Getting ready to enjoy your family vacation in Orlando, Florida. As you start packing your bags, consider the top 10 thing things to bring on vacation which we recommend for a trip to the Orlando-based theme parks.
1) COMFORTABLE CLOTHES
Clothes are perhaps the basic need that you carry. Casual clothes such as shorts and comfortable shirts. Bathing suits and beach towels to enjoy rides in water parks. In warmer months (June – August), keep your family wardrobe as light as possible. And for the cooler season (November-March), do not forget to get a lightweight jacket.
2) FOOT WEARS
To walk around in the theme parks you need comfortable shoes or sneakers. We recommend not trying to break-in brand new shoes, but use shoes or sneakers that have proven to be comfortable. Consider the fact you might be walking several miles each day. Also water shoes or flip flops is appropriate for the water parks.
3) SUNSCREEN
Sunscreen is required if you are going to be vacationing in Orlando, Florida. Using a high quality broad-spectrum or full-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both types of UV light – UVA and UVB light is your best option according to Lawrence Gibson, M.D., a dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic. In Dr. Lawrence Gibson’s article, “Best Sunscreen: Understanding Sunscreen Options”, he gives valuable insight to understanding how to choose a sunscreen. Dr. Gibson says, “SPF stands for sun protection factor, which is a measure of how well the sunscreen deflects UVB rays. Theoretically, the best sunscreen has the highest SPF number. However, It’s not that simple. When applied correctly, a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 will provide slightly more protection from UVB rays than does a sunscreen with an SPF of 15. But the SPF 30 product isn’t twice as protective as the SPF 15 product. Sunscreens with SPFs greater than 50 provide only a small increase in UVB protection. Also, keep in mind that sunscreen is often not applied thoroughly or thickly enough, and it might be washed off during swimming or sweating. As a result, even the best sunscreen might be less effective than the SPF number on the bottle would lead you to believe. Rather than looking at a sunscreen’s SPF, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that will protect you from UVA and UVB rays.”
4. UMBRELLA
, or Blunt XS_Metro Umbrella
which are in the top 5 umbrellas according to The Wirecutter. It will not just protect you from the rain, but also provides you shade from the heat of the sun in the summer months. An umbrella can provide much needed relief at times. For your small child, it would be wise to equip your stroller with a sun shield or weather shield.
5) BACKPACK:
Backpack or a fanny pack is a simple yet elegant way to store your stuff while you are traveling around the theme parks and city of Orlando. A good backpack helps you stay organized with all the needs you have during the day such as sunscreen, hotel keys, bottle of water, park tickets, etc. We recommend considering the High Sierra Loop Backpack
6) BASIC MEDICAL KIT
Well, when you are in the theme park for the whole day, at some point you may need to a band aid or clean wipes for the kids. Put a small ziplock bag together with basic essentials such as band-aids, clean wipes, aspirins, etc.
7) GOVERNMENT ISSUED ID’S
It is required that you keep the government issued ID with you at all times for driving vehicles, gaining access to certain items and locations, loss of your park ticket(s), and other identification verification situations. If you have a Florida state issued driver’s license there are significant resident discounts for most of the theme parks and attractions.
8) CAMERA
The camera is the need of the vacations to keep memories alive. So don’t forget to pick the camera with extra camera batteries and memory cards. Water friendly video cameras have been come popular recently as families visit the water parks and want to capture special moments. The camera we recommend based on The Wirecutter are the following:
- Best Mirrorless Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Camera
- Best Affordable Mirrorless Camera: Sony NEX-3NL/B Digital Camera
- Best Action & Waterproof Camera: GoPro HERO3+ Camera
9) CELL PHONE CHARGERS AND EXTRA BATTERIES
Everyone uses the mobile phone to communicate. It would be wise to keep a charger in your hotel, and keep one on you at all times. Otherwise, bring an extra batter for your phone such as the Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 5s / 5
10) CHILDPROOFING KIT
If you have a kid or a toddler also might want to bring childproofing supplies, such as outlet covers, because most hotels do not provide them. You may want to consider Safety 1st Essentials Child Proofing Kit
Resources & Other Links:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/adult-health/in-depth/best-sunscreen/art-20045110http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-umbrella/ http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-abcs-of-fun-summer-gear/
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/pack-trip-orlando-florida-59547.htmlhttp://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_ando-764037/Packing_Lists-Orlando-TG-C-1.html
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