One of the most important things you can do to ensure you’re set up for success with a full day at Disney World is to stay hydrated. And we know just the water bottles for the job!
The Rapunzel Owala
I go to Disney World every day, and having a drink to sip while spending the entire day in the parks isn’t just key, it’s essential. I put 5 popular water bottle brands to the ultimate test for a full day at Disney World, and you won’t believe which one took the top spot.
Coming in at #5 is the Simple Modern Minnie Mouse water bottle!
The Simple Modern!
This bottle is beautiful and works wonderfully, but there had to be someone chosen for last place in this ranking. It’s so cute and it’s sporting a subtle Disney touch, but it’s also deceptively large to the eye with how much it can hold. It also came with another silicon straw to fit inside the bottle, which was nice to have as a second or replacement once one wears out.
The lid!
It’s functional and cute, but not aligned with keeping the water as cool as some of the other double-insulated brands I tested during this experiment. It will functionally do its job well, but it wouldn’t surprise me if you found yourself dumping out water that had been getting warmer in your bottle after a few hours of toting it around in favor of fresher, colder water. But also, why are you letting that water sit there? Get to drinking!
My # 4 spot for this round goes to the Hydro Flask Cascade tumbler!
The Hydro Flask!
Admittedly, it wasn’t one of my favorite styles initially, but it grew on me! Its long design makes it ideal for even the slimmest cup holders for your car or bag pockets. Its top is easy to flip up and down and locks securely to keep it from spilling. And for a mid-priced insulated cup, it does a good job and keeping cold things cold longer. It also all comes apart easily for quick cleaning, rinsing, and drying out.
The lid
Here’s where I took issue with it — when I tried to sip from it, I had a hard time sipping from a tilted angle. I was only able to get a full sip if my face was completely above the straw and not tilted, as you might naturally do with a cup.
Ringing in at #3 is the Yeti Rambler!
Our Yeti!
You’re probably going to pay a little more for this one than some of the other (hence, why it’s not higher on the list), but I can promise it’s a great value for what this heftier bottle can do. It’s vacuum-insulated, so there’s a longer hold on keeping water colder or at a similar temperature to what you initially put in it. Volume-wise, though, it only holds 2 ounces more than the Hydro Flask, but the bulkier design helped keep the water colder when exposed to the sun directly outside of my bag. It also comes with a second straw as a replacement or to swap out between cleanings, which was nice, and it comes with a registrable warranty.
The top!
What I didn’t love about it was that it needs to be bulky for the longer cool. But overall, though, it’s a lot bulkier compared to most of the others I tested. Also, while the flip top is easy to maneuver and has an air flow valve to keep the water stream flowing through your sips, the handle is static and doesn’t flip down. That might bother someone who’s looking for a more flushed design.
My #2 pick for this list goes to the Owala water bottle!
We love our Owala water bottle!
Don’t come for me, Owala lovers — I get it! I’m not saying this isn’t a top brand by any means, I’m just saying, for this particular experiment, there was one other water bottle that commanded my attention more. Overall, Owala water bottles are a SOLID investment. It’s been a long-time favorite brand of ours here for a reason and has proved its worth time and time again as to WHY it’s still so popular.
Owala FreeSip
It’s got a great design that comes in lots of different color combos. It’s also got a soft close spout to it that locks with another layer to keep it spill-proof while you’re carrying it around (especially in your bag). It doesn’t sweat on the outside, and it keeps your drink cold along with your ice for several hours, even on some of the hottest days when the sun is beating down at its brightest.
The inside!
There’s not a lot of fault I can find with this brand and this particular model. Typically, an Owala water bottle follows a longer, slimmer size, which can be ideal to hold a lot without the extra bulk. They’re also extremely easy to take apart and clean for reuse (you’ll just have to trust me on this and not repeat my slips of a sweaty hand), but they’re even great when standing up to even the hardest drops on the ground.
Taking the #1 spot of the overall winner for this round is the Stanley IceFlow 2.0!
Our Stanley!
This one is totally worth the money you’ll spend on it — and it will deliver in terms of quality and durability when you go to use it. So what made it so special to outrank even the arguably most popular water brand right now? EVERYTHING. The handle flips down on both sides for easy carrying, and the top has a very flush design. (I get it, it’s not covered — we’ll get to that in a minute.) It’s slimmer like the Hydro Flask, but hefty enough to do its job and keep not only your water colder longer but even keep ice in your drink for several hours.
However, as a busy mom, I think my favorite feature is the lid to it — it completely comes apart so you can really dig in to clean it, which is my own personal complaint about my kids’ Owala water bottles. I can’t ever get into the drinking spout without using a brush to scrub in between the tiny spaces.
The lid and sipper
When I was asked if there was anything I would change about it, I found myself practically speechless. This was a tough one again for me because this one is just the right size. Combined with everything I’ve already mentioned about it, it’s not too big for carrying around, and not too small that you’re constantly running back to fill it up sooner than you anticipated
We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more!
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Do you know if the Stanley Ice Flow 2.0 fits inside of a Disney Loungefly Bag?
The Stanley Ice Flow 2.0 (specifically the 30oz size) can often fit in a standard Loungefly mini backpack, but it’s a tight squeeze, might make the bag bulge or stick out slightly, and the 24oz is a better, less bulky option if you need more room for other items, as some bags just won’t accommodate the taller 30oz size well.
Thank you!