To Fan or Not to Fan, that is the question

[maxiesmom]

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.

This is exactly me too. The uv umbrella is one of my best Florida purchases ever.

 

[only hope]

The point of fans is to help the sweat evaporate off of you, which in turn cools you down. So even though the fans blow ambient air, it does help you cool off. The humidity in Florida makes it hard for sweat to evaporate.

 

[raidermatt]

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.

The fans do help. Especially if you are standing still, such as in a queue, If you are outdoors yes its warm air, but the only thing worse than warm air circulating is no circulation at all. And when you step inside the fan blows the cool air on you.

All that said, I do not use them. But others in our party never leave them behind.

I find the cooling towels pretty useless. Its great when you first put it on. But it warms up pretty quickly and then you just have hot, wet towel hanging around your neck.

 

[dreamer17555]

In August- Portable fans (neck or handheld), cooling towels, & a UV umbrella in combo makes a huge difference. Plus all the ice water. Drink water like it is your job (and maybe add in a little liquid IV). And know where you can quickly get into AC if needed (shops are great for this and certain QS locations). IMO if you are already bringing a bag in might as well carry what will make the trip easier and if you are traveling with children (or adults who act like children) can prevent a meltdown.

 

[Minnesota!]

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.

Agreed. The neck towels were THE worst for us. Like soggy breath on the neck. Blech. We use handheld fans, but I also like to pop into a bathroom every hour or so and wash my whole face down with just a wet paper towel. Cools me off for a good amount of time, plus the AC in there is nice. I am going to look into that UV umbrella, though. Interesting!

Do people get irritated with people using umbrellas - like, in the way in a crowded park, etc.

 

[mickeymom629]

DH and I had neck fans. He didn't like his as much and complained about the sweaty feel it gave him on the back of his neck. I loved mine and didn't find it heavy at all. I also carried an umbrella. I found that it was a life-saver in lines. I kept it on the lowest of the 3 speeds and it was just enough.
We went in early June when temps were 100 degrees and felt like 110.

 

[disneyfam]

I'm team fan. The one I have is 5 speeds, rechargable and will fit in a small rectangular cross body bag. When out in the heat/humidity the only reason I use it is to keep sweat from going into my eyes, otherwise it's hot air blown and small relief. However, walk into an air conditioned queue or restaurant or store, I pull the fan out and it really helps to cool my body temp down. And what is great about this one is it folds and can be set on a table. We would find a seat, do a mobile food order, pull out the fan, cool off grab the food. I won't do Disney in the summer without it. The one I bought.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C58SS76P?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

 

[Angelia'sthree]

SC native, from the Lowcountry. This weekend we went for a quick FL trip to Seaworld with free tickets. This gave me the opportunity to try out my cooling towel, neck fan and book bag while in the park. We gave up summer trips for late Nov early Dec trips and haven’t been to the parks with 90+ temps in a while. I carried a bag for water and holding our supplies.
#1. I would have to think really hard about carrying a book bag or Loungefly bag in the future. It wasn’t the weight so much, but the added sweating it caused. My shirt was soaked.
#2. The neck fan. My biggest complaint with the neck fan was when turning my head my face kept hitting the fan. It was useful using it with my cooling towel, but it was so bulky. I would keep it on, carry it in my hand or put it in my bag.
#3. Cooling towels. I sweat…a lot! A cooling towel is a 100% must have item for me. I can’t say it makes me cooler, but it does give me something to wipe my face and neck with. The towel did dry out due to the heat a few times before I could get to a sink.

All of that to say, for our upcoming September trip, I think I will bring all of it with me to FL. But, I’ll probably just bring the cooling towel into the park each day. It’s just too hot for the added weight of carrying everything else.

Enjoy your vacation!!

 

[loislane]

I have this one I got off Amazon and love it. Moving air definitely helps evap some of the sweat. Plus it also doubles as a phone charger and has a flashlight. Not that I've needed a flashlight, but I have one if I do! It's small. Easily fits in a pocket or in my belt bag. Plus, the blades stop if they touch anything - including my hair! So no more hair tangles.

 

[elvispursley]

I have this one I got off Amazon and love it. Moving air definitely helps evap some of the sweat. Plus it also doubles as a phone charger and has a flashlight. Not that I've needed a flashlight, but I have one if I do! It's small. Easily fits in a pocket or in my belt bag. Plus, the blades stop if they touch anything - including my hair! So no more hair tangles.
View attachment 882096

I have this one too! I charged it once before our trip last Sep, used it periodically through the day, and I STILL haven’t needed to charge it ?speaking of, I better figure out where that charging cable is before we leave in the 26th)!

 

[Tjworf]

Back from a 6 day trip to the surface of the sun last week. I used a UV umbrella for the first time and thought it was very helpful to reduce melting in the sun. Also used a little fold up Japanese fan for areas where no air was moving. Both took little room in my string pack.
As one poster previously mentioned, go in every restroom you come across, wet your hands and wrists with water for rapid cooling effect!

 

[TAPMD]

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.

I used to take a small spray bottle with cold water and squirt my kiddo and myself. It really helped.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

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.

I did not use one and we were there July 26-August 3, BUT I saw a ton of people with them and my daughter used the Disney one with the mist every day. Her opinion is that it’s a must. I just don’t like carrying stuff around. This woman in line behind me on Tron had a super high powered small, circular fan she was carrying and it was pretty powerful. She shared some fan spins with me and it was nice; she said she got it on Amazon.

 

[CML's mom]

We just got back. I had those tiny ones and my daughter had a bigger one from Walmart that fit in her backpack. Hers was so much better. We also took UV umbrellas that came in little cases. Those really helped too. We took a break every day in our rooms. Don’t expect to cool off in the pool.

 

[CML's mom]

We just got back. I had those tiny ones and my daughter had a bigger one from Walmart that fit in her backpack. Hers was so much better. We also took UV umbrellas that came in little cases. Those really helped too. We took a break every day in our rooms. Don’t expect to cool off in the pool.

 

[bdrex28]

Personally, I don't use a fan and the heat doesn't bother me. But as a former Marine who went to many places, some HOT, some HOT and Humid, Many just dirty/sandy and HOT I kind of just deal with what I have and as of yet no one at WDW has tried to shoot me so I count that as a plus.

Now, my wife....totally different story. She hates the heat, hates it. And we live in Oklahoma and lived in Texas/Dallas prior where it's HOT and HUMID. So, that being said, we carry three fans in my back pack for her and chargers for them. 2 of them are the kind that go around her neck. That way she always has one that is charged and ready to go. We go them on Amazon and they work well for her. We also have a hand held little fan that she may also use at times.

I also will carry 3 water bottles that I have frozen and put them in my backpack as well as two of the towels you wet and help cool your neck etc.

yes, I carry a lot of weight in that pack but her being happier makes my trip better. LOL

We've gone late August and typically go Mid-Sept. This year we went in mid-May and are going again the very end of Oct into Nov and then again late January.

I have a feeling as DVC members, we may end up shifting to either this Oct/Nov time or late January as our main trip time depending on how she likes the weather.

 

[Cybertruck]

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.

What did you end up decided and how did it work for you?

 

[gottalovepluto]

… So, that being said, we carry three fans in my back pack for her and chargers for them. 2 of them are the kind that go around her neck. That way she always has one that is charged and ready to go. We go them on Amazon and they work well for her. We also have a hand held little fan that she may also use at times.

I also will carry 3 water bottles that I have frozen and put them in my backpack as well as two of the towels you wet and help cool your neck etc.

yes, I carry a lot of weight in that pack but her being happier makes my trip better.

It’s a good thing she married a Marine!

 

[scrappinginontario]

We just returned. The challenge I faced each morning was, how much would I use a cooling item to justify the weight in the backpack?

For us:

Worth the weight:
- stainless steel 16oz water bottle x 2 (one for each of us. Filled with ice and a splash of cran-cherry juice and water)
- one cooling towel in a ziplock with some ice
- tiny rechargeable fan
- Gatorade x 1

Not worth the weight:
- UV Umbrella

We saw many carrying umbrellas and I’m glad some found them useful.

If you visit WDW in the summer, take whatever cooling items work for you!! It is melt-your-face off hot and HUMID!! (We saw 106° at 1:30 in the afternoon and 96° at 11PM.)

The heat isn’t something to be messed around with. Do what you need to stay cool and make friends with all the locations you see this

 

[imbelle]

her being happier makes my trip better.

Wow, any more at home like you? LOL