Disney World Essentials
Planning a trip to Disney World? These are the Disney World essentials you can’t forget!
I’ve been to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida more than 20 times now, and trust me, I’ve made plenty of packing mistakes along the way. There are some essential things that will make your trip go much more smoothly if you remember to bring them! So don’t make the same mistakes that I did.
Here are the top 10 things you should pack for every Disney World vacation. All of these items are available on Amazon in case you need to place a last-minute order before your trip!
Shop my favorites! Check out my Amazon Storefront to see my curated recommendations from this list, plus more travel and lifestyle essentials.
1. Refillable water bottle
A refillable water bottle is a must-have at Disney World, where water bottles sell for more than $5 in the parks. Aside from bottled water being a huge waste of money, it’s also not good for the environment.
So I highly recommend bringing a refillable water bottle like this to Disney World. You can refill it at water fountains and water bottle refill stations all around the parks. You can also ask for a cup of water inside most quick-service restaurants around the parks to refill your water bottle that way.
2. Portable cellphone charger
A portable cellphone charger is another Disney World essential you don’t want to forget. There’s nothing worse than having your phone die while you’re waiting in a long line or trying to take a magical photo.
Not to mention, the Disney World app can be a drain on your cellphone battery, but you’ll want to use it for things like mobile ordering for dining, checking wait times, and making ride reservations. A lightweight portable charger ensures that you can fully charge your phone up to two times for peace of mind.
3. Sunscreen
You definitely don’t want to forget sunscreen at Disney World! I can’t count how many people I’ve seen walking around the parks with painful, bright-red sunburns. The Florida sun is no joke!
I recommend bringing some non-greasy, lightweight sunscreen like this with you to Disney World. And remember to reapply your sunscreen every few hours at the parks, especially on your face.
4. Rain poncho
Although Florida is nicknamed the Sunshine State, it also rains a fair amount at Disney World. Summer is the rainiest time of year, with frequent rainfall from June through September. The good news is that these are usually just short afternoon showers that clear up within an hour, so it’s no big deal.
Still, you’ll want to have some rain ponchos on hand. You can buy these at the parks, but they’re super overpriced. (Around $12 for a cheap plastic poncho.) I recommend bringing your own rain poncho since they’re lightweight and foldable. I wouldn’t get disposable rain ponchos since that’s just wasteful!
5. Portable cooling fan
Disney World can be HOT, especially if you’re used to the milder climate of Disneyland in California or Disneyland Paris. While June through September are by far the hottest months at Disney World with temperatures regularly soaring over 100° F in summer, it can be very hot during the spring and fall too.
That’s why I’d recommend bringing a portable cooling fan with you to Disney World. These are amazing to have while you’re waiting in outdoor queues or just walking around the parks and want to stay cool.
6. Cooling towel
Another essential for beating the heat is a cooling towel. I’m someone who gets really overheated at Disney World, so these are honestly a lifesaver for me, especially during the summer months.
These are just small microfiber towels that you can soak in water, and then they will stay extremely cold for quite a while afterwards. Perfect to put around your neck or on your face to cool down with!
7. Blister bandages
You’ll be doing a LOT of walking at Disney World — I typically clock anywhere from 10 to 15 miles during a full day at the parks. So, in addition to comfortable walking shoes, it’s also good to have blister bandages.
Blister bandages like these are perfect to bring with you because they can be used for prevention or recovery. You can put them on common blister spots on your feet to prevent blisters, or use them if you feel a blister coming on. Your feet will definitely thank you if you bring these with you to Disney World!
8. Hand sanitizer
I’m far from a germaphobe, but even I can admit that Disney World is a hotbed for germs due to the crowds. You’ll definitely want to remember to wash your hands with soap frequently throughout the day.
In addition to that, I like to bring a small travel-size hand sanitizer with me to the parks. This is helpful for after you’ve ridden a ride or touched a common surface, so you can quickly sanitize your hands.
9. Sunglasses
Another Disney World essential you don’t want to forget is sunglasses. It’s usually sunny at Disney World (with more than 300 sunny days in Orlando per year!), so you definitely don’t want to be caught without these. There’s nothing worse than walking around squinting into the sun all day because you forgot them.
Again, this is something you can buy at the parks, but like all Disney World merchandise, it’s going to be an extremely inflated price. So do yourself a favor and remember to bring your sunglasses!
10. A bag to hold it all
Finally, you’ll need a good bag to hold all of the items listed above, as well as other park essentials like your cellphone, wallet, keys, snacks, medicine, and anything else you need to bring with you.
I recommend a cross-body sling bag like this. It’s the perfect size to carry your essentials, smaller than a full-sized backpack but larger than your average belt bag. This type of bag is ideal for an active day at Disney World and has enough to carry all of the essentials for one person while still being comfortable.
11. Mouse ears
A fun thing you should buy ahead of your trip and pack is a pair of mouse ears (or several!) You can buy these in the park, but they are a lot more expensive than just getting them from Amazon before your trip.
Mouse ears are a fun accessory that adds a touch of whimsy to your Disney World outfit. I also like wearing them because they function as a headband and keep my sweaty, frizzy hair pushed back. Considering how hot it normally is at Disney World, I appreciate the practical utility of mouse ears for this reason!
Disney World Essentials
These are the top Disney World essentials you can’t forget on any trip.
Disney World is an amazing destination, but if you don’t come prepared, you can end up with all sorts of issues, ranging from sunburns to blistered feet to dead phone batteries to wasted money. That’s why I highly recommend making sure that you have packed all of these Disney World essentials before you go.
Enjoy your trip to Disney World!
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