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- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
25 Items To Carry If You're Going To Disney World
Hey guys! I'm Samar Hadri, a BuzzFeed shopping writer and Orlando, Florida native 🍊. I've been a Disney World Annual Passholder for well over a decade (I may or may not have even gotten married at Disney 😅), so yeah, I'm something of a theme park expert. These are the products that I've tried and can recommend firsthand to make sure your amusement park experience is as smooth and stress-free as possible. With these products, you can feel prepared for almost any situation that pops up during a full day of trudging through the parks. First things first, a mid-size sling backpack that'll hold all of your essentials while still being small enough to fit in the pouch of whichever rides you love the most. With several compartments inside the bag, as well as a front pouch on the strap, you can keep everything incredibly organized to cut down on the time it takes for you to dig for your phone for spontaneous photos or sunscreen for your two-hour reapplications. Plus, it even has mesh pockets for your water bottle and umbrella! A reusable rain poncho for the buckets of water that can suddenly, without warning, drop from the Florida skies. With a long body piece and a big hooded cap, this poncho will keep you dry from head to toe. It also comes with a matching carrying case so you don't have to worry about lugging a drenched poncho around the park after your excursion down a "waterfall" at Kali River Rapids in Animal Kingdom. A four-pack of cooling towels because that Florida sun can be brutal. Just soak it in some cold water at any sink/water fountain, wring it, and place it on your neck for some much-needed relief! These towels will stay chilly for several hours, saving you from having to refresh in every country you pass through in Epcot. Bonus: each towel comes with a carrying pouch and a carabiner clip, so you can just clip it onto your backpack for easy access! A Disney ear holder that clips onto your backpack for the times when your head is tired of propping up those famous Mickey ears, but you still want them on public display. With the ability to hold up to two ears, this strap is great for parents when your little ones might be over wearing the ears, and you don't want them to take up any space in your bag. A trendy pair of polarized sunglasses to block out the sun's rays while you're enjoying the weather. No need to fear losing these bad boys while aboard Expedition Everest; these polarized glasses (while cute) are extremely affordable, so you can even keep a backup pair on hand in case a Yeti happens to board your train and run away with your original pair A handheld fan that will bring some much-needed cooling relief as you trek your way through your favorite rides. Small and compact, with two different speed functions, this fan is a necessity, especially during the height of summer. No need to let the humidity ruin your day, this FAN-tastic device will ensure your vacation remains as cool as can be. (Plus: the fan also works as a backup portable charger!) And a stroller fan so that your little one stays cool in the heat as well! The fan's head can adjust vertically and horizontally in any direction to create the perfect cooling breeze while also having three speeds so you can ensure your baby is at the perfect temperature. Now, the fear of your child overheating can disappear as swiftly as Peter Pan at the sight of an adult! A four-pack of reusable straws because absolutely nobody enjoys the taste of the soggy paper straws that grace every Disney concession stand and restaurant. This straw is collapsible and fits into a small carrying case, which can also be clipped onto your backpack, making it incredibly convenient to carry without feeling like it's taking up some much-needed space. Absolutely perfect for that midday Pandoran Sunrise you'll be happy to sample at Animal Kingdom. A Body Glide anti-chafe balm you'll want to apply liberally before boarding the Monorail. The last thing you want during your vacation is any pain halting your ability to walk freely through the parks. With this balm, say goodbye to chafing troubles and say hello to magical relief! And an anti-blister foot balm to ease the pain of walking over 10 miles through four different parks all in a single day. This will add a layer of protection between you and your shoes so you can skip through Moana's Journey of Water with ZERO pain! Vanish the potential of blisters with this balm — even Tinkerbell herself will be jealous of how magical this product seems! A two-pack of reusable snack bags because sometimes hunger pangs hit right in the middle of a line, when exiting to purchase a bite to eat is pretty much impossible. These bags come with a zippered closure and are made from waterproof fabric, so no need to fear the splatters from Tiana's Bayou Adventure tainting your go-to snack. A foldable water bottle that will take up little space and be the hydrating savior of your park day. Buying several bottles of water while inside the park will get expensive FAST, so having a refillable bottle on hand is key, especially when they can roll into a small size so that they don't take up too much room. A much-needed addition to your park essentials when you find yourself incredibly thirsty while waiting to meet Princess Jasmine. A 10-pack of mosquito-repellent bracelets you will be incredibly grateful you packed when love-bug season hits Florida. Powered by essential oils such as citronella, these bands can help repel pests without the need to douse yourself in bug spray several times a day. No mosquito will dare approach you as you embark on your theme park adventures; these bracelets will help keep the creepy-crawlies far, far away! A tube of Neutrogena Ultrasheer SPF 70 sunscreen to protect your skin from the harsh rays of the sun. This lightweight formula helps prevent sunburn without the heavy finish and is conveniently travel-sized, making it the perfect addition to your pre-Disney routine. With this lotion, the only sun you need to fear is the one that comes barreling toward you on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. A pack of compression socks that can help your circulation, foot swelling, and pain, and make it easier for you to hike across the Magic Kingdom parking lot. You can say goodbye to the days of leg swelling and hello to *sweet* relief as you march countless miles each day of your trip. Don't let the potential pain stop you from having the time of your life at the Happiest Place on Earth! A Color Wow Dreamcoat anti-frizz hairspray to maintain those picture-perfect locks, despite the heat! This spray repels moisture to stop humidity from impacting your hair, leaving your hair feeling smooth and silky. Just spray it liberally on damp, towel-dried hair, then blow dry for the finishing touch. With this spray, your blowout will stay as perfect as Belle herself! A Burt's Bees after-sun lotion perfect for bringing some relief to any sunburns that may occur while you're skipping across Tomorrow Land. With aloe and coconut oil, this skin lotion can soothe and bring hydrating relief to your sun-kissed skin. A teensy, tiny, hands-free portable charger because you will be constantly using your phone to check the wait times, plan ahead with your Genie+, or just playing Charades with your family (or random strangers) while stuck in a line. Don't let its slim exterior fool you; it can charge a smartphone up to 1.5 times while still being light enough to comfortably carry around Hollywood Studios as you search for hidden Mickeys! A pill organizer to keep all of your meds on hand so that you're not trying to dig through your bag for different bottles. With eight multi-size compartments, this carrier can safely store any size pill or vitamin you need. Small enough to fit in your pocket, this organizer will be your saving grace as you attempt to squeeze in just one more plushy from the Emporium into your bag. A travel umbrella designed to block out both the constant Florida showers and the overbearing midday sun. This heavy-duty umbrella has eight sturdy fiberglass ribs, making it incredibly wind-resistant while still being able to fold into a small size. Don't miss your chance to join the line for Pandora's Flight of Passage just because of a little rain, this umbrella will help you make the most of your day no matter the weather! A set of travel perfume carriers that can hold all of your favorite eau de parfums as you make your way around Epcot France. After sweating under the sun for a whole day, you will be happy you packed these sprays so that you can refresh yourself at your convenience. A Miss Mouth's stain remover spray to help wipe away the Mickey Ice Cream Bar residue from your little one's shorts. Designed to remove even the toughest of stains, this spray is a necessity when wrangling your family through the parks while attempting to keep their clothes Instagram-worthy. A three-pack of Disney-inspired lanyards so your family can keep their key cards strapped close to them at all times. With pouches to hold any additional cards or cash, these are great for anyone trying to waltz around Disney without the feeling of being weighed down by a wallet. Perhaps one of the most important items on this list, these ID holders are necessary for those who tend to misplace things more often than not. A pair of aqua socks to protect your feet and save you from any pool slipping incidents while at Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach. Super lightweight and flexible, these socks are perfect for your water excursions during your ultimate Disney vacation! A hand sanitizer holder because you should always have one on hand when you're in a place as crowded as Disney. Hook these cute keychains to your backpack and don't fear losing them on the monorail, your favorite scented sanitizer is always close by! Or a Disney-edition Touchland hand sanitizer with a summery watermelon scent 🍉 if you wanna smell like a walking, talking tropical vacation as you sanitize. Voila! I declare you ready for your Disney adventure!
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dutch coaster titan Vekoma establishes downtown Orlando office
You can't hear the rumble of roller coasters in downtown Orlando, but thrill rides have a new presence there. Vekoma Rides, a manufacturing giant based in the Netherlands, has opened a North American office in the downtown business district. 'This is the place to be in terms of theme parks, even though we work all over the U.S.,' said Ricardo Etges, vice president for sales and marketing for the Americas. Etges was Vekoma's first Orlando-based employee. Now there are eight people working out of its office near the intersection of Orange Avenue and South Street, including research and development engineers. 'We basically have an extension of our engineering department in the Netherlands,' Etges said. 'In the Netherlands, we have between 250 and 300 people, and we found out that we can expand our engineering capacity with local resources in Orlando.' The company, founded in 1926, originally made farm equipment and later steel products for the coal-mining and petrochemical industries. It started shifting to amusement park rides in the 1970s and in 2019 decided to focus more on North American markets. United Parks: SeaWorld attendance, revenue dip in 1st quarter In March, Vekoma opened the Flash: Vertical Velocity at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. It's the first 'super boomerang' style coaster in the western world, Etges said. Coming up is Siren's Curse, a tilt coaster under construction at Cedar Point in Ohio. It's 'a traditional lift-hill coaster with the seesaw element on top,' Etges said. 'The train parks in the horizontal position, and there is a track section that goes from horizontal to vertical, like a seesaw. And then once it locks on the vertical position, it releases a train.' Among its Florida coasters are Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom as well as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Tron / Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom plus Epcot's Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which debuted in 2022. It has also produced rides for Universal Orlando and Legoland Florida. The move into Orlando was designed to help expand the business in Central Florida and to become 'more proactive and present to our clients,' Etges said. 'A roller coaster is almost like you have a long-term relationship with the park,' he said. 'Because the roller coaster is not only about installing the ride and making sure that the ride is up and running, but also keeping the ride up and running and reliable for decades.' Other plusses for a Central Florida office include proximity to parks ('We actually had a field trip to Epic [Universe]'), vendors, potential employees and November's IAAPA Expo at Orange County Convention Center, Etges said. Disney Jollywood Nights show among Brass Ring winners 'We usually have 15 to 20 people from our team coming from the Netherlands, and we have a lot of meetings with clients,' at the Expo, he said. 'We usually have at least one vehicle being showcased' on the convention center floor, which is produced by Orlando-based International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, he said. There are other projects in the works, but they remain hush-hush. 'We always need to wait until the park announces the ride to be able to start to talk about it,' Etges said. 'But at IAAPA this year, we're going to have some surprises.' Email me at dbevil@ BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at Epic Universe: Exec blends arts, engineering in theme park roles
