Your resort is booked. Your dining reservations are set in stone. Your FastPasses are all scheduled. The only question that remains is what to pack for Disney World. Figuring out what things to pack for Disney World can be daunting for first time visitors. There’s a lot to think of ahead of time, and I really don’t like having to waste money buying overpriced essentials at the airport, parks, or hotel just because I forgot to bring something I need. I usually start my packing lists about a month in advance and keep them on my laptop so they don’t get misplaced. I have sort of a “master” list in one file that I alter for each specific trip. These are the Disney World essentials I always bring with me to the parks.

My dog wouldn’t stay out of the picture, so I gave up and just took the shot with him in it. I suspect this is his attempt to be added to my Disney World packing list.

It’s important to note that I don’t have kids and haven’t traveled with children since I was one myself, so I have very little insight into what is required to take them on a vacation. I also don’t have any dietary restrictions or medical needs, so if you or someone in your party does, this will definitely not be a comprehensive list.

I’m going to skip the basics, because I hope you know enough to pack some socks and a toothbrush and focus on some of the things not everyone thinks of.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, and I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you choose to make a purchase.

The best backpack for Disney World

You don’t want to have to haul around  a lot of gear while you’re walking around the Disney World parks, but it’s handy to have a small/medium-sized backpack to store stuff like that portable charger I just convinced you to buy, sunscreen, and your camera. Backpacks are allowed to be carried on rides, so you don’t have to worry about finding lockers to store it every time you want to ride something. A lightweight, waterproof one like this is the best backpack for Disney World because it won’t weigh you down or make you sweat too much while also keeping track of everything.

Portable battery pack for your phone

I have a Mimo Power Pack that I can toss in my bag with me to recharge my phone when the battery starts to run low. I take a lot of pictures and spend a lot of time on the Disney World app when I’m in the parks, so the battery can get drained pretty quickly. The Power Pack can fully recharge my phone at least once per day so I can make sure I still have battery life left for pictures of the fireworks at the end of the night (very important). This power bank ranks behind only my phone and my camera in terms of Disney World packing essentials for me.

Mine is the Star Wars (and it’s Disney-related!) lightsaber design like this one, but Mimoco has tons of different designs to pick from. Click through to find out more about it.

Protein/granola bars

I’ll usually indulge in some Mickey waffles once or twice a trip, but I’d really rather not waste the prime morning park time sitting in the food court eating. When I’m packing for Disney World, I bring protein bars with me and throw one in my bag each morning so I can snack on it once I’m in the park and I’ve had a chance to wake up a little. This is also a great way to save money on your trip – it’s included in my list of Disney World budget tips. Breakfast at a hotel quick service restaurant can easily run a family of four upwards of $50, and most of the dining plans only cover two meals per day, so if you can replace those pricey breakfasts with a couple boxes of granola bars, you can buy a lot of extra Mickey ears or afford a nice sit-down meal somewhere. If these aren’t your style for breakfast, they still make a great snack to take to the park to save yourself from having to buy expensive food if you get hungry between meals.

Power strip

Disregard this if you’re visiting Disney World solo or as a couple, but when you get my whole family in a hotel room, outlets for charging phones, cameras, Fitbits, and eReaders become scarce very quickly. Avoid having to crawl under a bed or charge your phone in the bathroom by tossing a cheap power strip that a bunch of people can share in your suitcase. It’s also a great way to be an airport hero if you keep it in your carry-on and are willing to share. I love this one because it’s compact, but has four outlets plus USB ports.

Packable tote

Unless you have willpower of steel, you’re going to buy some souvenirs. In the likely event that said souvenirs don’t fit in your suitcase on the way back, you can load them into the tote you brought and use it as a carry on. It’s much better than hauling plastic shopping bags through airports. I promise. A bag like this that folds up into a pouch is perfect for tossing into your Disney World suitcase.

This is a bit blurry, but these are the kinds of rains you can expect in Central Florida. RIP Streets of America

Ponchos

Ponchos are not cool. That’s pretty much universally accepted. But ponchos are even less cool when they cost you $10 or whatever the price has gone up to now at Disney World. If you’re spending any time in Florida, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re going to encounter a rain storm at some point. I picked some ponchos up for $1 each at my local grocery store before my last trip and I promise they worked just as well as the expensive ones people were shelling out for in the parks. Bringing our own ponchos saves my family of six the cost of an entire meal at Disney World. Or a tank of gas for the ride home. Or that cool souvenir you’ve been eyeing.

Two pairs of good shoes

Packing a pair of good walking shoes that you can stand in all day is a no-brainer for a trip to Disney World. If you have space in your suitcase, bringing two pairs is an even better idea. Why? Because of those pesky Florida rain storms mentioned above. Even if you wear a poncho or use an umbrella, your feet will not be protected. I’ve seen mini floods in the parks that left me wading through ankle deep water before. Obviously, my shoes were soaked. If you’re out at the Magic Kingdom all day and getting back late at night, your shoes will not have time to dry. That’s where the second pair comes in. Leave your wet shoes to dry during the day instead of starting your morning with damp socks.

The shoes I’m wearing in the picture above have long since worn out after hundreds and hundreds of miles of walking, but I replaced them with a pair of Sketchers GoStep shoes like these (men’s version here) last summer, and they’re perfect for warm-weather walking. I have the plain old black and white pattern (though I spiced mine up with some fun laces), but there are a whole bunch of awesome colors on Amazon that weren’t available in my local store.

Bathing suits

Whether you’re hitting one of the water parks or just hanging out at your resort pool, you’ll definitely want to cool off in the water at some point. Obviously you can wear any normal bathing suit, but how about a Disney-inspired one like this instead? You can select from a few different colors, but this one reminds me of Ariel.

Ibuprofen (or pain reliever of your choice)

According to my Fitbit, on my last trip, I averaged 11 miles per day walking in the parks. The vast majority of people (like me!) who visit Disney World aren’t going to be accustomed to that level of physical activity. There’s a pretty good chance you’re going to be sore after the first couple of days. I’m incredibly picky about my walking shoes, so it’s usually my legs that get tired before my feet. Regardless, an over-the-counter pain reliever will come in handy, and it’s a lot cheaper to bring your own from home than to try to buy it in the hotel gift shop.

Reusable water bottle

Buying bottled water in the parks is not cheap. Keeping a family of four hydrated during the Florida summer could quickly cost you a fortune if you’re doing it solely with bottled water. I never set foot in the parks without a trusty water bottle in my backpack. I just fill it up at the hotel in the morning and refill from drinking fountains throughout the day. Granted, Florida water doesn’t have the best taste, but it’s water and it’s drinkable and you will definitely need plenty of it no matter what time of year you visit. You’ll be glad to have it when you find yourself stuck in a long, outdoor line with no drinking fountains in sight. I love the Camelbak ones with flip tops like this, especially since you can choose from a whole rainbow of colors.

Disney gear

Everything in the parks is expensive. I would much prefer to bring shirts I already own that I’ve cobbled together from much more affordable places instead of dropping a ton of money in the gift shops. Plus, I like to match my shirt to the park I’m visiting for the day. I’ll wear a Star Wars shirt for Hollywood Studios, a Lion King one for Animal Kingdom, etc. My collection of shirts cobbled together from department stores, online shops, and even the official Disney Store cost 1/3 of what it would to keep me outfitted in Disney style if I was shopping at the gift shops. Packing for Disney trips  usually involves sorting through a pile of character shirts and making the impossible choices necessary to narrow them down to what will fit into my suitcase. You can even buy your own Mickey ears ahead of time!

Extra memory cards

The parks are nothing if not photogenic. I spent months working at Disney World and I still can’t put my camera down when I’m visiting one of the parks. Every corner offers new photo ops, and you’re likely to fill up memory cards quickly I also like to keep extras around so I can spread my pictures out over 2-3 cards during my trip. That way if my camera gets lost or stolen or the card is damaged, I won’t lose every single picture. This is also not something you want to go cheap on. To me, photographs are memories, and while I’m an avid off-brand consumer, I stick with name brand SD cards to avoid the risk of having my data corrupted.

Sunscreen

No matter where you’re from or what your skin tone is, you’ll want some sunscreen in Orlando. It’s not cheap to buy on property at Disney World, so you’ll want to bring your own. I prefer the mini bottles of spray-on sunscreen so I can reapply throughout the day.

What not to bring

Selfie sticks

Selfie sticks are now banned at all Disney parks. If security finds one in your bag during the mandatory search at the entrance, you’ll be asked to return to your car or hotel to leave it there. On a busy morning at the Magic Kingdom the round trip process could cost you well over an hour if you have to take a bus back to your resort. Just don’t pack them. There are plenty of Cast Members and other guests around who will be more than willing to take a nice shot of your group.

Inappropriate shirts

Sure, you’re allowed to wear clothing of your choice, but you have to ask yourself if a family theme park is really the place to wear t-shirts with curse words, drug references, and half-naked people on them. I don’t know the official policy on these types of things, but I have heard of people being asked to turn their shirts inside out or change them if a Cast Member at the entrance deems them inappropriate. One of my friends who went to South Carolina even had a hard time getting in wearing a Gamecocks (their school’s team name) shirt once. Just leave that stuff at home and stick to something a little more family friendly.

I miss this old parade mainly because of dancing Carl from “Up.”

Adult costumes

Unless you’re attending the Halloween Party, adults can’t wear costumes in the Disney parks. Try a costume t-shirt (a shirt that is designed to look like a character’s outfit) or jump on the Disney Bounding trend if you want to pay tribute to your favorite character. Children are, however, still allowed to  dress up as  their favorite characters. Women can easily pair this polka dot skirt with a black top for a tribute to Minnie Mouse, and there are some fabulous costume t-shirts for sale in the parks, at the Disney Store, and on Etsy.

Other Disney World packing tips:

• Breathable fabrics are essential, especially if you’re visiting Disney World in the summer.
• Leave extra room in your luggage for extra Disney World souvenirs.
• You can buy lots of basics in the hotel gift shops, but it’s much cheaper to plan ahead so you don’t forget anything.
• You’re allowed to bring snacks and non-alcoholic beverages into the Disney parks, so don’t hesitate to bring your own food. No coolers are allowed though.

If you’re ready to buy your park tickets, consider going through Undercover Tourist. They’re an official partner of Disney World so the tickets you buy are legit and can be linked to your Disney account to book FastPasses in advance. (Don’t fall for online resale scams!) I’ve used them for my last few trips and saved more than $50 on my 4-day Park Hopper ticket for my most recent visit. Find out other money-saving tips here!

Am I missing anything that you absolutely have to have when you’re packing for Disney parks? Let me know in the comments.

Looking for more Disney tips? Check out some of my favorite posts:

• How to Visit Disney Parks Solo
• The Most Important FastPass+ at Every Disney World Park
• The Grown-Up’s Guide to Disney World
• How to Save Money at Disney World
• How to Save Time at Disney World Using Your Smartphone

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