It’s easy to let things escalate out of control when you’re beginning to pack for a trip to Disney World, but let’s slow down for a minute and talk a little bit about what you really need when you’re spending a day at the parks with children.
Obviously if you’re traveling with stroller-sized guests you have a bit more capacity (and a lot more necessity) for all the kid-gear between diaper bags, under-the-seat storage, and diaper bags. I talked about what kind of strollers we liked and what we packed in our bag back then here and here. We are finally in the sweet spot between needing strollers and having teenagers , so while I love that my kids are at these fun ages for many reasons, it does present a new challenge when packing for the parks.
Realistically, we acknowledge that the boys are not quite ready to carry their own backpacks all day at the parks. Reluctantly, we opt to bring one large backpack that dear old pack-mule-mom and pack-mule-dad take turns toting around. So, what DO you absolutely need (and not need)?
In my opinion, you can do without the DSLR camera. Phone cameras take great photos these days and Memory Maker offers all the family and professional photos you could really ever want or need! After bringing mine to the parks 2 different trips, I’ve decided my good camera is too big, too bulky, too heavy, takes up too much room, and is too valuable to worry about lugging to the parks.
Lip balm, travel size sunscreen, and pocket size hand sanitizer, all of which can go in a small front pocket or even hung on the backpack strap, will come in handy (if you want more hand sanitizer, pack extra in compartment in the backpack). Make sure you don’t toss these in the bottom of the big part of your backpack; no one wants to have to dump the whole bag out just to reapply a little SPF or quickly clean your hands after touching too many germy handrails.
Reusable plastic storage bags of various sizes come in handy for a variety of reasons. Just to name a couple, we have often used them for leftover food items that can be saved for later and to slip our cell phones or other small valuables into when we’re going on a ride where there’s potential to get wet.
Cheap ponchos – you can get these in the dollar store and throw them away after one use. We have been incredibly lucky in all of our trips to the World and barely ever needed them, but we were glad we had them when we got caught in the rain once. Especially to throw over the stroller back in the day so that everything we owned (and the boys’ seats) didn’t get drenched. These usually come pretty tightly folded and don’t take up much precious real estate in your big backpack. This isn’t the most eco-friendly option, but hey, maybe they can be recycled!
Speaking of eco-friendly, don’t forget your refillable water bottles – it’s nice to have your own insulated water bottle on the really hot days. This is definitely an optional item since you can get free ice water in a disposable cup all over Disney World but we like to have our own cups to reuse and so that our water can stay cold.
Don’t forget to bring an extra ponytail holder (or two) in case one breaks. Keep them and a few small bandages to put over possible blisters in one of your small plastic sandwich bags. Sunglasses or a hat are crucial under that bright Florida sun and be sure to grab a couple protein-packed snacks like jerky or peanuts.
And plenty of extra masks, especially if you’re traveling during hotter weather, because you really don’t want to wear a sweaty mask!
And finally, the most important thing to have in your bag is some extra space for a magical souvenir!
Find out how the FREE services of a travel agent can make planning your Disney vacation simple and STRESS FREE!
Candice was raised in east Tennessee. While in college, her best friend dragged her to a Walt Disney World College Program recruiting session at the University of Tennessee and the rest is Disney history. In the Fall of 1999, Candice became a quick service food hostess for Sunset Ranch Market and Fantasmic at Disney-MGM Studios – or what is now known as Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While soaking up her time as a cast member, she met Ryan, a neighbor and a fellow college programmer who worked as a custodial host at Epcot. Four years later, Candice moved to the Midwest and married that boy from across the hall. They now live in Greenwood, Indiana with their two little boys. The Disney-loving foursome took their first family trip to The Happiest Place on Earth in 2013 and Candice is eagerly planning their return. Candice also works full-time at a community mental health center and enjoys taking photographs and blogging at Mommy in the Midwest.
Planning a vacation this year? Get your questions answered in my FREE guide: What You Need to Know About Traveling in 2021
