What extra things do you pack for summer trips?

[PiperPizzaz]

Way more sunscreen than you think you will need. Also put extra on around your ankles and calves. That reflective light can really do a number on your legs aka the 'Disney rash'.

My big tip is anti-persperant/deodorant on other places. Anywhere skin might possibly touch skin or where you sweat a lot but, isn't helpful (like lower back, ick).

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I've never been in the summer, but so far I know I need to bring

Truly, we tried the mister water bottle. Getting wet actually made us MORE sticky and miserable, not more comfortable. Think about it, which feels better - a dry summer day or a humid sticky day? What you wnat to do is to try and stay as DRY as possible. Use deoderant. A mister makes it feel MORE humid.

Also, see which side of socks thing works for you - do your feet stay more dry with socks or without? If you go with socks, try to find ones that are geared towrds summer wear. Investing is a pair of runners socks will not be wasted money. (the kind with ventilation panels, usually the same price as any other socks). I usually prefer sock free, but DH usually prefers socks.

Similarly, to stay dry and fresh, we found it helpful to change for dinner some days. I dunno about you, but I really don't want to arrive at a place like Cali Grill wearing sweaty t-shirts. If you will be having TS dinners, it may pay to bring a change of clothes. the trick for us is to find clothes that look 'nice' but are comfortable enough for the parks. Like I'd never wear uncomfortable shoes at WDW, but attractive AND comfy shoes are a hard find.

Seaking of shoes, in summer we all like a pair of good quality sandals. Ecco meaks some nice ones, Keen and Teva are also some good bets. You want shoes that can get soaking WET!!!!!! Crocs are another option, especially for Kids. Your feet are alwyas essentail at WDw, so avoid cheap flip flops, worn out shoes, etc.

DO plan on heavy downpours. they ownt last all day, but you will likely get some. You can better prep as your days get very close and you see a weather prediction. Likely a few $.99 plastic ponchos and a rain jacket are smart to bring. If the prediction of rain is 50% or less - bring the poncho. If rain is above 60% odds, bring the rain jacket for the day. that means you need a means of carrying a jacket for those days. Agian, you dont need to get all that now, just once your dates get close.

Never used, wanted a neck cooler thing. We did use our swimsuits?

I do like botteld water. If you have s troller, you can stow them there. Otherwise, you can simply refil your water bottle. At every meal, we ask for a cup of free ice water. Once in a while, we DO our the meal water into our bottles. Dehydration sickness will ruin your vacation.

I further disagree with talc. It blocks your pores, which makes you more miserable. Not only that, but it cakes up. Yuck! It is much better to keep your skin as free and clear as possible.

Another thing I'd suggest is to acclimate yourself to being outdoors before you go as much as you can. I alsyws advise folks to go for 30min walks each day before they go to WDW.

Truly, we enjoyed our summer visits very much!

 

[meljean]

haha its okay for you to laugh, my GF was laughing at me when it happened to me in july after i forgot. sometimes the jelly is a better choice because if you go on a ride that you get pretty wet on the powder is no longer effective lol

That's good to know! I didn't think about the water rides. I have to say it though...did it form a paste? Just kidding

 

[disneybirds]

Thanks for all the great tips. We are heading down in June for the first time and I need to be thinking about purchasing some of the items now. We usually go in May or October, so this will be a change for us.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Truly, we tried the mister water bottle. Getting wet actually made us MORE sticky and miserable, not more comfortable. Think about it, which feels better - a dry summer day or a humid sticky day? What you wnat to do is to try and stay as DRY as possible. Use deoderant. A mister makes it feel MORE humid.

Also, see which side of socks thing works for you - do your feet stay more dry with socks or without? If you go with socks, try to find ones that are geared towrds summer wear. Investing is a pair of runners socks will not be wasted money. (the kind with ventilation panels, usually the same price as any other socks). I usually prefer sock free, but DH usually prefers socks.

Similarly, to stay dry and fresh, we found it helpful to change for dinner some days. I dunno about you, but I really don't want to arrive at a place like Cali Grill wearing sweaty t-shirts. If you will be having TS dinners, it may pay to bring a change of clothes. the trick for us is to find clothes that look 'nice' but are comfortable enough for the parks. Like I'd never wear uncomfortable shoes at WDW, but attractive AND comfy shoes are a hard find.

Seaking of shoes, in summer we all like a pair of good quality sandals. Ecco meaks some nice ones, Keen and Teva are also some good bets. You want shoes that can get soaking WET!!!!!! Crocs are another option, especially for Kids. Your feet are alwyas essentail at WDw, so avoid cheap flip flops, worn out shoes, etc.

DO plan on heavy downpours. they ownt last all day, but you will likely get some. You can better prep as your days get very close and you see a weather prediction. Likely a few $.99 plastic ponchos and a rain jacket are smart to bring. If the prediction of rain is 50% or less - bring the poncho. If rain is above 60% odds, bring the rain jacket for the day. that means you need a means of carrying a jacket for those days. Agian, you dont need to get all that now, just once your dates get close.

Never used, wanted a neck cooler thing. We did use our swimsuits?

I do like botteld water. If you have s troller, you can stow them there. Otherwise, you can simply refil your water bottle. At every meal, we ask for a cup of free ice water. Once in a while, we DO our the meal water into our bottles. Dehydration sickness will ruin your vacation.

I further disagree with talc. It blocks your pores, which makes you more miserable. Not only that, but it cakes up. Yuck! It is much better to keep your skin as free and clear as possible.

Another thing I'd suggest is to acclimate yourself to being outdoors before you go as much as you can. I alsyws advise folks to go for 30min walks each day before they go to WDW.

Truly, we enjoyed our summer visits very much!

Thanks for all the good info! We are thinking of a mid-June trip and I didn't think about rain! Here it never rains in the summer so that's not even part of my thinking.
And how do you order water bottles to your room? Is there a Safeway or Vons that delivers?
Also good point about shoes. Are they likely to get soaked? I always wear tennis shoes to DLR and hate wearing sandals there, but may have to rethink that for WDW. I've never found sandals that were cute AND comfortable for walking all day so I just wear tennis shoes. Maybe I should just forget the "cute".

 

[teffy]

I'm outside a lot in the summer working with kids and the one thing I always need is a bandana. Just a simple cloth one. I sweat a lot on my face and neck and it feels good to be able to wipe that off. Plus you could use it for a lot of different other things too.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

You can order water and other snacks from Garden Grocer or I have heard of people ordering a case of water from Staples.

 

[cruisingkat]

We bring those individual powder drink mixes to help disguise the taste of Disney water. We have refillable stainless bottles with an insulating cover that we fill with ice at the food court in the morning. We refill with cups of ice that we get in the park We get the powder drink mixes that contain electolytes.
We usually stay at values or moderates - so no refrigerator in the values and no freezer in the moderates so the ice works just fine for us.
I gave up on crocs for summer Disney trips and go with a good walking gym shoe made of cloth - not leather. The crocs made my feet sweat and when it rains, wet crocs are very slippery - have seen a few people fall wearing them in the rain.

 

[Karl66]

Powder, powder, powder! Baby powder, Gold Bonds whatever your preference. I put it in my tennis shoes to help keep my feet dry and a few well placed sprinkles in "other" body areas will help keep things moving smoothly. It's especially helpful on very humid day and when you get damp on the water rides.

 

[Mikey'swife]

1. moleskin
2.moisture wicking socks, and t-shirts
3. bodyglide- looks like deodorant sold at sporting god places for chaffing.
4. crocs-good water shoes and park shoes-with socks
5. 2 swimsuits so they have time to dry.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Haha as gross as it sounds It helps prevent any serious chafing issues that might and probably will occur when you are walking and sweating a lot it can be very painful and ruin a day, its usually worse for males. Baby powder helps too.

Just don't combine the powder & the jelly or it'll concrete up on you!!!



Actually, I don't know if that's true, it's just something my favorite comedian said in one of his routines

I'll 2nd (3rd?) comfortable walking shoes, not necessarily the kind you'd think of for HOT days. Flip flops might keep your feet cooler, but sneakers will feel better at the end of the day.

 

[torinsmom]

I bring sunscreen and drink lots of water(free at any CS or kiosk that has fountain drinks). Other than that, dress in as little clothing as possible and be prepared to change clothes midday if you don't want to stink. We hit the parks at rope drop, but it is usually already 90 degrees or so. We take a break midday and then head back around 6.

Oh, as someone mentioned, ponchos are a good idea. I always stick a few of the 2/$1 kind in my bag each day. It rains almost every day at sometime during the summer. They also come in handy for water rides if you don't want to get soaked.

For the person mentioning chafing, people I know recommend BODY GLIDE. It is an antichafe balm.

 

[pumpkin7]

you know, all i took into the park on our last trip was a bum bag (fanny pack cuz i'm hard core like that), sunglasses, my phone (some days not every day), a small tube of suncream... and frozen water. sorted!

 

[LoveLIlTT]

Dont know if this was mentioned earlier......

Extra Socks and Undies!!!! You'll definatly need them!!!!

 

[SpecialK]

Don't underestimate the amount of water you'll need. Our last June trip, we went through two cases of water and two cases of Gatorade, in addition to what we bought in the parks. That was for four of us.

We didn't care for the Body Glide because we found it to be too sticky. I pack a can of spray deodorant. Spraying it on your feet really helps to avoid blisters. Didn't like mister fans either - not very effective and just something else to carry. Hats helped tremendously. We seldom wear hats at home but had them on every day at WDW in June.

We always go through two outfits a day - one in the morning until our afternoon break or pool time, and one for dinner and evening. If you have different shoes/sandals to wear in the evening, it will give your daytime shoes a chance to air out.

Carry as little as possible. I take the smallest purse possible, just big enough for tickets, band-aids and a small sunscreen. Nothing is worse than lugging a back pack when it's a hundred degrees outside. Take advantage of indoor shows and attractions at reasonable intervals to cool off.

 

[monorailmom]

We've been going in August for the past few years, and here are some things I've learned:

- carry a water resistant bag! When we used to travel in Nov., I used to use a Vera Bradley bag, but with the downpours in that happen in the summer, they are not practical. I switched to a water resistant backpack that protects my camera and camcorder. Do not underestimate the rain in the summer: it happens every day, and it's impressive.

- Sneakers may not be as comfy as you think in summer. In the fall, I couldn't imagine doing Disney without my sneaks, but in the summer, my feet just got too hot and I had blisters that were awful. I managed with flip flops the first year, but the next year I had "good" sandals (the kind with a bottom like a sneaker and the velcro tops to keep them on.) They are ugly as anything, but if my feet are happy, I'm happy.

We also take the midday breaks at the pool, which help immensely. Also be sure you have sunglasses or a hat, as the midday sun is strong!!

Have a magical trip!!!!

 

[gojoe]

We love our misting fans. The first time we each had our own now we take two if we decide to spit up. The fans must work because they are set up in quite a few Que lines. I just check out Ask.com for a reason misting fans work here is there answer.

1. How does a misting fan work?

Misting fans usually attach to a garden hose to spray miniature water droplets while simultaneously blowing cool air. Misting hubs often include spray nozzles to distribute an even spray that will lightly add much needed moisture to dry, hot outdoor conditions. Misting fans are wonderful for parties when the heat is unbearable, but large amounts of people need to be outdoors. Our misting fans have oscillating features that will direct the spray to a wider area, helpful during those seasons when dehydration and heat stroke occur. See the Wind Chaser WC-163 Oscillating Electric Misting Fan. A misting fan can actually cool an area by up to 25 degrees and the lower the surrounding humidity is the more a misting fan is able to cool; more than triple the amount that the average sized fan will cool! Kids will also love misting fans, these spraying devices are fun and refreshing!

2. Is a misting fan going to make me feel wet, uncomfortable, and humid?

While picturing your new misting fan, have you been envisioning tiny water droplets collecting onto your skin, forming a wet, uncomfortable coating? Well, this just isn't the case. With a misting fan miniscule amounts of water released by your misting fan evaporate before even reaching your skin! Our misting fans are made of high quality materials, to ensure no noticeable jump in the humidity, but rather a cool effect that only makes you feel better, without leaving you wet or damp.

Buy one before you go because last time they were $20.00 at Disney.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

You can order water and other snacks from Garden Grocer or I have heard of people ordering a case of water from Staples.

We used to do Staples. I'm not sure they do delivery any more, and the last time we used them- the only brand they woudl deliver in Florida was Zephyr Hills. It's basically Florida water ina bottle. You'd do better to buy one bottle and keep refilling it - even at WDW prices.

Keep in mind some of the resorts will charge you if you have anything delivered.

One trip, we actually packed a half case of water ina heavy duffle bag, checked it, and it arrived just fine. We packed it by itself. Mind, we didn't have to pay any baggage fees.

Otherwise, Garden Grocer might be one of your better options. If your order is below a certain amount though there's - I think - a $12 delivery fee. So if you just want water- the cost might not add up - especially if the brand you get is Zephyr Hills, Dasani, etc.

No matter which way you have thigns delivered to your room, I'm pretty syure you have to be in the room.

Florida is a giant aquapher..the water, by technical standards is excellent. However, it has a slightly off taste, compared to other USA water. Most water taps are not filtered, which helps, but ti's stilll FL watr.

Brands like Dasani - by Coca Cola - are usually just local water that's filtered.

On Disney proerty, there are Hess stations which sell bottled water, and near WDW are plentyof places to buy water, if you have a car.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Another point...with the humidity, somethign like sneakers can take DAYS to dry. They also get quite stinky sometimes. I rmmeber once we were on Star tours, and the odor coming from the family behind us was overwhelming!

I've never tied, but read that stuffing wet shoes with newspaper helps.

As I said, I like Sandals, like Ecco. The ones with three straps. I second that velcro or buckles are great.

Another idea that can be very useful: silk. If you find garments made of silk and silk-similar polyesters, you can hand wash them in your hotel room. It only takes a moment to hand wash silk in a hotel sink. Hang, and it will be dry within an hour or two. I use the liquid shower gel or shampoo Disney supplies.

I second the idea that backpack is not only heavy, but it makes your back sweaty. I always try to carry the minimum, but it is perhaps even more helpful in summer. Sometimes though you need to be able to carrry a jacket.

L.L. Bean makes a rain jacket that folds up on itself. Everything fits in one pocket. They are not the only brand to have that idea, but there stuff is quality and comes with a great warranty.

 

[DisneyDude1]

Bring ponchos because pop up rain storms are very common in the afternoon. If you forget they sell them at pretty much every vendor spot in the parks.