If you’re getting ready to head to Disney World, it’s important to consider what you’re going to pack!
So today, we’re going to talk about ten essential items you should be sure to bring with you on your Disney World vacation.
Now, keep in mind, your unique essentials are going to vary. (For instance, if you or someone in your family takes daily medication, you’ll want to make sure you bring that.)
Today’s list is going to focus on ten more general items that pretty much everyone will benefit from bringing with them to Disney World.
And it’s also worth noting that if you do end up forgetting something on this list, there’s a solution to help you get your hands on almost every item.
Here is my list of top ten Disney World Essentials!
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Rain gear
Disney World and all of Central Florida is known for its pop up showers, which means you’ll want to be prepared for rain–even if the forecast is looking pretty clear.
You’re better off grabbing some ponchos, raincoats, and/or umbrellas from home and bring them with you to Disney World.
My recommended rain gear is a poncho. They’re lightweight, take up very little space in a bag, and can be reused throughout the course of your trip.
You can also grab ponchos really inexpensively at home. A 6 pack of Adult ponchos costs around $10 on Amazon and a 20 pack of family (kid and adult) ponchos is around $16.
These ponchos say they’re designed for one use, but my family members and I have each used one single-use poncho for an entire trip with no issue.
If you’re gentle with putting them on and taking them off, and do your best to avoid getting caught on anything, they should last you. (Though these ponchos are so cheap, it couldn’t hurt to bring two per person just in case.)
If you forget rain gear, it’s not a crisis. You can absolutely get some in the park, but be prepared to pay significantly for it.
Sunscreen
Florida is pretty close to the equator. That means no matter what time of year you’re going, the UV index is likely going to make sunscreen a necessity.
Save yourself time and money and grab a bottle or two before you go. You can get some here on Amazon.
If you forget or run out, you can get sunscreen at your hotel’s gift shop or a Disney Merchandise location, but it’s likely to be much more expensive than you would pay if you just brought it from home.
Water bottle
For about 85% of the year, Florida is really hot. And even if you happen to be traveling during one of the cooler winter months, you’ll still be doing a lot more walking than you’re likely used to.
Both of these factors means it’s really important to stay hydrated. You can absolutely buy water in the parks, but again, it’s expensive.
Your best bet is to bring a water bottle from home and fill it up at a water fountain, bottle refill station, or by asking for free water at any counter service location.
However, Florida water can have a little bit of a funny taste that a lot of people don’t like. That’s why I always recommend a Brita Sport Water Bottle.
These bottles are lightweight and come with a filter that will last you two months. This way you can enjoy free, freshly filtered water from anywhere in the parks.
And as I touched on, if you forget your water bottle, you can get free water from any counter service location. Just ask a cast member!
Smartphone
Because the My Disney Experience App does so much to streamline your trip, you want to make sure to bring your smartphone with you!
And if you aren’t a smartphone person, consider getting an iPod Touch or Android Tablet. Both should be able to download the My Disney Experience app.
Disney Parks have complimentary guest accessible WiFi, so you should be able to download the app to your iPod Touch and manage your plans on the fly even if you don’t have a smartphone. (Though, full disclosure, I haven’t tried this, so I can’t speak to it. I just know the tools are in place for this to be an option.)
And if you don’t have a smartphone or tablet, Disney does have kiosks stationed around the parks for you to book FastPasses on. Guest services can also help you make or change dining reservations and other plans.
Portable charger
If you’re using a smartphone or tablet all day in the parks, the last thing you want to worry about is your device dying.
To take that stress off the table, bring a portable device charger and make sure you bring it to the park everyday fully charged.
This way, if your phone starts to die, you can plug it right into your portable charger and let it charge while you ride, eat, and enjoy your day.
If you forget your portable charger or find yourself in need of one, you can go to a FuelRod Kiosk and buy one. They’re a little more expensive than you can buy on your own, but you will have the added benefit of being able to swap out a dead FuelRod for a fully charged one at any kiosk for free.
Favorite snacks (especially for kids)
There is no guarantee that you will be able to find your favorite snack in Disney World.
And while this may be an inconvenience for an adult, it could be a full blown crisis if you have a kid that loves Animal Crackers and you can’t find any in Disney.
Always bring any must-have snacks and drinks with you.
And if you forget something that’s essential for you and your family, you can check out sites like Garden Grocer, or grab a taxi and get yourself to a grocery store and get what you need.
Comfortable (broken in) shoes
Disney is a lot of walking! Don’t bring shoes that will in any way hurt your feet. This means making sure your shoes are broken in.
Even sneakers can give you blisters if they’re brand new.
If you want to get new shoes for your trip, give yourself at least a month to wear them around your home and neighborhood, and be sure some of that they’re comfortable to wear for an extended period of walking.
If you do bring shoes that end up giving you blisters, try these blister cushions. And if you find your shoes are completely uncomfortable, then new shoes may be the lesser of two evils. Like with food, you can take a taxi to a nearby shoe store.
Magic bands
Your magic band is your key to your Disney Vacation. It holds your reservations, FastPasses, room key, and Magical Express reservation.
While you can opt to pick your magic band up at your hotel, most people have them sent to their homes ahead of time. And if you’re like most people, then you want to make sure you bring your magic band when you’re packing.
This will save you time and money!
However, if you forget your magic band, it’s not a crisis. Your magic band is connected to your My Disney Experience account, so you should be able to purchase another band when you arrive and connect it to your account pretty easily.
Alternatively, if you’re staying at a Disney World Resort, you can try asking a cast member at your Resort’s Guest Services. I don’t have personal experience with this, but they have been known to give replacement MagicBands for free.
If you have trouble with this, a Cast Member should be able to help you.
Layers
If you’re traveling in the late spring, summer, or early fall, when it’s typically pretty hot all day, this tip may not apply to you.
But if you’re traveling in the late fall, winter, or early spring, you’ll want to make sure you pack layers.
During the late fall, winter, and early spring, the days can be warmer while the nights, much cooler. And in the winter, you may find one day in the sixties and the next day in the forties. (This has literally happened to me.)
Just because it’s Flordia, doesn’t automatically mean you should only pack short sleeves. Check the temperatures before you go and be prepared to pack long sleeves and pants if your traveling at a time when the temperature is more fluid.
There is plenty of Disney merch to choose from–both short and long-sleeved–if you forget to back layers. It will be more expensive bringing or buying something at home, but it can also double as a great souvenir.
A budget
This is the least tangible thing on this list, but it’s also important.
Going to Disney with a spending budget in mind is a good way to keep yourself from going too big and later stressing or regretting aspects of your trip.
One way to make your spending budget more set and concrete is to purchase Disney Gift Cards loaded with your spending amount before you go.
This will make it easy to see how much you’ve spent, how much you have left, and keep you on track.
It’s also a good way to allocate spending money for kids.
But if you do find yourself getting caught up in the moment and spending too much on souvenirs, you should be able to return items at any merchandise location–whether you bought it there or not–before you head home.
For more Disney World tips and tricks, check out the other Disney World Posts!
Sound off: What essentials do you always bring to Disney World? Tell us about it in the comments!