This Budget Hiking Item Doubles As A Great Summer Hack At Disney, According To Social Media

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Summer weather is in full force at Walt Disney World, and guests have often found themselves battling soaring temperatures, relentless sun, and that infamous Florida humidity this season. While sunscreen and water bottles are obvious essentials, social media users are now shining a spotlight on an unexpected hero of hot park days: cooling towels.

Originally designed for hikers and athletes, cooling towels are making waves on TikTok as one of the most affordable and effective ways to beat the summer heat at Disney World. Budget-friendly, easy to pack, and reusable throughout the day, these towels are popping up in park survival kits from creators across social media. Cooling towels work through evaporation. You simply soak them in water, wring them out, and then put them on your body. As the water evaporates, it takes away heat from your body, offering a cooling effect that can last for hours. Drape one around your neck or shoulders, and you'll feel noticeably cooler, even while standing in line for Space Mountain or trekking across EPCOT's World Showcase.

TikTok user @thewessicaway calls cooling towels "the most refreshing thing on a scorching hot day." In her video, she shows how quickly they help lower her body temperature, especially when re-wet at park water fountains or with Disney World's free water found at quick service restaurants. She recommends packing multiple towels in a small ziplock bag, so you always have a fresh one ready to go.

Other creators take it a step further by coordinating cooling towels with their park outfits. In a video by @megann_jess, viewers can see the towel she wears around her neck matches her outfit themed to Goofy. She also shares that holding her cooling towel in front of her car's air conditioning vent adds an "extra boost of chilliness" that makes her instantly feel better. Another TikTok user, @outoftownmagic, said that her cooling towel is the one thing she "will be taking back [to Disney] every time, no matter what." A commenter on that same video shared a extra tip: Fill a bag or cooler with ice and put the towel in to keep it chilled all day long.

Unlike misting fans that require batteries or neck fans that can be bulky, cooling towels are ultra-lightweight and take up virtually no space in a park bag. Most are machine washable and can be reused day after day. You can find them at outdoor retailers, big-box stores, or online for under $20, which is a steal when compared to the cost of Disney's in-park cooling merchandise. You can grab a CADONO brand on Amazon for $8 or a more groovy version from Eunzel on Amazon for $17. 

In a place where you're on your feet all day, often with little shade and even less breeze, staying cool isn't just about comfort — it's about safety. Heat exhaustion is a real risk in the parks, especially for children and older adults. Keeping a cooling towel handy can help regulate body temperature, making your Disney day more magical and less miserable. If you're planning a Walt Disney World vacation, do yourself a favor and pack a few cooling towels. According to social media, this humble hiking staple might just be your new favorite Disney essential.