The Ultimate Disney World Packing List

Preparing a Disney World packing list is a fundamental step to help ensure you can fully enjoy your magical Disney adventure. Missing some items from this list could be a very costly mistake. Disney planning is quite a demanding feat but we’re here to clear any sense of panic and make your life easier.

Park tickets and clothing are your two essentials. Picking the right tickets and selecting the right clothes for your holiday are both very important. The Florida heat can impact your enjoyment, so selecting loose, comfortable clothes to keep cool and sensible trainers for the miles you walk is a great start.

You may want to carry some items with you and a backpack is a convenient storage option for your days at the parks. A backpack is the best storage option for your drinks, sun cream, snacks, and any items you purchase throughout the day. Bringing a spare phone charger for long days in the park is also a great idea. Not being able to plan, navigate, and take photos during the day would be a huge disappointment.

A well-prepared trip means an enjoyable Disney Break.

Disney Park Tickets and Reservations

Securing your park tickets and reservations is the first step in your Disney Planning. For greater discounts, purchase your tickets ahead of time. Rather than detailing the complexities here, you can check out our dedicated Disney World ticket guide.

Once you have purchased your tickets, make your park reservation for each day you plan to visit through the Disney Park Pass system. This will help avoid any disappointment as they do have a capacity limit at the parks.

If you wish to use Genie +, the new ride reservation system to skip the busy ride queues, you need to purchase passes in advance. If you are staying at a Disney Resort you can book your rides from 7 am. If you are not staying at a Disney Resort, you will have to wait until the park opens to book your Lightning Lane passes.

What to Wear at Disney World

It’s important you choose the right clothes and footwear for the long days at the park. Florida’s weather can be unpredictable, but you should expect some hot days. Suncream, hats, and glasses are recommended.

Disney Clothing Essentials

• Warm Weather: For the most part, lightweight fabrics will keep you comfortable in the heat. Be sure to pack plenty of shirts, shorts and dresses. A light jacket or sweatshirt might be useful for the cooler mornings or evenings.
• Cooler Months:  A few layers will keep you warm in the winter. Long-sleeved shirts, trousers/jeans/pants, and a warm jacket are the essentials.

Footwear

• Comfortable Shoes: You’ll be walking a lot! Do not underestimate the Disney marathons we ensure to visit all the best spots in the park. Bring well-cushioned, supportive trainers or walking shoes.
• Sandals: If they provide the right support, sandals can be a good alternative on hotter days. Be sure you bring ones with a back strap to prevent them from slipping off, especially on the rides!

Accessories

• Hats and Sunglasses: Stay protected from the sun with a hat, cap, and UV-protective sunglasses.
• Rain Gear: Stay dry during a rainy day with a light rain poncho or a compact umbrella. You may just want to bring a poncho for the water rides.
• Sun Protection: Whilst this doesn’t fall under a clothing category, you still technically wear suncream. Be sure to bring a high SPF suncream, even for the cloudy days.

Essential Disney World Gear

These are our Disney essentials when we get away to the parks. Starting with a good-sized backpack to store all our drinks and accessories for the day.

Backpacks and Bags

A nice, lightweight backpack or bag that can hold all your Disney necessities should be one of the first items in your suitcase. Disney does have size regulations so be sure you don’t exceed 24″ x 15″ x 18″. A backpack with a couple of compartments will come in handy to keep everything organized throughout the day.

Portable Chargers

You can’t under-estimate the importance of your phone and camera at Disney these days. You will want to open the Disney App several times throughout the day to book your food and attractions. The app is also useful to view the map and ride queue times. If you have booked a Lightening Lane, you will want to have your phone on you to track the timings as you approach your queue slot.

A portable charger can be a huge advantage but if you don’t have one of these, you can bring your normal phone charger and use a charging station in Disney World. I would advise on bringing a portable charger, however, so you can walk around and charge your device at the same time.

Water Bottles

Staying hydrated is of course essential. Bringing a reusable water bottle means you can refill at the many water stations in the parks. If you’re not a fan of refillable stations, you can always bring your drinks to the parks to save some money.

Health and Safety

Health and safety is key to a successful Disney holiday. This means packing items such as first aid, sun protection, and sanitizers to help reduce any concerns at the parks.

First Aid Kit

We would always carry a basic first aid kit. These generally contain band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and plasters. If you do have any minor cuts and blisters this shouldn’t impact your experience. You never know when you might bump into something or trip over.

Hand Sanitizers

You will find quite a few sanitizer stations dotted around the pack but it’s always nice to have your own hand sanitizer on hand. If you have forgotten this when you get to the park, they are available in most general stores near the front counter. Considering you will be touching a lot of surfaces at the park, you will feel a lot better having one on hand to use after the rides.

Food and Snacks

When packing for your adventure to Disney World, a few snacks can go a long way to saving you some money. The days at the parks are long and you will want to find some food along the way. If you can’t fit in a cool box for some lunch items, fruit and snack bars are a good option. Here are some great snack items to carry along with you:

• Snack bars: Granola bars and breakfast bars keep well throughout the day. Avoid anything that may melt!
• Fresh fruit: Fruits like apples or oranges are a great source of energy and vitamins. We’ve tried bananas before and they get bruised too easily!
• Rehydration sachets: Hydration is key, so you may want to consider packing some hydration/electrolyte sachets to add to your water for a boost.
• Dietary Needs: Anything else that you might need for your diet that the parks may not necessarily cater to.

If you did want a treat at Disney however, there are plenty of naughty options….

Disney World Navigation

Knowing your directions will save you time and effort at the parks. Getting comfortable with the Disney apps and picking up a Disney park map will help you along your way.

Disney Park Maps

At the park entrance, pick up a copy of the park map. The map is a handy way to find attractions, food, and services. It can be easier than opening the map on the app too.

Disney My Experience App

Disney’s My Disney Experience app is something you should download prior to your visit. It’s the best way to find real-time updates for navigation and queue times. You will also be able to reserve your Lightening Lanes if you have Genie + for the park.