It’s no secret that Disney World is hot in the…well, most of the year, honestly!
Magic Kingdom
It feels like summer in Central Florida drags on and on with the intense heat and the suffocating humidity, plus those near-daily rainstorms. But over the years, we’ve definitely learned some ways to manage that weather when we’re in the theme parks (we have to go every day, after all!). And recently, I tested out two popular methods of cooling down to see which one came out on top.
Cooling Towels
First up, I tried the Sukeen Cooling Towels from Amazon. These come in a multi-pack with individual bags and carabiner clips. The microfiber cloths use a combination of evaporation and absorption to keep your body cool while you’re wearing them.
The 4-pack of cooling towels
To use the towel, I first had to wet it in a bathroom sink, then ring it out and “snap” it to activate the cooling. When it was freshly wet, it actually did a great job of keeping me cool. To continue that, I had to wet it about every hour to an hour and a half.
Cooling towel in EPCOT
If I was walking in the direct sun, it would lose its cooling power after a few minutes. The other big downside is that it kept my shirt and backpack straps pretty damp throughout the day. Stopping at the bathroom frequently to re-wet it was somewhat inconvenient, and honestly, it made me feel just a little bit dorky to wear, even though it worked fairly well.
They get a little darker when wet.
Ultimately, I think that this is an OK way to keep cool if you are willing to stop and to look a bit dorky throughout the day.
Neck Fans
The other item I tried in the park was a neck fan! I actually tried two different versions of this one — the JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan and the ASNUG Portable Neck Fan. Of the two, the JISULIFE ended up being my favorite because of its features and battery life.
Neck fan
For the neck fans, you’ll need to charge them ahead of use. I recommend doing this overnight because they take several hours to charge. The JISULIFE fan ended up lasting me a little over halfway through my park day running on high. It has three speeds and the highest of those three is the best for keeping cool, plus it’s not much louder than the lower speeds.
Neck fans
The neck fans mostly blow air towards your chin and neck, without cooling the rest of your face or the middle of your body. And when I wore my hair down with them on, I had problems with them sucking in strands of hair (not really a problem if you wear your hair up or have short hair, though.)
JISULIFE neck fan
Ultimately, the neck fans helped to keep cool a little bit, but I wish the battery life were a bit longer and the stationary position made it difficult to cool other parts of my body. Not a bad option, but maybe not my favorite
SNAG THE JISULIFE NECK FAN HERE!
Conclusion
In the end, I don’t know that either of these options is my perfect solution for keeping cool in the parks. If I had to choose between the two, the neck fan was certainly more convenient and less cumbersome throughout the day.
Personal Neck Fan
I personally prefer handheld fans (with or without misters) because they offer a bit more flexibility than the neck fans and still do a good job at keeping cool. But we do know that many parents and those traveling to the parks prefer to be hands free, and both of these are solid options for that! However, if you choose either the neck fans or the cooling towels, I think you’ll likely end up being a bit cooler in the parks than the people who have nothing.
Cooling towels
We’ll keep you in the loop with more tips and tricks for the parks, so stay tuned to DFB!
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I agree with you about the towels. I prefer the neck fan. I bought the Asnug. It worked great for half the day on low but then gave out and we had to carry it. I’m a senior and technology is not my strong suit so maybe I didn’t charge it fully? Frankly, we stay hydrated, find shady or breezy spots, relax in air conditioned restaurants or attractions and, if it’s really that hot and humid, we just don’t go!
I’ve used both and prefer the towels even though they’re a little higher maintenance. The fan just made me feel like steamy hot air was blowing in my face all day and I hated that. I tied the towel around my waist against my skin and under my top. It did get my shirt a little wet, but I didn’t mind that and it kept me cooler than when it was just around my neck.
Both look ridiculous. I bring my 32oz water bottle and refill often with added propel powder.
We walk outside for a while, then find somewhere cool to rest a bit, then repeat. The cool place can be a ride or find a quiet place like the new communicore hall or corner of a slow walk up indoor restaurant
I preferred the cooling towel tied around my head pirate style. It was highly effective even if I had to reset the towel every hour or so. Tied on my head also meant less water on my shirt. The fan just blew warm air which was not pleasant. At one point I used both which was nice but ultimately I felt the towel alone was sufficient. Since my trip I discovered and purchased Shuken’s baseball hat which works great and looks more normal than wrapping the towel on my head.
Choosing between a cooling towel and a neck fan for Disney World depends on your preferences. Cooling towels offer instant relief and are easy to use, while neck fans provide continuous, adjustable airflow. Both are great options, but your choice will depend on whether you prefer immediate cooling or ongoing ventilation.