When I let you guys know that Disney was selling face masks, I was over the moon. I ordered three sets, and they just came in a few days ago. 

Regardless about how you personally feel about face masks, in our area, and for our family they are the right choice, so I have bought a ton, looking for the perfect ones. We've tried Etsy, Old Navy, Vida (LOVE THOSE!) handmade ones from multiple people these Disney ones. 

The Disney masks... WOW. But there are a few things you need to know. I've heard these masks run small, but I disagree. 

The Disney masks are so soft. They are so comfortable, I forget I am wearing mine. We ordered the Marvel in a Medium, and it fits the 7 year old, though is a tad big. I adjusted it with a DIY paracord and clip method. The Mediums are too small for myself and our 12 year old. I ordered Large for the rest of us. They are too small for Mr. Disney Magic. 

These are 2 layers, polyester on the outside, and cotton in the inside and made in Hondurus. They form a good seal around the mouth, but there is no nose clip. If you want a third layer, I think it would be very easy to add on yourself with flannel. 

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These are super comfy, and we love them so much!! I have heard that Disney is selling the masks individually for $5 each at Disney Springs and will also be in the Parks, so I plan to get a few of the designs that I love while we are there and I don't have. (And maybe a few more that I do!) 

Have you tried these yet? Do you love them as much as I do? 

I was absolutely shocked to hear that one of my kid's favorite chips was INVENTED at Disneyland! How amazing is that? 

The story goes that a restaurant had a ton of stale tortillas they had thrown out. A salesman suggested that they fry them and sell them as chips instead of just tossing them. The staff repurposed those throw aways, and the result became so popular, it was eventually snapped up by Frito Lays! 

You can click here to read the whole story while I head to the kitchen to snack on some Disney magic! 

Disney in summer is hot. There's no way to not experience the heat unless you stay indoors at all times, but there are a few ways to make that heat more manageable! Embrace the warm hugs of Disney, and not the melting aspect with these tips!


Drink plenty

The number one fun stopper, as I've written before, is getting overheated and getting sunstroke. A great way to help not suffer in the sun is to keep yourself hydrated. Drinking plenty of water will help your body to keep cool and not become dehydrated. Plus, there's not much better than holding an icy beverage in your hand and occasionally putting it on your forehead. 


Cooling towels

If you've ever wondered if cooling towels work, they really do, and recently I had the opportunity to semi scientifically test them. With all of the temperature checks that will be happening at Disney, I was worried that our oldest, who runs hot in the summer time might not pass. We walked around in the sun, and took his temp. Yikes! 100.4. The cut off. We used the cooling towel, 5 minutes later, 99.9. 5 more minutes later 99.3. While we would NEVER visit the park if we were sick, for those of you who natrually run warm, or, maybe like us aren't used to the sweltering heat and start to burn when the sun looks at us, those might be helpful for you. 


Embrace the rain

While the humidity isn't going to be nice, a cooling rain or drizzle is a delight at Disney, as is afterwards, when for a while, Mother Nature turns the temps down a bit there. If possible, don't leave the park, let others leave while you stay and enjoy! 


Afternoon Siestas 

Ahh the blazing sun! It's hotter than hot some days, so why suffer? Take a mid day AC break! Head to your resort, or find a theatre style attraction to do, and redo, to linger in that wonderful recycled air. If you get too hot, you'll get really tired and no one has time for that on vacation! I've never done it myself, but I understand some of those indoor shows are perfect for a quick snooze. 


Find the shade

Some of the parks are more shady than others, but if you are staying all day, embrace the shade! Try and walk in it, take your stops to check your maps in the shade, and linger for a few minutes to cool down! 


Mini fans

I know last week I told you my story of the misting fans being a waste of money. What isn't though, are the tiny little pocket sized fans that can either be around our neck, or just handheld. Nothing calms a little tyke (or grumpy oldey) down like a bit of a breeze on a day when there isn't one. I prefer these because they are small, might weight and still create a good breeze. For $5 or less at Walmart, they are perfect, and if they break when someone drops it, isn't a tragic loss. 

I bet you've got some great ways you beat the heat!! Tell me some of your best ways! 

After multiple Disney trips, I've learned that I tend to go overboard in packing a few too many things, in part because we try and save money. I about cried out first trip when we ran short on sunscreen and it was like $15 for a bottle of Coppertone.

​Here are the things we now skip (and you can too) without losing any of the magic, and saving yourself a few extra trips too and from the car. 


Tinkerbell Gifts

Ahh Tinkerbell gifts! While the internet assures you you can not only save your ears from hearing a ton of "I want!"'s and you'll save your wallet a lot of cash, the simple fact of the matter is unless you've got the tiniest of Mouseketeers, they don't want your Disney themed dollar store stuff. The stickers, and coloring books, the cheapy lightsabers and tiny figurines. They don't. Especially not when everyone else has a Princess Bubble Wand, or a lightsaber they made themselves piece by piece for $30. 

Save yourself a suitcase full of junk you're just going to throw away later because it sit around. A souvenir or two that your child chooses themselves means so much more. The only exception is if you did manage to score some really nice quality Disney plushies, or hats or backpacks at a super discount, things that will be useful on the trip! Souvenirs aren't just a toy, they are a memory. 


Too many snacks

I'm guilty...I do tend to overdo bringing snacks because we drive. Each year I get better, but a good suggestion is if you plan to just snack for breakfast, and don't buy too many, 4 snacks a person per day. Chances are that'll be just a bit more than you need, and if you do run short it won't be by much. 


Misting Fans

Our first and second trips we wanted these sooo badly. We admired the Disney misting fans with the lanyards, those awesome expensive fans all the cool people had.  We didn't buy them  but the following summer I found not one, not two but three, at different yard sales so last summer we loaded them up, lugged them to the hotel room and...there they sat. The whole time. We didn't use them, but we tripped over them, had to squeeze them in the car, and well, last I saw they were in a closet. 


Water bottles

Okay, so this is sort of half right, half wrong. We don't pack reusable water bottles. We do disposable (I know, queue the gasps!) but more often than not, we will just ask for a cup of water. Who really wants one more thing to lug around, or lose? Or, more likely, to send mom back to hunt down while everyone else is sitting or on a ride. Nope. Not happening. 


Impractical Shoes

Flip flops? Only for the pool. Super cute shoes? Staying at home! There's too much walking to do to risk blisters and swollen feet from crummy shoes. If you've GOT to bring along a pair of Princess shoes for our Princess, throw some practical ones in your backpack too. 


One pair of shoes

If you've ever spent two hours trying to dry everyone's sopping sneakers with the weak little in room hair dryers you totally understand why a second pair of shoes is so important. (NOT impractical shoes).  


No cash

​There have been multiple times each trip I've needed to use cash to buy something because card and magic band readers were down. I always keep $30 in my backpack. That's enough to buy a few Mickey Pretzels or drinks if the kiddos are just so hungry they can't wait or if we need to leave a tip at a Disney Springs restaurant.

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So what about you? What are some things you've packed, then decided weren't such a great idea after all? 
 


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Do you love Goofy's Glaciers? Those tasty frozen icee drinks are a favorite in our family, and we do crave them when we aren't at Disney. Though I've not been able to recreate our favorite flavor, the lime green, just by chance one day I glanced at the back of a Koolaid container and saw a recipe. Less than 2 minutes later we had copycat Goofy's Glaciers. 

Limited only by your choice of flavors at the store, you too can create your own. Pour them into a Disney souvenir cup like we did! 

Here's what you need to make 2 generous servings: 

Blender
3 cups of ice
1 cup of water
1/2 cup of presweetened Koolaid powder

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Put the cup of water, one cup of ice and the 1/2 cup of pre sweetened Koolaid into your blender. Blend until smooth. Add the last 2 cups of ice, blend until smooth. 

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So quick, so easy, so Disney!! Yum!! We make these at least once a week now, they are so simple to do! Grape is my favorite, Cherry is my youngest's. I've not tried lemonade, orange or ice tea yet, I bet those are yummy too!

​Try it today, then let me know how yours turned out!