Sun Protection Factor for first-timers?

[disneydolphin2]

Hiya all
We are going soon!! (sorry, but everyone else is sick of hearing it here )
Short question: What SPF do you all use when you visit USA?

Do you use total sun-block or a high spf?

My attitude is becoming postively anal ........im checking allsorts of pathetic things. (i saw a post about umbrellas earlier and thought OMG i hadnt thought about that!! Rather sad arent i)

 

[Martin S]

Hi there,

I'd say that you need to double whatever you would normally use for somewhere like Spain.

Remember that you are very far South, in the tropics. And dont forget that even on Cloudy days you can get very bad sunburn - as I found out !

Have Fun

Martin

 

[WDWfan uk]

Yes - agree wholeheartedly with Martin.
I'd use total sunblock for young children - and don't forget as well as the back of the neck, that ears can also get badly burned.
The most dangerous we found was the water parks, particularly the lazy river - the water makes you feel pleasantly cool and you forget the amount of time you've exposed your skin to the sun. My DH has darker skin and was really burnt after a day at Blizzard Beach.
....... and wear hats/caps and sunglasses !

 

[disneydolphin2]

Thanks for the tips
Only problem is i haven't been to the Med since i was at junior school so i have no idea what( if anything) i used!

My husband and children have never been to the med either.

I have bought SPF 50 and 30 for the kids and 30/20/15 for us.My kids are aged 13 and 10. Ive also bought lipbalm with SPF 25 in. I do tend to burn in hot summers even here though.

Do you think i will need to add something higher than this?

 

[Martin S]

Hi again,

If you tend to burn in this country you need to be careful, but factor 30 should be fine if you re-apply it regularly. If you find that you are having no problems you can always drop down to 20, 15 will probably be a little weak if you are fair skinned however.

I burn fairly easily and use 30 for the first few days and then start to use 20 as a tan develops.

Dont forget to re-apply during the day at the parks , its easy to forget !

Martin

 

[Disney owl]

i agree , be very careful with at the water parks. Last time we went , it was May & we all used factor 20 with no trouble. till we went to a water park. After a day there we all burnt.

luckily not bad. so on subsequent visits we used sun block & I made the kids ( & I did too ) swimm in t-shirts. You dont realise how long you are stood queing & walking round.

on the lazy river I wore t-shirt, hat & sunglasses. my kids were very impressed!!!!!

 

[disneydolphin2]

Thanks so much for the help everyone

I shall make sure T-shirts and caps are at the water parks with us. I have really been looking forward to that lazy river (must be something in the name ) so i will be extra careful.

I will let you all know how we got on when we return

Karen

 

[neo's white rabbit]

Can't add to the good advice. I bought the kids cheap t-shirts that are 'extras' for when they are in the water be it at our pool, beach or water parks.

I don't think you're being anal at all disneydolphin, just very sensible - as anyone who's had a bad case of sunburn will tell you Something to note, sunblocks and so on don't really last year to year and lose some of their protection, so buy new every season.

Boots have sunblock in these little pouches which are handy to put in kids bags to avoid walking around with heavy bottles in the parks.

 

[Sue & Co.]

Hi,

I agree with all that has gone before but would just like to add that it's not just at water parks that there can be a problem, a lot of the rides will get you very wet (especially at AK) and you need to keep reapplying all day if you burn easily.

 

[disneydolphin2]

Thanks everyone

I have been told that sun creme is cheaper over there so to get some whilst there? Although i have plenty of SPF 20/30 etc i will need to purchase more SPF 40-50 for the kids. Will i find this easy enough to do, say at Walmart, or similar place??

I have allsorts of medications in my bag, just in case (thats me being a..., i mean sensible ) anti-allergy tabs, plasters, lint, rennies, anadin, calpol sachets.......the list goes on........do any of you take the kitchen sink??

 

[snookhams]

Hi, I always follow the advice of the Dr. that treated my Dad when he had Skin cancer, he recomended that you buy your suncream when you arrive at your destination as creams sold here in the UK are not always suitable for the more intense sun in other countries. When we arrive in Orlando on the first day we always head for the shops to stock up on food etc and suncream I always buy the same one - Australian Gold it is actually made in clearwater and I only bought it the first time because it comes in a spray bottle and thought that it would be great for the kids - we now use it every visit and here in the uk, we buy new everytime that we go cause it can be affected by age, and we have never burnt, I even converted Dad to it, he is as blonde as blonde can be and has never burnt when wearing it - I now always bring it back for my parents.

 

[disneydolphin2]

Thanks for the tip

Where do you normally buy it? I suppose it is widely available if its made in Clearwater.

 

[neo's white rabbit]

Thanks for that Snookhams - I'm just taking something to be sure we're covered for the 1st few days but plan on buying there.

Is Australian Gold sold in supermarkets if you buy it with your main shop?

 

[snookhams]

Yes it is quite widely sold, although not sure if we saw it at walmart, as we arrived on the friday last year and couldn't get into the villa until 3pm on Sat. we had a nice relaxing day spent shopping and we managed to get to Beltz where there was a small superdrug type store sold everything from medicine,makeup, soft toys, stationary etc. and thats where we got it, it was on special so we went back for more later in the holiday to bring home for the family.

 

[WDWfan uk]

If you are going to buy some over there, please take something with you just in case you don't get to a supermarket straightaway.

 

[Disney owl]

went into Boots yesterday & their own brand Soltan is Buy One Get ONe Free. I bought factor 25 in a spray & it contains insect repellant too.

Waterpark tip wear pool shoes or flip flops as the floor gets very hot

 

[Dimplenose]

I quite agree with the shoes suggestion. We went to BB in August last year and ended up paying Disney prices for shoes as we hadn't been prepared for quite how hot the concrete paths get during the day.

Also, if you want "local" suncream you may find some Florida maufactured suncreams over here e.g. Banaboat, but there are others. (Last year Bananaboat was on special offer in Tesco.)

Libby

 

[Goofyish]

I tend to chose the highest factor suncream for all the family regardless if they are kids or not - and it should give UVA and UVB protection. Remember its not just sunburn that you need protection from - as mentioned above skin cancer is not very nice

Sunglasses are also important for all the family. Make sure they are BS approved and protect against UVA/UVB. The sun can damage you eyes.

 

[disneydolphin2]

I love this board....you get so much help!

I have actually bought a combo pack for both my kids which is Banana Boat.....didnt know it was Florida made.....didnt look! All i saw was the SPF 50 + 30 with additional lip balm with sunscreens in too and that attracted me.

As for shoes for the waterparks...i have seen that tip before and so was ready for that. I actually wanted to purchase water shoes but have ended up getting flip flops and sandals for all of us. One question: if the steps up to the slides are hot, what do you do with your caps/shoes whilst coming down?? Do you hold them whilst coming down or what?

Yesterday i went to town and bought new sunglasses for us, with full protection. So i THINK i am remembering most things.....but i just know when i get there i will have over-looked something!
I have started packing now too......ugh! Dont DO packing! lol