How to Survive Disney in July (Part I: The Heat)

On my last trip to Disney World (here in Florida), I found myself scowling and trudging through the oppressive heat and humidity.  I thought, "Why do people come here when it's this bad?"  Which is a question I was surprised to hear myself ask, because I won't hesitate to go to Disney on ANY day!  But now that I've been a FL resident going on 7 years, and have recently become an Annual Passholder again, I realize I'm spoiled with the ability to go basically whenever I want, so I get to be choosy!  I don't have to plan a trip months-out and around school holidays (though I still will).  So, if you find yourself at Disney in the horrible heat, but that's the only time you CAN be there, here are some tips I hope you will find useful.  

1. Hydrate (and wear SUNSCREEN)

This is probably the most obvious tip that you already know.  Please, please, please make sure you are drinking water throughout the day!!  You might NOT know that the water at Disney doesn't taste the BEST, so we always bring insulated water bottles from our own water at home (I use a Brita).  Yes, it's annoying to carry it around, but I always have a backpack, and lately I just carry it in my hand because I drink from it so often.  My boyfriend, Wayne, brought his running belt made for carrying water bottles, and that worked quite well since he didn't have a backpack.  

Every Starbucks will give you a cup of ice water for free if you ask.  You can buy ice-cold bottled water throughout the parks as well.  There are water bottle refilling stations and water fountains near the bathrooms.  My favorite place to get water in Epcot is the entrance to Spice Road Table in Morocco.  Just walk in, look to your right, and there is a cold pitcher and cups (they prefer you to fill cups, not bottles, but you can pour the water into your bottle from the cup quite easily).  This week at Hollywood Studios, we ate at Pizza Rizzo, and found a few water stations there too!

2. Shop (and reapply your sunscreen)

The souvenir shops have the best AC!  So even if you don't intend to buy anything, just pop in, admire the cute and creative merch, and when you're ready, head back out!

3. Use Cooling Accessories (over your sunscreen)

I see people with those headphone-shaped personal fans hanging around their necks--I haven't taken the plunge to get them myself, but they always look like a good idea.  There's also a ton of personal fans that are phone-sized that you can wear on a lanyard, and of course the ones you can clip onto strollers for the little ones.  Read the reviews though, because some are much better than others!!  And Disney parks sell the spray-bottle fans so you can mist and fan yourself at the same time!

The one accessory I DO use is the cooling towel.  They sell them at Disney with Mickey silhouettes printed on them, but I actually got mine from a pack my dad ordered for a family trip last year, I think from Amazon.  Just pour water fountain or sink water over it when you're ready, squeeze it out (or don't--you might want the extra drips), and drape it around your neck, head, wherever.  Yes, they warm up quickly, but just move them and flip them over for more cooling, and re-soak them when you can.  I still claim I would have collapsed without mine when my friend Kim let me borrow one of hers on a trip we took to Universal last July. 

4. Take Breaks (to put on more sunscreen) and Edit Plans

The only must-do on vacation is to take care of yourself!  If you're too hot and tired to wait in line for a ride or stay at the park for a dinner reservation, listen to your body, and your travel party.  You can cancel dining reservations with no penalty up to 2 hours before your reserved time.  I love being in the parks, but my favorite relaxation memories have been at the hotels.  There's something to just lazing about your hotel room eating snacks, getting a cocktail at the hotel bar, or walking around the resort looking at the water and little magical details in the theming.  An added bonus--if you're leaving a park and staying on property, you can enjoy the blast of AC on the Disney bus back to your hotel!

5. Use Windshield Covers!! (a literal sun screen!)

That being said, if you're NOT staying at a Disney hotel, or if you're a local and heading home at the end of the day, make sure to use one of those windshield sun-blockers!  If you plan on renting a car, see if one will fit in your suitcase!  I feel a HUGE difference between the times I remember to use it and the times I forget!  Like a 10 or more degree difference! 

Eco-Friendly at Disney!

5 years ago, I participated in a challenge called 48 Days of Blue which gave a list of small changes to make in your daily routine to be more eco-friendly.  The number 48 comes from the number of days between Earth Day and World Oceans Day!  That's where I first learned how even a small change like not using a plastic straw could make a big impact!

🌍🌎🌏

Some of the easiest challenges I found were using a tote or cloth bag when shopping, using cloth napkins, bringing my own cup to cafes, and packing my own lunch.  This challenge has made me take some more time to think about my everyday choices!  If I'm planning on going to a restaurant, I try to remember to bring a container so if I have leftovers, I can pack them myself and not waste plastic or styrofoam to-go boxes!

2 of my favorite Disney Parks reusable cups! (Stainless steel straw is my own)

I'm so happy to see big companies making some changes to their practices and products, like Marshalls selling biodegradable toothbrushes, and Publix Supermarkets selling a set of 6 reusable metal straws and cleaner for $5.99.  When I visited the Florida Aquarium on World Oceans Day, I noticed they are now selling a wide variety of eco-friendly products, like Bee's Wrap (beeswax and cloth alternative to plastic wrap), reusable water bottles and lunch containers, 4oceans bracelets (one bracelet sold = 1 pound of plastic removed from the ocean), socks made from recycled plastic water bottles, and reusable straws!  Which made me wonder...  where is Disney on this eco-trend?

Maybe they're already doing an awesome job of stocking eco-friendly products (I've seen reusable water bottles and cups that come with washable straws, like those pictured above), but I haven't seen much else!  And with a park solely dedicated to animals, I'm surprised that the only eco-conscious thing I've witnessed so far was the decision not to stock plastic straws (they have paper now) or sell balloons.

This Halloween milkshake is from Magic Kingdom and THEY used a big old paper straw, too!

Disney, as a company, has been eco-conscious on a larger scope for some time, as you can see from their conservation fund efforts (click there to see the field of solar panels in a Mickey-head shape you can drive past on your way to the parks)!

I donated a dollar to the conservation fund back in 2008 and got this pin!

One big and exciting new offer at the parks is the line of reusable shopping bags exclusive to each park (and Disney Springs) in 3 different sizes each!

This is the big bag!  I had to stretch my arm out to get this photo! 😆

Another huge change is the makeover to Disney hotel showers--no longer do they have single-use plastic bottles of shampoo/conditioner (as cute as they were, with the tiny Mickey ears.. I've kept many from my visits in the past so I'm not too upset 😉), opting instead for pump-bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash attached to the wall so you can't throw it out!  This saves so much plastic!!

Don't try to take these bottles home!

What I would LOVE to see are more eco-friendly products being offered... with Disney themes!  How about some bamboo cutlery with Mickey heads cut out of, or branded into, the handles?  What about Animal Kingdom bamboo toothbrushes?  Bee's Wrap with Mickey heads printed on them, or princesses, or Zootopia characters?  Please let me know if these products exist somewhere!!

In the meantime, here are some easy ways to be eco-conscious at the parks!

My bamboo fork was perfect for my Italian dish at Flower & Garden!

1. Bring your own cutlery, especially during festivals!  My parents got me a set of bamboo utensils for Christmas, in a carrying case made from recycled water bottles and a carabiner clip.  It came in so handy at the Flower & Garden Festival this year so I wasn't tossing a set of plastic cutlery at every booth!

2. Bring your own reusable water bottle!  I wasn't sure if we could bring our own into the parks--I know you can't have an opened water bottle going through airport security--but my friend was visiting me and brought her own and they were totally fine with it! (Of course, you probably won't want to refill it with that Disney water fountain water 🙈--try asking nicely for refills at Starbucks and quick-service restaurants!  They might have to give you a cup, but it's better than a plastic water bottle!)

3. Bring your own bag! I bring a backpack on my trips anyway, so this one was a no-brainer!

Of course my list is all bringing your own stuff, but you can purchase reusable totes and adorable cups and mugs at the parks!  Starbucks has many drink container options.

Some Epcot drink container options!  You can be eco-friendly AND fashionable!

I'm such a big Disney fan, but I also care about the choices I make for the environment.  I'd love to see Disney using their brand to encourage the purchase of more sustainable, eco-friendly products to take home and to use again in the parks!

New Best Hangout Spot at MK

I took a magical Christmas-time trip to Magic Kingdom with my family this past weekend (can't remember the last time we all went together!) since my parents are visiting from NY for the 2nd Christmas in a row.  It was VERY crowded, and we decided, after a few FastPass rides, to relax with a WDW railroad trip around the Kingdom!  We were upset to find out that it actually isn't running due to the new Tron ride they're building--the construction is on or close to part of the tracks.  So not only was it not running that day--it won't be running for quite some time!

While this was initially a let-down, it ended up being a nice break from the crowds!  The conductors were still working at their station, delivering the sad news to visitors but welcoming us to have a seat, take a break, take pictures... They even gave us each a sheet of Mickey's 90th Birthday stickers!  We took a couple goofy photos (pun not intended!) and I tried taking a family selfie (direct-sunlight fail), and we just put our bags down and relaxed.

It looks out onto the entrance so you can see all the people excited as they come in!  I don't know if they would let people have a full-blown picnic on the seats, but I'd recommend trying it!  At least a little snack break!  The sky might even smile at you!

It's a great place for railroad fanatics too because, in the station, there are some display cases of train models and other train paraphernalia.  The top floor has a great view of Main Street, USA:

You can see the castle, the Christmas tree, and some Christmas decorations!  I bet it looks great at night, too.  On the inside they have old nickelodeons that actually work (and are free!) with black and white shorts and cartoons.

I got excited and thought this was Oswald out of the corner of my eye.  Looks more like Felix.  Oddly, they don't even show the cat that was in the bag!

A nickelodeon!

Just gorgeous!

So on super crowded days, or if your feet are aching, remember the stationary WDW railroad where they let you stay a while and take it all in!

Dole Whip RIP?

Given all the choices of flavor combinations and floats at the Dole Whip stands in Walt Disney World, I have never been sure of what constitutes a real "Dole Whip."  Is it pineapple soft-serve?  By itself or on top of a cup of orange juice?  The Dole Whip air freshener my mom brought home for me last year for my car is a pineapple-vanilla twist in a cup--is that it?

Anyway, with the swapping of booths in Adventureland as some sort of preparation for the forthcoming Jungle Cruise-themed restaurant (which is a whole other story--is this something we want or have asked for?  Will the "skipper" waiters make puns of our orders?  What will the cuisine feature?), you can now only find pineapple soft-serve at one stand, and orange and vanilla at another.  I don't know about the floats.  But I do know that pineapple-vanilla twist did not find a new Magic Kingdom home in the shuffle.  It is gone.

Photo and great opinion piece from blog.wdwinfo.com.

When we asked about this, we were told that since Disneyland in CA did away with their pineapple-vanilla twist, WDW was required to follow suit.  This cast member added that the Polynesian resort serves it.  I don't understand why we now have to take a ferry over to the Polynesian just to get a treat that was always available in the park.  (There is a very in-depth article on the new Pineapple Lanai shop at the Polynesian from Disney Food Blog--you now have the option to purchase your whip in a souvenir cup or bowl!) 

Apparently you used to be able to make your own pineapple-vanilla soft serve towers at a restaurant in the Polynesian called Captain Cook's--I love this picture from the blog easywdw.com!  They used chopsticks to make a very impressive tower!

 I settled for an orange-vanilla twist and was sorely disappointed. At least this interaction kept us in the area long enough to realize that Rafiki had shown up for photos!  Is that new?  

BFFs!!

Still to come: Duffy, Dapper Day, Pirates of the Caribbean, cute merch, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2015 edition, Epcot Food & Wine, pins, Downtown Disney/Springs!

Dapper Day/Dining Reservations Catch 22

I made reservations for Be Our Guest Restaurant a long, long time ago for our upcoming October WDW trip (180 days in advance, and I set my alarm!) and was SO happy to snag a spot for quick-service lunch.  It's what I've been looking forward to this whole time besides our "Disney Trifecta" which I wrote about in my last post (Dapper Day, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and Epcot's Food and Wine Festival).

Jim and I wanted more freedom to decide which park we were going to each day, instead of being bound by lots of reservations (especially since we didn't buy ParkHopper).  So I thought, why not book it the day I know we'll be in Magic Kingdom, for Dapper Day!  We'll be in our nice outfits and have a fancy meal to look forward to and really enjoy ourselves.

Well, it turns out Dapper Day is going to be at Hollywood Studios.  I was distraught!  So I used the Disney website chat people (who really couldn't tell me much) and the e-mail help to see if it was possible to purchase a ParkHopper for one day.

It is not, if you've purchased through Magic Your Way.  I also asked about the stand-by line to get in to Be Our Guest.  The chat guy said "it's a gamble" because of the restaurant's popularity.  The e-mail person said the stand-by is NO LONGER AVAILABLE.  Also, they are no longer offering the free quick-service lunch fastpass if you stay on Disney property.

So then came the question: which is more important?  Dapper Day or Be Our Guest Restaurant?

I reminded myself I'd been hoping to go to a Dapper Day for the past couple years and this may be my only opportunity.  But then I thought of that carved turkey sandwich on garlic bread from Be Our Guest.  And the grey stuff.  And those deep blue windows with the gently falling snow!  So Jim & I have decided that we will keep our reservations and, if we feel like milling about with a dapper crowd, we'll take the bus to Hollywood to look around at the entrance gates, and then walk down to the Dolphin & Swan for a sushi dinner with some karaoke!  Fancy people are sure to be around--maybe even people like us who made dining reservations at a different park!  And we can still get our own Memory Maker photos with the castle and all the other beautiful MK photo ops!  Problem solved!

Short Tips For Your Upcoming Disney Visit!! (with plenty more posts to come)

It's been forever since my last real Disney World post, and that's because I hadn't been there since 2012 (as a kid I was used to going with my family every 4 years, so it shouldn't feel like it was too long ago, but it does) and it's hard to post about Disney without visiting!

First, I have to say how wonderful it was to have Memory Maker.  We purchased it before our trip so that knocked $50 off the usual price.  It costs $14.95 to download ONE PHOTO if you don't have Memory Maker.  At $149.99 (if you purchase it during your visit it's the full price at $199.99) you can download all of the pictures you take with PhotoPass photographers throughout the parks (there are even photographers at the water parks), and photos from rides that take your picture are automatically linked to your account!  We took over 140 picture so it was definitely a bargain!

If you are DisneyBounding (dressed up as a character from Disney) and happen to meet that character, they give you LOTS of attention (at least that was my experience with Sulley, and I've seen other pictures posted from other DisneyBounding fans).  Cast Members may also recognize your outfit!

FastPasses (or FastPass +'s) are a must for the big-ticket rides!  The one we wanted the most, Toy Story Midway Mania in Hollywood Studios, had an 80-minute stand-by wait, and we cruised right through with our FastPasses.  If you want a guaranteed FastPass, make sure you have a MagicBand.  That way you can reserve your FastPass+ selections months before your trip!  I tried to reserve another FP+ for Toy Story Midway Mania two days prior to our next Hollywood visit and it was completely booked.  We ended up waiting 65 minutes stand-by (yes, the ride is that good).

If you are celebrating something (anniversary, birthday, first visit, whatever), definitely tell the people checking you in at your hotel.  You get a huge pin that you wear around the parks and everyone working there wishes you a happy celebration!    

If you are making dining reservations, be sure to "add a celebration" too.  Not all restaurants will acknowledge it, but if you have it added to all your reservations, you may get a little something (our Character Breakfast at the Crystal Palace had Mickey confetti on our table as we arrived and gave us a cupcake with a lit candle for us to make a wish and blow out together.  And it was delicious)!

Some shops will hold purchases you'd like to make but don't want to carry around the park!  You don't pay for them but they put them aside.  If you return before the store closes, you can buy them whenever you're ready to leave.  We tried this with a shop in Epcot France (wine glasses, a bottle of wine, and a heavy box of chocolates), but didn't have the time or energy to walk halfway across the "world" to retrieve them.  Good thing they don't charge you first!  You may also have them delivered to your room, but they warned me that there is an extra charge (I didn't find out how much it was).  We did end up buying those souvenirs when we returned a couple days later!

Drink a lot of water and, if possible, take the bus back to your hotel in the middle of the day.  If you don't have Park Hopper (we did not), you can return to the park you were visiting that same day.  If you don't have time to go back to your hotel, find an indoor or cool, shady spot to sit down and have a meal so you can recharge and rehydrate!  Your feet will be aching, and if you don't eat, your spirits may be low!  It's very easy to not relax because there's so much to see.  Sometimes you just have to push yourself out of the park, knowing you will still have time when you return!

Happy Birthday, Donald!

Donald Duck turns 80 today, and he's looking divine!!  Here is a small collection of Donald memorabilia I wrangled up when I found out!  The gold one is from a charm bracelet I had as a kid (I have more pictures of it in an earlier post) that I got in the parks!  The other is a more recent one… And the rubbery one is from a line that was at Toys R Us a couple years ago (that I don't think lasted).  The vinyl is from a parks collection that came with Pluto in a sorcerer hat :)  Super pumped for my trip in August!!