You’ve booked your Disney vacation and it’s time to pack! Besides your travel bag, you will most likely bring a bag to hold everything you need for a successful day in the park. It can be difficult to know what you will need and because you have to lug it around all day, each item has to be necessary. It took us a few trips to finally figure out what we should bring and even what to carry it in. So without further ado, we give you “What’s in my Disney park bag?”.
The first thing you need is a bag. You will see guests with cute crossbody or shoulder bags, most of which are more for style than function. If you are in the park for a short amount of time or out for an evening dinner reservation, any bag will most likely do. Fanny packs have made a comeback and allow you to be hands free. A lot of guests carry the cinched string bags, but we do not recommend them as they are uncomfortable and offer little support. We recommend a backpack because they offer a lot more storage and better support, as well as a hands free experience. You’d be surprised how stylish backpacks have become. Loungefly, need I say more?
I have two backpacks I like to use. One is very durable for those hardcore days in the parks. It has more room, padded shoulder straps and side pockets for quick grab items like your phone or water bottle. It is made of canvas, so it is easy to clean and very durable. My second backpack is all about that bling! It is the Loungefly Minnie Mouse Stars and Stripes Mini Backpack and it is so, so gorgeous! It is smaller than the other, but still holds a lot of stuff. I believe it is out of stock or discontinued on shopDisney at the moment, but they have many similar options. I also purchased the Rose Gold backpack in preparation for the 50th Anniversary of Magic Kingdom in 2021.
Now for what to pack in that backpack. Keep in mind that this list varies from day to day and from one park to another. Obviously, you will have your preferred brands so this is a basic list with our suggested items. Disclosure: Some of the links provided are affiliate links, which means we make a small commission off their purchase.
- Sunscreen: Or as many Disney die hards say, “Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! Reapply, reapply, reapply!” The sun in Florida is shockingly intense so sunscreen is a MUST! You can apply in the morning before heading to the park but you may need to reapply during the day. Sunscreen is expensive in the parks and at the resorts so make sure you bring your own. I don’t like the feel of sunscreen on my face so I use a transparent mineral powder with a 30 SPF and reapply throughout the day.
- Water bottle: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! It is easy to become dehydrated very quickly in the Florida heat. You have to stay ahead of it and hydrate frequently. You can bring water bottles into the park as it can be expensive once inside. One of our favorite insulated water bottles is the Stainless Steel MIRA.
- Personal fan/ mister: We talked about personal fans and misting fans in our Keeping Cool at Walt Disney World post. The Florida heat can get pretty brutal and a fan or mister can really help, especially when waiting in lines with no airflow. We have a few different styles, but are excited to try a new one. This one hangs around your neck and is adjustable, so it is hands free. It is rechargeable so you won’t have to worry about carrying batteries.
- Portable charger: Between checking the My Disney Experience app, taking pictures and video, and updating social media, your phone battery is going to die. You don’t want to waste precious park time finding a wall outlet to charge your phone. It is important to invest in a charger you can depend on. We use the AUKEY 20000 mAh Power Bank. It can go several days without needing to be recharged itself, and can support two charging cords simultaneously. It’s a little bigger than some of them, but I’d rather not have to worry about charging the charger every single night.
Also, here’s an extra tip for all you Amazon Prime members. FuelRods, the portable chargers available for purchase and swap out at Kiosks throughout Walt Disney World Resort, are available on Amazon for cheaper than in the parks! You can purchase them before you go and be all prepared for your first day in the park.
- Rain Poncho/ Umbrella: Walt Disney World is in Florida and that means rain. You can either hide out in a store while you wait for it to pass, or you can charge forward with your park plans because you came prepared. Also, you want to bring your own as they get very expensive in the parks. Ponchos cost $12-15 and umbrellas can be as much as $40. Ponchos can be purchased in bulk with sizes for adults and kids. It’s a good idea to have extras in case they get damaged. Umbrellas are also great for keeping the intense sun off your head and body. Make sure your umbrella is a compact or collapsible so it is easier to carry. Poncho or umbrella, it’s your choice. Just don’t get caught without one.
- Cooling Towels: Get science on your side with cooling towels. These are great to keep you cooled down as you walk outside. Just wet, wring and wrap around neck or use to pat face and arms. There are so many options in many different price ranges. We are big fans of Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad Cooling Towels and Chill Pal PVA Cooling Towels. We have several of each that we throw in our park bag before we head out into the heat.
- Lip balm: Between the blazing sun, eating tasty treats and drinking lots and lots of water, your lips are going to get dry. Make sure your lip balm has an SPF and provides good moisture. I love Blistex Medicated Berry Balm SPF 15. It glides on easily and gives a subtle color to your lips.
- Sunglasses/ Hat: Florida sun is brutal and can hurt your eyes. Although those Minnie Mouse ears are all the rave, they won’t protect your eyes and/or face. Sunglasses with polarized lenses will help cut the glare and give you relief from the sun. A hat will also keep the sun off your face and if you wear glasses, will be your best choice. There are a lot of fun Disney hats and they make great souvenirs.
- Hand sanitizer/ anti-bacterial wipes: Even though there are hand washing and hand sanitizing stations all throughout the parks, it is a good idea to bring your own. Sometimes a table isn’t cleaned off well or you have sticky hands after eating treats. Although they have been diligent in keeping them refilled, the hand sanitizer dispensers may be empty. Plus it’s nice to have on the bus or monorial and at the resorts. Not so much hand sanitizer, but wipes have been hard to find lately. I picked up a pack of 10 that are alcohol free for sensitive skin. Just throw a couple packs in your bag and refresh each day as needed.
- Xenvo Phone clip on macro/wide angle lens: This one might seem extravagant but trust us, it’s not. This was a suggestion from another blogger and I am so grateful I learned about it. I could write an entire post on this lens, and I may in the future. The set comes with two lenses that clip on your phone. The wide angle lens is perfect for fireworks and parades, as well as taking the perfect selfies. We don’t like to bring a separate camera with us every day and this allows us to still get great photos.
Here are a few things for the advanced planner. Flip flops to put on when it rains or extra socks for after the rain, nothing is more uncomfortable than soppy wet socks. Gum is not sold on Disney property so if you like to chew gum, bring your own. Dental floss or dental sticks for after a meal. Band-aids and blister pads in case you get scrapes, blisters or other. For those of you prone to chafing, the Body Glide anti-chafe balm is a life saver. If you have kids, pick up some glow sticks at your local dollar store so when they see them at the nightly fireworks, you won’t have to spend a fortune. Ziploc storage bags (varying sizes) are great for storing cameras and phones on water rides or for left over snacks. If your kids are into pin trading, have some traders with you so they don’t try to trade away their personal collection.
What’s in your Disney park bag? Do you agree with our list or do you have an item we missed? We would love to hear your suggestions or answer any questions you might have. Comment below or leave us a message on the “Contact Us” page.