THEME PARK TIPS
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Written by admin on March 6, 2008 – 11:06 am
Here are several items you can bring that will help to make your Disneyland trip much more comfortable:
Moisture-Wicking Socks - You might be surprised to learn that cotton socks are NOT the best for walking in the heat. They quickly become saturated with moisture and then they start to rub — voila, nasty blisters. A much better choice are the new high-tech socks that wick moisture away from your skin. CoolMax is a major brand, but there are lots of good competitors. These socks can be expensive — a good place to look for closeout deals and bargains is .
Comfortable Shoes or Sandals - Be sure to buy these well before the trip and wear them on some walks around the neighborhood, to make sure they don’t “rub you the wrong way.” Different people swear by different shoes, but the critical components most people need are arch support and thick soles. Thin-soled shoes of any kind are a recipe for disaster — the hot pavement radiates up through them and they don’t cushion your foot against the cement walkways. Many Disney fanatics swear by Crocs shoes. Other people love Teva brand athletic sandals. Personally I prefer a good quality pair of white athletic (walking) shoes. for some good places to buy theme park walking shoes online.
Moleskin (foot padding) - Don’t worry, it’s a synthetic material and no actual moles are harmed to make it! This product is much better than regular sticky bandages for preventing blisters. If you know your shoe is rubbing at a certain point, or you start to feel a “hot spot” on your foot, just cut a piece of moleskin to size and cover that area of skin to prevent it from rubbing on your sock/shoe. It works really well. Available in most American pharmacies under the Dr. Scholl’s brand. Buy it in advance so you can pre-cut some to various sizes.
Hat - A light-colored ball cap or other hat with a brim is a great thing to have at Disneyland. It gives your face a little shade, which both keeps you cooler and helps prevent sunburn. (It also helps to prevent sunburn on the top of your head — obviously this is a worry if you’re a little light in the hair department, but you can even get burned along the parting in your hair!) Hats are sold everywhere in the theme parks, but $19-$20 for a ball cap is the norm. Much cheaper to bring one along from home… you can get Disney-themed hats many places for much less.
Sunscreen - You’ll need lots of this, and get at least SPF 20. Don’t say “oh, I never burn.” There is a lot of light-colored concrete everywhere at Disneyland, all radiating the sun’s rays at you from every angle. This can cause burns in the most unlikely places, like the backs of your knees and under your chin! I personally like the spray-on sunscreen — “Coppertone Sport” SPF 30 is my favorite, because it just sprays on with no rubbing and feels nice and cool. I find it is very effective, waterproof, light and not sticky. You can buy sunscreen throughout Disneyland, but it’s a lot cheaper to buy it at home.
Waist Pack or Backpack
- A waist pack (aka fanny pack, or “bum bag” as our British, Aussie and Kiwi friends would say) makes it much easier to carry your stuff (ID, room key, money, credit cards) around, is relatively secure against pickpockets if you wear the bag in front, and keeps your hands free. I know they look kind of silly, but so do Mickey Mouse ears! Don’t worry, you will see lots of people at Disneyland sporting both. Try for a wide selection and good prices on waist packs.
- Alternatively, consider a small backpack/daypack. As long as it’s small and squishy enough, you can probably cram it in beside you on any rides that don’t provide storage space for personal items. A favorite of many Disney park fans is the
Avoid the Crowds
“The first suggestion should be branded on everyone’s forehead, ‘Go during value season.’ There is simply no comparison in the levels of attendance…. This is one’s first line of defense in the ‘Time is Money’ battle.” - Jeff D from Toms River, NJ
