Summer Tips

[GoofyWithGlasses]

We've been a few times in August, and the heat then is pretty bad- at least for us! We always carry re-hydration powder- Dioralyte I think it's called- as it replaces the ions you lose in sweat, in case you get really, really, "I think I'm dying" dehydrated Also, make use of the bins of ice that they sell the big fans in- or ask for a cup of ice at a QS- and hold it on your pulse points, which should cool your blood, and then the rest of you

Oh, and sprayable sun block in a can! They sell it in the parks (its expensive, but other brands do the same thing for cheaper) and we never go without it, especially if you have kids... Topping up the sun block takes five minutes for four of us, as opposed to ten apeice!

 

[BigBlueWho]

My tip: I always wear Nike or Under Armour moisture wicking boxers. It cuts down on chaffing tremendously. Walmart and Target sell Starter and Champion ones that are great as well.

 

[djmeredith]

As others have mentioned, the Frogg Togg chilly pads are excellent. We cut ours in half lengthwise because it felt too bulky. I also packed a few Wal Mart Equate brand Refreshing Cleansing Towelettes in my park bag. They come in a green package and are in the make-up wipes area. They have something in them that feels cool on the skin, plus it had the added bonus of actually cleaning my sweaty face.

 

[Butler_chic07]

We always go in June. (I'm also a teacher.) We did go in July once as well. some of our days should overlap!

We actually got married at Disney in June and if I can survive that (yes I had a big heavy dress Cinderella style as I call it) it is possible! I also wore my hair down and it is pretty long...

As they said water is a must. If you are able to freeze your water that works wonders. Water, Water, Water, Water, Water.

I do a lot of window shopping just because I can stroll through the stores in the cool. There are also some of the coolest details and special touches inside the stores.

DO NOT wear your hair the same way... Your scalp will burn. My hair naturally falls one way or the other and I have to pay close attention to it because my part will burn.

There are many products for chaffing (I haven't had this problem but DH did one year) Body Glide is one product that most people find success with.


Be prepared for rain. If you want ponchos I know many people will bring them from home where they can buy them cheap and then throw them away after they are done with them so they aren't carrying around wet ponchos all day. I also know that some people even pack extra pairs of socks in their park bag just in case.

Bring shoes that are comfortable to YOU! I love the Dis but everyone has their own opinion on what shoes are best for Disney. I hate tennis shoes even at home. They actually hurt my ankles and my feet don't like them. It doesn't change at Disney World. It's worse cause my feet get hot and yucky. And then my ankles swell...so I wear my flip-flops/sandals everyday. I normally bring a pair of tennis shoes (I don't know why cause I never wear them). My DH is the complete opposite the only thing he wears is tennis shoes. He does bring his "good" socks. UnderArmour/sports socks that are made to help keep your feet cool. Whatever shoes you wear need to be comfortable to you.

EMH if you are staying on property. We don't normally do the mornings because we stay up so late doing the evening magic hours. We love them because the crowds really do start to disappear and then we are left closing down the park.

We normally do not do pool days just cause we like all the other atmospheres... We always talk about doing it but yet it always becomes less of a priority. This year I am determined to take advantage of the pool since we finally took the DVC plunge.

Take time to enjoy all the magic and the details.

It's June, it's hot, but it's Disney. I wouldn't trade my trips for anything!

 

[Loftin716]

We always go in June. (I'm also a teacher.) We did go in July once as well. some of our days should overlap! We actually got married at Disney in June and if I can survive that (yes I had a big heavy dress Cinderella style as I call it) it is possible! I also wore my hair down and it is pretty long... As they said water is a must. If you are able to freeze your water that works wonders. Water, Water, Water, Water, Water. I do a lot of window shopping just because I can stroll through the stores in the cool. There are also some of the coolest details and special touches inside the stores. DO NOT wear your hair the same way... Your scalp will burn. My hair naturally falls one way or the other and I have to pay close attention to it because my part will burn. There are many products for chaffing (I haven't had this problem but DH did one year) Body Glide is one product that most people find success with. Be prepared for rain. If you want ponchos I know many people will bring them from home where they can buy them cheap and then throw them away after they are done with them so they aren't carrying around wet ponchos all day. I also know that some people even pack extra pairs of socks in their park bag just in case. Bring shoes that are comfortable to YOU! I love the Dis but everyone has their own opinion on what shoes are best for Disney. I hate tennis shoes even at home. They actually hurt my ankles and my feet don't like them. It doesn't change at Disney World. It's worse cause my feet get hot and yucky. And then my ankles swell...so I wear my flip-flops/sandals everyday. I normally bring a pair of tennis shoes (I don't know why cause I never wear them). My DH is the complete opposite the only thing he wears is tennis shoes. He does bring his "good" socks. UnderArmour/sports socks that are made to help keep your feet cool. Whatever shoes you wear need to be comfortable to you. EMH if you are staying on property. We don't normally do the mornings because we stay up so late doing the evening magic hours. We love them because the crowds really do start to disappear and then we are left closing down the park. We normally do not do pool days just cause we like all the other atmospheres... We always talk about doing it but yet it always becomes less of a priority. This year I am determined to take advantage of the pool since we finally took the DVC plunge. Take time to enjoy all the magic and the details. It's June, it's hot, but it's Disney. I wouldn't trade my trips for anything!

Great post! Thanks!

 

[Mousemom234]

Hats. Not only do they keep your scalp from burning, they're a grand place to put a small baggie of ice chips. That's a tip we got years ago from a friend who works at fairs in the hot sun. Just refill it from almost any cart selling cold drinks.

If you're staying off-site, take a nap break at any of the resorts. With a little exploration, you can find a nice quiet nook to stretch out, put your feet up and drift off for an hour or two, in almost any Disney hotel.

Have fun, but don't overdo - if you feel you need a break, you probably needed it 20 minutes ago.

Oh yes - did anybody mention water? Lots of water. Try to pick up a flat or 2 from the store on your way in, or pop out and shop if you have a car. Disney water gets pricy at 5-6 bottles a day each

 

[mommyrosa2]

Currently planning our 3rd August trip and definitely agree with others about lots of water, sunscreen, etc. We too take advantage of EMH (both am and pm) and we make sure to head out of the parks by no later than 1:00p. We like to hang out by the pool until the afternoon T-storms roll in, then we head to the room for showers and downtime before dinner...we then like to head back to the parks in the evening. Another must for us is moisture wicking everything (shorts, shirts, bras, underwear, socks)...don't think we'd last as long without them. We also like to alternate our footwear. All of us have breathable, lightweight sneakers which we tend to wear during the day where we try to cover as much "ground" as we can but at night when we head back, we tend to wear supporting flip flops. We swear by our Olukai's..

 

[suffieldhockeymom]

1. Dry fit shirts, I like the champion ones from Walmart or Target. They come in tight fit and loose fit. I washed mine in RIT Sun Guard SPF laundry additive before we left and we did not burn through them.
2. Chilly pads or their generic alternatives cut in half lengthwise
3. Hydration back pack filled with ice at the food court will give you ice cold water most of the day. Easy to refill in the park if you run out.
4. Schedule a late lunch rather than dinner
5. A bottle of sunscreen spray and a face stick

 

[bocaj1431]

So many great tips!

I also agree with frogg toggs and cutting them to size. I actually bring a few glad bags in my back pack and place ice in them from the park to quickly cool down chilli pad. After a while in the brutal FL heat the frogg toggs lose their cooling abilities. After a few min in ice they are perfect. Then I use the bag of ice on my neck. When it becomes liquid, I pour it out and save the bag for a refill of ice later in the day.

My favorite cooling technique is; in the compartment of my backpack that is against my back, I place two frozen water bottles that are in a glad bag (love my glad bags) in that compartment. It feels so good on my back and it lasts for hours! Once it is no longer frozen, it is perfect for a cool drink. If you have a really thick padding for the lining of your back pack, this will not work that well. I have one of those mesh back packs which is perfect for this.

Follow the great tips others have provided and you will make it through and still have a great time.

 

[DakotaRose]

Lots of good ideas above. We are also fans of quick dry fabrics, and choose medium or light colors. That includes socks and underwear. If you choose to wear running shoes, pick a lightweight pair with mesh panels so your feet breathe. With ours we feel the breeze on our toes even with socks. It also helps if you can acclimate to the heat before your trip. Spend some time outside walking or working in the late afternoon if it's 80+ degrees.

 

[Aliceacc]

We're teachers too, going at the end of July.

Here are my biggest tips:
a. go to amazon and invest in one or two Mistymate personal misters-- the 2.5 ounce (I think) size. They're the size of an electric toothbrush, and don't need any batteries. You fill them with cold water (so they can be refilled at a water fountain or bathroom) and they spray a nice cool mist onto your face. The're worth it at double the price!!!!

b. We always get to the parks at rope drop, then head back to the resort after lunch. The parks are simply too hot and crowded; you reach the point of diminishing returns. A few hours in the pool and we return refreshed and ready to enjoy an evening in the parks.

c. Order bottled water and park snacks from either www.gardengrocer.com or www.wegoshop.com (we like garden grocer.) You NEED that water, and it's outrageously expensive in the parks.

d. Hit either Walmart or the dollar store and invest in some disposable ponchos. (I like the Walmart ones, found in the camping section. They're small and 2 to a pack.) We figure 3 or 4 per person for a week's trip. Some years we use them all, some years we barely touch them.

e. pack a map of Florida by county ( http://geology.com/county-map/florida.shtml ). I realize that hurricane season is almost half the year, and that Disney World is about the safest place you can be if one should hit. But we were there for Tropical Storm Faye, ( it arrived on our departure day) and I was keeping an eye on the warnings, worried that our flight would be cancelled. The problem was that I wasn't sure what was where. and the warnings are posted by county. (Disney is on the border of Orange and Osceola counties. ) Once I had an idea of where the warnings were, it was a lot easier to figure out what we were doing.

Enjoy!!!

 

[amyj1024]

I can't believe this wasn't mentioned.. I wouldn't buy water, anywhere at disney that serves food/drinks will give you CUPS of water for free. We went last June (another teacher here!) and got our ice water whenever we wanted for free.

 

[PinkBudgie]

So many great ideas! I get the feeling we should be drinking water.

My thought was to bring filtered water bottles. Is there somewhere to fill them up at the food court at POFQ before heading out for the day? I don't really want to fill them up with tap water in the room. I was thinking we would use the filtered bottles instead of ordering a case or two of water bottles. It just sounds like a hassle. Does that plan sound do-able?

So CS will give you water free even if you don't order anything else?

We both got the chilly togs for Christmas. I'm checking on the MistyMate.

Oh, and good point about flipping your hair back forth at the part! I always put sunblock on my part too. Someone mentioned a wide hat making your own shade. I normally don't like wearing hats, but I may look around and see if I can find something.

I looked a little bit at Khol's today in their workout section for some possible shirts to bring, but didn't see much that I would want to wear. I'll keep looking. DH already has bunch of wicking shirts he can bring, it seems harder to find things like this for women.

For shoes I'm bringing a pair of tennis shoes and several pairs of Crocs flats. (The cute ones, not the ugly clogs. ) This is what I bring to DLR and walked all day in them. Not bringing flip flops because I can't even walk to the pool in them. I just shuffle along and can't keep them on my feet.

The plan thus far: DH carries a backpack with our filtered water bottles, baggies, sunscreen, chilly togs, a misting fan of some sort, and ziplock bags. I carry my small Baggalini wallet purse with my camera, lipstick, phone, itouch, and epi pen. We both have sunglasses and probably hats too. If we need a poncho, we will buy them there and have extra baggies to keep them in if wet. How does that sound?

 

[wendybeth75]

Those water squirt fans are amazing. They are also around $18 and I think you can find them much cheaper at your local discount store.

 

[mydisneykids]

Always swore I would never take a summer trip to Disney. Broke that a few years ago when I started taking the kids alone. We manage to enjoy ourselves even with the heat but are taking my non heat tolerant husband this June/July. Using these tips are the only way he will survive. I know they have been said but they really make a difference.

We get to the park before opening and do as much as we can.
We head back to the resort at lunch time or just after lunch.
We swim, shower, nap, change clothes.
Head back to the parks at dinner and stay as late as we can.
In between drink TONS of water, make sure to cool of in shops and rides when needed, and wear sunscreen.

Enjoy!!!

 

[SpecialK]

We're also stuck going in the summer month and have been a few times in June. When our kids were little, we carried a backpack and purse/bag. Now that they're older we carry as little as possible. Having a backpack or purse holding in your body heat is not fun!

We order a couple cases of water and a case of Gatorade and go through all of it. It's not a hassle to have it delivered, and you can get some room snacks too.

I never wear a hat, except in Florida in the summer. It makes a huge difference not having that sun beating down on your head and face. Huge.

Spray deodorant on you feet in the morning helps to keep them cool and stops blisters.

Take some Tide pods and dryer sheets with you so you don't have to buy detergent.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Always swore I would never take a summer trip to Disney. Broke that a few years ago when I started taking the kids alone. We manage to enjoy ourselves even with the heat but are taking my non heat tolerant husband this June/July. Using these tips are the only way he will survive. I know they have been said but they really make a difference.

We get to the park before opening and do as much as we can.
We head back to the resort at lunch time or just after lunch.
We swim, shower, nap, change clothes.
Head back to the parks at dinner and stay as late as we can.
In between drink TONS of water, make sure to cool of in shops and rides when needed, and wear sunscreen.

Enjoy!!!

That sounds like our general plan. In fact, I'm worried about how much laundry we will go through. All the travel sites talk about mixing and matching outfits so you don't have to bring as much. But who wants to wear it if the whole outfit is completely sweaty after a half a day? Does anyone "do laundry" in the room sink?

 

[Aliceacc]

That sounds like our general plan. In fact, I'm worried about how much laundry we will go through. All the travel sites talk about mixing and matching outfits so you don't have to bring as much. But who wants to wear it if the whole outfit is completely sweaty after a half a day? Does anyone "do laundry" in the room sink?

The resorts have washers and dryers, frequently near one of the pools. Some years I do a load, some years not.

The upside is that summer clothes are so light (and, for my kids at least, small) that one load is enough. So, if I need to do a load, I do it while they're swimming-- and frequently jump in for a while myself. It doesn't reallly pull any time away from my vacation.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Good point. At least I don't have to bring jeans. Do you bring laundry soap? And lots of quarters?

 

[RedHeadedFairy]

Lots of quarters, yes. I started taking those laundry detergent pods because they are so easy. (we drive though, not sure if they are the best choice for packed airline bags or not) I actually started collecting samples of them from online freebie/sample sites a few months ahead of time & used those for our trip. It was nice that each pod was individually packed, & I often got fabric softener samples too.