To bring water bottles or not...

[florep1]

I carry a small hydro flask that I fill with ice water. That's all I carry besides my phone and ID. I don't have to stop to get water. When it's time for meals, I refill. Works for me!

 

[SeilerBird]

I live near the mouse with an ap. I always carry bottled water to the park. Florida water is just plain horrible. I drink bottled water at home too.

 

[Aliceacc]

We always find we're thirstiest on those long lines. Getting off the line to find 5 small cups of free ice water simply isn't as convenient as having bottles of water with us.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

We always find we're thirstiest on those long lines. Getting off the line to find 5 small cups of free ice water simply isn't as convenient as having bottles of water with us.

While I agree with you that we do also get thirsty when water isn't necessarily convenient, they aren't small cups at all. They are the same as the fountain drinks - about 24 ounces I would guess.

I know some other parks are quite stingy with the free water, but Disney is not at all and I don't want anyone reading this to be deterred from getting water for fear it might not be worth it.

 

[georgina]

While I agree with you that we do also get thirsty when water isn't necessarily convenient, they aren't small cups at all. They are the same as the fountain drinks - about 24 ounces I would guess.

I know some other parks are quite stingy with the free water, but Disney is not at all and I don't want anyone reading this to be deterred from getting water for fear it might not be worth it.

I've usually been given smaller (8-10 oz?) size cups of water that they have pre-poured. Like alice, we always carry water bottles with us, and I refill them often at the fountains. I always have a bag with me and don't find it difficult to carry a water bottle.

 

[AliceIn]

Anyone want to weigh in? Should we bring our hydroflasks to the park?

- I've read ice water is free, but are lines long to get it?
- Is the water fountain water cold?

I'm thinking hydroflask will keep ice all day and just refill with water from the fountains, but is that worth carrying them around? We may get a stroller on a few of the days, like EP so seems like a no brainer those days.

Thoughts?

We go in summer, so we carry our insulated water bottles. It is hard to stay hydrated, and lines are very long at the quick service locations.

 

[bryanb]

Some of the insulated water bottles can be quite heavy. I only carry a string backpack (sackpack) in the parks, so I found this very light bottle:
https://www.amazon.com/Polar-Bottle...613300&sr=8-3&keywords=insulated+water+bottle

The insulation is not as good as the heavier double-wall plastic and metal bottles, but filling it up completely with ice at the hotel did keep water cold for most of the day.

 

[AliceIn]

Some of the insulated water bottles can be quite heavy. I only carry a string backpack (sackpack) in the parks, so I found this very light bottle:
https://www.amazon.com/Polar-Bottle...613300&sr=8-3&keywords=insulated+water+bottle

The insulation is not as good as the heavier double-wall plastic and metal bottles, but filling it up completely with ice at the hotel did keep water cold for most of the day.

We have some of those. I agree they work well.

 

[ParrotBill]

In July or August, we freeze a water bottle for each of us and carry one each to start the day. Plus a drink with lunch, then we might buy a drink or get a free water in the afternoon. I don't like refillables for the parks, too bulky and don't like the tap water taste.

 

[GreatLakes]

If it doesn't fit in my pockets I don't take it into the parks. I personally would have no interest in carrying around a water bottle all day so I would say no.

 

[nco91590]

I'm sure someone suggested this, but we use a camelback in the parks. We freeze the bladder overnight, so it's cool on your back and the water stays cold. You can drink in line and they have pockets for wallets, cameras, etc.

 

[momjkm]

We just got back from a trip (6/13-6/18). It was HOT and hydration is key. We also have 3 kids so it was important to have the water with us at all times. We have the Bobble water bottles (a recommendation from some DISers!) because I hate the taste of FL tap water. We filled them up constantly throughout the day. We filled them up at night and put them in the fridge (and even in the freezer for an hour in the morning) to start them off cold, but they warmed up quickly in the FL sun. The drawback to the Bobble Sport is that the spout is not big enough for ice cubes.

Personally, I try to limit our use of disposable water bottles, at home and outside. It killed me the one time we went to the park in the evening with no bag/no water bottles and we had to buy some. The horror! LOL So if that's important to you, and if you'll have a bag with you anyway, then I would say bring a refillable bottle. Oh, and the water fountains that are just sitting out in the sun are NOT cold. Was so excited when I was able to fill up one time at the soda fountain at a counter service place at dinner.

Does the Bobble Bottle filter help with the taste?

 

[Hans Olo]

Some of the insulated water bottles can be quite heavy. I only carry a string backpack (sackpack) in the parks, so I found this very light bottle:
https://www.amazon.com/Polar-Bottle...613300&sr=8-3&keywords=insulated+water+bottle

The insulation is not as good as the heavier double-wall plastic and metal bottles, but filling it up completely with ice at the hotel did keep water cold for most of the day.

We also used a drawstring bag and used those same water bottles. They worked great! They fit perfectly in the side pockets of the bags

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

Does the Bobble Bottle filter help with the taste?

Our family thinks so. We all have bobbles and share a couple insulated carriers for them. If the bobble water starts tasting off, you can replace the filter cap with a fresh filter. (We don't keep track of uses on our filters, so don't remember on any given trip if this is a fairly new filter or if it's seen a few trips. We each have our own color lid/filter.) FYI, we're used to drinking water at home that comes out of our well and through a water softener then RO filter - so basically "bottled"... Chlorinated water actually upsets my stomach.

 

[ZoZo]

We go in summer, so we carry our insulated water bottles. It is hard to stay hydrated, and lines are very long at the quick service locations.

You don't have to wait in line at the QS locations. As others have mentioned, you can go to the counter where you pick up your food, and either ask for a cup of water, or in some places, there are cups of water already waiting to be picked up by anyone who asks. I had a CM tell me there was no need to wait thru the line if you're only getting ice water.

I'm in the camp of people who bring a refillable bottle to pour my ice water into. Since I carry a bag anyways, I like to have water with me all the time. And if you're in a ride line with a paper cup of water, you'd need to toss it before going on the ride. Easier for me to have a refillable bottle - I find one with a "wide mouth" easiest to use, since you can pour both water and ice into it easily.

 

[jbish]

Does the Bobble Bottle filter help with the taste?

I think it did. We would fill straight from the tap in the mornings. There were times when the first few sips had that distinguishable "Florida taste". But I think that was either because there was some water on the spout still (from being rinsed off), or because the first few sips didn't filter properly (that's just a guess). I found that if I just sipped normally (not like the gigantic swigs DH takes), and the spout was dry, then all was good.

 

[mindeola]

We take one frozen water bottle a piece into the park in our backpack. Once that is gone we just get free water.

 

[Parker Clan]

For us it's more convenient to carry water bottles and refill. We go in the summer always so not having one is not an option

 

[katt789]

I'll usually just get a cup of water with each meal, and make sure to keep hydrated otherwise from CS places. Sometimes, like while waiting for parade, I get too hot, so I'll buy a bottle of water (and cry inside as they're so expensive) and end up refilling it for the rest of the day, and into the next day.
Also keep in mind that Florida water does taste weeeeird.
-Water from fountains is usually cold, but if the fountain is sitting in the sun, it's gonna be warm

If you want to go the bottled water route, either bus over to the Boardwalk area, and walk across the street to the gas station there to buy a flat, or if you're getting groceries delivered, throw it in there, OR if you have the time, and want to pick up a few things, Uber to the nearest walmart to pick things up, WAY cheaper than buying on property

 

[awalker1015]

We carry water bottles to the bus stop at the resort and each drink a full one on the way to the park. After that we just grab water at the QS