When it comes to packing for Disney World, there are some core essentials everyone knows to bring with them. You’ll want comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, rain gear, and, of course, some Minnie ears to complete your outfit. You also don’t want to forget those unique things that you probably aren’t thinking about.
Many of the following items could wind up being your most-used item while on vacation. I personally bring a lot of these with me on every vacation (both Disney World and elsewhere!), while others are more seasonal.
White Noise Machine
Perhaps the single greatest item I’ve added to my perpetual packing list is a white noise machine. I’m one of those people that needs white noise to sleep. At home, that’s easy enough to achieve with a tower fan or air conditioner unit in the summer. But hotels tend to fall on the deathly silent side of the scale.
In the past that usually meant having to download a white noise app on my phone, but I didn’t like the idea of my phone running an app all night, and I found that the noise the apps made didn’t quite match what I was looking for. With this portable white noise machine, I sleep quite well no matter where I’m traveling.
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Extension Cords and Power Strips
Aside from portable batteries and charging wires, you’ll want to consider adding an extension cord or power strip to your packing list. Disney World has done a great job of updating and modernizing their hotel rooms with more outlets and USB ports, and if you’re traveling with just one other person, that may suffice.
But a family of four, especially with older kids, means everyone has a phone to charge at night, not to mention a Magic Band, portable batteries, handheld fans, and any other electronic device that may need re-charging overnight. To ensure there’s plenty of power to go around, packing one or two small power strips or extension cords will make life much easier.
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Handheld Fans and Cooling Towels
When visiting Disney World in the dead of summer, it’s no longer sufficient to drink plenty of water (which you should always do regardless) or duck into a store for some air conditioning (also highly recommended). In order to stay cool, you need to pack a few unique items that you might not have considered. I feel like a handheld fan is a no-brainer these days, but I’m always surprised at how many people aren’t using one in the summer months.
Cooling towels are also a great item worth considering. They aren’t really my thing since I find the handheld fan to do the job without needing to re-wet a towel (and then have to carry around a damp towel), but a fresh cooling towel does feel oh so nice.
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Winter Gear
This next one may surprise you, but yes, it can get VERY cold at Walt Disney World. I personally have found myself in the middle of a cold snap as early in the season as November and as late in season as March. Temperatures can and will hit the low 40s, and trust me, you’ll feel it!
Don’t assume Disney World is always warm, because that isn’t the case! If you’re visiting the parks from late fall through early spring, it’s a good idea to bring a jacket. You don’t need your heaviest winter coat per se, but having a packable jacket you can throw in your park bag will help you save some money and avoid buying an expensive sweatshirt. Packing some gloves and a beanie may come in handy too if the forecast calls for those chillier temperatures.
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Reusable Straws and Utensils
This next one is more of a personal preference and less of a necessity. Disney World has made great strides in recent years to be more eco-friendly, which includes reducing its reliance on single-use plastic. Paper straws are abundant throughout the parks, and if you’re at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, it’s the only option you’ll see! I personally prefer agave straws if we’re gonna go for green utensils, but here we are.
If you can’t stand the texture of paper straws, you may want to consider picking up some reusable straws and throwing them in your park bag. Many of them come with travel cases and brushes to keep things clean. Reusable utensils with their own travel cases are also plentiful on Amazon if you want to bring your own set (you never know when you need an extra fork!).
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Everything Else
This last category is a sort of “catch all” for some other unique items you may not have considered including in your Disney World packing list. If you’re visiting in the summer months, I’d strongly suggest looking into an anti-chafe stick from a brand like Megababe. We don’t need to dwell on the topic, but trust me, when it’s hot and humid and you’re walking tens of thousands of steps…your body will thank you for having this in your bag.
Speaking of your bag: I personally don’t use this next one, but I’ve heard tons of people recommending clipping a few carabiner clips to your backpack. They make it easy to attach items like popcorn buckets to your bag so you don’t have to carry them around all day.
One item I didn’t bring on my last trip to Disney World that I wish I thought of were some ziplock bags. These are multi-purpose. Ziplock bags will keep your phone dry on water rides, they’re good for packaging leftover food to bring back to your hotel room, and they’re good for packing snacks if you’re bringing your own food to the parks with you.
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I hope this list was helpful in coming up with some unique items to add to your Disney World packing list that perhaps you didn’t think of already! A lot of these items have been a result of trial-and-error after years of visiting the parks and realizing what specific items make a huge difference. Be sure to follow along for more packing tips as your prepare for your next Disney World vacation!
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