disney packing list (and a few tips)

My husband and I took our oldest son to Disney World for the first time in 2011 when he was 18 months old. We had both been several times as children, but going as parents was an entirely different experience. Since then, we’ve been back more times than I can count—and added several Disneyland trips too!

We’ve done Disney with one, two, three, and four kids; with newborns through teens; just the two of us; and with extended family. I’ve also done a Disney girls’ trip and even a solo day at Magic Kingdom with three of my kids. I get great feedback from my clients as well. Every trip—whether personal or virtually accompanying my clients—teaches me something new about what to pack (and what to leave at home).

Here is my most updated packing list for a great Disney experience (linked items are underlined):

Rain Gear- It rains often in Florida and occasionally in California. Be prepared so it doesn’t ruin your day! I personally prefer real waterproof rain jackets instead of ponchos (or both with the poncho over the rain jacket), especially with kids—ponchos start to rip and get wet on both sides after a long day of taking them on and off. If you know you’re in for a really rainy day, take an empty bag for wet gear into the park with you. Umbrellas are also allowed so it’s a good idea to have a really small compact one in your bag at all times for pop up rain showers. And even though ponchos aren’t my preference for rain situations, they are handy to have in your bag for water rides.
Waterproof shoes- After one very rainy trip with soaked tennis shoes, we now always pack waterproof shoe options (Keens, Crocs, Tevas, etc). They make a huge difference on rainy days but are also great to have for water rides and of course pool/waterpark days.
Comfortable and tested shoes (and extra shoes)- Do not break in a new pair of shoes at Disney—I’ve made that mistake more than once. Don’t be like me! ha! Wear tested shoes and bring a backup pair in case you need a switch.
Sweatshirt or light jacket- No matter the season (or if you’re in Florida or California), the temperature often drops quite a bit in the evenings. We always take an extra layer- even when it’s blazing hot outside. Depending on your choice of rain jacket, this could be one item that doubles for both needs.
Blister care and bandaids- I never go to Disney without plenty of blister care and bandaids. If anyone in my family is feeling any foot discomfort, I want to be able to take care of it immediately before it gets worse. And I have four kids so someone is bound to get a scraped knee or some kind of small injury that requires a bandaid. Of course Disney has first aid stations, but it’s much easier to grab a bandaid out of my own bag and move on with the day. This is my favorite blister care product.
Chafing cream- We’re getting really personal now but Disney is a TON of walking and sometimes chafing can be an issue- especially in the hotter months. If you haven’t done Disney before, I would recommend having a chafing product on hand in case you discover that you are one who deals with this at Disney. Even if you have never chafed before, trust me and plan ahead. Better safe than sorry.
Portable Charger- Disney days are long and there are lots of reasons you’ll need your phone. Even the best phone usually doesn’t make it all day and outlets to charge your phone are few and far between. A good portable charger is a MUST for a successful Disney day. I like this one for size and power. (Don’t forget this item- but if you do- I can tell you where the very very few outlets are located and I can tell you the few locations where you can purchase a small fuel rod.)
AirTag bracelets- We AirTag our kids at Disney. We have these little bracelets and they work great (AirTags not included) but there are lots of different options on amazon. We do have one kiddo who can never stop messing with his bracelet so we tie his into his shoelaces. It’s also not a bad idea to AirTag your stroller as Disney cast members are constantly moving them around to maintain order and accessibility in the stroller parking areas.
Stroller- Speaking of strollers, Disney walking is a different level. This may sound crazy to you but my personal policy for my kids is- if they still fit the height and weight requirements of a stroller, they get a stroller- no matter their age or how long it’s been since they’ve used a stroller at home. They may not use it most of the time but I promise there will be times where it is helpful to both you and your child. I’ve personally rented strollers for kids as old as 7 and helped clients with stroller rentals for kids as old as 9. Trust me, it’s just different at Disney. Because of this unique need, you may need a stroller that you do not have and there are several stroller rental companies in the Disney World and the Disneyland areas. They will deliver the stroller to your resort and pick it up from your resort at the end of your trip. If this need applies to you, let’s talk. I am happy to give advice and even facilitate a stroller rental for you.
Stroller Identifier- As I said above, Disney cast members are constantly moving strollers around in stroller parking areas. When you come back for your stroller, it definitely will not be in the place you left it. Also, tons of Disney guests rent strollers from the companies I mentioned above so most of the strollers in the parks look alike. The rental companies do put your last name on a sign near the bottom of the stroller but that doesn’t do much for finding your stroller in a sea of matching strollers. I would recommend tying a brightly colored ribbon or something of that nature (there are also Etsy shops that do custom signs) on the handle of your stroller. Something you can spot from far away when you’re searching for your stroller.
Stroller Fan(s)- It gets so hot in Orlando and can get hot in Anaheim too. Stroller fans are so helpful- especially for teeny tiny babies or toddlers. If you don’t bring one from home, you’ll be buying one with Mickey ears and it will cost you a lot more. While we’re talking about fans, neck fans and handheld fans are also popular choices for adults and kids not riding in a stroller.
Baby Carrier- This is very specific for a certain age of child and obviously based on parent opinion but I’ll just share my experience. I have taken two of my children to Disney World as newborns and if you are doing the same, I’m happy to talk about this in more detail, but a baby carrier made both of those experiences manageable and enjoyable. With one of my children, I used an Ergo 360, and with the other, I used a Solly Wrap, and the Ergo is definitely my preference for that much baby wearing. But it’s not my newborns that caused me to add this to the list. A few years ago, we went to Disney with our one year old and I didn’t take the Ergo because I assumed he would either ride in the stroller, walk, or be carried for short amounts of time. But, there were times when he was asleep or needed to be contained and our stroller was in stroller parking or folded up (in lines, or restaurants, or on Disney transportation) and I really wished I had thrown it in the bottom of the stroller.
Sunglasses- This seems obvious but after forgetting my sunglasses or sunglasses for my kids on multiple occasions, I feel like they should be on the list.
Sunscreen- Also seems obvious but if you forget it and have to buy it on Disney property, you’ll hate the price tag. Trust me. ha!
Hand Sanitizer- No one wants to get sick at Disney (But if you do, call me. I’ve been there and I can help with that.) so having a small hand sanitizer in your bag is always a good idea.
Prepackaged snacks- Disney is GREAT about letting you take your own food and drink into the parks. They don’t allow you to bring in alcohol or loose ice cubes (you can use ice packs instead), but other than that, you’re good to go. I love to have a few snacks in my bag to hand my kids while we’re waiting in a line or to hold them over until a dining reservation, etc.
Power Strip or charging station- You’re going to have lots of things to charge in your hotel room- phones, portable chargers, magicband+, etc. Maybe too many things for the number of outlets in your room. A power strip or charging station really is a game changer. In my family, we have six people and we travel to Disney with three of these charging stations. I also recently saw this charging station for Magicband+ and I will be purchasing two before our next Disney vacation.
Ziploc bags- It’s a good idea to throw a few of these in your bag for each park day. Your kid hasn’t eaten their chicken tenders but it’s time to go? Throw them in a ziploc. You bought one popcorn but you want to split it between three kids? Ziplocs. Your kid buys a toy with a bunch of little parts? Ziploc. I could keep going but you get the idea.
Extra Batteries and Bubbles- Stroller fans, bubble wands, and souvenir toys often run out of batteries and send you searching Disney gift shops for a new set. Though you can find them, they’re hard to find, they cost a pretty penny, and they’re a brand that doesn’t last long. I would recommend having a few AA and AAA batteries in your bag. Also, if you think your child will want a bubble wand (they are everywhere and have been the top souvenir choice for all four of my kids at a certain age), you should throw a bottle of bubbles in your bag. Those wands run out very quickly and buying the refill container (you guessed it) costs way more on Disney property.
Straws- Disney uses all paper straws and several of the brands you’ll find on property also contain gluten. If you can’t do gluten or you don’t like mushy paper straws, pack another option. Tons of people take reusable straws to Disney but keeping reusable straws clean for 6 people is a lot for me to keep up with so I like to take a bag of individually wrapped disposable plastic straws. If you’re concerned about the environment but need to skip the gluten or prefer to skip the mush, try individually wrapped sugar cane straws.
Water bottles- To me, this one strongly depends on your personal preference. If you’re a water bottle person and you feel good about keeping up with it, definitely bring it. There are lots of water bottle filling stations. If you have a lot of people in your family and you don’t want to keep up with a lot of water bottles, I get that too. Most Disney quick service restaurants and food kiosks will give you as many free cups of water as you need. It’s completely reasonable to stop for free water when you need it and then toss your cups so you don’t have to keep up with them or keep them clean.
Sippy Cup- Even if you decide not to take water bottles, if you have littles, I still recommend taking an empty sippy cup into the parks. It’s so much easier to pour their free water (or whatever drink) into their sippy cup than to hand them a cup they’re likely to spill. In this situation, I would also recommend a sippy cup strap that connects to the stroller like this one.
Travel Size Dish Soap- If you’re taking water bottles and sippy cups, you’re going to want a little soap to keep them clean.
Backpack and/or Sling bag- When we go to Disney, we take two bags each day- my husband wears a larger backpack and I wear a sling bag. We don’t like having to leave anything in our stroller so we take bags that we can easily and comfortably wear. If we can’t fit something in those two bags, we don’t take it.
Detergent Pods/dryer sheets- All Disney resorts have laundry facilities and though you may not plan to use them, you may run into a situation that changes your plans (rain storm, sickness, blowout, etc.) It is helpful to throw a few detergent pods and dryer sheets of your preferred brands into your luggage in case you run into one of these situations. They do sell laundry detergent on site but you don’t get a choice in brand and it’s usually powder. And as a side note here, these laundry facilities are cashless.
Sound Machine- Whether you sleep with one at home or not, this can be helpful when multiple people are sharing a hotel room. If you don’t have a sound machine or space to pack your sound machine, there are apps for that. These little travel sound machines are also great.
Swimsuits- No matter the time of year, your kids will probably want to swim in your resort pool. Disney (FL and CA) does heat their pools and it is often warm enough to swim even in the winter months. We have taken winter trips where we didn’t pack suits and I regretted it. Since then, I always take swimsuits and we have had great swimming experiences in even in traditionally colder months.
Medicine- Definitely definitely take Tylenol or ibuprofen for both adults and children in your bag to the parks. You will 100% need it for someone. But I’d also recommend taking as many over the counter meds (and obviously any prescription meds) as you can think of and/or can fit in your luggage. It’s so nice to have something for allergies or an upset stomach, etc. if the need arises.
MagicBand+- Now, you don’t have to have a MagicBand+ to have a successful Disney trip- I am happy to talk pros/cons and other options with you- but if you decide to buy them, please don’t forget them! You’ll be so sad! This is on the list as a reminder.
Bit Belt- If you do decide to order a MagicBand+ for everyone in your family, I strongly encourage you to also order these. They will help the MagicBands stay on and this is especially helpful (necessary) for children.
Labeled Park Tickets- If you decide to use physical park tickets (they look like gift cards) instead of MagicBand+ or your smart phone or watch, I suggest labeling them with each person’s name or initials so you will easily know which ticket matches which fingerprint when entering the parks each time. Now if you purchase your tickets separately from your room, you will receive them in the mail and you can label them ahead of time (remember to take them with you!) but if you purchase your park tickets within a resort package, you will not receive them in the mail. If you still want them, they will give them to you at the gate when you enter the park. In this scenario, I would recommend taking a sharpie in your bag so you can label them after receiving them. A few quick tips here: If you happen to forget your tickets or lose your tickets, let me know. We can fix it. And also, (Disney World guests only) when you are scanning your ticket to enter the park each time, each person with a ticket will be required to also place one finger in a fingerprint scanner. This keeps people from using stolen tickets or MagicBands. You must use the same finger every time you scan in for the duration of the trip and believe it or not, it’s easy to forget which finger you used- especially with kids. As a quick and simple tip- if every single member of your party uses the same finger on the same hand, it’s so much easier to remember which finger to use. And finally, if you choose to use physical park tickets, you will need to access them frequently. In my opinion, the two best ways to do this are to dedicate one specific pocket to them on your park bag or use a lanyard and wear them around your neck. Either way, it seems to work better to have one person keep up with the tickets for the whole family.
Empty Stroller Bag- This is a tip from a past client and I think it’s genius. She recommends keeping a large bag- something like a reusable grocery bag- in your stroller basket to catch all the things. When you’re going through security or folding your stroller to get on Disney transportation, you can just pull out the stroller bag and keep going. Way less to gather because it’s already gathered.
Ears- Now this is just for fun but if you want to purchase Minnie or Mickey ears for your trip, I have an Etsy shop I love and highly recommend. Their ears are super cute and super comfortable- in my opinion, they’re much more comfortable than the ones you can buy on Disney property.
YouTube- Okay, this isn’t really an item to pack but you may want to download some videos for your kid(s) before you travel. If you have a child who tends to be anxious or apprehensive, knowing what to expect can be a game changer in their experience. Let them watch videos of rides, parades, fireworks, character interactions, Disney transportation, etc. before arriving in the parks. It really does make a huge difference and also gets them excited about what’s to come!
My Phone Number- Memorize it! ha! 501-804-0444- If ANYTHING goes wrong or you have a question or need help in any way, please let me know. There is always a solution for every problem and I am more than happy to help.

And that’s my list! If you made it this far and there’s an item you expected to see on the list but didn’t, ask me about it! Maybe I don’t think it’s necessary- and I’ll tell you why- or maybe you’ve thought of something I haven’t! I love feedback from clients because it helps me to better serve both you AND future clients. And on that note, if you think of an item or tip after your trip, I’d love to know!

Last but not least, if you have a specific need in your family like food allergies or dietary restrictions, a disability or special need of any kind, you are traveling with a newborn, or if you will be pumping or nursing on your trip, I’ve been there. I have tips and lots of info for all these scenarios. Let’s talk.

Have fun!

-Rachel

***Updated 4/26