POV: You’ve booked your Walt Disney World vacation with your favorite Pineapple Escapes agent, and now the real planning begins! Starting with what you should bring with you.

As an agency with multiple agents that have numerous Walt Disney World trips under our collective belt, we have a pretty good idea of what you should take on a Walt Disney World vacation. Having a detailed packing list will make your trip go much smoother, and having some of these items that most people don’t think about will help you to be expertly prepared.

Tips on packing for Walt Disney World:

•  Choose your packing gear and leave room for souvenirs
•  Download our WDW packing checklist
•  Be prepared for Florida weather
•  Remember to bring the personalized Disney items
• Don’t forget something important, and have to find a way to buy it (at a potentially higher cost) once you arrive in Orlando. The following are items that myself and other agents have found to be very useful while visiting Walt Disney World!

BASIC PACKING NECESSITIES

These are some of the basic things that you could use on any trip. However, one way to add some magic is to have an awesome Disney inspired suitcase!

Packing cubes, dirty clothes bag, laundry detergent, led night light, stain stick, usb cord, luggage scale 

Compression packing cubes are great for condensing the space your clothes take up in your suitcase, so you’ll have some extra room to bring back souvenirs. They are also great at keeping you organized. It may even be beneficial to pack 1 full day of outfits for everyone in each cube. 

You will also want to know the weight limit your airline has for your checked bags, so you are not surprised if they are over that limit. Using a luggage scale will keep you from needing to remove items from your suitcase at the airport or paying an overweight fee. 

Yes, you can do laundry at the Disney resorts. Some of the villas have an in-room washer and dryer for you to use. You can also find self service laundry facilities at the resorts. Depending on the length of your stay, you may want to do a load or two during your trip. These are a few of the travel-sized laundry items that I always bring along. 

At the end of a busy park day, you will likely have several devices that need to be recharged overnight. Be sure to have all the appropriate charging cords and port adaptors. 

PARK BAGS

Having the right kind of park bag can make all the difference! Luckily, most Disney rides will have space to hold your bag near your feet. Choosing the right bag for you is about your own comfort and the ability to hold everything you need.

Each of these bags have their advantages. My personal preference is either a crossbody with side pockets for my water bottle, or the hip pack if we are using a stroller that I can stash a few things on. On my last trip, I was with only my oldest child and needed more carrying space. She’s 7 years old, so too big for a stroller but too little to carry much herself. I chose this Under Armor backpack to carry everything for the two of us. It worked great, and I loved having the bungee cords on the back to hold our wet rain ponchos while they dried.

My suggestion when choosing your park bag is to consider which option is the most comfortable to wear all day and will hold everything you need.

crossbody, backpack, mini backpack, Loungefly, hip pack

WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR PARK BAG

Once you’re in the parks, you’ll be glad to have these items easily available. 

Portable Phone Charger – The #1 item you will need is a portable charger! A Disney day requires so much battery life these days. This is one our agents depend on a lot. I can usually get 2 full charges from this guy. Fuel Rods are also great, because once you’ve used all the juice, you can exchange them in the parks for new rods at no cost. 

Water and Snacks – Snacks are especially important if you’re with kids. Please visit our Orlando Grocery Guide for recommendations on where to find the closest grocery stores or have grocery items delivered to your resort. I also recommend having a good water bottle and these hydration packets. Staying hydrated is an absolute must!

Autograph Book + Sharpie – One of the best keepsakes is having Mickey & Minnie (and all the other characters) sign your autograph book, then you can add a photo of yourself or your kids in the book with their signature!! You’ll want to have a sharpie on hand too. 

Sunscreen – The Florida sun is not to be messed with! If you don’t want to suffer the pain of a massive sunburn during your vacation, be sure to pack some sunscreen and reapply every few hours. This is an excellent face sunscreen and makeup primer! I also love this Banana Boat Sport spray. It’s quick and easy to apply, plus works against sweat and water. You don’t have to worry about Splash Mountain washing off your sunscreen! If you don’t want to carry a large spray bottle, these individual sunscreen packets are great too.

Hats – Here is a selection of Disney inspired hats. Sometimes sunscreen just isn’t enough, and it’s nice to shade your face a bit. I’m partial to these Wilderness Explorer and Monster University hats!

Sanitizer Wipes/Spray – Even if we weren’t still dealing with the effects of Covid-19, sanitizing your hands and dining surfaces are a really good idea. I keep a pack of these sanitizing wipes in my bag at all times. I also really like this hand spray. You will find hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the parks, but sometimes they may need to be refilled. It’s great to have something easily available in your bag.

Reusable Straws – You’ll only find paper straws at the Disney parks, so if you don’t want a soggy straw, bring these reusable ones. 

Rain Gear – Being Prepared for Florida weather will save you some money! Buying a rain poncho at the parks will not be cheap, and it WILL likely rain at some point during your visit. This is my fav Minnie inspired adult poncho, and kid poncho, or you can also get this poncho pack with adult and child sizes to accommodate the whole family. You might also like to have a compact umbrella. This can double as sun shade while waiting for a parade to start. Lastly, I’ve seen these shoe covers used in the parks too. After walking around with wet socks, I thought it was pretty genius. 

Neck Fan – If you’re visiting in the summer, you may also want to bring a personal fan. Neck fans have become popular in the parks. I like this one that is rechargeable, and fans your whole neck. This cute little hand held fan could easily fit in your bag if the neck fan is too big. You may also enjoy our post on how to Beat the Heat at Disney. 

Glow Sticks – Kids really love wearing glow sticks in the parks at night.

First Aid Items – It’s a good idea to have a few basic first aid items with you like bandaids, Tylenol/pain reliever (for adults and kids), and blister bandages. I really like this travel size Welly kit.

Ziplock Bags – There are many uses for these. Most notably to store unfinished snacks that you want to save, and to protect your phone/electronics on water rides.

Post-It Notes – If your kids are like mine, they don’t like the automatic flush sensors in the park restrooms. Put a post-it on the sensor to avoid a premature flush. 

STROLLERS

Disney enforces strict stroller rules to ease guest flow and reduce congestion in the parks. Check the dimensions on your stroller, because it can not be larger than 31” wide and 52” long. Wagon style strollers are not permitted. 

To view our top recommendations for compact, lightweight strollers that meet Disney required dimensions, click here. You can rent strollers in the parks as well, or have your travel agent arrange for a trusted third party rental. 

Stroller accessories that you should consider are stroller clips to hold bags, stroller rain cover, fan, and an apple airtag to track your stroller when cast members move them while you’re on a ride. Yes, that happens. Don’t be surprised if your stroller isn’t always where you left it.

I’m also a huge fan of these adorable stroller tags. You can find this one and several other styles on Etsy. 

OTHER PARK NECESSITIES

You can find an in depth post about What to Wear at Walt Disney World, and for more adventurous Disney fans, DisneyBounding Ideas on our blog.

One thing that you absolutely must have is comfortable shoes! I recommend using some that are already broken in, but if you’re in the market for a new pair, you can shop some of our agents favorite walking shoes here! Sore feet aren’t the only thing you have to worry about, chaffing can also be a problem. I recommend using Body Glide or wearing yoga shorts, especially during the warmer months. 

Don’t forget your Minnie Ears and MagicBands! These are a fun way to showcase your favorite characters and personal style. MagicBands can be purchased through your MDE account, shopdisney.com, or at most WDW gift shops. Minnie Ears can also be purchased at gift shops, and shopdisney, but you can find unofficial designs online from other sources like Etsy.

Lastly, one thing I have found to be comforting while with my young kids is using a safety ID bracelet in case we get separated in a crowd. My favorites are these adjustable bracelets, this silicone band (which is what I have personally used), and these temporary tattoos. The advantage to tattoos is that you don’t have to worry about the kids trying to take them off or losing them, plus they wash off pretty easily.

ITEMS THAT ARE PROHIBITED 

• Weapons of any kind (including self-defense items)
• Illegal substances
• Objects or toys that look like weapons
• Fireworks, explosives, flammable objects
• Alcoholic beverages
• Glass containers (except baby food jars)
• Horns, whistles, megaphones, or artificial noisemakers
• Recreational devices (drones, skateboards, skates, etc)
• Strollers greater than 31” wide and 52” long
• Wagons of any kind and trailer-like objects
• Bags (coolers, suitcases, backpacks) larger that 24” long x 15” wide x 18” high
• Loose or dry ice (reusable ice packs are acceptable)
• Folding chairs
• Selfie sticks
• Tripods or monopod stands that extend more than 6’ 

No matter how you are enjoying a Walt Disney World vacay, there are several things that you should have with you in the parks. Hopefully after reading this post, you feel more prepared for a full day of Disney fun! 

For more of our agent favorite travel products, visit our Amazon storefront. This post includes affiliate links, which means we might make a small commission when you purchase our recommended items. Thanks so much for stopping by our blog!

So are you ready to jump into the fun? Contact your favorite Pineapple Escapes agent or email us at info@pineappleescapes.com to get started!

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