Best Backup Batteries for Disney World
Wondering what the longest-lasting and most reliable portable phone chargers are for Walt Disney World and other travel? We’ve used dozens of backup batteries in the parks & beyond, and share our list of top recommendations for recharging your dead devices here.
If you’ve visited Walt Disney World, you’ve probably wandered into a counter service restaurant or gift shop in the middle of the afternoon and seen guests sitting in random corners charging their phones at power outlets. It’s a common sight. It’s also a weird sight. Time is money at Walt Disney World, and sitting in a corner in CommuniCore or wherever is a comically poor use of it. A portable charger would pay for itself after only a couple days in the parks.
If you’ve visited Walt Disney World, you also know how necessary it is to have plenty of juice for your phone. The My Disney Experience app alone can be a tremendous drain on your battery, as you do everything from Mobile Ordering to refreshing the Walk-Up Waitlist for table service restaurants to Mobile Checkout to playing the Lightning Lane ride reservation refill “game.” It’s easy to see why people end up sitting on the floor charging phones, and it’s certainly a better solution than having a dead battery for half the day!
Before turning to the portable chargers we do recommend, I want to quickly share our philosophy on backup batteries. To the greatest extent possible, we try not to use them. There are field testing days for me when this is absolutely unavoidable, as I’m in the park from Early Entry until after park closing, booking Lightning Lanes and refreshing for better times along the way, while also responding to comments here and doing blogger stuff. But for the sake of your own sanity, I hope you are not a blogger.
While Walt Disney World does make some screen time practically inevitable, it is not mandatory. You can book Lightning Lanes when eligible without compulsively refreshing. You don’t need to post real-time updates on Facebook or wherever; give your social media addiction the week off and share when you get home.
When we’re in the parks for fun, we make a concerted effort to be present in the moment–talking with one another, seeing our daughter as she discovers this or that and her eyes light up, poring over the little details throughout the parks, and even people-watching. During fun park visits like this, both of us can make it through a full day without using a charger…most of the time.
Nevertheless, we realize this is overly idealistic and we’re not going to change the behavior of a TikTok-obsessed tween with a few paragraphs here. Still, something worth considering given all of the money you’re spending to be at Walt Disney World…why spend the time glued to your phone, something you could do anywhere else?
Since this approach only works most of the time, we also pack three backup batteries before each trip and try to each bring one to the park every day. This is our rule for a simple reason: we sometimes forget to charge a battery overnight and one of us also sometimes forgets to bring a battery to the park.
There have been plenty of times when we’ve brought three batteries and, by the end of the trip, we find ourselves rushing out the door with only 1 charged battery. This is precisely what FuelRod fans argue is a selling point of that device in the first place…and we’re finally seeing the light after nearly a decade of hating that device (more on this below).
Another rule we have is that we no longer buy generic batteries. You’ll see some great deals on brands that are like QWEDHYX or a bunch of other random letters. We’ve had our share of no name batteries over the years–they’re all junk. Our storage container of random cords and electronics accessories is littered with these bricks that barely hold a charge. Portable batteries have come down in price so much over the years that it’s silly to buy anything other than name brands.
Finally, we try to find the best balance between size, capacity, and speed. It’s literally impossible to have all of these things, so tradeoffs are a must. Since we try to minimize phone use, we’ve found that we no longer need the highest capacity (and biggest) batteries. Instead, we go for options that are the size of the phone or smaller and can fit in our pockets. Your mileage may vary on that–you might want a ‘family-sized’ option that’s sufficient for 4 full phone charges. That’s overkill for us.
With that lengthy preface out of the way, here are our favorite portable phone chargers for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and traveling in general…
FuelRod 2-Pack – Amazon sells a 2-pack of FuelRods at a price that’s about the same as one FuelRod at Walt Disney World. The new version is now usually on sale, but sometimes the old version is cheaper, so it’s worth checking. Buying the older version doesn’t matter, since upgrades are free at the kiosk in the parks.
If you’re on the fence about FuelRods, we recommend giving them a try–and buying this 2-for-1 deal as opposed to a single charger. It’s really convenient to have two FuelRods as opposed to just one, anyway. If you have a larger family, we actually recommend the NEW FuelRod 3-Pack. On a per charger basis, this is significantly cheaper, and having one FuelRod per person in your party is optimal!
You might be surprised to read a recommendation for FuelRods here, as the device used to be one we strongly discouraged readers from using except in extreme emergencies. Well, times change. FuelRod updated its devices last year, and the new model has higher capacity and faster charging, which alone is a gamechanger.
Add to that the ubiquity of FuelRod kiosks around Walt Disney World, and it’s now a great option for diehard Disney fans. First-timers and infrequent visitors should still look elsewhere, as FuelRods are as much a service as a device. Read our new review of FuelRods for more info.
Anker Nano Portable Charger – The big selling point is the built-in Lightning connector for iPhones, meaning that you don’t need to carry additional cords. That alone is a game-changer for me, as I can hold the phone in my hand while the charger is attached and simply use it like normal. The only downside is slightly slower charging than the other batteries below, but that’s actually remedied by an updated, faster version that was just released.
Anker 3-in-1 Power Bank USB C Charger Block – As the name suggests, this is a portable battery that doubles as a power bank with two USB-C ports. That’s the issue for us (again) as it’s better for iPhone 15 (and future) or non-Apple devices. (Speaking of which, I use and highly recommend the Anker 100W USB C Charger Block for that purpose. Great for a MacBook, iPhone, and Apple Watch!)
Anker Zolo 10,000mAh 30W Portable Charger with Built-in USB-C Cable for Travel – This charger offers great balance, with a reasonable size, charging speed, and ability to recharge a phone almost twice. Everything about this looks perfect to us, from the built in cable to the size and speed. And the price is certainly right, too! Also available in 20k capacity.
Anker Slimline Phone Charger 10,000mAh Battery (USB-C) — Even before Lightning Lanes, we recommended bringing a backup battery pack to charge your phone while using My Disney Experience or social media at Walt Disney World. This one has great capacity and the fastest quick-charging capabilities. This is perfect for the two of us–probably insufficient for a larger family or one (1) TikToking teenager.
Anker 24,000mAh Power Bank 3-Port Portable Charger with 140W Output – For those who really go hard or have large families (or teenagers) wanting a single charger. This is also often on sale for ~30% off, making it a great price–but it’s massive and more than most people will need!
As always, we receive a small commission from Amazon for your purchases, so buying through these links helps support the site. However, neither the price you pay nor our recommendations (or lack thereof) are impacted by that. There’s a reason we don’t recommend the cheapest off-brand junk or the most expensive and fanciest chargers on the market–they’re not the ones we use or recommend. These are. Well, with the exception of the new Anker Zolo, and that’s only because we still use the “old” (heavy air quotes) iPhones. Jealous of anyone who isn’t and can use that one–it’s pretty clearly the best option!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Which is your preferred portable phone charger for Walt Disney World or other travel? Any great ones that we’ve missed? Do you opt for Anker, or go with whatever is cheapest and just buy new ones regularly? What matters most to you: speed, size, capacity, or cost? Have any product recommendations (or dislike any of the items listed here)? Any questions? We love hearing from readers, so please share any other thoughts or questions you have in the comments below!
I looked at and bought from the Anker line on this recommendation.
Just was they have some recalls on battery packs from 2023-2025.
Still love Anker!
https://www.wpri.com/recalls-and-warnings/power-banks-recalled-after-reports-of-fire-and-explosion-incidents/amp/
*saw (not was)
Agree 100% with Anker. Been using them for many years. Only times I’ve had to buy a new one is for others and when I lost mine one time. Lasts a long time without recharging charges my phone beautifully, even multiple times on longer days with lots of phone/picture/app use.
Thank you Tom!!
I bought the Anker Zolo 10,000mAh 30W Portable Charger with Built-in USB-C Cable for Travel back in July of 24 when I first saw this article. That was a fantastic investment!! We have gotten so much use out of it. Now, seeing the update and that they are 50% off, I just bought 2 more so everyone in the fam will have their own powerbank when needed!
Thanks for always updating!
I bought the Anker 3 in 1 10,000mAh power bank for my Pixel 9 Pro XL (5006mAh), and after testing few times, I can confirm that the this power bank can charge my Pixel 1.4 times. 0% to 100% in 1 hour and 50 minutes.
what if we don’t want to buy from Amazon because it’s an evil company?
We’re just getting ready for WDW trip 2024, and I was just going over our batteries. The newest one we have is an Anker PowerCore III, which works quite nicely. Our older Anker batteries, some 10K PowerCore+ models and one 20K PowerCore still do a a nice job, despite their age. They were fast chargers for their time, and still do charge fast.
I can’t recommend Anker enough, whether you get it from Amazon or any number of brick-and-mortar locations. There products have always been relievable, and they last. Further, unlike the older models where I’m going to have to hunt to see where my family hid all the charging cords, the new models are going to likely be USB-C compliant for a long time. Battery technology has come a long way, and I love the battery on my Galaxy 24 Ultra, but if you’re going to recharge a phone, I recommend nothing less than a 10K battery to take with you, as it will completely charge your phone, and mostly charge at least one other phone, depending on the model. \
Funny, we got new batteries for our trip to WDW in February. After spending loads of time looking at options ended up with the one you call your favorite. And love their convenience. Only two of them, but I like your idea of three batteries for a couple…
I purchased an Anker portable charger a couple of years ago at your suggestion. Very happy with it. I believe it was on your list of Disney Amazon Day deals. Amazon is having another Prime Day this week, perhaps your readers can snag one then. I used a FuelRod for a couple of trips a few years ago (before I was enlightened about the Anker) and found it to be a stressful experience! Not only was I spending my time hunting down a FuelRod machine, but I found that the replacements I received were of mixed quality. Some charged okay, while others were just dead – adding to the stress. I still have it in a drawer for the sake of nostalgia. That’s where it’ll stay 🙂
Well, I bought the Anker Zolo yesterday through your Amazon link. It came today with one day shipping. So far, it’s fantastic, especially for the price. The size and the built-in cord are great. It arrived with 28% charge out of the box and brought my phone from 47% to 80% in 25 minutes and and still had 8% left. Another great recommendation. I actually like it so much, I just bought another for my wife. Thanks, Tom!
Hey Tom back to Disney World with our daughters. Fellow lawyer here. Thanks so much for all your thoughtful coverage of the parks. We feel well prepared. You are the best at what you do.
While I’ve dabbled in the random letters with mixed results, I solidly identify as an Ankerphile! My Nano is the older, slower version (happens to us all, lol), so now I’m watching the new one for Prime Day along with you. FWIW, the purple one currently has a 30% off coupon available. I may snap that up now- using your affiliate link, of course!
PS) I’m glad to hear the 4 legged kids are coexisting well with Megatron, as I was also wondering. Thanks for answering that!
Replying to myself to say your link goes to the older version of the Nano! I want you to get credit for my pending impulse buy (I’m making that a thing), so I’ll do my best to hold off and check again later
I bought a random letters one from amazon (vrurc). Been using it for over a year and I love it so much I bought one for my husband and dad. It’s got USB-C, Micro USB and Lightning cables attached and you can plug it right into the wall to slow charge it. I got myself a 20000mAh one and my dad and husband 10000mAh ones. We use them at home and in the parks (I use my phone too much at home for it to hold a charge all day). Sorry but “they’re all junk” is way too bold a statement.
That’s great that the random letters one works for you!
Having had more than one randomly fail on us while traveling–without easy means of replacement–I’m not willing to roll the dice on them again. Anker devices aren’t that much more expensive that it’s just not worth it to me to save a few bucks. But I also feel the same way about off-brand televisions and pretty much all electronics (even pricier ones), because I’ve been burned by poor quality control too many times.
To each their own, though!
I fully agree, Tom! Bigger banks are better if you’re a heavy user, smaller if a lighter user. The peace of mind is worth the cost the more days you’re in the parks. Sooner or later someone suddenly finds their battery is dead or dying and you become their only hope. 🙂
Yes! Anker Nano is a game-changer. We are up to 5 of them in my household.And everyone has their own color which heps with keeping track of whose is whose.
I listened to you before about the Anker Nano portable charger & purchased 1 before my last trip to Disney last January & that little sucker is a game changer! So lightweight & so convenient with not having extra cords & stuff to deal with! Snaps right into your phone & you can book lightning lanes, take pictures or whatever you need to do while it is charging. I loved it so much that I purchased another 1 as a backup for my original. That way I always have 1 charged. Looking forward to my Christmas trip, & both Nano’s will be in my bag!
Thanks for all of your amazing advice!
BTW I have been meaning to ask how your pets have done now that Megatron is here?? Are they getting used to her being “the baby”?
“BTW I have been meaning to ask how your pets have done now that Megatron is here?? Are they getting used to her being “the baby”?”
They’re doing shocking well. Walter (miniature dachshund) can’t hear anymore, which is probably a good thing, as he used to HATE babies.
Yossarian (cat) couldn’t care less…which is about what we expected, I guess? He tolerates her, for the most part. He likes to be around us, except when he doesn’t, which is not really any different than before.
The baby absolutely LOVES both Yossarian and Walter. Gets really excited when she sees them and starts waving her arms and making loud squeaking sounds. Doesn’t seem to realize that scares the cat away, ha.
I’m amazed at the number of people who don’t seem to realize that they can use a charger other than the one that came with their phone…and somehow, in 2024, seem not to realize that there are extremely good options out there for aftermarket chargers.
Something I recently started doing was carrying the Anker Nano 3 (30W USB-C PD charger) with a 6ft USB-C cable and a USB-C to Lightning (Apple charger) adapter. This way I can basically charge everything I might have with me on a given day – laptop, iPad, iPhone, power bank (Anker 321/PowerCore 5K), Olympus OM-1, Osmo Pocket, plus almost any phone or device someone else might have. The old micro-USB stuff needs to go away, like, yesterday.
I’m also a long-time Anker user/recommender – I like them so much I even bought their cooler! My first Anker power bank (16K mAh with two USB-A ports) from 2016 is still going strong. Definitely can’t say that about some other gear I’ve had over the years.
I know, I’m replying to myself, but…
I would also recommend staying away from the multiport chargers that plug directly into the outlet – a lot of times, particularly in places like hotels and airports where the outlets get a LOT of cycles, anything much bigger than that Anker 511/Nano 3 or the basic cell phone charger that came with your phone will pull out almost instantly. This caused me a big problem on a trip last year, where I had to plug the charger into the bathroom outlet because it was the only outlet that could support my 60W/three-port charger.
We have similar devices. I use the 100W block: https://amzn.to/3WgLBmt
Sarah uses the 2-port 47W Nano 3: https://amzn.to/3WtigWd
Absolutely gamechangers. Can’t believe we didn’t move to these devices earlier. I’ll probably upgrade to the next block that comes out if it has 3 USB-C ports. The current one charges my watch much slower than my phone or laptop, and it’s downright frustrating. (Very much a first-world problem, I know.) Once you get used to the superior charging speed, it’s hard to give up!