Walt Disney World Planning Guide
What to Pack for Disney World
A practical Disney World packing list for your suitcase and your park bag, including the things that are easy to forget until you really need them.
Pack for the way Disney actually works
A little preparation makes a long park day much easier.
Planning a Disney vacation is exciting, but packing for one is different from packing for a typical vacation. You are preparing for long days on your feet, changing Florida weather, rain, heat, resort time and everything you may want with you once you are inside the parks.
I built this list around the things that are genuinely useful at Walt Disney World, including what I would put in a park bag and a few items that are surprisingly helpful once you are there.
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I’ll send you the complete Disney packing list, plus the park bag list, as a check-off PDF you can print or save to your phone.
The complete list
Your Disney World packing list
Use this as a starting point and adjust it for your family, your resort and the time of year you are traveling.
Documents
- Park tickets or MagicBands
- ID (for adults)
- Hotel reservation details
- Medical insurance cards
Clothing
- Comfortable walking shoes (break them in before your trip) - You likely will be walking over 10 miles a day at Disney World. The need for good shoes can not be understated. Some favorites amongst frequent parkgoers are the Hoka Ones, On Clouds, and Crocs (yes, Crocs! Good to throw in your park bag to throw on during rain or on rides where your feet might get wet.)
- Weather-appropriate clothing (layers for unpredictable weather)
- Ponchos or lightweight packable rain jackets
- Swimsuits for hotel pools or water parks
- Disney-themed attire for the parks - don’t forget ears! You can buy ears in the parks (I always like to buy 1 new pair each time I go to commemorate the trip but they start at around $29 in the parks so if you want a variety for your trip it is a good idea to buy some in advance of your trip. I like to look on Amazon and Etsy for cute and unique ears.)
Health and Safety
- Sunscreen (travel-sized for park days)
- First aid kit (band-aids, antiseptic wipes, etc.)
- Medications (with prescriptions if needed) in a travel pill case you can bring to the parks. Include OTC medication such as pain relievers, allergy medication, anti-bloat/gas, antacids, motion sickness, etc.
- Hand sanitizer
- Wet Wipes (good for sticky fingers and/or wiping down tables)
- Reusable water bottles - My favorite is a white Owala bottle which can double as a place for you to collect character signatures! I also like a collapsible water bottle if I am only bringing a belt bag. There are water refill stations all over the parks.
- Electrolyte powder - My favorite is Liquid IV. Some fun flavors for the park are the Firecracker Pop, Cotton Candy or Rainbow Sherbert!
- Anti-Chafe Balm (Chaffing can totally ruin a park day! This stuff is amazing for preventing it.)
- Blister Prevention Foot Spray
- Dr. Scholl's® Tired, Achy Feet Soothing & Reviving Foot Mask, 3 Pair, Warming Booties (To soothe your feet when you are back in your resort room after a long day in the parks!)
Electronics
- Phone and portable charger/cords - some of my favorite portable chargers for the park are the Anker Power Bank (for the most charging power). Fuel Rods (for convenience since you can swap them for freshly charged ones for FREE at kiosks around the parks) and the Anker Magnetic Portable Charger for ease of use (just sticks to the back of your magsafe phone case).
- Smartwatch or fitness tracker (to monitor steps and time)
- A Relief Band if you are prone to motion sickness
To Beat the Heat During Warmer Months
- Cooling Towels: Perfect for keeping cool in the summer heat. Wet them in water fountains or restrooms.
- Portable Fan: A lifesaver in the summer months. There are a lot of good options for these, like a Mickey Misting Fan, a Neck Fan, a Phone Fan, or a Stroller Fan. I also really like this one for its portability.
Miscellaneous
- Autograph book or item and pens for character signatures
- Small backpack (I like this one because it has a spot for your water bottle but is still low profile) or waterproof belt bag (I love this one because it has multiple compartments and holds a lot!) for park essentials
- Ziplock bags for snacks, wet clothes, or electronics
- Reusable shopping bags for souvenirs
- Whole Body Deodorant
The packing list is the easy part
The bigger decisions happen before you pack.
Where you stay, how many park days you need, which tickets make sense, when to use Lightning Lane and how to structure your days can have a much bigger impact on the trip. That is where I come in. I help my clients make those decisions thoughtfully, then stay involved through the day they return home.
Easy to overlook
Unexpected items worth considering
- Reusable Straws: Disney is transitioning to paper straws, so if you prefer something sturdier or hate paper straws (like me), bring your own.
- Personalized T-Shirts: Wearing matching shirts makes it easier to keep track of your group, and it adds to the fun!
- White Noise Nightlights: Handy for hotel rooms, especially with small children.
- Packing Cubes: Keep your suitcase organized and make it easier to unpack and repack.
- Safety Tattoos: Write your contact information on temporary tattoos in case your child gets lost.
- Ring Light: This is hardly a necessity but it is a nice thing to have for better selfies in the parks
For park days
What to pack in your park bag
- Portable Fan
- Sunglasses
- Sunblock/Hand Lotion/Lip Balm/Deodorant/Anti-Chafe Balm
- Stall Mates Wipes - Flushable Wipes - The single-ply toilet paper in the park bathrooms is NOT it. IYKYK!!! TRUST me on this one. You won’t regret it.
- Travel Pill Box
- Reusable Water Bottle
- Electrolyte Powder
- Reusable Straw
- Portable Charger/Cords
- Cooling Towel
- Poncho or Rain Jacket
- 2 Quart Sized Ziploc Zipper Bags
- RFID Blocking Minimalist Wallet
- Mickey Ear Holders
- Band-Aids (for blisters…these ones specifically…trust me!)
- Hand Sanitizer/Clorox Wipes
- Hair Ties
More of my park favorites
Disney outfits, park essentials and more
You can browse more of my favorite theme park products, including Disney outfit ideas and plus-size Disney favorites, in my Amazon storefront.
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