So you’re going to Walt Disney World! As thrilling as a Walt Disney World vacation can be, it can also be downright exhausting, over-planned, and wrought with unpredictable tropical weather. Keeping these things in mind, it is imperative that you pack your suitcase accordingly to ensure the best possible vacation experience.
1. Touring Bag: Be sure to bring a roomy yet comfortable bag that will serve as your park sack. You’ll want a bag that can easily hold all of those park essentials including: small food and drink items, useful first aid items, cameras, and a little extra space for souvenirs.
2. Sunscreen: Even in the winter time, don’t leave home without it! The Florida sun can be brutal on all skin types (especially little noses) so it pays to come prepared. Pack a good quality sunscreen to shield yourself and your loved ones from the Florida sun. We here at Disney Addicts usually recommend a 50 SPF or better just to be on the safe side.
3. Comfortable Shoes:Your visit to Disney is not the time to be breaking in those brand new pair of sandals or to rock those heels. The theme parks are massive (a lot bigger than first time visitors expect) and it is not uncommon to have walked 6 or 7 miles in a day. Comfortable sneakers or shoes that have already been broken in are best.
4. Ponchos: Protect yourself from the occasional downpour with plastic ponchos, which can be purchased from your local dollar store or in bulk from online retailers. Paying for ponchos while at the parks (especially if you’re a large family) can be massively expensive so it pays to come prepared!
5. Glow Sticks: If you’re planning on seeing the evening fireworks displays while at Disney, this is another way to shave a bit of money off of your budget. Glow Sticks can be purchased in multi packs at places like the Dollar Store or even the discount bins at the front of Target shops. Bring a handful of these with you to Florida and include them in your park bags each day. This stops you from having to dish out a ton of money on glow-in-the-dark type souvenirs that your little ones won’t really use when you get home.
6. Blister Band-aids: Even if you’re shoes are super comfy and well broken in, a member of your family getting a blister or two is pretty inevitable. These pesky buggers can be pretty painful. To stop them from putting a damper on your Disney magic, keep a box of blister band-aids. They’ll cushion the area and provide a bit of relief allowing you to be back on your feet in no time.
7. Portable Cell Phone Charger: Keep your cell fully charged by carrying along a portable charger. Check-out a local or online retailer for a plethora of options available at varying price ranges. Disney also has FuelRod chargers available for purchase on property. They can be found across the theme parks and resorts.
8. A Roll of Quarters for the Pressed Penny Machines: A fun collection of souvenirs that doesn’t break the bank, Disney’s much-loved pressed coin machines can be found just about anywhere. Part of the fun is seeing how many of these machines you can find. As a slightly cheaper alternative to Pin Trading, have a roll of quarters on hand and collect coins from some of your favorite Disney attractions. (Oh and don’t forget the pennies!)
9. MagicBands: Don’t forget to bring your MagicBands to the parks! These are your passport to pretty much everything that Disney has to offer, they’ll hold your dining reservations, your Fastpasses and your ticket to gain entry to the park. They are the one thing, when it comes to Disney, you definitely don’t want to leave your home (or your resort) without!
10. Hats: Yes. Florida is hot. Hot and muggy. One of the best ways to combat Florida humidity is to dress appropriately. In addition to wearing light-weight clothing, consider trading your mouse ears for a hat on a particularly roasting day. You can’t beat giving yourself some personal shade, and certain hats can tie in a Disney-inspired outfit if paired accordingly.
11. Frogg Togg Chilly Pad: Want to beat the heat at Disney World? Do yourself a favor and buy a Frogg Togg Chilly Pad immediately. These amazing towels feel like some sort of magic trick: rinse with water, wring out, and they stay up to 30 degrees cooler than the outside air while feeling dry to the touch.
12. Sunglasses: Even with a hat, the sun can be too much for your eyes. You don’t want to spend the daylight hours of your vacation squinting. Bring cheap sunglasses from home for each member of your party and use them. Leave the expensive sunglasses at home or in your hotel. There are hundreds of pairs of sunglasses left on rides or lost in other ways at Walt Disney World each day. If you bring inexpensive sunglasses, it won’t be as big a loss if yours make their way into that statistic.
13. Hand Sanitizer: You will touch things all day long at Walt Disney World. You’ll touch the handle on the tram, the finger scanner at the gate, the seat belts on the rides, and so much more. The same thing that you just touched will have been touched previously by countless other guests. People don’t cancel their Walt Disney World vacations because of a cold or even a touch of the flu, they just bring their germs with them. Don’t bring home an unwanted souvenir, use hand sanitizer often.
14. Plastic Zipper Bags: Throw a couple different size boxes of plastic zipper bags into your suitcase when you’re packing. They’ll come in handy at the parks. You can use them to keep your phone dry on a wet ride or during a rainstorm. They’re great to carry snacks in. Keep your hand sanitizer and sunscreen in bags so that they don’t leak all over your stuff. Zipper bags can keep small toys clean. They even make it easy to keep your things organized in your bag. If you have plastic zipper bags, you’ll use them. Don’t leave home without them.
