Neck fans and UV Umbrellas a "Must Have"?

[Dug720]

I go with good old hydration, sunscreen and taking breaks when needed. Not gonna walk around with something dangling around my neck, and I need air circulating all around me or I overheat. Even in the winter when I use an umbrella for snow, my head gets hot. Plus, umbrellas and crowds are just obnoxious and eye poking hazards.

 

[jimmymc]

Another tip, wear some kind of moisture wicking layer underneath your shirt. Something like this: https://www.rei.com/product/143349/patagonia-capilene-cool-daily-shirt-mens

 

[heidijanesmith]

I use Opolar handheld fans and the neck fan.

I like the neck fan for hands free use. It's not as powerful and a little noisier than the handheld fans.

These fans are a must for me. They are rechargeable, powerful and light weight. I have several styles, but love the ones that will fold, so you can set it on a table.

 

[KristaZ]

I usually have a rechargeable foldable pocket fan that does work wonders when I remember I have it, and occasionally I break out the cooling towels, but I find the towels don't cool for more than a few minutes for me. I've never tried a neck fan, but I think having it around my neck would annoy me more than provide relief. UV umbrella's just seem like they would be an annoyance for me with the crowds - but I'm fairly short so umbrella's in general are annoying for me when I'm around other people. As others have said, the key is staying well hydrated throughout the day. The great thing about Disney is that the AC is usually fabulously cold in most places, going back into the heat sometimes feels like relief after some time inside.

 

[disneyworldsk]

We normally have only used a fan mister in the past but this year I bought the UV umbrellas, cooling towels and neck fans. I got it all when I thought we’d still be wearing masks outside and waiting so much in the outdoors. But now that some of that has changed, I’m curious to see how much we use it all. We leave on Friday so I’ll post an update in a few days!

yes, i did the same and am leaving next Friday. can you please update us?! much appreciated...

 

[disneyworldsk]

I used a hand held fan that I could blow on me wherever I wanted. I brought UV umbrellas for both myself and my adult daughter which I rarely used (and I kept hitting her in the head with it in line) and she didn’t use at all. She didn’t use the fan either. And the umbrella was a pain to carry around. Yes, some lines are long and in the sun and I used it then, but it was still a pain and I was super anxious about hitting people with it.
We were there May 13-20 and were lucky enough to have zero rain so the umbrellas got very little use.

i feel conflicted and exactly as you said, a pain to carry around, yes. maybe a hat is just enuf...

 

[Carole]

I used the UV umbrella in May while at the parks. Great for people with sun sensitivities. Used it this weekend while watching the grandsons play baseball - worked great on a super hot sunny day. Everyone else was trying to stay under the few shade trees.

 

[Akck]

I found that having a hat was best for sun protection. It’s more likely to be used as it’s easier to carry on your head than in your hand. That said, we do have fans and a UV umbrella.

 

[Biggen]

A hat and some water is all we ever do. Umbrellas look silly when its not raining.

 

[coolbrook]

Until this past trip two weeks ago we had never brought umbrellas to the parks. This was my 4th trip since the reopening last July. With lines way out in the sun the umbrella came in handy a few times, especially in the line for Gaston's. I use a rollator with a storage bag, so it was easy to bring with me. Since I have to hold on to the rollator with both hands, I only use the umbrellas when in extended lines when my husband held it over both of us while I sat down. It also was handy when it rained in Epcot one day. The UV umbrella really does of better job of creating cool shade than the regular umbrella. My teenager pretty much thought the umbrella was stupid (I brought two) until she started feeling faint and nauseous at MK. I made her carry it, drink water and eat a salty snack. She felt better after a bit. She probably still thinks the umbrella is stupid.

For a fan I use a fold up paper and bamboo fan when in hot lines. I used it last July and this May, and I felt like it helped quite a bit. I have never tried cooling towels.

 

[disneyworldsk]

I found that having a hat was best for sun protection. It’s more likely to be used as it’s easier to carry on your head than in your hand. That said, we do have fans and a UV umbrella.

which is why i overpack! I bring all this (you know what) and don't use it! then regret not using it, then regret packing it at all! ah the joy of packing...

 

[thinkerbell]

Here now and a UV umbrella and a small fan that runs on a single battery have both been a big lifesaver. Highly recommend!

We are also here now. We were in Epcot yesterday and had both our umbrella and fans. The umbrella was wonderful to have when we were having to stand outside in the direct sun. I was amazed by how much better it felt under the umbrella. We didn’t have any problems with it hitting people in line. The fans actually feel much better once we get into the building because it is blowing cool air then. It was helpful under the umbrella too. We have tried the neck cloths before but after the initial 5 minutes or so of cool, they were actually hotter than no neck cloth.

 

[eleven24]

Honestly, I can't even wear a baseball hat to the park on a hot day as it makes me feel hotter. I read these tips about umbrellas and fans and think they would be great to have, but then I think - there's no way I'd want to carry the stuff around all day. So it's interesting hearing what other people do in the parks, especially when it's the complete opposite of what my family and I do.

Our way of dealing with the heat is to bring absolutely nothing to the park other than what can fit in our pockets, wear clothing that one would go running in (moisture wicking), drink a LOT of water, get to the park early, have our table service meal at the hottest part of the day (usually 3pm), and use the retail stores as a means to cool off when needed. When the kids were younger we'd fill the stroller with frozen bottles of water and plan the shows like Mermaid for the hotter part of the day.

If the heat gets unbearable, we'll head back to the resort for an hour or two and then go back later when we're cooled off and it's not as hot outside.

 

[Katie Dawn]

I always wear a hat - and be careful to avoid "mesh" hats.

Can you explain exactly what you mean by a mesh hat, and why to avoid it?

 

[Katie Dawn]

We have tried the neck cloths before but after the initial 5 minutes or so of cool, they were actually hotter than no neck cloth.

This makes sense to me. When we sweat the "water" is supposed to evaporate on our skin, which then cools our skin/body. However, humidity screws all that up. I live in TN so humidity is our constant "friend" here as well, and when the air is basically wet there's no way for the sweat to evaporate in the already humid air.

I think the general idea with the cooling towels is basically replicating the "water evaporates on the skin" concept, but in hyperdrive. But it just doesn't work when the air is like soup. It will feel great while the towel is cold, but once your body warms it up... It's just gross and no evaporation is really happening.

If they ever make one that has electronics or something that can continually keep the towel cold I bet those would be heavenly.

 

[wilbret]

Can you explain exactly what you mean by a mesh hat, and why to avoid it?

Any hat with mesh like this. Ballcaps, etc often have it. It's supposedly cooler, but if you have a bald head or parted hair, you can get a nice sunburn thru the hat!

 

[Dis Dragon]

The thing I've found the most useful for me and my son (girls don't want to wear hats) is this hat: https://www.columbia.com/p/unisex-coolhead-ii-ball-cap-1840001.html?dwvar_1840001_color=360&pos=5

It's really light weight material with their omnifreeze "technology", and it actually works in cooling when it's wet. If we get hot we break them out douse them with a water bottle and it feels great. Other than that I have to lug around a backpack with about 8-10 water bottles for multiple hour park trips which is a joy. We take umbrellas for possible rain showers but I will do everything in my power to not pack them in the backpack when we leave (even though they're small they get heavy over the course of 5 hours).

We also bring the coolhead II booney hats from Columbia when we start the day feeling a little heat exhausted, those are amazing even though they look goofy, they basically have a cooling towel built into them. https://www.columbia.com/p/coolhead-ii-zero-booney-hat-1840121.html?dwvar_1840121_color=591

 

[fla4fun]

I have a Mickey Mouse umbrella hat that I used last month (I have had it for years). Yes, umbrella hats are kind of silly looking, and I don’t wear it anywhere but Disney, but since it sits above your head, it allows for a lot more airflow than a hat, and it’s a smaller circumference than a regular umbrella, so much less chance of bumping anyone. It also leaves my hands free for other things. That, and drinking lots of water, are what keeps me going in the parks when it’s hot.

 

[Belleandtinker]

We were reading another post where a family used a UV umbrella to help with the heat at the parks. DH loved the idea, but not sure how much we'd really use it. I feel like we are going, going, going and can't imagine navigating through the crowds with an umbrella (when it's not raining). Thoughts.

 

[Dug720]

IMHO crowds and umbrellas are NOT a match.

Plus personally I cannot have anything over my head like that - if I do a hat-like thing, it has to be a visor. I overheat way too easily and need air all around my head. Even in winter when it's snowing I get warm with the umbrella over my head.