Disney Packing List Tips & Tricks
Wondering what to pack for Walt Disney World? This ultimate guide includes a packing list, things for your park backpack, and 50+ unique items that’ll help you save money, stay comfortable in Florida’s weather, and improve your vacation. These clever hacks have improved our trips and should help your travels, too! (Updated January 26, 2020.)
The first part of this Disney packing list highlights the less-obvious items–things you never knew you needed. These are interesting and sometimes odd things we’ve learned about over the years, some of which have dramatically improved our experiences when traveling. We now pack these when traveling to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the international parks in Tokyo, Paris, and beyond. Consider including some of them in your luggage!
The second half is our comprehensive Disney packing checklist that you can download. This packing list encompasses things you almost certainly already own–but might forget without this downloadable packing list for Walt Disney World. We use this checklist to make sure we’ve remembered all the basics. We update our Ultimate Packing Guide to Walt Disney World regularly with new and unique items plus some essentials based upon feedback and suggestions from readers. We love these ideas, so if you have any ideas, please share them in the comments!
If you’re visiting Walt Disney World between now and the end of February 2020, we’d strongly encourage you to check out our Winter Packing Tips for Disney post for more specific insight on what to take on your trip. This might seem excessive, after all, Walt Disney World is in Florida. However, Orlando weather can be like a roller coaster, and unlike the Disney variety, it’s not always fun.
Just this week, low temperatures were in the upper 30s and mid-40s, which is uncommon but not unprecedented. We’ve experienced many shockingly cold days at Walt Disney World. The humidity makes it feel colder than it actually is, and if you’ve only packed shorts and t-shirts, you might be in for a rude awakening. At the very least, check the extended weather forecast before your trip–if you see lows in the 50s, rethink some of your packing choices. (Trust us on this!)
Conversely, if you’re planning now for a trip from roughly April until September 2020, read our Summer Packing Tips for Disney post for suggestions on beating the heat and handling humidity. (Basically, there’s only a short window of time each year when Florida weather is predictably mild and pleasant!)
With weather out of the way, let’s turn to another practical pre-arrival tip. If you’re ordering a lot and don’t want to hassle with bringing it with you, it’s possible to place an order with Amazon.com prior to our trip and have the items shipped to your Walt Disney World resort. (In Address Line 2, specify your arrival date.) Shipping on orders over $35 is free with Amazon.com.
Note that Walt Disney World resorts now charge a $6 package handling fee will apply to all packages that are received by the hotel. (Note that this fee does not apply to grocery delivery, unless the items are delivered to your room. Speaking of which, we highly recommend this–read our Guide to Grocery Delivery at Walt Disney World for our tips!)
Finally, the idea behind these lists are not that you buy and pack everything here. These are just ideas, not a list of comprehensive necessities for Walt Disney World. If you packed all of this, you’d be taking way too much. We are firm believers in not overpacking, so it’s important to comb through this list, determine what might help improve YOUR vacation, and take that. Not everything here is for everyone–they’re just ideas.
With all of that said, let’s get to the unique item Disney packing list, and then the packing checklist. We’ll start with the items our readers love the most–smart items that’ll save you time, money, stress, or (literally) physical discomfort and pain!
Smart Stuff to Pack
Moleskin Padding Roll
– After a couple days in the parks, your “dogs will be barking” unless you normally walk 10+ miles per day at home. Seriously, one of the biggest shocks visitors have is all of the walking at Walt Disney World, which can be brutal on your feet. This stuff is a great “insurance policy” that can work miracles, saving your feet significant discomfort and pain.
10-Pack of Ponchos – These will save you a ton of money. Ponchos in the parks cost $10 each, and over the course of a vacation, that can really add up. We recommend taking a 10-pack of ponchos (or more) for your group. They’re small and easy to throw in a backpack. There’s also a 4-pack if you think you won’t need 10. (Alternatively, Sarah really likes this reusable “Minnie Mouse-Inspired” Polka Dot Poncho.)
Tourit Cooler Backpack – This is a new one we’re adding for 2020 based on reader questions about collapsible cooler options for bringing food into the parks. We looked at a variety of options, but ultimately felt this backpack option was best for keeping drinks, snacks, and sandwiches cold–also the easiest option at bag check. (If you don’t plan on carrying perishable food, check out our lightweight backpack option below.)
Matcha Green Tea Single Packets – While we still use the coffee listed below, Sarah has become a big fan of matcha for a more moderate caffeine fix. This tastes great and easily mixes into cold water for iced matcha green tea.
Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad
– By far the most popular item on this list, Chilly Pads use some sort of space-age science material (or witchcraft?) to simultaneously be “cool and dry.” After getting wet and being wrung out, the towel becomes cooler than the outside air, providing cooling relief without the wet mess. When it stops cooling, re-wet the towel and wring it out. Viola, cold again.
Compact External Charger – Poor reception in the parks and the need to check wait times, planning apps, or share photos via social media can be a drain on your battery. We use 3 different external batteries, depending upon how much juice we will need.
- Anker “Candy Bar Sized” Battery – This is commonly known as a candy bar-sized charger and is approximately 2 full phone charges. This is pocket-sized.
- Anker Ultra-Compact Battery – Double the capacity of the first battery, giving you around 4 full phone charges. It’s a bit bulkier, but still easy to throw in a lightweight backpack. This one works well for the two of us.
- Aukey High Capacity Battery – With a whopping 8 full charges, this will get an entire family (or one teenager) through a day at WDW. This charger offers the best bang for your buck.
Stroller Fan – Technically, this is a clip-on desk fan. However, if you read the reviews, almost everyone buying it is using it for strollers. It’s a great item to keep your kids cool, and it’ll last 5-10 hours before the battery needs to be recharged–which can be done via USB with one of the external chargers above. This is perfect for the hottest hours of the day at Walt Disney World!
Mickey Mouse Stroller Clip – Great for conveniently hanging other items on this list (like the backpack below!) from your stroller handle for easy access. Plus, it’s Mickey-themed!
Lightweight & Water Resistant Travel Backpack – You probably already own a backpack, so hear us out on this. The material is super-thin, meaning it’ll easily pack into your luggage. The bigger selling point is the light and breathable material, which is critical in the Florida heat. It’s designed to stay cool while hiking and other strenuous activities…and visiting Walt Disney World definitely qualifies!
Parade Blanket – This is a great alternative to sitting on the ground while you wait for parades at Disney, but it works in a number of scenarios in the parks. This has weighted corners, is pocket-size, and puncture-resistant. It’s also water-resistant, so you can use it as a poncho in a pinch. It’s really versatile!
Reusable Straws – A new addition to the list, as both WDW and Disneyland have eliminated plastic straws (and in-park Starbucks use terrible paper straws that disintegrate after about 10 minutes). A good item to throw in your backpack.
Compression Cubes – There are two great options here–I’ve moved on to these compression cubes, as I find they save more space in my luggage, which is huge for me. Below is the cheaper alternative, if you’re simply looking to stay organized…
Packing Cubes – These are perfect for organizing, and make it easier to to manage your luggage. I love this 4-piece set as they’re the perfect size for organizing a carry-on size suitcase.
Discounted Disney Pins – This one isn’t so much a practical thing to pack as a money-saving one. If you’ve read our Disney Pin Trading Tips post, you know that pin trading is a fun, albeit expensive thing to do in the parks. However, by buying pins before your trip online, you can pay ~$1 per pin instead of $8-10. Highly recommended!
Brita Filter Water Bottles – If you don’t want to spend as much money or don’t care about the space-saving design of the collapsible bottle, this is the best option, hands down. It’s inexpensive and durable (we’ve had ours for a few years!) Plus, it makes fountain water taste great, is BPA-free, and dishwasher safe!
Glow in the Dark “Stuff” – Okay, this might seem silly or pointless (my initial thought), but these glow-sticks are very useful. They make it easy to find your family (or stroller!) in the crowds at night. Kids love creating cool things to wear out of them–very fun stuff!
Sun Bum Oil-Free Face Stick Sunscreen – My face sunburns really easily and I’ve tried numerous sunscreens to combat this over the years to no avail. While a bit pricey, this works fantastically. As an added bonus, it smells delicious!
Trtl “Non-Dorky” Travel Pillow – Comfort outweighs style when it comes to traveling, but this pillow offers the best of both worlds. Instead of looking like a bulky butt donut, this looks like a scarf, and is easier to pack away once you land.
USB Wall Charger – One of our top recommendations used to be this travel power strip with USB ports (which we still recommend instead of this if you have more items with power cords), but we have found more and more that we charge devices via USB. Whether it’s our phones, external batteries, or even cameras, many devices charge via USB. This is great because it’s very compact, with a space-saving design that makes it easy to pack.
Body Glide – Since making the original list, many others have recommended this product to us as the best way to combat chaffing. I started using it when I began runDisney events, and now it’s a staple on my runDisney Marathon Packing List!
Pop-up Hamper – With how much money you pay for a hotel room, you probably don’t want it to look like the perfect habitat for Oscar the Grouch halfway through your trip. We’ve found the biggest issue always (ALWAYS!) is with dirty laundry, and a good way to keep this under control is by bringing a pop-up hamper.
Sanitizer Wipes – Walt Disney World is magical, but not magically germ-free. In reality, every surface has been touched by countless other hands. These are great to clean your hands, phone, stroller, or literally any surface–an essential item to reduce your chances of getting sick on vacation! (We also love this Travel Hand Sanitizer–some great summer scents!)
Travel Sunscreen Packets – For your arms, legs, neck, etc., we recommend these sunscreen packets. If you’ve ever had a tube of sunscreen spill in your luggage or backpack (we have…many times), you know how inconvenient it can be. These individual travel packets take care of that problem, and are also much easier to put in your pocket or in a bag. They’re a perfect solution!
Frogg Toggs Rain Suit – If you want something higher quality, more versatile, and that will keep you totally dry, this rain is great. It’s inexpensive, lightweight, and breathable. It’s made by the same company as the Chilly Pads, so you won’t get too hot. It looks silly, but after a dry afternoon with it, you’ll be asking: “why didn’t I think of this sooner?!”
Shout Wipes
– Shout Wipes, Tide pens, anything that can clean up stains. I’m an expert at making messes, and these stain treaters are lifesavers.
Downy Wrinkle Releaser
– Clothes packed in suitcases can get wrinkled and no one likes ironing. A much better solution than letting wrinkled clothes “air de-wrinkle,” like I do when I forget to pack this.
Face Blotting Sheets – Sarah swears by these for eliminating sweat and oil so she doesn’t glisten like she has “Florida Face” in photos.
Neck Wallet – For those who fear being pick-pocketed or just don’t like carrying a wallet in your pocket, the neck wallet is for you. It also contains an RFID blocker. We see a lot of people wearing lanyards and fanny packs in the parks…and this is a step up from both of those things. (That is, unless you buy this rad “space kittens” fanny pack!)
Photography Gear – Only mentioned here because we know a lot of people visit us looking for camera suggestions…if that describes you, you’re on the wrong page! Check out our Ultimate Disney Parks Photography Guide for photography tips and tricks, plus camera suggestions.
Clothing & Accessories
Crocs Classic Sandal
– If you don’t care about style, Crocs are your best option for staying comfortable when walking around the parks.
WetBrush Pro Detangle – This hair brush performs well with wet hair, and your hair will get wet if you’re visiting Walt Disney World. A staple of Sarah’s Disney bag.
Repel Travel Umbrella – This travel umbrella is compact, windproof, and has a lifetime guarantee. We have ruined so a few umbrellas that have been caught by gusts of wind at Walt Disney World, so this actually is important.
SPF Sun Hat – Sarah has several different colors of this cheap and fashionable sun hat, and wears them in the parks to keep the sun off of her face, and to stay cool. They are breathable and lightweight. The only downside is their large size, which makes them difficult to pack (we recommend carrying them on).
Crocs LiteRide Sandal or OluKai Ohana Sandal – Sarah several types sandals (the Crocs listed first are her most recent addition) that perfectly combine comfort and cuteness, and provide enough comfort so your feet won’t hurt after logging miles in the parks.
Aqua Socks for Water Parks & Pools – If you’re planning on visiting Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, or spending time at your hotel’s pool, these are essential. The pavement gets hot–so hot it’s uncomfortable to walk on it without these.
Dresses – If you’ve ever viewed one of our trip reports, it’s no secret that Sarah likes dresses. Based on the emails we’ve received, she’s not the only female who does.
Check out her What to Wear to Disney page dedicated to where she shops and ideas for finding cute outfits that are also practical for those humid days in the parks. She also has Tips for Accessorizing for Disney, to give your normal outfits cute ‘dashes of Disney.’
Food
Caffeine Mints – Each one of these mints has about as much caffeine as coffee or an energy drink, so they will give you the energy to get through evening Extra Magic Hours, but won’t give you coffee breath or make you have to run to the restroom while in line for Toy Story Mania. Win-win!
Starbucks VIA or Mount Hagen Coffee Packets
– We always pack our own coffee, with Mount Hagen being our go-to brand. Disney restaurants provide free cups of water, making these coffee packets a great alternative to buying coffee in-park.
Clif Bar Energy Bars
– An excellent source of dietary fiber and vitamins, Clif Bars are a nice, healthy snack for between trips to Aloha Isle. Feel a little less guilty about having 3 Dole Whips per day by balancing with these.
Lenny & Larry’s Complete Protein Cookie – Want something even healthy? These cookies have a ton of protein and fiber, but have no high fructose corn syrup, no sugar alcohols, no artificial sweeteners. Plus, they’re vegan.
Beef Jerky
– High in protein, flavor, and awesomeness, bags of beef jerky are the perfect snack to bring to the parks. I am a self-proclaimed beef jerky expert-extraordinaire, and I prefer Jack Link’s Teriyaki Jerky out of mainstream brands.
As far as less-ordinary things go, at least, the less ordinary things that would be useful to others, this is about it for us. What about you? Are there any interesting things you pack that might make the rest of us say, “why didn’t we think of that?!” If so, share them in the comments. We hope this guide helps you better-prepare for Disney!
If you are considering a purchase of any of these items or any other supplies for your vacation, we would greatly appreciate it if you use the links to Amazon in this post to make your purchase. It benefits the site, doesn’t cost you anything, and help us to keep providing you with useful content.
Alright, as promised, here’s our Disney packing checklist…
This Walt Disney World packing checklist includes a bunch of the above unique items that we recommend to improve your Disney trip, plus more common things that you won’t want to forget, too. Note that you don’t need to pack everything on this list–it covers all of the important stuff but might be more than you, personally need.
With this list, we tried to skip things that are unnecessary (like shampoo, conditioner, a first aid kit, etc.) because you can find them in your hotel room or in the parks, or because they aren’t realistically necessary for most people. There’s the temptation to over-pack (especially with all the clever ideas on this list), and that should be resisted. There’s no need for 3 suitcases per person on a weeklong trip to Walt Disney World! 😉
Need Disney trip planning tips and comprehensive advice? Make sure to read Disney Parks Vacation Planning Guides, where you can find comprehensive guides to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and beyond! For Disney updates, discount information, a free download of our Walt Disney World eBook, and much more, sign up for our free monthly newsletter!
Your Thoughts
What unique items do you recommend packing for a Disney trip? What clever items do you pack to improve your experience? Any ‘smart’ items you’d add to this list? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Wow, I am impressed after reading this blog it’s really so important and helps me a lot. Thanks for sharing with us.
I just pre-ordered the updated version of the character book. It’s scheduled to arrive a couple of days before we leave, perfect!
Tom, I thought you should know that this article is influencing Amazon sales. After searching for the autograph book substitute on Amazon, I noticed that the “frequently bought together” items at the bottom of the page included mole skin padding rolls and ponchos, right in order from this post. I hope you’re getting your cut!
Thanks for all of the great information you and Sarah provide for my trip planning.
I always pack a few sizes of binder clips med and large mostly. They can be used for pesky curtains to secure a towel or …..
Also I pack ziplock bags. Snacks, wet clothes off little things….. And a small roll of ducktaped… Can fix a suitcase, backpack or other item.
Thank you for the helpful packing tips!
I would like to make a comment about buying discounted pins for trading ahead of time. I think it’s a great tip and one that people should take advantage of. That being said, authentic pins will cost a minimum of $1.75-$2.00 per pin from a reseller. Anything less than that will be fake pins, usually purchased in large lots on Ebay. There are many reputable re-sellers on Facebook/Instagram when you search Disney Pin Trading. I would respectfully ask that you consider updating the price on your post, so your readers can know what they should expect to pay for authentic pins. Love the blog!
We like to pack a power strip for the hotel room. With two teens, we need many outlets to plug in chargers for all the devices at night. With a power strip, they are all in one place too, which makes it less likely to forget them when you’re leaving. All your other tips are spot on!! Loved the Frogg towels last summer when it was 90+ degrees.
We threw a couple of spiky massage balls in our suitcase and rolled them under our feet every night. They were great after walking all over the parks all day and didn’t take up much room.
Fran – LOVE this tip about the spikey massage balls – I am for sure getting some for our trip later this year. Thanks!!
Can anyone tell me where there is self serve hot water at the WDW parks we can use for the coffee packets? The counter service restaurants will not give out free hot water, only cold (I really hate that new rule).
We are planning our 3rd trip in June. Previously we would rent a stroller for not only a kid or two, but all of our stuff we didn’t want to carry around, ex: cooler, ponchos. Our kids are now teenagers, so no need for a stroller this time. I thought of getting a rolling cooler (keeping in mind the bag size restrictions) to carry around water, snacks, ponchos, etc. Is this a good idea or should we just get a locker to store items I don’t want to carry? Idea was to leave at the stroller corrals when we went on a ride.
Also wanted to thank you for your comprehensive, and entertaining, article. I love to read your blog even when we are not planning a trip. 🙂
I love travelling. This is a very informative article!!
Your suggestions are great but after many trips to WDW my goal for our next trip is to not carry a bag to the park. Too many times I have had to wait in the bag check line for security to check bags of people bringing their life with them. There is food and water available in the park so no reason to pack for a week on a deserted island. If you are concerned with budget, WDW is not the place for you. Trust me, I was one, i carried that darn bag all day and not once used anything in it. Next time I plan to have my cell phone in one pocket and maybe a few advil/tylenol in the other pocket. No need for anything else.
I don’t necessarily disagree with your sentiment, but I will say that bag check speed has improved considerably at Walt Disney World in the last 9 months. With the newly expanded park arrival areas, it is so much better!
I agree. I have already downsized and are much more comfortable. But, if you have small children, it may be a must have.
That’s a great strategy unless you’re diabetic. Meter, test strips, insulin, glucose …
That being said, my husband and I bought these and found them invaluable. Lightweight, well-divided and sized pockets, and you can just swing ’em to the front for most rides. The bag checkers loved them too.
Whoops here’s the link.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WP944ML/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I wish we could do that! Both our boys (9 & 12) have severe food allergies so we need to take a bag with food, snacks, epipens, Benadryl, wet wipes, etc.
Hi!
We’re trying to use your Amazon links, but they aren’t working…
There are alot of responses, so not sure if this has already been mentioned but we always pack an over the door shoe organizer. It’s great for keeping track of things like water bottles, sunscreen, even flip flops that you want to wear around the hotel. As a family of 5 anything that will keep smaller items corralled in one place (that isn’t the floor) is a big help.
This is a GENIUS idea, Christine. I’m totally stealing it – thanks for sharing!
This was so helpful I am going on a trip.
Packing for WDW now. Crossed half of the items on the comprehensive list as unnessasary. However, needed to add the following: cell phone (seems obvious, but can still forget), extra prescription glasses (big hassle to replace on vacation if broken), band aids, Mickey ears, princess dresses, glow toys.
What size Outlander backpack do you recommend? I notice they sell them in “liter” sizes so I wasn’t really sure on what type would be best .
PS- Thanks so much for this website! It has been amazingly helpful for our upcoming trip!
I love packing or compression cubes. I use them for the whole family. My best trick is to use fabric markers (one in black and one in white for dark coloured cubes) to write on who they belong to, and what’s in the cube. That way the kids can take responsibility for getting their own clothes out. For example, for my son I will have one cube with just his shorts in them – so I will write “Zac – shorts” on the front. It made my last holiday to Disneyworld so easy. I have kept all my cubes for our next Disney vacation!
I just bought a collapsible cooler seat that support up to 200lb. It’s very light, can be folded, works and looks like a cylinder fabric cooler. It’s made of very resistant material and you can sit on it. Hope it’ll work fine for the queues and during the parades.
where did you get that? I’d love to find one!
That’s a great idea – can you share where you got yours please or what exactly it’s called? We are planning our first family trip to WDW at the end of this year…
You should check because if I remember well, there is a size maximum for allowed cooler
I need caffeine on trips, don’t like coffee and can’t drink too much soda. Enter tea: I like Lipton’s diet lemon tea, and usually have to bring a container and scoop some powder into a small, separate container to dump in water bottles to keep in my backpack. An alternative is tiny bottles of concentrate liquid you can squeeze into the water, Lipton iced tea lemon “liquid iced black tea mix”. Got it on amazon. A little sweet for me with 2 squirts, I like a lot of lemon. So I always carry True Lemon crystallized lemon packets as well (always have, I order unsweetened tea an the restaurants and prefer to use a packet than put a possible dirty lemon wedge in my drink). Very easy to pour into a water bottle as well. Tarts it right up!
Tom! This made m think of you wife! Style the can be packed:) https://www.thegrommet.com/products/sunlily-roll-n-go-sun-hat
Also slightly off topic but Disneyland is now allowing reservations for Savi’s workshop and for Oga’s cantina 60 days in advance!!! Just an FYI:)
Oops, that’s me not m and your not you