To Fan or Not to Fan, that is the question

[KrzyKtty101]

So my family is going to WDW 8/9 and 8/10. We aren't normally scared of summer heat (we live in coastal SC, which while not Orlando, is no joke either).

We have never gone to WDW in August though, we normally go in early June. Soooo many videos recommend taking fans though, so I am debating if I should buy some. How necessary do you think they are? Honestly, we try to travel as light as possible, so the thought of having to carry a bag to carry all of the fans is the hurdle for me. Even with the rain, half the time everyone just gets soaked rather than deal with the annoying ponchos. Last time, I just used one of my loungefly bags. I saw a video of someone's melting in the heat though, which game me pause on doing that this time ROFL. The time before that, I just used baggy cargo shorts with large pockets.

So question is do you think I should deal with the inconvenience of carrying around a fan to make the day easier. Or just leave it behind and like we do in June, take breaks indoors? And if I should get them, mind giving me your thoughts on what to get? Amazon only has about 1,000,000 to choose from.

 

[ST1TCH]

My personal experience - if it's hot and humid air you're walking around in....a fan is just going to recirculate hot and humid air in your face and on your neck. They don't do any cooling of the air, at least not the ones I've seen. I think the cooling towels (that you wet with water) placed around your neck help a lot more.

 

[barb969]

I Agee with ST1TCH. Cooling towels. I got 3 for about $13 on Amazon. They are small and take little space. They last for a couple of hours on 1 soaking.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

I don't want that weight around my neck and really it's just blowing around hot air. Not worth it for me and we've been during the hot summer months and September. We just took afternoon breaks in the a/c for lunch. We are two adults and don't want to deal with the go back to the resort, rest, and swim gameplan either. It kills too much park time for us so we just know we are going to hydrate and sweat.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

My personal experience - if it's hot and humid air you're walking around in....a fan is just going to recirculate hot and humid air in your face and on your neck. They don't do any cooling of the air, at least not the ones I've seen. I think the cooling towels (that you wet with water) placed around your neck help a lot more.

See that is what I was worried about. I didn't see the point in the extra wait to just blow around hot air soup.

I'll check out the cooling towels. There are enough water stations around that I should be able to keep those cool. They take up less space too.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

I don't want that weight around my neck and really it's just blowing around hot air. Not worth it for me and we've been during the hot summer months and September. We just took afternoon breaks in the a/c for lunch. We are two adults and don't want to deal with the go back to the resort, rest, and swim gameplan either. It kills too much park time for us so we just know we are going to hydrate and sweat.

We were planning similar with food, but quick service this time. Didn't want to lose on park time for a sit down either. I hunted down all the snacks LOL. Husband is a foodie. He goes to Disney for the food . Since this is a short 2 park day trip, we didn't want to waste time going back to the resort either.

 

[purple figment]

There's another current thread titled "Cooling neck towels - I don't get it" about the pros and cons of neck towels, neck fans, hand held fans, UV umbrellas, etc with lots of opinions that might help you decide.

 

[ellbell]

I've used cooling towels, neck fans and handhelf rechargeable fans. The best by far is the handheld. The cooling towels don't work well and the neck fans are too stationary. The handhelds can be moved around easily and fit in a belt bag. I've been using mine for 4 years now and wouldn't go without it. If you aim it at your wrist or inner arms for a couple moments it works wonders. The back of your neck cools you right off or even up the back of your shirt works too.

 

[Aimeedyan]

There is no one size fits all IMO.

I like the neck fans. My husband liked to wrap a fan to the handle of the stroller so it blew on his face directly instead. He also swears by cooling towels. My preschooler likes to hold a fan in his stroller.

Honestly, none of those things are pricey nor do they take up any space at all. I bring it all and use what feels right/good at the time and leave whatever we don't want in the room.

 

[WIDisneyFan]

We used neck fans during our most recent trip over the 4th of July and I am surprised to say I LOVED them. In the past we have used the cooling towels and while they do work the wet for me just gets annoying (this is one of those everyone is different points). I had low expectations on the fans as my thought was blowing hot air was not going to help at all but somehow it did (it may even just be my brain thnking it helped).

As you know its going to be hot - the fact you are aware of, and planning for it means you will be ok eitehr way.

 

[_19disnA]

Lugging around a cooling fan at Disney is a waste of time and one more thing to have to carry around. We were there with another family who had one and they let us try it. It also had that misting option which just tends to blow a hot mist on your face making you feel sticky/wet. Would never recommend one.

 

[crazymomof4]

So my family is going to WDW 8/9 and 8/10. We aren't normally scared of summer heat (we live in coastal SC, which while not Orlando, is no joke either).

We have never gone to WDW in August though, we normally go in early June. Soooo many videos recommend taking fans though, so I am debating if I should buy some. How necessary do you think they are? Honestly, we try to travel as light as possible, so the thought of having to carry a bag to carry all of the fans is the hurdle for me. Even with the rain, half the time everyone just gets soaked rather than deal with the annoying ponchos. Last time, I just used one of my loungefly bags. I saw a video of someone's melting in the heat though, which game me pause on doing that this time ROFL. The time before that, I just used baggy cargo shorts with large pockets.

So question is do you think I should deal with the inconvenience of carrying around a fan to make the day easier. Or just leave it behind and like we do in June, take breaks indoors? And if I should get them, mind giving me your thoughts on what to get? Amazon only has about 1,000,000 to choose from.

We went once for the last week of August and I had both the cooling towels AND a fan. I bought the kind that rests around your neck, so it's hands free. I was the only one in the group who had one and after a day or two they were all asking to borrow it!

Its true, a fan is not an air conditioner. But think of this scenario: You're in the heat, its very still and you're a ball of sweat and suddenly a breeze blows through. You and everyone around you goes, "AHHHH!", right? It's just hot air but when any moving air blows across your moist skin, the evaporation that occurs creates a cooling effect. That's the whole principle of fans, every type of fan.
Cast my vote for Team Personal Fan!
(We're going in late Sept and I'm packing mine, just in case)

ETA: I attached a strip of cotton terry cloth to the part of the fan that rests on my neck. Great modification!

 

[crazymomof4]

We were planning similar with food, but quick service this time. Didn't want to lose on park time for a sit down either. I hunted down all the snacks LOL. Husband is a foodie. He goes to Disney for the food . Since this is a short 2 park day trip, we didn't want to waste time going back to the resort either.

OT: my DH is a foodie too! He doesn't remember the rides/attractions from one trip to the next but he remembers what foods he ate 10 yrs ago! LOL

 

[scrappinginontario]

Please be aware that what works for one person may not work for another.

Please share what does/does not work for you without criticizing what might work for another person.

Thank you.

 

[reddog21]

We love the fans especially when you walk around a store it's like instant AC in your face. I don't care if it's hot air back in my face it makes me feel cooler and that's all that matters.

 

[Mle8308]

We have used the small foldable hand held fans from Amazon, no they are not an A/C but the breeze does help. Especially if standing in a crowded queue with no air circulation. They are small enough to fit in a pocket and not everyone has to carry one, bring one or two and share. This one is $7.99, I have it and it actually circulates more air than I expected and the charge lasts for the day.

 

[beccasmom]

We have used the small foldable hand held fans from Amazon, no they are not an A/C but the breeze does help. Especially if standing in a crowded queue with no air circulation. They are small enough to fit in a pocket and not everyone has to carry one, bring one or two and share. This one is $7.99, I have it and it actually circulates more air than I expected and the charge lasts for the day.

View attachment 880122

This is similar to the one I use. It charges quickly, can charge a cell phone in a pinch, and has a light at the end if the need arises. It weighs about 5 oz, has two speeds, has soft blades that shut off automatically when my hand hits them, does not mist, and I paid about $12.00 for it last year. I’ve since purchased some extra ones. I used it at work on occasion before my recent retirement and even on a plane stuck at the gate that became too warm. We do own neck fans, but I personally find them too heavy and they bring on headaches when I use them. Nothing beats a/c! I am finding it increasingly tough to handle the hot and humid weather and for me, this has been a real help. Experiment to see what works for you. Good luck!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I have neck issues so I'm too scared to hang a fan around my neck but let me make a pitch for a UV umbrella- I tried a UV umbrella for the first time late June after being extremely hesitant about lugging it around the parks and I'm never going during summer again without one! I got a light one off Amazon.

My FL heat recipe: moisture wicking clothes (including moisture wicking under items), UV umbrella, Mission cooling hat & a cooling towel. My trip in late June I didn't end up utilizing the towel but I bet I would on an Aug trip.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

We have the Disney parks misting fan, we don’t usually need or use it in Disney because we tend to go during cooler months but we used it last week at Six flags near us. It was over 90 degrees, humid and miserable and that fan was a god send. It really has good strong circulation and the misting (when we decided to use it) was nice too. Now it was kind of a pain carrying it around and the Velcro neck strap was irritating but the benefits outweighed those negatives

 

[Duanerice]

We take a fan, helps standing in line or waiting for a show. We also bring a small umbrella. My wife isn't a huge fan of Disney so this makes her a little happier and well worth it.