Vacation Tips for Women! :)

[ArmandXG]

When planning our vacation, I always check the calendar to see when "that" week arrives. If it looks even close to travel time, I go to my Dr and have him put me on birth control pills. I skip the placebo pills and just take the regular pills back to back. I will end up postponing or skipping that week all together.
The first time I tried this, I was so paranoid that I went overboard and took the pills and the patch at the same time while we were at the parks. I DO NOT recommend this!!!
I can't recommend anything for hair as mine is very short and looks the same dry, windblown, wet...
Even though I don't have a perfect body for this, I really don't care what the general public thinks when it comes to my comfort. I like to wear spandex or cotton work out shorts. They are cool, lightweight, non binding. They are long enough to cover my thighs, wick away the sweat, dry quickly after wet rides, etc.
I wear sneakers or hiking sandals with a high arch due to my bad feet. I actually blew my foot out (plantar fasciitis) one year and ended up on crutches. Has anyone ever done WDW on crutches before??? I do not recommend this either!
I do suggest a test run for anything new. If you buy new shorts, shoes for your trip, take them out for a test run. Those cute shorts may become annoying if they keep riding up while you walk.

 

[Piglet843]

I just thought I'd bring this thread back - Loved reading all the tips!

Its been over a year - Surely there are some fresh ideas out there!

 

[Poohbug]

This thread is great.

For those looking for sparkly sunscreen, I have bought it from Bath & Body before-they change their lines every year, but they may still have it.

My hair is horrible-frizzy, curly, crazy. I have had it short for a year now and it straightens great. I will be OK in the humidity but if it actually gets wet It's not going to be pretty. The best idea I have come up with is a hat.

I always bring at least two pairs of comfy shoes and switch every other day.
No blisters.

The spray sunscreen is the best. Make sure you get the kind that does not have to be rubbed in. If you have little boys, it's great for their ears(tops always get burned) and their head(part line or whole scalp if they have really short hair).

 

[locolala]

I dunno if this got mentioned, but as far as "time of the month" goes, I'll work my birth control so that I'll be safe during my trip. My doc was the one who suggested it to me many years ago when I was competing in equestrian stuff. Imagine wearing very tight, light colored pants.. yeah.. no fun lol. I have some great hiking shorts that I wear to parks, they're comfy, kinda cute, and cool, so thats what matters to me. I make sure I wear thick comfy socks, and switch out my socks if they get wet. I carry a Camelback for water and holding my junk, it keeps my back cool and I'll always have easily accessible water

 

[kate1283]

GREAT thread... love the tips! will DEFINITELY have to come back to re-check this as it gets closer to my trip!

as for the o.p.'s original questions... well, it's been a while since i traveled, but thought i'd answer some to the best of my ability (or what i plan to do).

makeup / skincare / tanning?: in the summer sun, even here in michigan, makeup just melts away! after spending all summer outside, i'll have a decent tan, and probably won't need much makeup anyway. probably just stick to wearing moisturizer, water-proof mascara, and chapstick with spf while in the parks!

How do you choose clothing to wear / shoes?: just sticking to shorts and tanks/t-shirts. possibly bring a light sundress for a day of exploring epcot's world showcase, and then shopping in downtown disney. as far as shoes, i live in flip flops in the summer. i wear them every day, everyw here i go (except work, haha). and i walk a lot every night, so i'm used to wearing only flip flops (even in theme parks).

What are your *essentials* when packing for WDW?: i actually already made a packing list! i'm sure i'll add/delete items as it gets closer to my trip, but so far it's about a page long. my essentials for going into the parks will probably be sunglasses, chapstick, money, room key, digital camera, ibuprofen, tums.

How do you manage your hair?: my hair is fairly long (past my shoulders) and layered, but is pretty wavy. i'll probably keep it pulled back most of the time, or leave it down and wavy/curly. there's no point in trying to make it behave, might as well just let it do it's thing!

What are your tips for dealing with the heat?: WATER! i drink LOTS of water in the summer to keep cool/hydrated. i also don't overexert myself; don't want to risk passing out, especially at wdw!

How do you deal when "that time of the month" suprises you on your vacation!?: i pretty much know when it's coming, so it shouldn't be a surprise. if there's the slightest chance it'll show up, i make sure i'm prepared with tampons and midol!

How do you plan for your trip?: read all kinds of stuff on the dis boards! look around the disney site (also gets me excited).

How do you save money on your vacation?: put at least $20 from every paycheck away for savings. also, i'm putting all my change in my aurora bank, so just before the big day i'll roll it all and take it to the bank for cash. all that combined will be my spending money! as for the trip itself, it's paid for with my tax return money.

what are your strategies for the parks / what rides / shows / parades?: no real strategy yet. we'll be there for 8 days this year; that's an average of 2 days for each park. we'll figure out the rest soon!

 

[Boncho]

Does anyone have any tips on dealing with hot flashes? I have gone to the doctor several times and tried different prescriptions but none of them work.

 

[timzagain]

Great thread, even if it has been around for a while!


My period always seems to start during my vacations. I've had that happen so often that now I make sure that I always pack at least 2 pairs of dark coloured board shorts. Board shorts are easy to wash out quickly in the sink in the hotel, and dry very quickly in the shower (squeeze out excess water in towel before hanging to dry). And the dark colours disguise any accidents that might happen when you're out and about and can't get to change your clothes right away!

 

[starrysky]

Does anyone have any tips on dealing with hot flashes? I have gone to the doctor several times and tried different prescriptions but none of them work.

Not sure if you can get in the US (I'm in the UK)but my mum used Black Cohosh its a natural herbal product that you take in tablet form and it did wonders for her hot flushes though my mum called them power surges!

It also works for that wonderful pain we women go through every month.

Check with your doctor before you try it though if you are on other medication this is a UK website that tells you all about it.
http://mytopfoods.com/Black-Cohosh-Benefits/

 

[Boncho]

Not sure if you can get in the US (I'm in the UK)but my mum used Black Cohosh its a natural herbal product that you take in tablet form and it did wonders for her hot flushes though my mum called them power surges!

It also works for that wonderful pain we women go through every month.

Check with your doctor before you try it though if you are on other medication this is a UK website that tells you all about it.
http://mytopfoods.com/Black-Cohosh-Benefits/

'Power Surges" - I love it! That is what I am going to call them from now on.
I believe Black Cohosh is available over the counter here in Canada. Thank you very much, I'll give it a try.

 

[starrysky]

'Power Surges" - I love it! That is what I am going to call them from now on.
I believe Black Cohosh is available over the counter here in Canada. Thank you very much, I'll give it a try.

Power surges are not the only thing she had that gold fish memory problem as well and she called that her Senior moment or Craft moment (Can't Remember a F Thing)

Good luck with the Cohosh hope it works.

 

[Tamdude]

This board totally rocks! I just had to add my two cents!

Regarding shorts.. I always wear board shorts.... mainly because the are long, they don't ride up and they cover my thighs...I hate my thighs! They will be perfect for Disney because they dry fast! I have several bikinis, so I plan on wearing those as undies for the days when there will be water rides.

I also like wearing capris cause they are long.

Now regarding "that time of the month". I am on the pill and I really didn't want to have to worry about getting my "rag" when I go to Disney next month. Now, I know this is going to sound a little neurotic but, like four months ago I sat down with a calendar and figured out when and if my "rag" was supposed to come when i go to WDW...Sure enough it was supposed to come! So here is what I did.... For two months in a row, insted of taking one week "off" the pill each month. I stopped taking it for two weeks. So that week when I had my period, I didn't start the pill again when I was supposed too, but started it a week later. Now I know when I go to Disney I won't have it... I have pushed it back two weeks! LOL - the things women worry about!

I started making a packing list months ago...cause there is always a good idea you get, or a good tip you read and then forget it when its time to pack... this time every time I see a good idea about that to pack, i just add it to the list!

I am going to bring "wet ones" or "wet wipes" with me to the parks - i hate having dirty hands and this way i won't have to waste time looking for a washroom. Also, Don't forget to put your camera into a ziplock bag to keep it dry!

We are staying at POP, so i am thinking about bringing a kettle so we can boil water and have hot oatmeal for breakfast to save money, but i haven't decided if i can be bothered with that yet.

Anyways, Love this thread! Keep the tips coming!

~Tamara

 

[timzagain]

Power surges are not the only thing she had that gold fish memory problem as well and she called that her Senior moment or Craft moment (Can't Remember a F Thing)

Good luck with the Cohosh hope it works.

Your mom sounds like a riot...a lot like my own mother. I have to share the "Craft Moment" with Mom - it sounds like just the kind of thing she'd say!

I'm having a bit of an ADHD moment, so forgive the mini-hijack of the thread but the "Craft Momemt" reminds me of a racehorse that was on our local racing circuit years ago. The horse's name was "Jafetica" During an interviewer, a reporter asked the owner about the origins of the horse's name. The owner said it was an acronym for
Just
Another
F......
Expense
That
I
Cannot
Afford!

I was never a racing facing but that horse's name is permanently engraved in my memory.

OK ... back to the topic. I've never heard of the Cohosh before - I'll have to share the news and hunt around to see if it's available locally!

 

[starrysky]

The horse's name was "Jafetica" During an interviewer, a reporter asked the owner about the origins of the horse's name. The owner said it was an acronym for
Just
Another
F......
Expense
That
I
Cannot
Afford!

I was never a racing facing but that horse's name is permanently engraved in my memory.




I have not tried Cohosh due to medication I'm already on so as I said check with the doctor before you go for it. But for my mum it worked a treat she did not want to go on the hormones for various reasons.
As I said in my previous post it is supposed to help with that wonderful time of the month as well

 

[loonytoony]

love this thread...any more suggestions?

 

[Sweety_tweety]

Great thread!

I will second the suggestion about wearing skorts as opposed to skirts. I wear skorts almost exclusively all summer. They are actually more comfortable for me than shorts now. I even walk on our local walking trails everyday for excercise wearing a skort. The key is to buy a skort that is made out of twill, canvas, denim, or similar type of material that has the skirt portion AND the shorts portion made out of the same material. Don't get the ones that have a different cheaper material underneath the skirt portion...if you do, the short portion will just ride up (very uncomfortable!). Also, the stretchy cotton skorts are cute for around the house, but not very comfortable in the long if you are very active (they ride up a lot easier...both skirt portion and short portion)

I have bought a lot of skorts from women's golf apparel stores. The golf skorts are really adorable, but they can be a little pricey. However, this summer...skorts really caught on with more mainstream brands. Dockers has a lot of different kinds of skorts available (Kohls.com carries them). JcPenny had some nice twill and denim ones this year as well.

If you plan on getting wet, I would not recommend a denim skort. A few years ago we were soaked on SM. The shorts underneath actually sucked up to my skin--I felt like I had a diaper on. After about an hour realizing the skort was never going to dry--I went shopping. Surpisingly, I could not find a store that sold shorts. I ended buying a sweatshirt material short skirt.

 

[dizzi]

ESTROVEN!!!

you can get it over the counter here in the states.

It works.....

i know personally!!!

Helps with other little problems that come along with that time of the month too!

 

[torsie24]

OK just researched the Diva Cup and first thought was "GROSS!!!" Then actually read all about it and read the testimonials on multiple websites and thought "No, tampons and pads are gross. This is actually LESS gross!" This is the perfect answer to so many of my problems relating to this situation. One being, what to do when getting to a bathroom is not convenient. (Standing in lines at Disney, all day cheer competitions, dirty public bathrooms) So I called up my best friend and told her all about it and gave her the website and she got as excited about this as I am. So we both ordered one. I called my DH at work to tell him all about it. He wasn't interested I can't wait to try it out......I will give yall too much information next month at this time!!

I know I'm a year and a half late on this, but I got a cup (called Mooncup here in the UK) about 2 and a half years ago and it's amazing!

It cost me £20 ($30) which seemed expensive at the time, but almost 3 years later and it's still good as new, and periods just don't seem different to any other time of the month now!!

It's a bit of a hassle at first, but I acutally think it's a lot cleaner than pads and tampons, I love it!!! I also think it makes you realise that periods are way less gross than you think...other cup users will understand I think.

 

[meanmom121]

Very informative thread!

I have a few tips for the summer, heated trips and outside activities. Im from South Alabama, and we have the worst heat and humidity! I also work in the weather and this is what I do in the heat--I take spray deoderant (Secret is the best) and I turn my shirts and shorts and my bra INSIDE OUT...I spray the heck out of them with my spray secret and it helps with the smell and the icky sticky feeling of sweat that makes your clothes stick to you! It works!

I can't wait to try this trick - who'd a thunk. I live in Texas and I could have been using this trick for years. oh well, better late than never

 

[torsie24]

Tried the tampons.....too young, too scared......we tried it in 2006 TRUST ME.....WE TRIED........the shot sounds great though I am not sure my gyno would give it to them at this age even if I asked.......thanks

I went away on an expedition to Peru when I was in my teens. And my doctor presecribed my norethisterone to delay my period.

It is not birth control, so your Gyno wont think badly of you asking for it for younger girls (although i think they are doing their job badly if they judge your decisions anyway), and all you do it start taking it 3 days before your period is due, and then when you stop taking it you get your period 3 days later.

I've used it for a few vacations, during times I haven't been on BC and it has always worked wonderfully!!!

Now I'm on a pill called Cerazette which means I (hopefully - they can't promise) wont have a period until I decide I want kids! Yaaaaay! 3 years period free!!

 

[jm106]

I know I'm a year and a half late on this, but I got a cup (called Mooncup here in the UK) about 2 and a half years ago and it's amazing!

It cost me £20 ($30) which seemed expensive at the time, but almost 3 years later and it's still good as new, and periods just don't seem different to any other time of the month now!!

It's a bit of a hassle at first, but I acutally think it's a lot cleaner than pads and tampons, I love it!!! I also think it makes you realise that periods are way less gross than you think...other cup users will understand I think.

I got the "DIva cup", I think its similar. Under $20, and I love it so much more then other choices I used before. Honestly, I can forget I have my period when using it, no worries. I can comfortably go swimming with it.

If you get very sweaty feet, I have read you can use your antiperspirant on the bottom to help, and someone I know tried it and it worked.
Another tip- I switched to Secret clinical deodortant, and it helped control sweating. You use it at night, and I wondered how it would do, but for me it was great