My family visits theme parks all the time, and it’s no secret that standing in line for rides all day can be a sweltering summertime activity. And while we’re nearing the official start of fall, it’s still quite hot out in many parts of the country.

I’ll admit, I’ve always thought people who wore portable fans around their necks to beat the heat looked a little funny, but recently, one of my most trusted theme park friends arrived at our Walt Disney World dinner table wearing a HandFan portable fan. She raved that it had made her entire day at the park so much better, so I figured I’d give it a try.

The first time I visited Walt Disney World (WDW) with my kids, they were just 3 and 5, eager to meet their favorite characters and get some Mickey-shaped ice cream bars. A decade later, I visit with teenagers who will still oblige me with a character photo, but care more about which restaurant has the best cheeseburger and how many thrill rides we can pack into one theme park day. Still, through many trips to WDW and Disneyland, I’ve perfected my checklist of items to pack in my bag for a day at a Disney park — many of which haven’t changed as my kids have gotten older.