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.
- Patented Turbocharged Airflow: JISULIFE Handheld Turbo Fan has 2 vortex tech patents: Air Turbo and Air Jet. The airflow is accelerated and compressed by the air duct turbine, the wind is stronger, and the wind feeling is closer to nature
- 3-in-1 Handheld/Neck Hanging/Desktop Portable Fan：Introducing the psecici portable fan that combines handheld, desktop, and neck-hanging functions. The fan body is equipped with a strap attachment hole, and when used with the included strap, it can be used as a neck-hanging fan, freeing up both hands, making it less tiring for long-time use, and ideal for work or sports.
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.
- ★ Protect Your Eyes With Style ▶ We created our polarized sunglasses men women to protect your eyes while you are out under the harmful sun UV rays and to make you look Irresistible at the same time. Whether you are driving, walking or working, whether you are a man or a woman, prepare yourself for all the prime attention you can get and the envy of all of those who can’t figure out your little secret: Your KALIYADI Sunglasses.
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.
- MICKEY MOUSE BASEBALL HAT: Adjustable cotton twill ball cap with an embroidered image of Mickey Mouse on the front of the cap
- ONE SIZE FITS ALL: Golf hat features an adjustable metal slider to allow for easy resizing for a comfortable fit on the heads of kids and adults alike
- MONSTERS INC. MU DAD HAT: Royal blue baseball hat with a stylish pre-worn aesthetic and an embroidered Monsters University logo on the front of the cap
- ONE SIZE FITS ALL: Ball cap features an adjustable metal slider on the back to allow for easy resizing to fit adult men and women’s heads of all shapes and sizes
- Versatile Style: Elevate your wardrobe with our Disney Minnie Mouse baseball cap for men and women, available in a variety of colors including Black, White, Grey, Navy, Red, Pink, and Khaki. Choose the shade that complements your style effortlessly.
- Iconic Disney Characters: Embrace the magic of Minnie Mouse with this officially licensed baseball cap featuring beloved Disney characters. Showcase your fandom in a subtle yet stylish way with our baseball hat for men and women.
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.
- 【Lightweight & Compact】Weight only 4 (oz), which is about half of the weight of a iphone. Easy to carry, can be folded into the wallet size fit into a pocket.
- 【Water Resistant material】This lightweight hiking daypack is made of water-resistant material and zipper. Effectively prevent rainwater from wetting the phone or cash and other items in the backpack.
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.
- Help your family and those you care about kill germs on their hands with Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer Naturals, made with naturally derived alcohol
- 2X Sanitizing Strength. 1 squirt of Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer equals 2 squirts of other national brands. Outperforms other sanitizers ounce-for-ounce
- EcoLogo certified with essential oils and natural skin conditioners is free of triclosan, parabens, phthalates and other unnecessary ingredients
- Place this 2 Ounce pump bottle in your purse, gym bag, or diaper bag. Reach for the Purell bottle when you need to kill germs, refresh or clean-up in a hurry
- Case includes: 6- PURELL Advanced Hand Sanitizer Naturals- 2 fl oz Pump Bottles
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.
- NOTE: Please refer to the Overall Size & Compartment size before ordering. Overall Size: 4.7″L x 2.9″W x 1.25″H. Large Compartment Size: 1.4″L x 1.2″W x 0.6″D. Small Compartment Size: 1.05″L x 1.2″W x 0.6″D. Large compartment holds up to about 5 big fish oils or 7 capsules. Small compartment holds up to about 3 big fish oils or 5 capsules.
- PRODUCT INCLUDES – You will get 1 PCS 14 compartment pill case box [Khaki] + 415 PCS pre-printed medecine name labels + 19 PCS blank labels. You can customize some informations such as medicine name, brand, usage, dosage, etc. on the these labels.
- FEATURE ABOUT 415 PRE-CUT MEDICINE NAME LABELS -①Include most household medication, fish oil, vitamins, supplements, etc. name labels; ②No duplicate labels; ③Pre-cut to fit the lids perfectly; ④Writable labels for writing brand or other text; ⑤Non-marking adhesive for easy removal and replacement; ⑥Comeing with catalog make it easy to find target labels; ⑦Don’t contain any information about any brand. Just like the images you see. If the labels are not what you want please don’t buy the product!
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.
- COMPACT YET POWERFUL LAUNDRY STRIPS: Tru Earth laundry detergent sheets have gained popularity across the USA and beyond, not just as travel laundry soap sheets, but also an everyday solution to heavy, bulky, watered down jugs.
- GENTLE FOR SENSITIVE SKIN: Not only are Tru Earth Eco-Strips laundry soap sheets incredibly convenient, we pride ourselves on safety and health. Tru Earth Eco-Strips are vegan-friendly, paraben-free and gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin.
- NO PLASTIC JUGS: Our laundry detergent sheets’ eco friendly design has a smaller carbon footprint than liquid or powder detergents. Its packaging uses no plastic jug, and its lightweight and small size is arthritis friendly and needs less space compared to traditional detergent.
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.
- Light and crispy bite-sized snack crackers made with real cheese and a dusting of salt
- Our cheesy baked crackers are individually packed for convenience and make a delicious anytime snack
- THE SNACK THAT SMILES BACK: A family favorite for generations, Goldfish Cheddar Cheese Crackers are fun, fish-shaped snack crackers with a smile
- INGREDIENTS YOU CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT: These baked cheese snacks are made with 100% real cheese and no artificial flavors or preservatives
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.
- ★BEST QUALITY★– Highest non-toxic PE material, 100% waterproof,30% extra thicker, durable and environmentally, that are made to endure rugged weather conditions, and keep you dry and secured from the elements. The poncho offers supreme coverage, keeping you dry and dirt free when you need it the most.
- ★UPGRADED DESIGN★– Each rain poncho’s hood comes with a drawstring to allow you to tighten it up to make sure the hood stays over your head and keeps your hair and face nice and dry. The elastic cuff will better protect your arms from rains.
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!
