What to Pack for Disney World: The Essential List

The Walt Disney World Resort is located in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista in Florida, the United States. It is a bucket list destination and vacation for many families. So, when you go, you want to make sure that you have everything you need to make the most out of your time at the parks and make your holiday in the Most Magical Place on Earth as stress-free as possible. The key is being prepared for your trip, which starts before you leave home. With this in mind, we’ve put together a handy guide covering what to pack for Disney World: the essential list

What to Pack for Disney World: The Essential List

Backpack/Comfortable Park Bag

Bring a backpack that you can wear comfortably for the whole day. A backpack is better than a purse or cross-body bag as backpacks offer better support for your back than shoulder bags, especially if you’re carrying heavier loads. You’ll also have room to carry any souvenirs you buy whilst at the parks.

Comfortable Shoes

Leave the heels and fashionable shoes at home. Disney World is huge, and you will spend hours on end on your feet, either walking around or standing in queues waiting to get on the rides. Bring comfortable walking shoes or sneakers, and make sure you wear socks that won’t rub or irritate your feet. You could also pack some plasters in case you get any blisters.

Water Bottle

Florida is hot, and you can get dehydrated fast walking in the sunny, humid weather. You need to stay as hydrated as possible and save some money and the environment whilst doing so. Also, having so much fun is thirsty work. Packing a refillable water bottle inside your daypack is a smart move. If you ask a cast member at any counter service restaurant, they will be happy to refill your water bottle for you.

Phone and/or Camera

Capture those magical moments with your camera or phone. But if you bring your big camera, e.g. a DSLR, just remember, you have to carry it all day, and it can be heavy. If you want to capture the nighttime fireworks, make sure you bring an appropriate lens.

Battery Pack

Taking so many photos and using the official Disney App will quickly drain your phone’s battery, so be prepared and bring a portable battery pack. A portable high-capacity power bank can charge phones up to five times.

Rain Jacket or Poncho

It rains a lot in Orlando, especially in the summer, so pack a rain jacket or poncho in your bag. Disney sells ponchos, but they will cost you $9 – $10 each. So, bringing your own from home will save you a good bit of money. And they take up hardly any room in your day bag.

Sunscreen

A high SPF sunscreen is an essential item that needs to be on your Disney World packing list, especially if you’re travelling with kids. You will be hot and sweaty walking around in the Florida heat all day, so make sure you pack a sports sunscreen or sweat-proof one.

Snacks

Cut down on spending by packing your own snacks. There are plenty of places to purchase food at Disney World, but doing so often can see the extra costs add up. Bringing your own snack means you won’t have to queue for food, so you can spend more time enjoying the parks and rides.

Melanie May

Melanie is an intrepid solo traveller, endlessly curious about people, places and food. She is a fan of slow travel and loves exploring the world by mouth, discovering a culture through its food. Having backpacked her way around the world she turned her wanderlust into a career and is now a full-time travel writer.

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