Packing for Disney World may be the last step in your vacation planning process, but it is by no means the least important. When it comes to creating your Disney World packing list, you’ll need to think about what you need in the parks as well as during your journey.
Of course, there are the basic necessities of clothing, shoes, and toiletries, but considering some other essential items in your Disney World packing could make your vacation far more enjoyable.
For those of you doing Disney World on a budget, you could even save some money.
Disney Vacation Planning: Packing for Your Trip
We’ve taken countless trips to Disney World over the years. In the beginning, it wasn’t unheard of to have a panic moment at least once during the trip, because we’d forgotten something of critical importance.
Once it was a bathing suit. Imagine not being able to enjoy the fabulous water slides at your resort.
Believe it or not, we’ve even forgotten socks for one of the four children. Fortunately, that was long before we’d become Disney vacation planning veterans.
As a result, we’ve developed a Disney World packing list that we make sure to heed. Read on for the things we can’t do without.
You might just find that you need them too.
Packing for Disney World: A Clear Backpack Gets You Through Security Faster
When traveling with children, we found a clear backpack, like the model shown above, to be particularly helpful.
Bag checks take place before the turnstiles of each and every park. Lines can be very long, particularly in the morning when most people are arriving.
A transparent backpack gives the security agent a clearer view as to the contents of your bag and really does speed up the process of getting yourself or your family through the line.
Put an Extra Pair of Shoes on Your Disney World Packing List
Florida rains are notorious. We’ve been drenched many times, and that means shoes and socks as well as hair and clothes.
Usually, our footwear is still wet the next morning. When packing for Disney World, we’ve learned the value of an extra pair of walking shoes. You may not have considered the luxury of slipping into a dry pair of shoes in the morning, but if you ever have to put on a rain-drenched pair from the previous day, you’ll understand what we mean.
And don’t forget those trips to the pools. You’ll want something that is easy to slip on and off your feet and doesn’t take up much space in a suitcase. That’s why we always think of footwear in our Disney vacation planning and include a pair of flip-flops or small sandals on our packing list.
When Packing for Disney World Consider the Absolutely Necessary Protection Against Florida Rains
Speaking of those Florida rains, you’ll pay a premium for Disney-themed rain gear if you’re caught without. It’s happened to us before, so we decided to include them in our own Disney World packing guide.
In the past we’ve compared rain coats to rain ponchos and found we preferred the latter. They can be easily crammed into a backpack and even make great additions to those wet rides.
We’ve used both the disposable ponchos and the non-disposable variety. For us, the sturdier, non-disposable ponchos were a better bet as we were able to reuse them on subsequent trips.
On the other hand, If you don’t think you’ll ever have the need to don what resembles a large Glad bag, feel free to opt for the tossable variety when packing for Disney World. With a little care, they should hold up for the length of your trip.
A Portable Phone Charger Keeps You Connected
When using the My Disney Experience app in the park, we found that battery life on our phones was drastically reduced. At home, I can usually get one to two full days before needing to recharge my device, but in the parks, we were lucky to make it half of a day.
Fortunately, on our last trip, we brought along the TYLT compact charger. It isn’t as flashy as some but was adequate for our needs. It fit easily in a pocket or backpack, worked with multiple types of phones and gave a full charge quickly. It is also economically priced.
If you plan to use the My Disney Experience app (and you really should), a portable charger should be included on your Disney World packing checklist.
The Florida Sun Can Get Hot…Really Hot!
Being from the north, we suffered terrible sunburns on one of our earliest trips to Florida. It was a lesson learned, and we’ve always made certain to include sunscreen when packing for Disney World.
In the cooler months, we may only wear full body sunscreen when enjoying the pools, but during the summer, when the sun is at its strongest, we slather it on before going to the parks.
For arms and legs, we don’t have a strong preference for any particular brand as long as it’s SPF 30 or above, but we feel quite differently about protecting the skin on the face and neck.
A few years ago, Sandy Roos recommended Elta MD. She’s a highly-respected consultant to plastic surgeons and in the know on the best products, so I took her advice.
We haven’t regretted it yet.
Why We Like Elta MD
One of the battles I had with getting my girls to wear sunscreen was the heavy oily feel of many products. This was a particular concern during adolescent, acne-prone years.
Elta MD makes several different versions of their products, so it’s easy to find one that’s right for your skin type as well. I use the UV Daily.
UV Daily contains hyaluronic acid, so it’s a nice choice for older skin. I use it in place of my moisturizer, and it makes a nice, light substitution in the Florida humidity. It also has a tint, so it reduces the need for concealer or foundation. That’s part of my morning routine that I am happy to skip when on vacation.
My youngest daughter uses UV Clear for acne prone skin. She can use it without worrying about additional breakouts caused by the ingredients in many sunscreens.
My two daughters who are now in their twenties, find the UV Physical to be the best. It stays put even if you get wet or sweat, so there is no need to worry about losing protection and getting burnt.
Even if you don’t use Elta MD products, a facial sunscreen is a must-have on your Disney World packing list. There is nothing like a bad sunburn to put a damper on your trip.
Cooler Months Means Thinking about Extra Layers when Packing for Disney World
Our favorite time to travel is in the late fall or in the months of January or February. Unfortunately, that can mean dealing with some chilly temperatures. When considering packing for Disney World, you’ll need to think about adding some layers to your typical daily attire.
Even if the day is going to be warm, you will often need a jacket in the morning. My youngest daughter loves her North Face Osito, mainly for the plush softness. It’s light but warm, comes in a variety of Disney-friendly and every-day colors, and can be used again if your home is located in cooler climates.
My other kids are content to wear a hoodie or hooded sweatshirt, but like the North Face, they do take up a bit of room in a backpack. Since we tend to carry small backpacks, that means these items usually end up being carried or tied around the waist as the temperatures warm up throughout the day.
That’s why I like Eddie Bauer’s packable wind jacket. It provides adequate protection against chill mornings, and when the day gets warmer, it folds into a pocket that is easily carried or tossed into the backpack without taking up too much space.
If we have a strong cold snap, as has happened during two of my last three trips, I can add an extra sweater or sweatshirt under it to keep warm. The Eddie Bauer packable wind jacket comes in both women’s and men’s sizes.
If you’re traveling in the cooler months, consider how you will handle the changing temperatures in your Disney vacation planning.
Some Other Things You Might Want to Consider
While not critical, there are some other things we always consider when packing for Disney World. Since we live in the Pacific Northwest and Northeast, traveling to Disney usually means a plane ride.
My kids still remember the days when we included Schleich horses and Gameboys in our Disney World vacation packing. These were generally only used to occupy them during the flight, and while that statement definitely dates them (and me), it underscores an important point.
Kids going to Disney are bursting with excitement, so even a shorter three-hour plane ride can seem like an eternity, to say nothing of enduring the trip from Oregon (see my unhappy son-in-law above). Making sure they have something enjoyable to do can ease the burden of waiting and make the trip easier to bear for both child and adult.
Headphones Encourage Relaxation on Flights
My last flight from Portland into Hartford convinced me of the bliss of a good pair of quality headphones.
A family of six decided to separate their party a few rows apart, despite being the first ones on the plane (thanks to Southwest Airlines’ liberal pre-boarding policy). They then proceeded to spend the remainder of the flight loudly yelling to each other across the other passengers seated in between. My Bose SoundLink over-ear headphones got me through the three-hour flight to Chicago.
These are not noise cancelling but did drown out the din around me quite nicely and at a cheaper price than those designed to truly cancel out sound. I bought mine at Costco before the holidays, but Walmart’s price isn’t far off the mark if you aren’t a Costco member.
Simplify Disney Vacation Packing with Cubes
Another thing to keep in mind when packing for Disney World is the fact that you will be living out of a suitcase. My consultant friend, Sandy Roos, mentioned above, does a lot of traveling for her job. Living out of a suitcase is a weekly occurrence for her, so I trust her thoughts on travel gear.
Awhile ago, she recommended travel cubes as an easy way to keep things organized within a suitcase. Packing like items together, such as socks, shirts or underwear, makes it easy to find what you want as you get ready to head off to the parks.
If you plan to thoroughly unpack at your hotel, travel cubes can be taken right from the suitcase and placed in a drawer, making the chore of unpacking go that much faster. After all, it’s about getting out to the parks as fast as possible, right?
You’ll find many different varieties available. While my fun-loving side gravitated toward the set with polar bears or daisies, I opted for the basic mesh-front cubes. With the mesh fronts, I could easily see what was in each bag without having to unzip several to find what I wanted.
Unlike some other varieties, the mesh cubes can be machine-washed on gentle and line dried. One thing to note, you may want to avoid red or dark colored bags. One reviewer found they bled onto her clothing when the airline left her luggage in the rain. I’ve never experienced this with the gray bags.
If you do decide to use packing cubes, consider taking along an empty extra or two for dirty clothes. They fold down flat, so require little room in your suitcase.
Making the Most of Your Disney Trip
No matter when you are going or how long you are staying, a little bit of thinking ahead when packing for Disney World can go a long way. Missing even a few simple items can have a big impact on your trip, so pull out your pen and start making a Disney World packing list before you leave.
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