What to pack for a family trip to Disney World
THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH
Without a doubt, a family trip to Disney World means a lifetime of memories at the happiest place on earth! Packing on the other hand? Well, not as thrilling. If you’re pulling your hair out trying to decide what to pack, you’re in the right place!
Having recently returned from a week in Disney World with my hubby and 5 year old, I’m breaking down what we packed that really made the trip successful, so you don’t have to spend hours googling, or go into sheer panic mode moments before you jet set.
Water
Of course you can’t get through airport security with it, but purchasing water once you touch down is the best move you can make. Having a case of grab and go bottles ensures you’ll stay hydrated at the parks, pools and your hotel! If you’d rather pack your own reusable bottle, I’d still recommend purchasing a gallon (or two) of water to refill with. The water fountains at the park left a lot to be desired (we were forewarned by a family who described the water as pure sulfur) which was enough for us to feel justified in our single use decision. Between the heat, and the 10,000+ steps you’ll be doing, you’re going to get thirsty, so stock up and don’t forget to recycle!
Snacks
Having a bunch of packaged snacks in our backpack made ALL the difference. Not because of avoiding pricey snacks at Disney (you’ll indulge in plenty of that too), but for the sheer time it saved. Standing in line at a concession stand for every time my daughter requested a snack would have meant we went on maybe 2 rides all day. Having a few snack packs gave us energy in that 135 minute Frozen wait (solidarity mamas), and solved a few low blood sugar moments from all the walking (and waiting) in the sun.
SPF & Bug Spray
It may seem obvious to pack SPF when you’re in the sun all day, but bug spray may be one of those items you’re on the fence about. I am someone who reacts badly to mosquito bites, so I knew I didn’t want to chance it. I’m SO glad we had this, because there were several mornings we waited for the skyliner (which for our hotel was right by water), where the bugs were out to play. A quick spray in the AM meant my family’s arms and legs were no longer breakfast, and we could enjoy our time at the parks itch-free!
Ponchos
Admittedly we didn’t use our ponchos (for us the rainfall came overnight!), but I still don’t regret packing them. Florida is known for its sporadic rain showers, so having these felt like the right insurance plan. Should you want to “wing it”, know this dollar store item will cost $25 a pop at the parks, and regardless of the inflation, you may not be close to a vendor when rain strikes!
Hand Sanitizer & Baby Wipes
The park is filled with hand sanitizer dispensers, but having wet wipes or some kind of alcohol spray gives you options. My daughter reminded me of how many “fun” things there are to do when waiting in line at a ride, like climbing rocks, touching every divider and partition, and generally speaking finding all the germs. Having something handy is worth the small space it takes up in your bag, and will never go to waste.
Sunglasses / Hat
The beauty of Florida is that the sun shines year round, but the UVA & UVB rays can be brutal. Having just had eye corrective surgery, it was really important I stay protected. My daughter was gifted sunglasses with a little carry necklace which came in handy when she didn’t want to wear them (and decreased the chance of losing them), and I wore a combo of sunglasses and a sunhat depending on if we were in the park or at the hotel pool.
Shop my sunnies here!
Comfortable Shoes
It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that you’ll need comfortable shoes, but no harm in trying to look cute too! I opted for two of my favorite everyday kicks, with thin grip ankle socks. I packed one pair of mid heeled loafers, that I wore to dinner one night so I felt a little elevated. For the most part, skip the heels and pack what will not give you blisters. Your heels and feet will thank you!
Layers
There are moments you’ll want to peel off every layer, and moments you wished you had more. We each packed a lightweight sweatshirt and jacket, and made sure they were easily “stuff-able” in our bag, or stroller compartment. Yes there are lockers, but you’re never in one place for too long at Disney, so leave the super bulky stuff at home, and pack fabrics that condense easily. If you’ve got your eye on water rides, pack sports like material that dries quickly!
Stroller
My daughter has been out of a stroller sometime after her 3rd birthday when she became little miss independent, but we held onto our compact travel stroller in the event we ever needed it. Alas, when we were getting ready for our trip, my husband turned to me and sighed, “do you think we need it?”
Sure I heard plenty of parents talk about how important a stroller is to have at Disney, but I was not excited about the idea as it felt like another thing to deal with. Also, my girl’s a city kid! She uses her legs and her scooter and why would we suddenly move in reverse?
I’m happy to admit how wrong-ity wrong I was. Having a stroller in Disney took me right back to the beauty of a stroller… you get to walk at an adult pace! You don’t have to hear your kid complain about their legs or the fact that they can’t eat and walk at the same time! We used our travel stroller more than I would like to admit, but seeing as we knew this would likely be the end, we made a plan to donate it down in Florida so we wouldn’t have to lug it back. It was a huge win all around getting that thing out of our utility closet, donating to a good cause, and saving our sanity.
If you’re on the fence, you can always rent one there! One of my dearest friends gave me the advice to wrap colored gaff tape on the handles of your stroller, or to tie a bold colored ribbon so you recognize it in the stroller parking crowd. Greatest tip ever!
Backpack & Fanny pack
Styles come and go, but there is just something about a fanny pack. I will always remember my mom toting one for our family vacations in the 90’s (see a fun side by side pic below), and I think I secretly wanted to wear one just out of nostalgia. But I’ll tell you, you can’t beat the functionality! Having my phone and wallet close to my chest felt secure, and super handy. My husband and I both carried a backpack as well which is a must as you’ll want to be hands free with your kid(s). Mila was gifted 2 Minnie ear backpacks before our trip, so we brought those, but I would recommend anything light weight (and just large enough to fit your water bottle) so you are sparing your back from any extra load.
Shop my fanny pack here!
LONG LIVE THE FANNY PACK!
Phone Charger or Battery
With the new Disney Genie (park planning tool), you are constantly on your phone. It’s not my favorite system, but you can’t beat the convenience of being able to refresh the wait times on your phone to determine your next move. If you are handling more than one phone, it’s best to leave one on airplane or battery saving mode, so you don’t drain two batteries at once. If that’s not feasible, pack a phone charger or portable battery. My husband recharged during our Beauty and the Beast lunch, which saved us the stress of having to be “careful” with our battery life for taking pictures and videos.
Pennies
I can’t tell you how many moments there were to throw change into a fountain. Your kid(s) will want to throw a coin, and so will you! Carry a few pennies or whatever you’ve got jingling in your pockets from breakfast to join the wish-making fun!
Glow Stick Necklaces
We didn’t pack these, but were gifted them from one of my best friends who synced up with us down in Florida. The beauty of glow sticks is they are single usage, and they don’t take up a whole lot of bag space. They were so fun to have during the fireworks, and eliminated the need to stop at the gift shop for a fun light up toy that all the kids around yours will have (Disney in a nutshell!) Of course Disney carries everything, but that doesn’t mean you want those bulky light up toys to join the journey home with you (wink wink!)
One “Nice Outfit”
You’ll always win with a t-shirt and jeans (or yoga pants) at Disney, but there’s something about elevating your look for at least one night. There are no dress codes at any of the hotels or restaurants, but that doesn’t mean you won’t want to feel like you’re on vaca for a minute! Packing a nice top or even a pair of earrings can do the trick to make you feel fresh and elegant on your family trip.
Whatever you bring, leave room…
I certainly don’t consider myself a “Disney mom”, although that picture in our matching Mickey shirts probably suggests otherwise hah! Even the most disciplined parent will drink the Disney Kool-aid, so leave some wiggle room in your suitcase for anything you may want to bring back. Temptations are lurking at every corner, so be prepared to set some limits (even with yourself!) One or two cherished pieces will mean far more than a suitcase full of tchotchkes.
Relax & Enjoy!
Disney is a once in a lifetime experience, and I’d recommend it to anyone who can swing it. If you can’t already tell, we all had solid smiles for a week straight. It really is the most magical place on earth!