A vacation to one of the many Disney parks around the world is a dream for millions of people. From thrilling rides to sparkling fireworks shows, the Disney experience is unmatched in terms of fun and memory-making.
Packing for the best Disney trip, however, might feel a little overwhelming, leaving you not knowing where to begin. But never fear, we’re here to help you make magic with this thorough Disney packing guide. We’ve found plenty of travel necessities to help you keep packing low on stress so your trip can be high on fun.
The Best Luggage for Disney
The Disney parks have a lot to offer—the variety of things you can do at any of them is nearly endless. While it’s impossible to prepare for every eventuality, by packing smartly you’ll increase your odds of being ready for just about anything.
A good bag is crucial to start with. Travelers will love the versatility of the eBags Mother Lode Large Rolling Duffel, with its spacious capacity and many convenient pockets. Those who prefer hard-shell luggage will appreciate the smooth wheeling action and durable polycarbonate body of the Samsonite Omni.
If you’re traveling with small children, the Trunki Ride-On Suitcase can help you keep kids moving along without tiring them out with too much walking. Alternatively, you can attach a Lugabug Travel Seat For Kids to your hard-shell suitcase, if you’d like to have a little more control over their movements.
No matter what bag you choose, you’re going to want help to keep your belongings organized. The well-rated OlarHike 10 Piece Packing Cube Set will keep your clothing neatly contained, while the BeeGreen 6 Piece Shoe Bag Set protects your suitcase contents from your shoes. You’ll almost certainly want a wet bag for damp swimsuits and towels—this Little & Lourdes 2 Piece Laundry Bag Set is ideal, since it’s waterproof, odor-locking, and easily attaches to a backpack or diaper bag for carrying.
Before you go, don’t forget to attach a colorful tag with your contact info to each of your bags, like this Mifflin USA Luggage Tag that comes in a handy multipack.
The Best Day Bags for Disney
Pick a bag that can double as a personal item on the plane and also function as your day bag at Disney, carrying snacks, drinks, sunscreen, and various other necessities.
The lightweight, iconic Fjällräven Kånken Classic works well for Disney since it features a deep main pocket and water-resistant body (in case of sudden rain). The backpack is designed to help you keep your posture good through the longest days, and it even comes in a mini-size, so kids can have one too.
If you’re more of a belt bag lover, the Everest Extra Large Fanny Pack has a surprisingly large capacity and pockets galore. Fun printed options for kids include the Choco Mocha Kids Fanny Pack In Outer Space and the Choco Mocha Kids Fanny Pack In Unicorn.
Of course, you should always have a folding tote on hand for any little extras you pick up during your Disney day. The ChicoBag Vita Reusable Tote folds up so small, it takes up almost no space, and it has a carabiner attachment so that you can hang it from just about anything.
The Best Clothing to Pack for Disney
Whether you’ll be at a park with water features or you just want to splash around in your hotel pool, you need a swimsuit, and Old Navy has a great variety. For parents, suits like this attractive Square-Ring Halter One-Piece or these fun Flex Board Shorts are good-looking and practical. Kids will like this cute Lattice-Back One-Piece, or these cool Dolphin-Hem Board Shorts.
For casual park exploration, consider picking up some of these simple and comfortable t-shirts and flat-front chino shorts for men and these high-rise linen shorts with a relaxed fit v-neck tee for women.
Children love anything from fun dressy clothing to casual and comfy options when they go to Disney. For the fancier kids, you can go simple yet cute from H&M with this sleeveless tiered sundress that’s perfect for twirling in, or full princess in this Little Mermaid dress with tulle skirt. Littles who prefer a more casual look can have fun with official Disney shirts like this Turn to the Dark Side top or a vintage-look Mickey ringer tee, paired with cotton four-pocket shorts from Benetton.
The Best Shoes for Disney
If you’re a really enthusiastic Disney fan, you’ll probably be at the parks from open to close. But even if you’re not quite that intense, you’re still likely to spend a lot of time at the park and on your feet. The shoes you choose will be a critical factor in how much fun you have during your park time, and how much energy you have left at the end of the day.
It’s tempting to wear sandals or flip-flops at Disney, but if you really want to be kind to your feet, you’ll go with a good sneaker to keep them protected and supported for hours of park walking. HOKA’s supportive Clifton 9 range comes in women’s, men’s, and kid’s models, allowing the whole family to enjoy their Disney adventure comfortably.
Good sneakers need good socks, and Hanes is a great brand for socks that keep your feet comfortable and dry. Some excellent options for families include Hanes Girls’ Cool Comfort Ankle Socks, Hanes Women’s Lightweight Breathable No Show Socks, Hanes Ultimate Men’s Socks and Hanes Boys Performance Ankle Socks.
Don’t forget to pack a pair of comfortable slip-ons for the hotel (and hotel pool) at the end of the day, like the Alegria Violette slides for Moms, the Teva Langdon for Dads, and the Children’s Place Unisex Buckle Slides for the kids.
What Toiletries to Pack for Disney
When arranging a trip for a family, the toiletries list can get long—everyone has different preferences and needs.
Start with this BagSmart Large Capacity Travel Toiletry Organizer, so that you can keep everyone’s cosmetics, sprays, lotions and soaps in one handy place. There are plenty of pockets for just about any toiletry you can think of, and a hanging hook so that you can keep your hotel bathroom counter space open.
Before you head to the parks, make sure everyone is protected from the sun. For adults, Banana Boat Light As Air Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 on the body and Neutrogena Sport Face Oil-Free Lotion Sunscreen SPF 70 on the face will keep your sunburn risk low. Then tackle the kids with Neutrogena Beach Defense Kids Sunscreen Spray SPF 70.
While you go about your day, keep some Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer With Aloe available to keep sticky little hands clean, and make sure you have some Band-Aid Flexible Fabric Bandages to put on any cuts and scrapes. Blisters can happen, so a pack of Compeed Advanced Blister Care Bandages can be useful as well, and they come in a variety of shades and sizes.
If you’re combining a trip to Disney with one to the beach, Johnson’s Baby Powder is great for removing sand after your fun in the waves. And don’t forget OFF Insect Repellant for Kids and OFF Family Care Insect Repellant to help keep mosquitos at bay.
A day of fun in the sunshine and water can leave you feeling sticky and sweaty once all is said and done. Once you get back to your hotel room, wash away the grime of the day with a moisturizing body wash and don’t forget to pack baby shampoo for tear-free clean-up. Aquaphor Healing Ointment can be good to have on hand for any skin irritations.
What Electronics to Pack for Disney
Families that travel together more than likely don’t want to listen to everyone’s music together, which makes a few pairs of JBL Tune 760NC Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones or JBL Tune 230NC True Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear Earbuds essential for sweet traveling harmony.
Use short cables like this USB-A to Lightning or a USB-A to USB-C for fuss-free on-the-go charging with a high-capacity Anker Portable Charger, and make sure your devices are protected with screen protectors.
If you’re bringing a digital camera along, don’t forget to pack an extra SanDisk 128 GB SD Card, to ensure you can capture all the magical Mouse House memories you want.
Lastly, don’t forget a BagSmart Electronics Organizer Case to keep it all in.
Essentials to Pack for Disney
It’s the little things that keep you comfortable and happy during a long day at Disney. Here are a few essentials you shouldn’t leave behind.
Disney parks have water bottle stations everywhere, making it easy to stay hydrated if you have a refillable water bottle, like the Simple Modern Insulated Water Flask (also available in a kid’s version).. Simple Modern also offers a carrier sling in two sizes, so you don’t have to worry about how you’ll tote your bottle around.
A good way to stay cool is to have a rechargeable neck fan along with a four-pack of TowelTouch cooling towels in your park bag. And it’s always smart to keep one or two Totes Micro-Mini Umbrellas on hand in case of surprise rain, too.
It’s not a Disney trip if you’re not journaling your hidden Mickey sightings or getting autographs, so make sure you pack this Letterfolk Magical Day Passport Journal and a fun Mickey-themed autograph book and pen set.
Keep your vision safe in the sun with sunglasses—these Knockaround Fast Lanes are a great polarized option, or if you prefer a wraparound style, Suncloud’s Zephyrs might be more your thing. For kids, Knockaround’s Premiums will be a perfect fit (and even come in a fun shark-themed style). Don’t forget to add on a hat as well (because sunscreen alone shouldn’t be your only protection from the heat and UV rays) like this basic bucket hat, cute straw hat, or a fun kids’ Boonie Hat.
And of course, MagicBands help enhance your Disney experience—they can act as a roomkey (in Disney resorts), park pass, and food/souvenir purchase mechanism all in one. If you like planning ahead, you can grab one online at the official Disney store and get yourself set up ahead of time, so you can start using it as soon as you arrive.
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