Do you have your packing list ready to go for your next Disney World vacation? There may be a few necessities you’re missing that could make a HUGE difference on your next trip!
Magic Kingdom
We’ve tested out tons of these items over the years on our many excursions to the parks, and here are some of our must-haves when it comes to Disney parks gear!
Technology
If there’s one piece of tech gear we don’t go to the parks without, it’s a portable phone charger. Between all the photos we take throughout the day and needing to access My Disney Experience for updating our reservations and mobile ordering food, our phones need some extra juice throughout the day!
©Amazon
You can find decent chargers for relatively low prices online. We like this one by myCharge. You can pick up this charger on Amazon for $79.99 and it will last all day. It’s even waterproof for the rainiest of Florida days (or the wettest of water rides). We suggest bringing multiple so you always have one that’s fully charged and ready to go!
Shop for this myCharge portable charger here!
Stay Cool & Protected from the Heat and Sun
Cooling Towels
For starters, we don’t know where we would be without cooling towels. Frogg Toggs has one of our favorites, and we do NOT leave our hotel room without one if we visit during the summer months.
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You can get these in a bunch of different colors on Amazon! This one we found can be yours for $12.99.
Pick up a Frogg Toggs cooling towel here!
Mini Handheld Fan
Our next must-have for staying cool is a mini handheld fan! We’ve spotted some pretty cute Disney-themed fans in the parks before, but we were pretty disappointed in their inability to keep us cool. Simply put, cuter doesn’t ALWAYS mean better.
©Amazon
Fear not! There are some GREAT mini fans on Amazon, including this one that we found that will get the job done for $12.99. Many of these are rechargeable via USB as well, so they’ll plug right into your fuelrod!
Pick up a mini handheld fan for your next Disney trip here!
Mineral Powder Sunscreen
Hopefully we ALL know the importance of wearing sunscreen everywhere you go, no matter the time of year. This is ESPECIALLY important in Disney World, where the Florida sun can be super intense year-round! For kiddos and even some adults, the greasy feeling of sunscreen isn’t ideal, but fortunately, there are sunscreen powders you can use instead!
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We found this one on Amazon that is water-resistant for 80 minutes and is SPF 30. Throw it in your park bag and reapply throughout the day! You can pick one of these up for $26.
Stock up on mineral powder sunscreen here!
A Collapsible Water Bottle
What’s the number one summer rule? STAY HYDRATED! Drinking ample amounts of water is key to not only surviving but thriving in Disney World. We recommend you bring your own reusable water bottle to save money on bottled water in the parks.
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A collapsable water bottle takes your level of organization one step further! When you aren’t using it, it folds down into a smaller size to more easily fit in your park bag. You can grab this one on Amazon for $12.99!
Shop for the collapsable water bottle here!
Keeping Your Park Essentials Safe and Organized
While some pros may opt for going to the park without a bag, for others, that isn’t a reasonable expectation. If you, or your group, need to carry various essentials around all day, try to leave your large purse at home and go with a smaller bag!
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Crossbody bags are ideal! Avoid the hassle of a giant backpack with a compact bag like this Vera Bradley purse you can get on Amazon for $69.99! There are tons of other patterns available, too.
Purchase the Vera Bradley hipster purse here!
Save On Snacks
While we’re huge advocates for trying the latest and greatest snacks in Disney World, packing your own snacks can be a HUGE money saver. Keep those treats protected with a pack of reusable storage bags!
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You can grab a pack of four of these silicone reusable storage bags on Amazon for $23.97.
Shop for these reusable food storage bags here!
Beauty and Cosmetic Must-Haves
When you look good at Disney World, you feel great! And with the high likelihood of your family’s holiday card photo coming from your Disney World vacation, the pressure is high to look and feel your absolute best. So stock up on some cosmetics must-haves!
Chapstick (with SPF!)
For starters, you gotta keep your lips moisturized! If you plan on snacking your way through the day, it can be extra essential to have chapstick handy to reapply as needed.
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We found a three-pack on Amazon that you can purchase for $4.45. What’s better is that these have SPF 15 built-in, keeping your lips protected from the sun, too.
Purchase this three-pack of Chapstick with SPF 15 here!
SuperStay Lipstick
For those of you looking to add a little bit of color to your lips, we’ve found that SuperStay by Maybelline holds up particularly well in the Florida heat.
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Available in a variety of colors, you can stock up on Amazon for under $10 per color! Take a look at this one we found for $7.99.
Stock up on SuperStay lipstick by Maybelline here!
Hand Cream
Keeping your hands moisturized throughout the day is important as well! Keep a small bottle of hand cream nearby and reapply whenever you need to.
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We’ve really liked using Eucerin. You can pick up a pack of 3 2.7oz. bottles on Amazon for $15.89!
Grab some Eucerin hand cream here!
If the Shoe Fits…
Whether you prefer a closed-toe shoe or flip flops, we have some top recommendations to keep your feet comfy! Picking the right shoe is ESSENTIAL. It’s also super important to break the shoes in before your trip, so if you want new shoes, be sure to buy them well in advance so your feet can get used to them.
Sneakers
Let’s start off with a stylish pair of shoes that we LOVE wearing to the parks. You can’t go wrong with Adidas Originals Superstars.
© Zappos
You can pick up a pair on Zappos for $94.95.
Grab a pair of Adidas Originals Superstar sneakers here!
Sandals
If you don’t like the feeling of wearing sneakers in the extreme Florida heat, we have a couple of open-toe options for you to consider! The first are Birkenstocks. These babies are BACK in style and your kids won’t know HOW you got so trendy.
© Nordstrom
Amazon has tons of varieties that you can grab for $44.95 (for waterproof ones) and up!
Be super stylish AND comfortable at the parks with a pair of Birkenstocks!
Flip Flops and Quick-Dry Sandals
We’ve been singing the praises of Tevas for years. They’re among the comfiest flip flops and the most useful sandals we’ve worn, and a pair always seems to find their way into our suitcases! Although flip flops aren’t the best shoes to wear in a rainstorm, they’re great for walking around the resort pool or on your day off from the parks. And if you DO catch yourself in a rainstorm, grab those quick-dry Teva sandals with a backstrap to get you through!
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You can shop for their iconic Mush flip flops on Amazon! These range in price from $25 to $47.71.
Shop for these Teva Mush flip flops here!
And grab the sandals with a backstrap HERE!
Blister Prevention and Care
If you do happen to get blisters while at Disney World, you’ll need some gear to make your feet as comfy as possible so it doesn’t put a damper on your trip. In a pinch, you can go to First Aid and they’ll give you a band-aid. To prevent blisters from occurring in the first place, we’ve found that the Body Glide anti-blister balm works WONDERS.
© Amazon
You can grab some of this balm on Amazon for $8.99. Apply before you put on your shoes and you should notice a difference!
Pick up some anti-blister balm here!
Once a blister appears, it’s important to keep it protected and padded. Dr. Scholl’s has a great Moleskin padding roll that you can cut into various sizes depending on the size of the blister.
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We found it on Amazon for $6.50. Don’t let blisters ruin your Disney World vacation!
Stock up on moleskin padding roll here!
At DFB, we’re in the parks virtually every single day! We’ve tried so many different clothing items, accessories, gadgets, and gear over the years, and we know a thing or two when it comes to packing the ultimate Disney parks essentials. We hope this helps you come up with your own park packing list, or maybe it will help remind you to restock on some of these items before you return to the parks!
Check out the ultimate packing list for newborns in Disney World here!
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I’ve always taken ponchos and collapsible umbrellas.
Imodium AD better having and not needing it than to be without it, poncho, Benadryl, (just in case of an allergy attack or reaction.
Hair ties and hairbrush for the water rides, and baby wipes For just about anything.
When we go to the parks, we use the “power saver” mode on our iOS phone. Not sure if Android has it or not. It limits some functions but not the ones we need the most in the parks. It makes our battery last pretty much all day. Our other favorite thing to bring to the parks are pre-frozen water bottles about 1/2 full (on cool days) to 3/4 full (on hot days). Don’t fill them to the top to allow expansion room. Then we transport them in a gallon zip lock with a microfiber towel around the bottle(s). We haven’t tried it but it looks like the round ice “Tootsie” roll shaped ones at some venues might fit inside to keep water cooler longer.
Pack cold brew concentrate & creamer in your checked luggage, along with saved-up plastic coffee cups with lids and straws (from Dunkin, Starbucks, etc.) — a quick trip to the ice machine in the morning, and BAM, you have an iced coffee for the morning trip to rope drop! Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
Always carry cash in the parks. ALWAYS. When the computers go down at the kiosks or mobile order as they do, it is cash only so have extra $10s and $20s ready.
Carry some ziplock bags to keep electronics dry on wet rides or during afternoon downpours. Also good for saving snacks for later. Carry an extra set of plastic utensils, they come in handy.
The most important kit we pack in our bags is the First Aid Kit. It has pepto pills, ibuprofen, TUMS, and other over the counter items for ailments. It also has band-aids and a wrapping brace in case of tripping or accidents. Last is those medical equipment or medications you know is imperative. We actually have a list on our computers that we go through to make sure we have those items prepared. That way, you don’t have to think about them as you pack all the fun stuff!