To me, one of the most exciting parts of a Disney World vacation is when you’re just a couple of days away. It’s time to pull out the suitcases and start packing!
No matter how long your Disney World vacation is, there are some basic necessities that all travelers must have. You really can apply this list to any of your travels, so be sure to reference this guide for the latest must-haves.
BTW – this packing list is totally applicable to Disneyland vacations, too! The rain gear may not be quite as important if you’re heading to Southern California, but the rest of the list should still hold up.
Keep reading to the end and find a FREE printable packing list!
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Luggage & Clothing Organization
First thing is first: we need luggage to pack all of our items into. You probably already have a suitcase ready to go, but in case you’re in the market for a new one, there are actually several companies that have partnered with Disney to create a line of super adorable luggage. FUL is one of those brands, as is American Tourister.
I also recommend you look into compression packing cubes. They are a game changer when it comes to creating more space in your suitcase (especially if you’re like me and refuse to check a suitcase at any cost). Here are some products I recommend for luggage, as well as clothing and accessory organization – cosmetics organization is a little further down!
Clothing
I love picking up one or two new shirts for any vacation, especially Disney World. It’s the one place you can wear that over-the-top Mickey Mouse t-shirt free from judgment, so go ahead and rock that matching family tee or those ultra-sparkly Minnie Ears. Buying shirts ahead of time on a site like Amazon is also a good way to save on souvenirs once you’re in the parks.
I’m going to add comfortable shoes to this list as well. If you think you are going to need new sneakers for your Disney World vacation, make sure you buy them ahead of time in case you need to break them in. These sorts of trips are not the kind to be showing off brand-new, never-worn stylish shoes. You’ll be walking tens of thousands of steps per day; comfort is key. I’ve been wearing these Adidas sneakers lately to the parks and they’ve worked great! If you want to pack flip flops or sandals for a day at the pool or a more casual day with less walking, I got you covered.
Accessories
My favorite part of putting any Disney World outfit together are the accessories. In fact, I usually have my accessories picked out and packed before I decide what I’m actually wearing! There are the Minnie Ears and your MagicBand, of course, but your park #OOTD can be instantly elevated by adding a Disney watch, necklace, or sunglasses. One of my favorite places to shop for Disney jewlerly is actually Baublebar, and you can typically find discounted Baublebar products from past seasons at your local Marshalls or TJ Maxx!
Toiletries and Cosmetics
If you’re a carry-on-only girlie like myself, you probably know that you have to be a little more strategic about toiletries and cosmetics than if you were to check a bag. Make sure what you’re packing is TSA compliant (the last thing you want is to be pulled over at security because you packed a jumbo-sized container of shampoo…how embarrassing). Clear cosmetic bags are the way to go, and a little trick I’ve learned along the way is depotting your liquid makeup and skincare products into smaller containers.
Electronics
Between using My Disney Experience (Disney World’s app where all of your reservations, Genie+, park maps, and more are housed), taking photos, posting said photos on social media, and so on, your batteries are going to drain throughout the day. Extra cable and portable batteries will be a God-send during your vacation, trust me. Also, consider an outlet extender for your hotel room, especially if you’re traveling in larger group.
Speaking of your hotel room, if you need white noise to sleep (it’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me), you’ll definitely want to look into picking up a portable white noise machine. Is it marketed for parents of young babies? Yes. Do I myself have children? No. Is it still my favorite travel tech accessory? Yes.
Disney-Specific Must-Haves
The “must-haves” is a bit of a misnomer here since these are honestly optional items for your Disney vacation, but you’ll find that many guests in the theme parks will have at least a few of these on their person.
Park Bags
For full transparency, I myself do not own a single Loungefly backpack. However, when I tell you, this is perhaps the single most popular item I see around the theme parks…I’m not lying. Loungefly has released countless designs of its mini backpack over the years, so you can likely find a bag that suits your preferences without looking too hard. Loungefly bags are available on its website, but you can also find a ton on Amazon!
If Loungefly isn’t exactly your style, you’ll still likely find that you need some sort of bag to bring with you to the theme parks. Days in the parks will last from morning until night, with no breaks in between to head back to your hotel room. So, those daily necessities will need to be on your person at all times – think sunglasses, sunscreen, snacks, etc. I have a full list of what park day essentials you should be bringing with you, including park bags to consider purchasing if you don’t have a bag already. Here are a few in different sizes and styles:
Click here to read what I always bring with me in my park bag!
Other
What goes in a park bag, exactly? I have an entire article breaking down what I pack in my Disney World park bag, but basically you need to focus on comfort: think hydration and staying cool, keeping dry in case it rains, etc. Some of the other essentials, like sunglasses and hats, can be found above.
I hope this roundup is helpful when it comes time to pack your bags! If you need a full list of what to pack on your Disney World vacation, feel free to print out my 3-page theme park packing list. Happy packing!
Click here to download your FREE printable Disney World packing list.
