What does everyone do when they've been sweating in the parks all day...

[MammaMoe48]

then have to go to dinner in the evening but can't get back to the hotel to wash up?

We are going to be in the MK all day and since we will be there in August I know it's most likely going to be in the 90s during the day so we will be sweating something awful. I was thinking of making reservations at one of the monorail resort restaurants (we already are doing LTT on another of our MK days, and I'm not keen on the other places in the park for dinner) but since we are staying at the BWV, it's not feasible to go back to the hotel, wash up and change, then head back to the MK area. So how do people do it? Is there someplace we can cool down or freshen up? I hate the idea of being in sweaty clothes that we've had on all day to eat in a nice restaurant.

 

[Shanti]

then have to go to dinner in the evening but can't get back to the hotel to wash up?

We are going to be in the MK all day and since we will be there in August I know it's most likely going to be in the 90s during the day so we will be sweating something awful. I was thinking of making reservations at one of the monorail resort restaurants (we already are doing LTT on another of our MK days, and I'm not keen on the other places in the park for dinner) but since we are staying at the BWV, it's not feasible to go back to the hotel, wash up and change, then head back to the MK area. So how do people do it? Is there someplace we can cool down or freshen up? I hate the idea of being in sweaty clothes that we've had on all day to eat in a nice restaurant.

This is one reason why so many people take afternoon breaks during summer trips. That is the only way to really get cleaned up for dinner.

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

Do the deluxe resorts still have washcloths to dry your hands in the signature restaurant area restrooms? If so, you could go to the resort and cool off by just people watching for 15 minutes then wipe yourself down with a dampened washcloth that you take into a bathroom stall. This might get the outer layer of sweat/sunlotion off of your skin. I do something similar after a sweaty job at work using a few wet paper towels, but the washcloth would be so much nicer. You could use baby-wipes, facial wipes, and/or feminine wipes but I don't know if you'd want to carry them around with you all day. A sample size of deodorant or powder can help you feel a bit fresher than "just dragged in from the park." I'm with you on sometimes needing to freshen up as best I can without going all the way back to the room.

 

[MammaMoe48]

This is one reason why so many people take afternoon breaks during summer trips. That is the only way to really get cleaned up for dinner.

Normally we would do that but to go from MK to BWV and back could take 2-3 hours and I don't want to lose that much time in the parks. Maybe instead of doing a resort restaurant, we can do The Plaza. That seems a bit more casual and it's inside the park.

 

[Hopefully]

Do the deluxe resorts still have washcloths to dry your hands in the signature restaurant area restrooms? If so, you could go to the resort and cool off by just people watching for 15 minutes then wipe yourself down with a dampened washcloth that you take into a bathroom stall. This might get the outer layer of sweat/sunlotion off of your skin. I do something similar after a sweaty job at work using a few wet paper towels, but the washcloth would be so much nicer. You could use baby-wipes, facial wipes, and/or feminine wipes but I don't know if you'd want to carry them around with you all day. A sample size of deodorant or powder can help you feel a bit fresher than "just dragged in from the park." I'm with you on sometimes needing to freshen up as best I can without going all the way back to the room.

No. No wash clothes in restrooms.
OP, it isn't that you can't go freshen up, you choose not to. When going to a resort restaurant we choose to make time to go back & freshen up before dinner. I agree going from MK to BW to MK Resort is a lot. I would probably make an ADR in the BW area. Alternately, the PP makes some good suggestions. I would carry a backpack with wipes, deodorant, and a change of clothes & leave it in a locker until I was going to get ready for dinner.

 

[Minnesota!]

If we can't get back to the resort, I go into the bathroom nearest the place I am dining. I use a wet towel to wash off my face/neck/arms. Splash some more water on my face, dry it off. Reapply makeup, brush out hair, spritz on some body spray, reapply deodorant, and call it good. But, honestly, on days we have dinner reservations, we make it a point to go back to the resort. I like breaking our day up like that. Park in the AM, back early/mid afternoon for a swim/rest/change, then back to where we are having dinner to close out the day.

 

[jvsims]

I don't usually use body powders because I'm not sure if they're unhealthy, but we always do at Disney...sprinkled inside clothing instantly helps with the steaminess & has a cooling effect...we wear lighter colors though as it can be too messy with dark colors

 

[MammaMoe48]

No. No wash clothes in restrooms.
OP, it isn't that you can't go freshen up, you choose not to. When going to a resort restaurant we choose to make time to go back & freshen up before dinner. I agree going from MK to BW to MK Resort is a lot. I would probably make an ADR in the BW area. Alternately, the PP makes some good suggestions. I would carry a backpack with wipes, deodorant, and a change of clothes & leave it in a locker until I was going to get ready for dinner.

I know it's not a question of not being able to go back and wash up, I just would have preferred not to. What we will do is head back to the hotel around 3:00, wash, change and head back to MK no later than 5:00 to arrive no later than 6:00 then change to the monorail to the Grand Floridian Cafe for 6:30 reservations. After dinner we can go back to the park to do a few more rides or shop or something. I'm hoping that allowing an hour for the bus each way is enough.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I know it's not a question of not being able to go back and wash up, I just would have preferred not to. What we will do is head back to the hotel around 3:00, wash, change and head back to MK no later than 5:00 to arrive no later than 6:00 then change to the monorail to the Grand Floridian Cafe for 6:30 reservations. After dinner we can go back to the park to do a few more rides or shop or something. I'm hoping that allowing an hour for the bus each way is enough.

If I were you, I'd drive directly to the Grand Floridian and skip the step of going to the Magic Kingdom. If you don't have a car, take a cab. You'll save a ton of time that way.

 

[disny_luvr]

I know it's not a question of not being able to go back and wash up, I just would have preferred not to. What we will do is head back to the hotel around 3:00, wash, change and head back to MK no later than 5:00 to arrive no later than 6:00 then change to the monorail to the Grand Floridian Cafe for 6:30 reservations. After dinner we can go back to the park to do a few more rides or shop or something. I'm hoping that allowing an hour for the bus each way is enough.

If worse comes to worse, you can always Uber or taxi to the GF. We ran into this problem last year when we didn't have enough time to get from the Poly to FW for our dinner ADR at Trail's End. We lost track of time while at the pool and figured a taxi would be best. The cost was minimal and well worth not stressing over being late.

 

[Anniefrances]

Baby wipes, deodorant, cosmetics, and clean shirts stashed in a locker for a quick bathroom clean up before dinner.

 

[maxiesmom]

I wouldn't go to a nice dinner all sweaty and gross. I'd go change. There is no way to wet wipe or baby powder that kind of sweat and smell away. Only a shower and clean clothes will do the trick.

Budget for a couple of taxi rides, that way you are not wasting a bunch of time. But definitely take a break to clean up.

 

[MammaMoe48]

If I were you, I'd drive directly to the Grand Floridian and skip the step of going to the Magic Kingdom. If you don't have a car, take a cab. You'll save a ton of time that way.

We won't have a car but the cab is a good idea. Can I get one outside my hotel or do I have to call for one? Don't suggest Uber, I refuse to use them.

 

[maxiesmom]

Most resorts have cabs waiting.

 

[scrapquitler]

then have to go to dinner in the evening but can't get back to the hotel to wash up?

We are going to be in the MK all day and since we will be there in August I know it's most likely going to be in the 90s during the day so we will be sweating something awful. I was thinking of making reservations at one of the monorail resort restaurants (we already are doing LTT on another of our MK days, and I'm not keen on the other places in the park for dinner) but since we are staying at the BWV, it's not feasible to go back to the hotel, wash up and change, then head back to the MK area. So how do people do it? Is there someplace we can cool down or freshen up? I hate the idea of being in sweaty clothes that we've had on all day to eat in a nice restaurant.

If you don't want to do a mid-day resort break, it might be worth bringing a small tote bag with a change of clothes, washcloth, soap, deodorant, etc. and putting it in a locker upon arrival to the park in the morning, then you could grab it and everyone could freshen up and at least change their shirt in the bathroom before leaving the park and heading to dinner.

 

[Baklava]

Uber was our best friend at WDW.

 

[TeresaWen]

Make up wipes! I carry a travel size pack of them. Sometimes a also stick a wash cloth in my purse. You be surprised how fresh you feel after a quick wipe and some makeup or face cream. I carry a tiny bit of my cream foundation in a small jar in my purse.

 

[Shanti]

We won't have a car but the cab is a good idea. Can I get one outside my hotel or do I have to call for one? Don't suggest Uber, I refuse to use them.

You can easily take a taxi from the Contemporary to BWV, then one from BWV to the Grand Floridian. That would not take too much time.

You can get a taxi from any deluxe resort- just ask the people out front to hail one for you (& tip them a dollar or two). I won't use Uber, either.

 

[Minniesgal]

We would never go straight from a park to a resort restaurant. We always go back to the resort shower and dress for dinner. Maybe it's a UK thing but we always dress for dinner.

This is one of the main reasons we hire a car so we can go back.

 

[MammaMoe48]

We would never go straight from a park to a resort restaurant. We always go back to the resort shower and dress for dinner. Maybe it's a UK thing but we always dress for dinner.

This is one of the main reasons we hire a car so we can go back.

We always dress for dinner too. All our other "big" vacations have been cruises so there was no question about dressing for dinner or having the time to dress. That's why I asked, I wondered if people just went to dinner in whatever. Since we own DVC it's not like we'll never go back so I'll sacrifice the couple of hours it would take to go back and change.