Portable Cooling Fans Designed for Theme Park Guests
While the cooler months of the year are finally here, Central Florida continues to be blessed with very warm temperatures. When visiting the area's many outdoor theme parks and attractions, this might constitute a problem, as it might get a little too hot to walk around for hours. What to do, then? A good option would be visiting an indoor location, but the heat would be felt once again when exiting the building. That is why many Guests choose to carry a portable fan with them.
The other problem is, though, that the majority of these fans are quite bulky and can become heavy after holding on to them for hours. Some Guests eventually give up and throw them in the stroller. On the other hand, the tiny fans that anyone could find at the local dollar store provide very little relief and usually break within a few days. That said, it looks like someone was finally able to design a fan that is very effective and durable while not being as bulky.
Full Disclosure
The following is NOT an advertisement, but a real review of a product that we had the chance to use for the past few weeks. We have received no compensation from the Cool on the Go company for this post (the fact that they currently sponsor our site has not impacted our views). We received two free samples to test them in exchange for a honest review of their product.
As you might know, Orlando Theme Park News only covers the area's theme parks and attractions. The reason why we decided to review this product is because we believe that some of our Readers could see this as being something they would like to use during their next vacation here in Florida.
The following is NOT an advertisement, but a real review of a product that we had the chance to use for the past few weeks. We have received no compensation from the Cool on the Go company for this post (the fact that they currently sponsor our site has not impacted our views). We received two free samples to test them in exchange for a honest review of their product.
As you might know, Orlando Theme Park News only covers the area's theme parks and attractions. The reason why we decided to review this product is because we believe that some of our Readers could see this as being something they would like to use during their next vacation here in Florida.
What it is
Cool on the Go is now offering a small fan that seems to work much better than a regular fan that Guests can find around the parks. While these are not mist fans (they do not offer this option at the moment), they produce cool air (even at a variable speed) thanks to internal blades that spin at a much faster speed than other fans, thanks to the fact that the blades cannot be touched by the user.
Size and Weight
Just like their website states, this device is really light, weighing about 12 to 14 oz; as a result, it is possible to carry it around the neck for an extended period of time. After a while, the fan might start to become somewhat heavy for some users, but thanks to its design, it can be attached to a belt (or to the pants themselves). This can also be attached to the side of a stroller to provide some fresh air to kids.
True, you might have some people looking at the device from time to time (the use of these fans is definitely not widespread at the moment), but it definitely help when the temperatures get too high. The device is also cool (pardon the pun) to use during the evening thanks to its internal LED lighting.
The battery of the device can last for a few hours or an entire day, depending on how the person adjusts the flow of air. As we stated earlier, there's a setting that allows the user to manually adjust the speed of the internal blades. The faster they spin, the more cool air you'll get (obviously), but the batteries will be drained at a faster pace. It still held up pretty well for us, lasting for more than four hours of continuous use (at a maximum speed). Battery life is also based on how long the device is charged.
Pricing
Just a caveat: be sure to note that, despite its small size, the fan will not fit in regular pockets. This could be an issue when visiting the Universal Orlando Resort, as some attractions require all loose items to be stored in a locker. This is definitely one of the items that fit in this category.
Conclusion
All in all, we find this to be a clever idea, especially since many people visiting the area's theme park usually end up buying a fan anyway. Why not buying one in advance that is actually portable?
Conclusion
All in all, we find this to be a clever idea, especially since many people visiting the area's theme park usually end up buying a fan anyway. Why not buying one in advance that is actually portable?
Be sure to visit Cool on the Go's official website for additional information on this and other products.
PHOTOS: © 2015 Cool On The Go. All rights reserved.
Even though you say this isn't an ad, but a review, it screams of an ad. You didn't actually review the product by using it in a theme park and say how effective it was. You didn't take any real world shots of the product (I have no sense of scale to a human body from this review). I love your site and your photo updates, so please don't make this a habit or I'll have to unsubscribe. :(
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the exact same thing.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good point, Anonymous. We didn't include any real-life photos because they are included in the company's website, making it redundant for us to do so.
ReplyDeleteWe never cover anything else other than the area's theme parks and attractions, but in this case we thought this product could actually benefit some of our Readers. I have personally always wanted to carry a fan with me in the parks, but they were always too big. This is the perfect size IMHO.
It would have been nice to read how you carried one around with you at a park then. How'd the battery hold up, did you want to not carry it anymore at the end of the day, was it actually effective, did everyone look at you like you were crazy, was it better or worse than the bottle must fans, etc...? Have you actually used it in the parks? Show us some pics. Don't just link us to the vendor site like five times. Then it's just an ad.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... We have actually covered most of those points in the review. Maybe we have to add some subtitles to make these points stand out a little more.
ReplyDeleteRegarding photos, once again, there is no real need for them, as you can view them on their site. The fan looks the same at home, at a theme park, or at a grocery store.
Guys, a review should have a lot of "we" or "I" statements. "I tried it first clipped on my ___. After adjusting the angle of the fan so the air would strike me in the ____, I started walking around like any good Disney guest pushing a 9 year old in a stroller..." Yada yada yada
ReplyDelete(Even consumer reports uses we)
Then you show a picture of YOUR configuration, a photo of YOU using it. This website publishes how many MB a week of images? And you couldn't pop a few up of a product test? But you include a couple of useless accessory images. Come on guys.
in the era of the Internet: Pics or it didn't happen.
Everyone I've seen with any kind of these 'cooling' fans, including the last few days, looked miserable.
It's funny that you mention the fact that statements should include lots of "I" and "we." When writing any reviews, we still try to avoid including them because it is not considered professional (from a grammatical standpoint) to use them in articles and essays in general.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it is sad that now everything has to be accompanied by pictures "or it didn't happen." Come on, we include so many photos every single day in our website. We do NOT want to post personal pictures here, so that will not happen.
Just some feedback...
ReplyDelete1) I see what you are doing here, and while I appreciate it, though I personally feel that getting "free" product in exchange for a review from a paying advertiser IS getting compensated.
2) If you are genuinely getting nothing in return, then I wouldn't do these types of articles. I get something different from every Disney website I follow. This type of post takes away from your message. It doesn't add value to your product.
3) On the pictures front... I didn't notice either way until I read the comments, and while I agree that pictures is not the end all be all of internet news, this article comes off fake because it only includes the press release photos. If this is enough then why not simply use Disney's official photos exclusively rather than going into the parks and taking the real photos.
I love what you do, I check in every day, and I follow you on twitter, but this was not your best work. Just my opinion, and I was not compensated to give this review...lol.
Thank you very much for this "review". I have an O2 fan which I have used for about 2 years on hot days at the park which is petty good, although you have to change the AA batteries almost after every visit. It comes in great when you're standing long lines, especially during Horror Nights. I will def check into this and thank you again as I have not seen this!
ReplyDeleteI think everyone before me has covered what an ad looks like ;) So... I'll just add here:
ReplyDeleteIf we're reviewing portable fans, I've found very durable, small mister style fans available at Walmart and even in the Rain Forest Cafe. They're about 3"x2"x.75". They cost under $5. The 2 AA batteries usually hold out for 4 days as we don't keep it on all the time, but only when we need it. The weight is negligible, and it's our choice if we'd like to fill it with water for a quick spray.
For those interested in using rechargeable batteries, you can certainly do that, and it's so easy to keep an extra set in your bag just incase they do wear down.
I'll take one of these any day over paying $15 and up for a non-mister.
@Next-to-Last Anonymous: We really appreciate your feedback, but I just wanted to make it clear that this was not supposed to be a masterpiece, but just a simple review of something that could be useful. We will definitely add some of our own photos, even though I still don't believe it makes any difference. The parks are ever-changing places, so it is necessary for us to take photos to show the DIFFERENCES. In this case, we don't see why we had to take photos of an object already featured on the vendor's official site.
ReplyDelete@Last Anonymous: Thanks for your feedback!
@Cindy: Thank you for sharing that with us. We will stop by the Rainforest Cafe to check that out, even though changing the batteries could be an extra step that one would have to take quite often (depending on how long they use the fan).
I been Florida 4 times and the temps are a lot difference to What we use to in the uk but with the drink fountains everywhere,99% of buildings with air con and misters dotted around each park it's pointless spending $50 on a fan.
ReplyDeleteOTPN is free to customers but OTPN is not free to run. They pay to host the site and access the parks to keep us updated. I say they should get theirs and if you want less advertising, support the site by donating more.
ReplyDeleteI'm just thankful OTPN does what they do. I look forward to the photo updates. Articles that look like advertising would get annoying. But, whatever. I must say... for someone who very Much DISLIKES those mister fans, I would be happier if more used this new design. I would never use one new other people. Getting wet from those things is annoying. Especially when I wear glasses and I suddenly have to clean them from someone's mister! Annoying!
ReplyDelete