What to Bring to Disney World ~ Park Bag Essentials
Your Disney vacation is almost here! You thought you were ready, but then you remembered the dreaded “park bag”. Now you’re wondering if you’ve thought of everything you should include in it. As parents, we can totally relate and are here to help answer the question, “What to Bring to Disney World?”.
Planning a Disney vacation can be very stressful. We all want the most memorable, magical, personal experience possible. (Am I right?!) Most often, families (including ours) find themselves planning and saving for their Disney vacation, months and even years in advance.
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WHAT TO BRING TO DISNEY WORLD ~ Park Bag Essentials
With so much Disney Magic to experience together, you’ll definitely want to make the most of your family’s day at the park. Packing essentials in your park bag is one way to maximize your time spent enjoying the magic, rather than fretting about the small stuff.
We’re excited to share with you our list of “What to Bring to Disney World~ Park Bag Essentials”. These items have helped our families have a more enjoyable time at the Disney’s parks… and they’ve made us look like “mom pros” too.
Plus, we’re sharing our favorite Disney planning resources (see bottom of post), including our PRINTABLE 30 DAY DISNEY COUNTDOWN CALENDAR featuring a fun, different Disney themed activity to do together each day!
We hope this information helps you with planning your family’s Disney vacation!
FANNIE PACK
Yes, I know…”they’re not a backpack” and “they’re touristy” but… they’re also practical storage for the items you likely grab for most often during the day. We keep our hand sanitizer, phone, and park tickets in our Fannie Pack for quick, easy access. I’m the gal who worries about a wallet or car keys getting lost, so I toss those in my Fannie pack too for safe keeping and my sanity! Plus, did you know Fannie Packs can be worn on all the rides and come in a variety of sizes including kids?
- You’re going to love this Disney fanny pack bag featuring Mickey Mouse expressions all over!
- Stylish and sleek cross fanny pack is made from premium canvas.
- It measures 11.0 x 6.5 x 4.0 Inches and features space to carry all your favorite things including phone, wallet, keys, etc.
HAND SANITIZER
For us, our list of What to Bring to Disney World just wouldn’t be complete without hand sanitizer, a definite must in our park bag. We prefer the spray-on options, as they’re faster and much less messy then gels. We actually keep ours inside our Fannie pack to be able get to it quickly, as we use it frequently throughout our day.
- Made with 62% ethyl alcohol, Honest plant-based Hand Sanitizer Spray effectively kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria
- Quick-drying formula is made with a combination of naturally-derived glycerin and aloe to help leave skin feeling soft plus moisturized without a sticky residue
- Perfect for on the go, especially when there’s no soap plus water around; whether you’re on a plane, at the grocery store, or at the playground, we got you covered
- Made without: synthetic fragrances, parabens, phenoxyethanol, or chlorine processing
- EWG Certified; Dermatologist Tested; Cruelty Free; Hypoallergenic; Made in the US
MICKEY EARS
If you’re trying to do Disney on a budget (like us!) then you should consider bringing your own Mickey ears to the park, especially if that is an item you are thinking about buying. A basic, “mouse ears” headband will set you back $30 or more at a Disney Park… no kidding! If you’re a family of four that’s $120 + just on headgear! Save yourself a ton of cash and purchase those ahead of time to put in your Disney Park Bag. (Check out the Mommy/daughter ear sets too!)
- ❤️【COLORS&SIZES】 Different colors and styles available for your choice.Mouse ears headband is sized to fit most kids and adults as it’s made of highly elastic plastic
- ❤️【 FASHIONABLE】 Mice ears headband is made of Sequin ears, Soft Felt-like fabric and high quality satin bow
CHANGE FOR COIN PRESSING MACHINES
Throughout Disney Parks, you’ll see a variety of coin pressing machines. Pressed coins make great, inexpensive souvenirs! Problem is, most people don’t carry cash on them to be able to get change. Be prepared and toss some pennies and quarters in your Disney Park Bag, because you know the kids are definitely going to ask!
- Traveling to Disneyland or Walt Disney World? Enjoy this BUDGET SAVER gift set that includes your park essentials.
- Official Licensed Disney Character Autograph Book with 40 two-sided pages. (Styles will vary and will be chosen for you.), 1-sheet of Mickey and Freinds stickers (stickers will vary and be chosen for you)
- Mouse Ears Headband – soft plush ears and headband, fits both Children and Adults. Mickey’s Magical Ears – Plush Black. Perfect for pictures with your favorite Disney Characters. Don’t forget to collect your Pressed Pennies. Our New 36 Pressed Penny book and coin holders adds even more excitement to your Magical vacation.
- NEW IMPOROVED PEN – Multi-color Autograph Ink Pen with four colors – Black, Red, Green, Blue. Perfect fit for the Character’s hands.
- Lanyard for your Disney Trading Pins, keepsakes and park passes. Don’t for get the Magical Surprise in every Magical Park Pack! Look for the Red or Blue bag inside!
There are lots of fun ways to show off your pressed penny collection. Disney themed pressed coin books are a popular choice. If you’re looking for something more unique, there are a variety of fun silicone options such as wristbands, necklace holders, magnets, keychains and picture frames.
TRAVEL FIRST-AID KIT
Pocket-sized Travel First Aid Kit. If you’re travelling with small kids, a pocket size first aid kit is a great idea to keep in your park bag, for minor cuts and scrapes. As we know, kiddos tend to be a tad clumsy when they’re tired or distracted by their environment. Tripping accidents happen and sometimes you just need a band-aide to help make things better. There’s no need to bring the entire medicine cabinet with you, as there are always Disney Cast Members nearby to help get you medical attention.
- Versatile Essentials: Packed with commonly used first aid supplies, including latex-free bandages, antibiotic ointment, and antiseptic wipes.
- Comprehensive Assortment: Features safety pins, sting relief wipes, butterfly bandages, spot bandages, and knuckle bandages for a well-rounded first aid solution.
- Durable and Compact: Housed in a crush-resistant metal tin case, this mini first aid kit is travel-friendly and perfect for on-the-go use, ensuring protection for its contents.
**(Be sure to check park guidelines regarding medical scissors/razor blades found within many first-aid kits. You may want to leave those at home.)
AUTOGRAPH BOOK AND PENS
Be prepared for those Disney “meet and greets” by having an autograph book and pen already on-hand! Sure, you can buy autograph books in the parks, however, they will likely cost you a whole lot more. We prefer the autograph books that have photo sleeves, so we can add our photo with each character too. Autograph books are a great gift idea too, if you are surprising your kids with a Disney trip!
- Comes with alphabet stickers for personalizing
SUNSCREEN
Sunscreen is an obvious “must” for a day at a Disney Park. We love Badger Balm broad spectrum sunscreens, which come in a variety of options: kids, sport, and baby. Their 2.9 ounce size makes them a great choice for backpacks and their ingredients make them great for the earth. Our favorite is the Kids’ Tangerine Vanilla Clear Sport Sunscreen Cream!
- SAFE EFFECTIVE SUN PROTECTION: All natural zinc oxide sunblock protects from sunburn and skin damage. Mineral based sunscreen with broad spectrum UVA UVB protection for sensitive skin
- 98% ORGANIC INGREDIENTS: Just 5 simple ingredients to protect & nourish; zinc oxide, sunflower oil, beeswax, vitamin E & seabuckthorn. Unscented, hypoallergenic, chemical free sunscreen
- EASY TO APPLY & WATER RESISTANT SUNSCREEN: Light sunflower based, easy to apply suntan lotion / sunscreen rubs in clear. 40 minutes sweat & water resistant. TSA travel sized sunscreen
Also, don’t forget to reapply sunscreen throughout the day and take advantage of shaded areas for a quick rest. Nothing says “we’re leaving the park early” louder than a sunburn and/or heat exhaustion.
REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE
You should definitely plan on staying hydrated while at Disney, especially during those Florida summers. We always take advantage of Disney’s complimentary ice waters, and frequently fill up our own reusable container. A stainless steel water bottle is a fantastic, durable, earth-friendly way to always have refreshing ice water on hand. Plus, you’ll save a ton of money while staying hydrated.
- THE BEST BOTTLE: The 32 oz insulated Hydro Flask water bottle Wide Mouth with a leakproof Chug Cap. The narrow chug spout provides a convenient, controlled flow to quickly quench your thirst.
- 24 HOURS COLD: Double-wall vacuum insulation keeps drinks hot or cold for hours. The insulated bottle keeps beverages cold for 24 hours. The TempShield insulation keeps drinks cold all day.
- LEAKPROOF: Say goodbye to leaky water bottles. The Flex Chug Cap is leakproof when closed. Toss it into your bag without worry. Wide Mouth opening fits ice cubes, and Narrow Chug drinking spout provides for a convenient, controlled sip
SUNGLASSES CASE
If you like to ride the thrill rides, I strongly recommend a hard shell sunglasses case to store your shades in while on the attractions. Thankfully, Disney does allow guests to bring their backpacks on it’s rides. Sometimes, though, the space your bag must fit in by your feet is a wee bit small, so your backpack is possibly going to get crunched a bit… along with whatever is in it. Save yourself the surprise of crushed sunglasses and take along a case to store them in.
- Each of our eyeglass cases undergoes careful processing and strict inspection before being sold.
- Universal size fits most frames, for both kids and adults, suitable for standard glasses, reading glasses and sunglasses.
** There are storage pockets on a lot of the rides for riders to store their small, loose items in… however those items are prone to being left behind accidentally when you depart the ride vehicle. I’ve actually left a pair behind myself on Slinky Dog Dash, even with the best intentions of “I won’t forget”.
PORTABLE PHONE CHARGER
I can tell you from experience, it is pretty tricky to find a place to charge your phone at Disney World. It is possible though, IF you’re lucky enough to score a dining table against a wall with an outlet, OR… you happen to find the outdoor outlet hiding behind the bushes out front of Sir Mickey’s shop in Fantasyland! While hide-and-seek with electrical outlets can be fun (I’m guilty of playing), I’d suggest saving yourself a headache, and time, by bringing a portable phone charger with you during your visit.
- From INIU–the SAFE Fast Charge Pro: Experience the safest charging with over 38 million global users. At INIU, we use only the highest-grade materials, so we do have the confidence to provide an industry-leading 3 years iNiu Care.
- Market’s Thinnest 10000mAh: The market’s one and only 0.5-inch power bank that breaks the limit of 10000mAh, easily slipped into any travel lover’s pockets or bag. Enjoy the days’ worth of charging capacity, enough to top up iPhone 8 3.6 times, Samsung S22 1.8 times, or AirPods Pro 13.2 times.
ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE KIDDOS
Let’s face it… its hard to be patient while waiting in lines, even for parents! Disney has actually done a fantastic job of making the ride ques interactive and engaging for people of all ages. There may be times however when its just difficult to wait and a distraction is needed. We enjoy the card game Disney Eye Found It!. Its small enough to toss in a backpack, but big on engaging minds!
- IMMERSIVE DISNEY SCENES: Explore beautifully illustrated realms from Disney classics like Moana, The Lion King, and Sleeping Beauty. Perfect for Disney World essentials, this game is packed with hidden treasures to discover, keeping kids entertained during airplane travel or downtime on your Disney cruise.
- SKILL-BUILDING GAME: A delightful way to develop important skills in preschoolers and young kids, this engaging game supports turn-taking, counting, hand-eye coordination, and dexterity. A must-have if you need airplane activities for kids ages 4-8 and Disney trip essentials.
SNACKS
We cannot say this enough… “bring your own snacks into the parks!”. Not only is this much cheaper than buying snacks at Disney… it also means you have snacks on hand anywhere in the park. There is nothing worse than being stuck in line for a ride and you hear the words “I’m hungry” from someone in your party. (OK… hearing “I have to go to the bathroom” is worse, lol). Thankfully, having snacks on hand can help when those tummies grumble.
- ANNIE’S IN YOUR EASTER BASKET: Three snackable, tasty options – Cheddar Bunnies, Bunny Grahams, and Cheddar Squares; Pouches are perfect for filling baskets, hiding in eggs, or adding to gift bags after the egg hunt
- EASTER CANDY ALTERNATIVE: Made without artificial flavors, synthetic colors, or high fructose corn syrup
- CERTIFIED ORGANIC: These snacks are non GMO and certified USDA Organic, for the goodness you’d expect from Annie’s
- QUICK AND EASY SNACK: Take these snacks to soccer games, field trips, and more to satisfy sweet or cheesy cravings
You’re going to use a lot of energy exploring a Disney park. There is literally SO much walking done each day. Normally, we bring fresh fruits, veggies, crackers, and trail mixes to help fill our bodies up with needed nutrients and energy. We like to pack our fresh goodies in reusable silicone sandwich bags and toss them in our backpack (bento boxes are another great option) for snacking on-the-go.
What’s on your list of “What to Bring to Disney World”?
Do you have a “must-have” item that you didn’t see on our list of “What to Bring to Disney World ~Park Bag Essentials”? If so, please comment below, we are always looking for new ideas and tips to pass on to our readers. We love learning from other Disney fans!
OUR FAVORITE DISNEY PLANNING RESOURCES:
We hope you found our list of What to Bring to Disney World, Park Bag Essentials helpful. If you’re looking for additional resources to help you plan your trip to Disney World, take a sneak peek at a couple of our favorites below.
For the complete list of Our Favorite Disney Resources click here.
For the complete list of Our Favorite Disney Books click here.
Looking for a fun way to countdown to your trip to Disney? Check out our UNIQUE 30 DAY DISNEY COUNTDOWN CALENDAR, PRINTABLE CHAIN featuring a different Disney themed activity to do together each day!
- Fodor’s Travel Guides (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 416 Pages – 09/24/2024 (Publication Date) – Fodor’s Travel (Publisher)
- Veness, Susan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 288 Pages – 10/20/2020 (Publication Date) – Adams Media (Publisher)
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14 Comments
Suz | TravelsWithSuz.com
Excellent list of items to take when visiting Disney World. Or anywhere when you’re there for the day. When you think about it, isn’t it surprising that Disney World allows you to bring in snacks!?
Charlene
Thank you! Yes…its pretty awesome they let you bring in your own food and snacks. It makes travelling with food allergies so much easier! Very thankful they allow it.
Lisa
These are great things to pack for Disney. I like the idea of a game as you wait in line!
Charlene
Thank you… its a pretty cute game! 🙂
Karie
Excellent list for visiting Disney World. I never heard of Disney I found it game. That is my favorite suggestion…not just for the kids but for me. lol 🙂
Charlene
Thanks a bunch… I’m glad you found our list helpful! The “Disney I Found It” game can come in pretty handy in a pinch… and this momma is totally all about playing it too, lol!
kmf
Love this list of what to bring to Disney World! It’s a perfect park bag of essentials for convenience and savings!
Charlene
Much appreciated! We’re all about the savings!
Marianne
I had never heard of the game! Will have to look into it for our next Disney trip! Great list!
Charlene
Its pretty fun to play. Thank so much, I’m glad you found our list useful! Hope you find yourself at Disney soon!
Tricia Snow
This list of essentials for Disney World is just what I need for this summer. Planning to take the grandkids!
Charlene
Taking the grandkids?! YAY! Hope you have the best time together at Disney!
Julie Gazdecki
Great list of bag essentials for Walt Disney World! So happy fanny packs are coming back. They are so practical.
Charlene
Right?! I LOVE my fannie pack!