!!!! Anytime I feel too hot, I meander through an air conditioned shop, or plan to see a show or attraction that is air conditioned. At MK, the shops on Main Street are always ice cold, it seems. In Fantasyland, standing in line for Philharmagic gets you inside in an air conditioned waiting space. Hall of Presidents is also great for keeping cool, as is Country Bears and Pirates of the Caribbean. In Tomorrowland, Carousel of Progress is cool if it's open, and even the TTA can cool you down if it's hot - I always feel a nice breeze on it!!! If I'm REALLY hot, that nice area behind Tony's on Main Street always is cool and uncrowded - I think it's a photo op spot, but it's inside and air conditioned.

Animal Kingdom seems to be the "hottest" park to me, so I save it for another time if it's just brutal, or I go first thing and leave at lunch. MGM can also be hot, because shows like Beauty and the Beast and Indiana Jones, while fanned, still aren't air conditioned. I always plan a nice sit down lunch at both places - nothing like a big Coke at the Rain Forest Cafe after a morning of August temps in the Animal Kingdom!!!
Epcot's pretty easy - just pick a pavillion with several attractions and you can spend a few of the hottest hours without ever going outside. The World Showcase is better in the evening and again, the shops and movies are always air conditioned.

Fans and personal misters help a lot, and don't forget to drink that water!!! Which gets you the chance to visit many of the air conditioned restrooms!!!

 

[Jrabbit910]

Trying to keep cool on those hot days are not so bad when crowds are at a minimum because you dont have to sweat on long lines. I know that ducking in and out of the stores are always a quick relief and a bottle of ice cold water on hand is always great. Some parks even have those cool down stations that spritz you with water and that helps. Other then that the misting spray bottles are a great option too but I recommend getting that outside of the parks because it costs $$$....

Have a great time and stay cool!!

 

[Robindianne]

I bought 2 of these (1 for DH and 1 for me) neck coolers from craftywench dot com on the recommendation of another disser. It came with simple directions for quick use and more specific directions for cooler longer use.

 

[jennyl772003]

I would recommend getting a water bottle strap for each person. That way your water is always available and easily accesible. Not only that, but since it is hanging around your neck you are more likely to drink. You lose moisture so quickly that you do not necessarily feel thristy.

We also have a mister bottle, but it is rather bulky to carry around.

Probably the best advise is to take advantage of the AC. Although not air conditioned, our favority "ride" for cooling down is TTA.

 

[MichelleChell]

I just went to Dollar Tree (don't know if that is a nation wide store) but they had the little hand held fans. I am hoping that will help when we go in July. Just will have to bring extra batteries. I got the mister fan before at Sea World and it was so bulky and a pain to carry around. I may bring it but don't know if we will use it.

 

[kydeb1346]

I bought 2 of these (1 for DH and 1 for me) neck coolers from craftywench dot com on the recommendation of another disser. It came with simple directions for quick use and more specific directions for cooler longer use.

These look great! Are they bulky at all or get in the way? Seems like a great idea.

 

[disnut8]

This is the one thing that keeps me sane in the summer months. I take a couple of washcloths in Ziploc bags (or whatever brand). Whenever I need a pick me up, I go into the restroom, wet down the washcloth with cold water and the wet all exposed parts of me. It really works. Even had one lady offer me $10 once! My husband also takes a couple of extra T shirts to change into during the day (along with a Ziploc bag to store the stinkies).

Ball caps are good for keeping the sun away but I find that as soon as I'm inside, taking the cap off helps release the heat. Sometimes I wonder if I'm blocking someone behind me with the steam!

Definitely hydrate yourself. Alot. Often. There are a ton of Disney water fountains so if each person just has a bottle, you can get free water all day long.

 

[CBCit]

pray for rain

 

[Robindianne]

These look great! Are they bulky at all or get in the way? Seems like a great idea.

Well, we haven't used them in the parks yet. (few more days to go) They come dry and folded into a ziploc baggie about 1/3 the size of a sandwich baggie so they seem like they won't be in the way too much.

 

[dyna]

Rather than carrying a wash cloth all day I've grabbed a wad of paper towel and folded it to about palm size and wet it down with cold water and carried it around with me for awhile. When it gets to warm to be refreshing I rewet it or toss that one and grab another. Don't got to worry about loosing it.

I've found that wet wash clothes in baggies get very stinky very quick in hot weather too.

 

[speedyf]

We used the $1 Wal-Mart fans last year and they worked great. We carried 4 of them without any problems. They are probably about the size of a regular stick of deoderant.

I brought plenty of rechargable batteries with a recharger. We had fresh batteries in the morning...then I would put them to charge for our afternoon break and bring another set in the evening. Charge overnight....repeat.....

I needed the charger anyway for my digital cameras....so, it worked out great. The fans were especially nice while sitting to watch some of the outdoor shows like Beauty & The Beast, Tarzan Rocks, etc.....

Speed

 

[smjj]

I use to drink a coke several times a day. Not anymore. They actually do more harm than good. Now its water and lots of it. To keep the expense down, we refill them but the Florida water does not taste very good so we take along several of the single serving of Crystal Lite sticks. They are sugar and caffine free. We just mix and drink...smjj

 

[kydeb1346]

Has anyone used one of those misty mates? It looks like a nice cooling idea. I'm talking about the cool blast handheld mister. Here's a link: http://shopping.discovery.com/store...storeId=10000&productId=60208&catalogId=10000

 

[cruislovin]

You can ask for ice water almost anyplace you buy food - not the carts, however. We use that to refill our water bottles and mister bottle. Tastes better when ice cold and feels great coming out of the mister.

 

[MichelleChell]

No but that looks cool.

 

[speedyf]

Just wanted to chime in again that I went to Wal-Mart today and happened to see these little "mister" fans for about $3 each:

It is about the size of a stick of deoderant with a belt clip thing attached. It takes 1 AA battery. I bought just one to try it out before buying 5 for the whole family.

I hope it works out because I like to have a misting fan, but I don't like to carry around those big bottles.

The circular thing is a rubber stopper. That's where the water is placed. The green button is to "squirt" the water out. There is also an on/off button for the fan.

Speed

 

[dawnball]

I have to keep my toddler cool too, which is harder since she won't drink water on demand and can't say that she's hot or doesn't feel good or whatever. I've found that the best thing to do is carry an umbrella instead of a poncho. Then I put it up when we're walking in the sun to make our own portable shade. A damp washcloth draped over your neck is cooling, and handy to have around for grubby hands. We take it easy though and take lots of breaks. Crankiness in our family means someone is hot, tired or hungry and we do what we can do deal with those problems.