Packing For Your Walt Disney World Resort Vacation: 10 Essential Items to Preserve the Magic

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You’ve done all your homework – booked your Walt Disney World vacation, hopefully scored a great deal by using a free travel planner to make sure you got the best promotion available; you’ve saved even more money by using Swagbucks and Ibotta, and by paying with discounted Disney gift cards purchased from Sam’s Club or Target; and you’ve made all your dining and fastpass (assuming they’ve been reinstated) reservations. The only thing standing between you and the vacation of your dreams is an empty suitcase. What do you put in it?

No, not your dog. While some Disney resorts are pet-friendly, you should definitely NOT pack your dog in your suitcase.

Obviously, you’re going to need clothes and personal hygiene products, as you would for any vacation, though you may choose to skip the shampoo and conditioner now that Disney resorts are supplied with large refillable bottles which ensure there’s plenty of product for the whole family to use. But there are several other items which you may not realize you need, especially if this is your first time visiting the parks.

1. Portable Chargers and Charging Stations

While many people will tell you that your vacation is a time to unplug (aka get off your cell phone and enjoy life), that advice is simply not practical in today’s technology. Even if you already have MagicBands from a prior trip, or if you choose to purchase them for the convenience, you will still need your phone throughout the day. For starters, the parks can be extremely crowded and it’s quite easy to get separated from your party. If that happens, you will want to be able to call each other and arrange a place to meet. But even beyond that safety aspect of having a fully charged phone are the many features of the My Disney Experience app. It does everything a MagicBand does (serves as your room key, park ticket, etc.) and more. You can use it to check wait times, reserve extra fastpasses once you’ve used your original three, view menus and order food, and get that coveted boarding pass for Rise of the Resistance. Simply put, you’re going to need your phone and you’re likely going to need to recharge it at some point during the day.

While there are a few locations that have outlets to charge your phone, you didn’t pay for Disney World tickets just to be stuck next to a wall all day. That’s where a good portable charger comes in handy. Just plug it in at night at your resort, alongside your phone, and you’ll start each day with a fresh charge. If you have multiple devices, then you may also want to invest in a charging station so you can charge them all without worrying about a lack of outlets.

2. Personal Fans

If you’re travelling during the summer, or even during spring break, you can expect it to be very hot in Florida. It’ll also be very crowded during those times. And shade at the parks can be elusive. So you can expect to spend a lot of time standing in lines with the sun beating down on you. Therefore, a personal fan will be a lifesaver. You can wait until you get to the park and buy one for $20 or more, or you can pay half that by purchasing one before you go. There are several options to choose from. Neck fans are super convenient as they are lightweight and hands-free. However, they have to be charged ahead of time via USB cable and will most likely need to be recharged again throughout the day. This is another time when that portable charger comes in handy, but you can’t use the fan while it’s charging and they usually charge slowly. Misting fans are a bit heavier, but they can be attached to a lanyard and carried around your neck. They also take AA batteries which can just be switched out with no need to recharge. Which brings me to the next item on my list…

3. Extra Batteries

The last thing you want is for the batteries in those fans to die as soon as you reach the hottest part of the day. That’s why it’s always a good idea to bring a few extras along with you. This may also be helpful if you any have any other devices, such as cameras or toys for the kids, that take disposable batteries.

4. Cooling Towels

Another great way to battle the Florida heat is by using cooling towels. Just wet them and wear around your neck for instant relief from the heat. If they start to lose their effectiveness. just take them off and shake them out. As long as they are still damp, they get really cold when you shake them. However, be prepared to have to wet them a few times throughout the day.

5. Sunblock

It happens all the time on sitcoms. The main character, usually through some stroke of luck, gets to go on a trip to Hawaii or another popular beach destination, only to get severely sunburned on the first day and have their vacation ruined. Well, this is one of the more realistic things to happen on TV. And it can happen just as easily at a theme park as it can at the beach. Bring sunblock, apply before leaving the hotel each morning and bring it with you just in case it washes off or you discover you missed a spot. Yes, you can buy it at the park, but again it’s cheaper to buy it before you leave.

6. Umbrella

I confess, I’ve never actually brought an umbrella to the parks. When it rains, I am content to just get wet and enjoy the cooling off that comes with it. And the idea of carrying an umbrella around with me all day is less than appealing. With that being said, there have been times when I’ve been stuck in a line, with no shade, and I could feel the sun burning through my sunblock. How great would an umbrella be during a time like that? Remember how I said shade can be elusive at the parks? With an umbrella, you are basically bringing your own shade. So I will leave it up to you to decide whether the benefits outweigh the hassle of carrying it around. But I have discovered that there are umbrellas with C-shaped handles designed to go around your wrist, leaving your hands free. Might be worth trying at least.

7. Sunglasses and/or Hats

Not only is the Florida sun hot…it’s also very bright. And you will be constantly going in and out of the attractions and restaurants. You know that feeling when your eyes have adjusted to the outside light, then you walk inside and can’t see anything? That’ll be happening all day long if you forget your sunglasses. I recommend bringing both a hat and sunglasses for extra protection against the sun’s glare.

8. Over-the-Counter Medicines

Hopefully, if you regularly take prescription medications, you know to bring those. But if you’re not used to bringing pills with you, then it may not occur to you to bring pain relievers, antacids, or motion sickness medicine on vacation. Unfortunately, headaches and heartburn don’t always go away just because you’re having fun. And if you’re prone to motion sickness, some of the rides might make you a little queasy. So it’s always good to have something on hand just in case.

9. Ziploc Bags

This one might seem a little strange, but trust me. Chances are, it will rain at some point during your Florida vacation. If you brought that umbrella, then you have some protection, but rain doesn’t fall in a straight line and you will probably still get wet. Even if it doesn’t rain, you will likely want to ride Kali River Rapids or Splash Mountain, both of which have the potential to get you and all your stuff soaked. Sure, your phone may advertise that it’s waterproof, but do you really want to put that to the test during your vacation? Not to mention your wallet, money, your park map, possibly a camera. Just bring a few of these bags along with you and store anything you need to keep dry inside. Whatever bags you don’t use on your trip can go into the pantry to store food when you get home.

10. A Small Backpack

If you’ve taken my advice and packed the items listed above, most of which you’ll need while actually in the parks, then you’re going to need some way to carry it all. While most of the items are small and lightweight, it can still be very inconvenient to have your hands full all day. That’s why I recommend a small backpack or backpack-style purse to carry everything. Something just big enough to carry the items listed above plus other essentials like phones and money. I don’t recommend using a full-size backpack because the extra room will tempt you to bring more stuff than you actually need. Also, you will most likely be carrying the bag on the rides with you and larger backpacks may not fit well in the space provided.

Those are my recommendations and the items that I usually bring on my vacation. Feel free to comment with any items you think should be included on this list.