What’s in Sarah’s Disney Backpack?
Packing your backpack for a day in the parks at Walt Disney World and wondering what essentials you’ll need? This post shares tips for the most important things to bring, along with a glimpse inside Sarah’s backpack that she’s carrying right now for the Christmas season.
Sarah’s day-to-day backpack for a visit to the theme parks differs pretty considerably from our What to Pack for Walt Disney World (+Checklist) post. With that packing list, we take a kitchen sink approach, with the rationale that it’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.
When you’re spending a day in the parks, it’s better to not be bogged down with a bunch of extra junk, so our philosophy is to take only the essentials for any given day. Well, plus some fun accessories and the like. In that spirit, here are the highlights–and must-pack essentials for a day at Walt Disney World…
I should say that’s Sarah’s philosophy, not “ours.” My camera bag weighs over 25 pounds when fully-packed, so I cannot claim I’m only taking the essentials. With that said, I will soon finally be switching over to Nikon’s mirrorless system, and have already picked out some of what I’m going to get. Not that any of you care, but that’ll cut down the size and weight of my bag pretty dramatically.
It’s also worth noting that what’s in Sarah’s bag for the holiday season is not the same as what would be in it during the summer. For seasonal packing tips, we recommend reading our Winter Disney Packing Tips and Summer Disney Packing Tips, each of which offer specific ideas for the most humid/hottest months and the coldest months.
Anyway, here are the staples that Sarah keeps in her backpack for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, etc…
Anker PowerCore Slim External Battery — We have over a dozen external batteries, ranging in capacity and size. Normally, we each carry our own, with this being Sarah’s go-to that she’s been using for the past several months. Light, compact, fast charging, and with enough juice for a full recharge of multiple iPhones. A must if you’ll be using Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.
EltaMD Face Sunscreen — I’m not very particular when it comes to sunscreen–I just use cheap stuff. Sarah favors this fancier brand, which is recommended by distinguished scientists from all over the world. (Probably.)
Face Blotting Sheets – Sarah swears by these for eliminating sweat and oil so she doesn’t glisten like she has “Florida Face” in photos.
“Parade” Mat — For years we simply improvised and sat on park maps while waiting for parades, fireworks, or other entertainment. This proved to be a gamechanger, securing our space–and not just a small square. This is pocket-size, waterproof, and puncture-resistant. That’s all nice, but the biggest benefit to having a parade blanket is claiming your turf–otherwise, you’ll notice your space “magically” shrinking as showtime draws nearer.
Pro Ponchos — This one is a no-brainer, and an “insurance policy” that’s always in Sarah’s bag, no matter the time of year or where we are. Ponchos in the parks cost $10 each, and over the course of a vacation, that can really add up. We recommend buying a few of these pro ponchos, which can be reused. They’re small and light that you can throw a few in the bottom of your bag and just forget about them. (Sarah also carries this Repel Travel Umbrella, which is windproof, durable, and compact.)
Life Straw Go Filter Water Bottle — Florida tap water tastes awful straight from the swamp, so it’s key to get a bottle with a filter. This bottle is the best option, hands down. It’s durable, BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and uses a 2-stage activated carbon filter reduces odor, chlorine and leaves zero aftertaste. (We also like the Brita Filter Water Bottles as an inexpensive alternative.)
Travel Hand Sanitizer — Sometimes there isn’t a bathroom nearby when you want to have a snack. Or, you just want clean hands. We’ve found this essential beyond Disney, where bathrooms are perpetually out of soap.
WetBrush Detangle — This hair brush performs well with wet or dry hair, making it great for attractions like Splash Mountain (when your hair will get wet) and also water-less attractions like Space Mountain that’ll leave your hair tangled. A staple of Sarah’s Disney Parks backpack, she swears by this as the best brush for detangling hair.
Insect Repellant Bracelets – Pests are drawn to Sarah (that’s how she acquired me!), so these are another staple of her bag. Probably not a strict necessity for most people, but not a bad thing to have, either.
Chomps Beef Sticks – If left to my own devices, I’d probably bring a stockpile of Slim Jims. Apparently, those aren’t as “healthy” as Chomps, which boast a laundry list of “clean” selling points. These are now our go-to beef jerky for the parks–they’re also available at Trader Joe’s and a variety of other grocery stores. (We like every flavor except the cranberry one.)
Mount Hagen Organic Instant Coffee – Starbucks is not that good, the line is always long, and we each “need” 3-4 servings of caffeine per day to function. Buying coffee in the parks costs us a lot of time and money. Conversely, cutting coffee from our travel budget saves us a ton of money and time, which we can use to bolster our budget for unique snacks.
Mamma Chia Squeeze – It’s easy to not get enough fruits and vegetables while in the parks–and individual servings are expensive–so these natural and nutritious snacks are a great answer to that. Another great option is GoGo squeeZ, which similarly has good ingredients.
Kitchen & Love Quick Meals – Most of these taste foul, but I’m told they’re incredibly healthy and packed with powerful nutrients. The packaging is a bit cumbersome, but they are incredibly filling and help us power through the day–I’ll give them that.
Larabars – Another healthy snack that’s full of nutrients and natural ingredients. As an added “bonus,” these actually taste great!
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Change of Ears – Sarah’s collection of mouse ear headbands rivals my collection of Disney Parks books both in terms of quantity and variety. She has a vast repository of ears: ones from every park in the world, vintage ears, custom-made ears, etc. These mouse ear headbands are a quick way to accessorize and make for better photos (for those times when your outfit doesn’t match nearby walls).
In terms of things that are almost always in Sarah’s backpack for the Disney Parks, that’s it. Plenty of other things make sporadic appearances and a ton more stays behind in our hotel room, but as you can tell, it’s a fairly light bag. Remember, whatever you put in your backpack you have to lug around all day, for the 10+ miles you’ll probably walk in the park. Unless you’re crazy like me and back pain by the end of the trip, go light.
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Your Thoughts
What goes into your backpack for a day in Walt Disney World or the other Disney Parks? Do you use anything on this list, or have alternative recommendations? Agree or disagree with anything in her bag? Any questions about any of the items on this list? We love hearing from readers, so please share some of your favorite items for travel, or any other thoughts or questions you have, in the comments!
We are older and not really the demographic you’re focused on with your list. On our most recent trip, I got to use my newly purchased Running Buddy pouch (which fits neatly over my waistband). I wasn’t sure it would carry everything, but upon taking inventory, I realized I didn’t need that much. The extra large Running Buddy pouch fit my cell phone, health insurance cards, some cash, Kleenex, a few Tylenol and four Lactaid pills. It was so comfortable, I didn’t even know I had it on.
Since it was the end of November, we brought jackets to the parks (along with the handy Anker lipstick charger), necessitating a backpack person. The daytime weather was warm, but we did need the jackets in the evening. As for security, it was a 50/50 proposition. Some sent me through a security check, while others sent me in the ‘no bags’ gate.
We no longer do the parks from rope drop to closing, so there is no need for caffeine pills, energy bars, etc. If tired, we sit, if hungry, we buy a snack. When we run out of energy, we head back to the hotel (who knew being old would so simplify our Disney trips).
All that being said, your lists have been quite valuable to us. Without them, we wouldn’t know about items such as SunBum sticks, and other obscure wonders. So for that, we thank you.
I drink a 6oz can of Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso while walking from our hotel to the parks and pack another in my bag for later in the day. Doesn’t have to be chilled and small enough to keep my bag light, even with everything my kids need for the day. (Cheapest when purchased as a 4 pack.) I just might have to go for a few packs of instant coffee, too! I love the treat of Disney Starbucks, but I’d rather wait in line for something a bit more exciting.
Me and my family go to DW in Florida every year from r the last four years during Christmas time and I pick on my wife because she will literally pack the kitchen sink into my backpack! We have a four year old and a four month old that went this year and we always rent our stroller at the resort, this year we had three dipper bags and a backpack , I looked like a pack mule walking around!
Hi,
How does she pack her ears so they do not get bent?
Am I the only person who just learned about the Epic Bison Meat Bars? Upon further investigation, I am overjoyed to see tender bison, savory bacon, and tart cranberries combined to create an epic tasting bar unlike anything I have experienced before! I must say I am disappointed in you Tom, for I have enjoyed your blog for years, and this is the first time I am hearing of this. I can only assume , since is has bacon in it, it must be even more delicious than the cupcakes you feature so often in your commentaries. What other secrets have you been holding back ? I am shocked that you haven’t written an entire article on this, and especially no pictures.
Haha, the Epic bars are good, but they aren’t THAT good…and wow are they expensive. We basically only buy them on the rare occasion Amazon or Whole Foods has them on sale.
Where are you getting the hot water for the coffee?
Tom, I would hate to be behind you and Sarah in the bag check line!
Ha! With the way my camera bag opens (only own compartment) at the back, it’s actually really easy and quick to inspect. Sarah’s bag only has two pouches, so same goes for it. The bags that take a while are ones with tons of zippers. Security opens *all* of them, no matter how small!
We will be trying the caffeine mints, thank you for these packing lists. We got our Chilly towel from one of your lists and our anker extra battery phone charger
I would like to add that, because I had bariatric surgery and can’t have carbonated beverages (or drink out of straws), I found that adding a drink enhancer makes regular water (or even Dasani, which I can’t stand the normal taste of because they add sodium in it) much more tolerable. For coffee, I use MIO Energy Iced Vanilla Java flavor (which has caffeine in it) and for everything else, I mix it up between fruit punch, Crush orange, and A&W root beer flavors (depending on my mood). The MIO Energy and Crush orange flavors are liquid but have a flip top cap. The fruit punch can be found in liquid with the flip top cap or in powder form, and the A&W root beer flavor is power form only. They can be found at Walmart (in the aisle with the bottled water), and run anywhere from $1 for a box of 6 A&W root beer packets to $3 for one MIO Energy, but are very well worth it. I stick a MIO Energy, a Crush orange, and a few root beer packets in a small ziplock baggie and put them in my bag for park days. Very well worth it for those that have had this type of surgery and need an alternative to plain water or other non-carbonated beverages.
I wear a running belt (a super skinny fanny pack, if you will). I have a little pouch for money and ID, I have 4 Aleve, chapstick, 2 Off! bug repellent wipes, and 2 Wet Ones wipes. I live on the free ice water from quick service, and we always eat a big breakfast and an early (4 or 4:30) dinner, so we rarely need snacks in between. And I have to admit I’ll sometimes pull my shirt over it so we can go through the “no bags” line. I’m a rebel.
I use one of those running belts for marathons–never would’ve thought to use it for a day in the parks, but if you can’t get away with only packing a few small things, that’s brilliant!
My kids are out of diapers but I still travel with baby wipes. They clean tables & surfaces as well as faces & hands.
These are great ideas! The only extra thing we pack since we have kiddos from ages 6 – 10 are wet wipes. They are a lifesaver since for some reason kids are always sticky!
One of our necessities is small notebook and a small packing cube that holds two hot wheels cars, 6 small markers, and 4 crayons. This “essential” passes the time easily with our kids at the restaurants. They can draw road maps for the cars, or last year we kept drawing silly pictures of “hey hey” (from moana) which was hilariously funny to the kids.
Packing strategy is my wife’s specialty, the only input I ever give is bring an extra phone charger cord. Nothing like having your cord fizzle and stop working. Can’t be without the Disney app while in the park.
Mini first aid/med kit! Can’t even count the number of times someone has needed a bandaid, Neosporin, tums, cough drops, etc Its small, lightweight, and can be a total lifesaver (even to strangers if they need a bandaid). Definitely cheaper than buying things at the gift shops.
In case you aren’t aware – there are First Aid stations in every park that will dispense bandaids, Tylenol, etc. for free. So you don’t have to buy at gift shops. that said, carrying them is not a hassle and saves time/walking if you need them.
Yep. Also, the quality of what they have at First Aid can be hit or miss, so if you’re particular about what you use, best to bring your own supplies.
Great advice! I love the mini blanket idea, plus if you are at the park at night waiting for someone riding a ride you don’t ride, it’s nice to put down on a freezing cold chair. The temperature differences at night at DL are real! It does get chilly in California!
Thanks for your blog, I love it! Have a great time in Tokyo
I recently started carrying a change of shoes. If we don’t take a break during the day, it helps to switch to flip flops in the parks when the feet start to swell and get tired. I went from always getting blisters to getting none. It takes up a lot of space but is so worth it. Oh, and I bring blister band aids too.
This is a great idea. We always stay on-site at WDW, and go to our room after lunch for a break. I change shoes for the evening at that time, and it sure makes a difference.
Since you are in Japan, you might try these: https://www.amazon.com/Blendy-Kafera-bitter-pieces-Parallel/dp/B01M66IPPY/ I discovered them last year and managed to bring enough home for our first Disney trip. I’m not spending $80 to get them from Amazon for our next one though. Haven’t found a good U.S. replacement, but will try yours.
Where’s the sandwich, water, snacks, juice, and soda? You can bring a spillproof mug for coffee. Your backpack will get lighter as you consume the food. I like to bring a pre-chilled 1 liter bottle of soda. You save SO MUCH money. Bring cookies so you’ll get the sugar rush after smelling the tasty carts.
All great ideas–but not things we pack in our bags. We try to keep it light with coffee and protein bars. 🙂
Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Coffee
These are my new favorite things to bring with me to WDW, especially when staying at the Values without coffee makers. Two words..sink coffee. Sounds gross, but I am desperate on those rope drop mornings, and these work great for that purpose! They dissolve perfectly in any temperature of water. We had a couple mornings of EMH where we were at the bus stop before the food courts were even open. These were a life saver!
Even when we stay at higher resort tiers, we’re often in too big of a hurry to make hot coffee (plus, who wants hot coffee in the Florida heat?!) so we do the same.
Now I get it. I was wondering how you got the hot water for coffee in the parks. FWIW, *I* want hot coffee anywhere!
Fortunately, I only *need* coffee in the early morning, and just fill up my refillable cup at the resort food court. That is what makes the cup pay for itself.
Are you able to take your backpack on all of the rides? And if not, what do you do with them?
When you can take them on the rides, are they cumbersome?
My experience is limited, but the couple of times I’ve been to Magic Kingdom, every ride we rode I took my backpack with me. It usually just rode between my feet.
You can ride most of the rides with the bags between your feet! It’s a bit cumbersome, but it’s doable. I usually had it though, because my husband is significantly taller than I am (6’2″ vs 5’4″) and I have more leg room. I think we had to leave it once, but I can’t remember where. (Maybe I’m mixing it up with Universal Studios, which has free ride lockers)
A bag the size of the one Sarah is wearing is no issue whatsoever on any attraction; it easily fits at your feet.
My camera bag is over double that size, and is not as malleable. At WDW, the only rides where it’s uncomfortable are Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Space Mountain. At the international parks and Universal, I’ve had to use lockers (TRON Lightcycle Power Run comes to mind), but even then, that’s rare.
Yes, you can take them on the rides. We usually try to keep the necessities (ponchos, sunscreen, autograph things, etc) along with snacks in our backpack. We take a regular size backpack but if it’s stuffed full I could see it being cumbersome on rides like space mountain where there isn’t a whole lot of extra leg room in the first place especially if you’re tall. Most other rides have plenty of space though.