Planning for Summer Visit

[fronkfam]

Hi all!
I would really appreciate ANY help and tips you could give us in planning a summer trip. We have been to DL a few times with our kids, but never during the summer. Our oldest is getting too old to miss school, so we have decided to brave the summer crowds and weather this year. But also to take advantage of the buy 3-get 5 specials that are being offered.

So, we will most likely go in July. We could consider June or August, they just aren't the best times for us to travel.

We certainly won't be there for 4th of July. I'm not THAT crazy! :)

Any tips you could give about planning our days and keeping everyone cool would be appreciated.

Our travel party consists of Me, DH, DS 12, DS 9-disabilities and using a wheelchair, DD 6, DD 2. And we will be at the park for 5 or 6 days most likely over a weekend. Our 9 year old does have trouble with the heat, so we're really hoping we can make the trip enjoyable for him, and everyone else, too!

Thanks!

[Bytebear]

Take bottled water with you. Wear sunscreen. Get Fastpasses for the big rides you don't want to wait in line for. Plan meals around off peak meal times (i.e. don't do lunch at noon). Plan for some pool time, to relax and cool off.

[MammaSilva]

There are six of you so I'm going to assume you're not staying on property so I'll base my suggestions on the premise that you're at a hotel on Harbor but 'close' (I'd highly recommend the Desert Inn and suites!).

Use your day wisely, get UP and do the rope drop thing each morning, the weather is cooler for everyone ....make a plan for each day to use fast pass strategy for the rides your son that uses the wheelchair might not want to ride...by that I mean take everyone's passes and send a 'runner' (the fastest walker you have) to the most important fast pass machine...let's say it's Space mountain, get the fast passes for that, put them away and get in line for Buzz - Buzz is wheelchair accessible but first thing in the morning the line should be fine. Your fast passes for space are going to mature pretty early...check when you get off of Buzz, get the next fast pass on your list. Remember you can get another fast pass as soon as the last one you got matures OR two hours which ever comes first, you just can't hold two fast passes for the same attraction using the two hour rule. Plan which area of the park you want to concentrate on each 'visit'...1st morning, say fantasyland, go ahead and get the fast pass program started while the family goes to Fantasyland. Your son can take up to 6 people in the HCA line but that doesn't mean it's a FOTL pass, it just means an alternative entrance. Make sure to go download the current Guide for guests with disabilities. After a few hours at the park go back to the hotel, cool down, rest, snack...let those who want to play in the pool if you want. wait til late afternoon/early evening and go back and have the '2nd visit' of the day with a plan...tomorrowland...if you know that you plan to go to tomorrowland when you go back, you'd concentrate on tomorrowland fast passes in the morning. There are 3 attractions with FP in tomorrowland, Space Mt. Buzz Lightyear and Autopia. To enjoy the Finding Nemo attraction just go to thru the exit and wait near where the lines are until a CM approaches you. Ask to be seated in the M.O.O. (the observation room) It's totally HCA accessible and no pass needed and we've never had more than a few minute wait with a group inside when we got there. There is room for your sons wheelchair, benches for everyone else and it's private...and FUN!

[LauraTD]

For your son you might consider one of those cooling vests or neck wraps with ice packs. I used to date a guy with MS and he used them on hot days to keep his body temp at a safe level.

[teafour2]

I purchased these for our trips, we love them and they work well to keep the little ones cool. http://i14.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/f6/52/c2a9_1.JPG there mini misters and you can fill them up at the fountains :) Have a great trip!

[teafour2]

There are six of you so I'm going to assume you're not staying on property so I'll base my suggestions on the premise that you're at a hotel on Harbor but 'close' (I'd highly recommend the Desert Inn and suites!).
Excellent advice mamasilva

[fronkfam]

I purchased these for our trips, we love them and they work well to keep the little ones cool. http://i14.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/f6/52/c2a9_1.JPG there mini misters and you can fill them up at the fountains :) Have a great trip!

I would LOVE to know where you bought these!

Thanks!

[Sansarc]

I don't do well in the heat either, so I can commiserate with your 9 y/o! We went to DL last summer. We ended up returning to the room in the middle of the day -- just after lunchtime -- maybe 1:30 or 2:00 p.m? We went swimming and hung out in the room (with the air conditioning!). It helped me recover A LOT. I really fall apart in hot weather -- I start shaking, etc. We returned to the park at about 5:00 p.m. and it made a big difference. During the summer, DL is open until midnight -- so even if you were to return to the park at 6:00 p.m., you'd still have 6 hours left. Or, could members of your party split up and some of them return to the room, while others don't?

[Toocherie]

I totally agree with Mama Silva's advice--the other thing to consider is to plan to attend indoor activities (It's Tough to be a Bug, Animation Academy, Muppets 3D, Tiki Room, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, for example) during those hot afternoon hours so you can relax in air-conditioned comfort.

[fronkfam]

Thanks so much for the great advice. We will definitely be checking out more of the indoor stuff that we usually miss because we aren't there for enough time. And I think our big plan is napping/swimming/enjoying the AC during the heat of the day. That will recharge all of us and we'll have a much better time!

[DisneylandDad]

Those little mister units or something very similar are sold at REI and I think I even saw them in DL last summer but can't swear to it. The squirt bottles with a little battery powered fan works ok but the mister would be better I am thinking.

[fronkfam]

I'll definitely be looking for those misters at our local stores. I imagine they'll be cheaper than looking for some at DL.

[S S Columbia]

Counter Service restaurants will give you a free glass of ice water.

Cup/glass of ice water can be obtained from: (to name a few)

Redd Rockett's Pizza Port
Plaza Inn
Rancho Del Zocalo
French Market
Toworrowland Terrace
Village Haus
Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor


Summers in Utah are hotter than summers in Anaheim. We visited DLR in the first week of August 2007. DL has plenty of shade, so it's pretty easy to take advantage of the shade any time that you take a break.


You probably know this, but FastPasses don't have to be used during the one-hour return window. FPs can be used any time from the start of the return window until the park closes.

We're going back to DLR this summer. We'll have 6-day park hoppers. We're going to start each day early (arrive at the entrance at least 30 minutes early); we're going to collect FPs in the morning (I'll be collecting the FPs); and we'll visit the popular slow-loading rides in the morning. We'll use the FPs in the late afternoon or early evening. If we're feeling hot, then we'll take a break in the afternoon; otherwise we'll likely be visiting the "cooler" attractions (in A/C), seeing the Billy Hill show at the Golden Horseshoe, riding the Mark Twain Riverboat, etc.

Hope this helps. :)

[Mark Mywords]

Try to go in June, if possible. The crowds aren't quite as bad as July/Aug. Also, if you go in the early to mid part of June, Anaheim's "June Gloom" might help keep morning/early afternoon temperatures manageable.

[fronkfam]

bigugly--I would LOVE to go in June, but we have too many conflicts with other things that month. Oh well. We're going in with our eyes wide open, so we'll be as prepared as possible.

S S Columbia--that is definitely true about Utah vs. Anaheim weather. We swim, and hang out in the AC as much as we can during the summer! We have been to Anaheim once in early May when it was 'unseasonably' hot. Upper 80s-90s. And it was a hard trip, but we'll be more prepared this time. Do you mind if I PM you and get more detailed info about your trip planning to stay cool this summer. Your ideas are fantastic!!

[joencheri]

The mini misters in the photos in previous messages on this topic are called misty mates. They are available at boatersoutlet.com for $12.99 each. Hope this helps!

[fronkfam]

Thank you!!

[bennette]

I would LOVE to know where you bought these!

Thanks!

It's the Misty Mate. You can find them at Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Blast-Mister-Personal-misting-MISTNG/dp/B0009KBKQ4.

[teafour2]

I would LOVE to know where you bought these!

Thanks!

on ebay, called misty mates. no batteries and they feel so good!!

[teafour2]

It's the Misty Mate. You can find them at Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Blast-Mister-Personal-misting-MISTNG/dp/B0009KBKQ4.

there cheaper on ebay. I got two for the price of the one on amazon.com

[Escape2Disney]

For health reasons I dehydrate very quickly, so I can relate to your son. We went last August and used camelbacks all day long. We would fill them periodically in first aid since they had ice cold water coming out of the water fountains!

Since he's in the chair, you may want to consider taking his shoes/socks off. That certainly helps me when I'm chair-bound and hot!

Have a wonderful trip!

[MammaSilva]

For health reasons I dehydrate very quickly, so I can relate to your son. We went last August and used camelbacks all day long. We would fill them periodically in first aid since they had ice cold water coming out of the water fountains!

Since he's in the chair, you may want to consider taking his shoes/socks off.

bolding is mine, both of these suggestions help, one thing to be proactive on, if you put him in a open shoe such as a flip flop or sandal make sure to put lots of sun screen on his feet, even the bottoms! the glare off the pavement/cement will burn his feet even if he has a shade cover!

[fronkfam]

Very helpful! Thanks so much! We have used Camelbacks at DL before, but Brayden doesn't understand that he has to bite the tube open and suck at the same time, so we also take water bottles for him and our toddler!

[leota's necklace]

I agree with the use of ice packs for the neck. Not sure if they are available in Utah, but in AZ you could find neck wraps with gel inserts that you could pre-chill in the freezer and then wear. Same principle as wearing a wrung-out bandanna around the neck, but with the higher humidity in Anaheim evaporative cooling isn't the magical thing it is in Tucson :). Since your blood vessels are close to the surface at the neck, keeping the neck cool will help keep the rest of the body cool. Same with the insides of the wrists and ankles. If I find I am overheating I will remove myself to somewhere shady and put ice on my wrists, or pour cool water over them.

[MammaSilva]

Keep in mind that the first aid center is always available if you think your son is getting too warm, they will gladly let you come in and rest a bit and cool off rather than risk heat issues!