Few things are more exciting than planning a Disney trip, but it can certainly be overwhelming! Which hotel should you stay at? How many dining reservations should you squeeze into one day? And how many Minnie ears are too many to buy/bring?
A Beautiful Sight at Magic Kingdom!
You have so much to think about already, and the last thing you want is to be on your perfectly planned trip and realize that you forgot to bring an essential item! Don’t worry, we’ve got your back (or your bag) — let us guide you on the 7 surprising items we always bring to Disney World (that you probably haven’t about) that we think are total game changers!
Bed Sheets
This may sound a bit crazy, but hear us out. You know how for your bed at home you probably use a fitted bottom sheet and then a top sheet to cover yourself with? Well, at Disney World, you will find bottom sheets covering the mattress of the bed, and top sheets you can cover yourself in. But, here’s the catch. Those bottom sheets typically aren’t fitted!
Bed and Murphy Bed
So, sometimes you might find that the bottom sheet will move around during the night as it may be a bit shorter, and then it won’t cover the whole mattress. If you want to make sure the bottom sheet doesn’t move around on you, you might want to bring your own fitted bottom sheet!
Bay Lake Tower
Another thing you can bring to keep your bottom sheet from sliding around are sheet stays! These clip to the sheet just like a pair of suspenders. They go underneath the mattress and will secure that bottom sheet so you don’t wake up with it on the floor again. These are great too because they’ll take up a lot less space in your luggage than an entire fitted sheet. You can get this set from Amazon, which has over 40,000 reviews!
Click here to buy the RayTour Bed Sheet Holder Straps!
©Disney The Little Mermaid-themed rooms are coming to Caribbean Beach Resort.
And while you’re at it, bringing whatever sheet you use to cover yourself with (in addition to the fitted bottom sheet) might not hurt either. It can sometimes be helpful to bring those to make you feel more comfortable and give you a good night of rest! You’ll need it for all those busy park days!
Click here to tour a Caribbean Beach Resort Pirate Room!
Storage Baggies
Storage baggies might not come to mind when you think of what to pack, but there are TONS of uses for these all around the Disney Parks! You can save a leftover snack to nosh on later, protect your phone/other electronics during the rain or water rides, or keep track of the glow cubes your kiddos have collected from each restaurant (trust us, they’ll want one from each place!).
You may not know what you’ll need a storage bag for until you get into a situation where you wished you had one! Grabbing a handful of plastic baggies is easy, but you could also get some sturdier, reusable ones like the ones in the photo below (click here to check them out).
©HomeLux Reusable Storage Bags | Amazon
We have a feeling you’ll find more uses for them than you might expect!
Click here to bring home the reusable storage bags!
Reusable Straws
A number of years ago, the Disney World theme parks started doing away with plastic straws. Now, while at Disney World, you’ll generally just find paper straws. If you’re not a fan of paper straws or think you might need something that’s a bit more sturdy, then you may want to consider bringing your own straw. After all, those paper straws don’t always hold up the best with certain drinks (especially not a frozen boozy beverage!)
Don’t like that paper straw? Bring your own!
There are a TON of options online and in stores for this now. For example, you could grab this colorful set that comes with twelve straws plus straw cleaners. These are nice and flexible and fit a variety of cup sizes! Plus, they come with a handy carrying case so you can just toss them into your park bag.
Click here to buy the Hiware 12 Pcs Reusable Silicone Drinking Straws with Travel Case!
When you’re done using them, you can wash them up and store them in your bag until the next time you grab a snack or drink.
Click here to see our experience using reusable silverware in Disney World!
Flip Flops/Extra Socks
Comfy shoes are THE way to go in the parks, and tennis shoes might be many people’s go-to. But, there is nothing worse than sloshing around in wet socks after an afternoon rainstorm or picking the wet seat on Kali River Rapids. To avoid this travesty, pack a pair of lightweight flip-flops or extra socks to throw into your bag!
Flip Flops
You can change into the flip-flops during a water ride, or while trekking through large puddles, and then change back into your socks and shoes once things are dry. Or if you get caught in the rain unexpectedly and your socks get soaked, you can change into a fresh pair of clean, dry socks once the rain stops.
When it comes to flip-flops, we recommend that you get a non-slip one, so that you can avoid potential falls. There are a few options on Amazon, like the one in the photo below (click here to check them out).
©Shower Shoez | Amazon
You can also bring a pair you already own or grab some in Disney World.
Click Here to Learn More About Extreme Weather in Disney World!
Multi-plug Outlet
If you’re like us, you probably have a LOT of things you need to be plugged in during your stay. Multiple phones, several laptops, all your smartwatches, curling irons, a hairdryer, a portable fan…that all takes up a lot of precious plug real estate!
The solution? Bring a multi-plug adapter to keep all of your devices within reach. There are even some, like the one in the photo below, that have plugs on the side (Click here to grab it)!
©TESSAN | Amazon
These plugs can be a great help and make charging all of your essentials at night much easier!
Grab the multi-plug adapter by clicking here!
Handsoap
Disney does a great job of supplying quality shampoo and conditioner in their hotel rooms. But one thing some people don’t love is the bars of soap provided to wash your hands! For some, a bar of soap might be totally fine. But others just prefer the use of regular liquid hand soap to wash their hands.
If bars of soap aren’t your thing, you could fill these foam pump bottles with liquid hand soap from home to keep by your hotel room sink!
©JIUZHU | Amazon
Then, you won’t have to worry about using that bar of soap or ever running out of soap!
Get the soap pump bottles here!
Refillable Water Bottle
Staying hydrated in Disney World is KEY, and carrying a refillable water bottle is a great way to both stay hydrated and save money. Remember that you can get FREE cups of water at many counter service spots in Disney World. So, you can just stop in, get a free cup of water, refill your water bottle, and be on your way! No need to purchase those water bottles in the park (which can be QUITE expensive — though we’ve got some tips to help you save a few $$)!
This Brita water bottle has a filter built into it to help remove some of that Florida water taste, which is especially helpful if you’re getting water from a water fountain (if you know, you know), or remember you can ask for a free cup of water at any quick-service spot and pour that in.
©Brita | Amazon
And that’s our list of some of the unique things we always bring to Disney World. Hopefully, this list will help make your next Disney experience just a little bit less stressful so that you can enjoy every minute of your trip!
We’ll keep making our way around the parks and working on more posts to give you tons of useful tips and tricks! Stay tuned for more.
23 Things Every Pro Packs for Disney World — Click Here!
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I bring toilet paper too… Disney’s one ply is awful especially on hot days with all the walking.
These are good ones….I also take a collapsible stool for the little ones to reach the sink and a pop up hamper to wrangle dirty clothes.
A packet of wipes is a must for children and adults, get a dollar pack of Huggy wipes at Walgreens for 1.00. Adults can use them for quick wipe downs on those sweaty days or for the restrooms!! Good to pack two. Kids hands always need a good wipe down
Didn’t see sunglasses mentioned or batteries
Hair pins or locking combs are great to pull hair back and up!!
After our first trip to Disney we switched things up a bit. A waterproof backpack ( from an outfitters store) keeps all treasures dry. Instead of using ponchos for rain we each have light water proof jackets that will roll up. Also small water absorbent work out towels are great for drying off or using as a wet cloth to sponge off when it is really hot.
Because I tend to be allergic to most hotel pillows, I always bring a zippered pillow covering made for allergies, AND a colorful pillowcase. I put them right over the pillowcase they have. The non-white pillowcase helps me to remember to grab them on my checkout day. This has saved my neck on many trips, vs. trying to sleep on bound up towels.
For plugins, I found (on Amazon) a retractable extension cord with multiple plugs, and a couple USB ports. It seems the plugs in the rooms are never where you want them, even if they have a lot.
I also second the suggestion of a squeezable refillable water bottle with a filter. The faucet water at the resorts tastes awful, in my opinion, and gives any coffee you make in your room taste bad. Filtering helps. Another trick in a pinch, now that the ice machines are available again, use the melted water for coffee.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK AJ FOR HER OUTSTANDING REPORTING OF DISNEY INFORMATION!!HER INPUT HAS BEEN GREAT LEADING UP TO MY TRIP.
Definitely sheets and pillow cases where ever I go. Hotel hand soap is icky, and a water bottle with a filter in FL is a must. uucky water. Great list
Thank you for the feedback, Harold! Have a wonderful trip.
It’s probably strange but we always bring a door stop to keep the door open for when we’re sitting on the balcony and a washing up brush and detergent so we can wash the refillable cups.
Your tip about bringing a tray to the Flower and Garden Festival was so awesome! It made such a difference. Every time we purchased food from the outdoor kitchens, the cast member who served us would comment that it was genius. Thanks so much!
Corinne, we’re so glad that tip helped!
We were recently on a nine day Disney trip. No theme parks involved, just pool. I bought each of us a camping utensil kit (from Amazon) that held a stainless knife, fork, spoon, two stainless straws, a straw brush and chopsticks, all in a lovely zip up packet that attaches to a backpack or purse. We dined outdoors every day, where the utensils proved their value (Plastic would not have worked well on steak). It was difficult to get food at our hotel (Coronado Springs), so we ordered to-go at our hotel and off property and ate poolside using our utensils. We’ll be bringing them again in September for our next trip. Also, did you know you can request a microwave for your hotel room? Good for warming up leftovers.
Barbara, thanks for sharing!
I like to bring a couple over the door shoe holders. I use one for toiletries (easy to see each item) and another for organizing snacks. Each day before we head out, everyone grabs a few snacks to put it in their own bags. Really helps keep a hotel room organized and they’re easy to fold up & pack.
I’d say a good idea to have handy would be a backup, fully-charcharged cell phone accessory aka an extra battery or a portable charger. Because the next thing you know, if it hasn’t started happening already, is that greedy Disney will start charging you to stand around to charge your own phones.
Do you think Disney World will bring back dining plan?
The request for a microwave n resort room is a must thanks for the tip
We always have salads and fruit and little desserts also cereal and milk and sodas n our room fridge
Brenda, Disney has said it is coming back, but they haven’t released details.
I never leave home without blister bandaids. Even better than moleskin!
Thank you for the tips. Two things we always take, that I see no-one else with, is tea towels and fabric placemats. Whever we eat, we put a placemat on the table and a teatiwel on our lap. It makes eating in the fast food places a bit more civilised and more like a table service restaurant. Orher diners ofren comment on how nice it looks.
All great suggestions. Our travel straws are food grade silicone and zig zag into a smal tins the size of breath mint tins. Easy to use and small and they stay clean in your pack. Disneys paper straws have egg in them so if u have an egg allergy beware!
We have added apple air tags to our day pack in case it gets forgotten or goes missing. My daughters wallet was recently stolen out of her backpack while they were having lunch in Disneyland. There are small enough to slip one inside! We also have a tag with our name and phone number connected inside the backpack so if found we can be called .
Always with silicone reusable bags for snacks and a dri bag for saturated clothes . You can also use the dri bag to keep things dry inside or put a small REI towel in for drying up a bit
Love to hear peoples suggestions. Thank you for sharing!
Oh ! One good thing for Apple Watch users is a portable charger for you Apple Watch. Available on Amazon $20 gives a full charge and I then recharge it at the hotel for the next day. No cords needed!
Another reason for a reusable straw, is that the paper ones sometimes have gluten in them. If you’re gluten-free, it’s good to have that safety measure in place.
A cooling foot spray is heaven after 17.2 miles of walking in the parks! Body shop is my go to for this necessary item.
I’m struggling to understand why anyone would have a problem with a bar of soap. It’s soap! In a solid form. It doesn’t get germy or nasty because, IT’S SOAP! You unwrapped it brand new in your room, no one but you and your family used it, and it gets tossed in the trash (probably) when you check out.
I actually bring my own hand soap every time just because I don’t like the soap that Disney uses. I also bring my own bar soap and body wash/shampoo/conditioner. I just don’t like theirs.
I have found when packing clothes for my husband and myself to roll clothes I saw that on tv about packing for a trip and found that very helpful I also have small steamer and pack it just n case I need to use It and we always leave the resort room every day as if it’s our own home and put towels n bathtub and all trash n trash can bathroom counter is spotless we know that housekeeping works hard to take care of guest rooms and then have to go to their homes and clean everyone should b respectful of the housekeepers we have had comments from them how our room is so tidy and that is because we respect them and appreciate what they do for us so please lack their jobs as easy as y can and also everyday we always a little money on the pillow and a thank u note for taking care of us my sister and her husband also does the same thing
I’ve never minded Florida water, so I have a plastic Snapple bottle for my backpack holder. Start the day with tea, refills just fine, and if you lose it, no biggie. The little instant drink packages can be used if you don’t like the water taste, just make sure to throw the plastic bits away. Straws, much the same as above. Paper fails on so many levels. A baggie of zipper-lock baggies also. Reusable ones tend to be a mess to carry after they’ve been used. A phone power bar from the vending machines is a great plus for the park, even if expensive. A USB extension cord at the hotel for your multi-plug charger likewise. Then all the usual stuff, sunscreen, Gold Bond, blister packs, lip balm, etc… And have fun!