Insider’s Guide to Disney Travel Essentials: 21 Things You Really Need
This post will talk about all the Disney Travel Essentials you must pack in order to have a stress-free vacation.
Disney travel essentials are crucial to ensuring your magical vacation is smooth and enjoyable. Packing the right items can make or break a trip, from staying comfortable during long days at the parks to capturing unforgettable moments at the resorts.
This post will cover the must-have items every Disney traveler should include in their packing list. Get ready to make the most of your Disney adventure with these expert tips and tricks!
Best Disney Travel Essentials
Disney Travel Essentials Table of Contents:
- 1. Park Bag
- 2. Handheld Fans
- 3. Reusable Water Bottle
- 4. Sunglasses
- 5. Mickey Ears
- 6. Hat
- 7. Sunscreen
- 8. Portable Charger
- 9. Packable Backpack
- 10. Hand Sanitizer & Wipes
- 11. Medications
- 12. Swim Essentials
- 13. Laundry Detergent
- 14. First Aid Kit
- 15. Disney Autograph Book
- 16. Disney MagicBands
- 17. Snacks
- 18. Breakfast Foods
- 19. Rain Ponchos
- 20. Stroller?
- 21. Comfortable Walking Shoes
1. Park Bag
Your park bag needs to be functional but also magical! I’m a massive fan of Loungefly bags. They offer fun designs based on every Disney movie, and the mini backpack is just the right size. These bags are also very durable and comfortable to wear.
2. Handheld Fans
When you’re at Disney during the spring and summer, the parks can get stifling. That’s when our compact, handheld fans come to the rescue. I’ve found that waiting in theme park lines is much more bearable with these fans, keeping us a few degrees cooler than the rest. They’re a game-changer for our Disney trips!
My fans are years old and a little bulkier than the newer models. I’m making two recommendations based on product reviews and what I plan on buying to replace my current fans.
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3. Reusable Water Bottle
I am absolutely in love with this silicone water bottle! It’s lightweight, easy to travel, and comes in multiple colors. Plus, it holds up to 26oz of water. And the best part? It’s collapsible! This is an absolute must-have at Disney to take advantage of their refillable water stations. Stay hydrated!!
4. Sunglasses
Remember to carry along some eye protection for that Florida (or California) sun, depending on your Disney park. I recommend polarized lenses to reduce glare. If you are looking for something inexpensive, try this KALIYADI brand.
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5. Mickey Ears
A trip to Disney will be extra memorable with your adorable Mickey Ears to brighten up your photos. So, don’t forget them. An easy way to travel with your ears is with a specially made travel case.
6. Hat
So, if Mickey Ears aren’t your thing, pack a couple of Disney-inspired hats. The gift shops at Disney parks and resorts always have a great selection of hats, but if you want to buy in advance, check out some cute options below.
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7. Sunscreen
You must include sunscreen on your Disney travel essentials list. I recommend bringing sunscreen sticks, which don’t count toward your TSA liquids.
I like the Sun Bum sticks for the face, which smells like lovely banana cream and is reef-compliant.
For the body, we’ve always used a Coppertone Sport Stick. Its larger stick size makes it easier to cover a larger area, but it is still compact enough to travel.
You can also pack the Coppertone Sport spray if you prefer.
These are our favorites!
8. Portable Charger
The Disney park app is completely necessary to make Genie+ lightning lane selections, dinner reservations, and mobile food orders. You’ll also take tons of photos, so your overused smartphone will need a portable charger at the park to keep you in the game.
I recommend the Veger Portable Charger or the Charmast Power Bank. Both brands have built-in cables and have worked great for us.
9. Packable Backpack
The 4Monster packable backpack is a great product, and I absolutely recommend it! This bag folds down into a pouch as small as your hand, making it so easy to pack in your luggage.
We purchased the 24L size in grey, which was the perfect bag for us. You never know when you will need an extra park bag, so add this item to your Disney travel essentials.
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10. Hand Sanitizer & Wipes
Hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes are essentials for all park days! I love this hand sanitizer in a travel pump because it’s not sticky and doesn’t dry out your skin. Also, compared to a pop-top, it is less likely to spill in your bag.
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11. Medications
This is a reminder to bring your prescription and non-prescription medications. I usually pack a few over-the-counter options in my park bag, too. This medicine travel case is super small and comes with sticker labels for the different compartments.
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The hot sun, wild theme park rides, and Disney snacks can do a number on our bodies. So, I carry Ibuprofen or Tylenol (head/body aches), Tums (indigestion), Imodium (diarrhea), and Meclizine (motion sickness) to the park.
12. Swim Essentials
During your Disney vacation, you will have many chances to lounge by the pool or visit a water park.
So, remember to pack your swimsuit, swim coverup, and flip-flops. For the kids, I always pack their Crocs to wear by the pool.
Furthermore, if in need of some new swim attire, I highly recommend CUPSHE for all your swim essentials.
13. Laundry Detergent
Surprisingly, laundry detergent has become a priority for my Disney packing. I am now a Disney Vacation Club member, and I always try to book at least a 1-bedroom villa with a washer and dryer. This makes packing less stressful since I can wash and rewear.
Even if your unit doesn’t have a washer/dryer, most resorts have 24-hour self-service laundry rooms. So, depending on your length of stay, laundry detergent may still be a Disney travel essential.
In that case, I strongly suggest Tru Earth laundry detergent sheets. They are not messy and pack flat, and the fresh linen smell is great.
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14. First Aid Kit
First, I’ve been traveling with my KeepGoing GoKit for a couple of years, and it has everything you need. Second, it’s the perfect packable size and TSA approved. Awesome product and a must-have for your Disney travel essentials.
15. Disney Autograph Book
These autograph books are crucial for younger or shy children. They really help kids interact with the characters at the meet-and-greets. For this reason, add autograph books to your Disney travel essentials list. Moreover, they make great memory keepsakes!
16. Disney MagicBands
To explain, MagicBands are:
- Your entrance ticket
- Credit card
- Lightning Lane entrance
- Link to your PhotoPass
- Disney resort room key
It can really do it all. And, with the MagicBand+, you are even a part of the nighttime spectaculars. My kids love the light-up and vibration features of the new bands. I definitely recommend springing for the MagicBands. They are my #1 Disney travel essential!
17. Snacks
For fear that hunger will strike while you’re 30 minutes into an hour-long ride queue, BRING SNACKS!! I usually bring individual snack packs like Cheez-Its or Goldfish. Keep it simple.
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18. Breakfast Foods
If your family is anything like mine, you want to rope drop the Disney parks every morning. For us, that means a quick breakfast in the room. I pack bagels, muffins, granola bars, pop-tarts, and coffee. If you have a refrigerator in the room, pick up some juice and milk the night before to be prepared for breakfast.
19. Rain Ponchos
If you’ve ever been to a Florida theme park, then you know a summer rainstorm can happen at any moment. So, always be prepared with a rain poncho in your park bag!
You want to buy these in advance because parks charge a premium for their rain ponchos. I recommend buying in bulk from Amazon or Walmart. Here is a 10-pack of rain ponchos with a drawstring hood that only takes up a little space in your bag and is disposable after use.
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20. Stroller?
Some Disney guests swear by bringing their own strollers. For me, this always caused a packing dilemma. This is one Disney travel essential that I would not necessarily pack. Don’t get me wrong, depending on the age of your children, strollers are a must-use at the parks.
Disney offers reasonable stroller rental rates while visiting the parks. We have only ever used Disney park strollers. I did not want the stroller to take up valuable space in our resort room, and traveling on the Disney buses with a stroller is very cumbersome.
If you pack your park bags with the things I’ve mentioned, you shouldn’t need to travel with a stroller. Again, keep it simple; just rent the stroller at the park.
21. Comfortable Walking Shoes
A comfortable pair of shoes will make the miles of Disney theme park walking bearable. Always bring a backup pair if you get caught in the rain one day.
If you are looking for classic white sneakers, I am obsessed with my new Dr. Scholl’s Women’s Time Off Sneakers. They feel like walking on a cloud!
Therefore, I pack these super comfy white sneakers, and if rain is expected, I have my Nike running shoes as a backup.
Disney Travel Essentials Wrap-up
Finally, if you’ve stuck with me until the end, you should have the perfect Disney travel essentials for your next Disney Vacation. If you need some tips on where to eat breakfast at Disney World, check out that post next.
Also, tell me your must-pack Disney travel essentials in the comments below!
