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!
We receive a small commission from purchases via the above links, so buying through this post helps support the site. However, neither the price you pay nor our recommendations (or lack thereof) are impacted by that.
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!
So the filtered water bottles, do you just fill up in the parks? I’m assuming there are water fountains?
What do you do with back pack when get in rides? Can you take them on the rides? Thanks and good advice fir what’s inside! We are going next week!!
Half size ziplocks permanently in front pouch packs:
1. A few pennies & quarters for wishing wells and those tucked away fortune-style machines in Disneyland.
2. A couple trader pins in case we see a pin board
3. Band aids, aleve, safety pin, etc.
I actually find the Mango Roasted Pepper flavor Love & Kitchen Quinoa cup delicious! I pack one for each day I’m there. Jack Link’s beef and cheese stick are my go to, but I’ll have to give Chomps a try. For my daily treat, I like the raspberry/chocolate NEOH protein bars. Keeps me out of the sweet shops.
I remember when Disneyland had free refills when you bought a cup of coffee ….. I’d use it all day.
I eat those artichoke packs. I also bring individual olive pouches, pickle pouches, and dried fruit.
What do you do for creamer or do you drink it black?
No creamer–we drink it black.
My Family is 3 adults and my son. He will b 5 when we go in May 2022. We will have Ponchos, Snacks, Insect bracelets, water bottles, Minnie ears, Camera, plus all my Son’s snacks/Change of Clothes. He loves Splash pads. We found out that we can get Genie+ included in Military tickets. So we r gonna get those.
We always listen to the weather reports, especially rain predictions, in which case we pack folding umbrellas in my backpack as well as waterproof ponchos. When it rains at Disney World, it POURS!!
P.S. I love your pictures in your blogs!
I like the Nike Leather Cortez shoes! Had those in high school and still my favorite shoes!
Those are my “fancy shoes” that I only wear for special occasions. (Yes, I realize they’re not actually fancy.) Most of the time, I wear Flyknit Free RNs–have several pairs of those.
Tom which Nikon mirror less are you going to grab? I just invested in a z5 a bit older model but coming from my D90 was obviously a huge upgrade 🙂 my lenses
Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S Lens
Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S Lens
Stock lens 24-200mm
Still not sure which body–probably comes down to Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals. Probably the Z7 II, though.
As for lenses, definitely the Nikon 14-30mm (most of my Enchantment and Harmonious photos were shot with that–absolutely LOVE that lens!)
Probably the new Nikon 40mm f/2 (for the size) and probably the 24-200mm. While part of me would like to do the 24-70mm and 70-200mm lenses, I’ve heard great things about the superzoom, and it’s probably good enough for the vast majority of my purposes.
Just got back from WDW and the must have is the water filter bottle. You MUST have this. Three people, 6 days, easily saved us $180 total for not buying bottled water inside the park. Best $25 I ever spent. Plus, I use it everyday.
So I have bought packs of ponchos before as they are small and easy to carry. I just bought what you had suggested in a different post. They look nice but a bit big to bring to the parks.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YTXKNP7?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details
Love the healthy snacks, especially since they don’t have to be kept cool! We love Chomps and Lara bars too. I have three little kids so packing snacks is a must, as “hanger” comes on strong at times. I’ll definitely add these to my shopping list. Those filter water bottles are amazing too!
I know it’s not part of the article, but where does Sarah get all of her fantastic dresses?
As a semi-coffee snob, I was recently turned on to Swift Cup Coffee… a little pricier, but they have lots of different blends and made an amazing cup of coffee, light years beyond Starbucks. It’s all high end instant coffee. For someone who’s always turned my nose up at instant coffee for obvious reasons, it was a game changer for travel/backpack coffee!
I love the idea of the parade mat for staking a spot for fireworks. Unfortunately, the link to the one you suggested no longer works (or the mat is no longer available). Is there a similar one you suggest?
Sorry about that–just updated the link. Same item, but you’ll have to buy green instead of the blue one we have! 😉
Traveling with a backpack makes it easy and comforts your journey. As you have compiled beautifully how to manage your stuff in your trip and what the most important accessories you need to enjoy your trip in your journey. You have summed up all the important tips just in a single article. I am also doing kinda same work, but my major is relevant to travel accessories. Please spare some time and suggest me improvements. I am very happy to see your growth in Google. Thanks and Regards!
Baby wipes (For use before the hand sanitizer). Mini first-aid kit with a few band aids of various sizes, spray neosporin, some Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, nasal spray and Tums (all fits in a sandwich size ziploc bag).
For people asking about the hot water- you can get a free cup of hot water pretty much anywhere that has coffee! I always bring my own tea bags.