This will be our fourth year taking the kids to Walt Disney World and I think I’ve mostly got our packing down to a science. We drive there and back and I’ve learned to pack for the stops along the way separately (it’s a huge help when getting in and out of the car with kids!). I pack a combined toiletry bag and a medicine bag that gets out with us at every hotel stop, mainly because we go in the summer and I don’t want to leave anything that could get ruined or spoiled in the car in the heat!
Ok, back to Disney… I think it’s one of the easiest trips to pack for because you have to plan so much of the day to day beforehand. So, before we go, I write out our schedule on a notepad (I really like this color blocked one) and I start with the kids. I’ve found that 2 pairs of pajamas is perfect for a week (a third pair goes into the hotel bag), and then an outfit for each day according to our activities. Each park day gets a “park outfit,” 3-4 swimsuits each, a coverup or two, a “dinner outfit,” and a zip up sweatshirt and a long sleeve tee to be placed in a dedicated bag that we’ll take with us everywhere… the restaurants are freezing!
The kids wear their Natives the entire time and the only other shoes we bring for them are pool slides. I might bring one pair of socks each for if it’s cold at night. We’ve learned to bring an extra (usually empty) bag that we can use for going to the pool so that it’s easier than rearranging our other bags (like our parks bag) and then having to repack everything again later.
*I have a dedicated product set to Disney on my LTK page if you want to see more!
What's in My Bag
Disney Gear
Here’s what we’ve acquired over our last 3 trips and what we make sure to pack each time we go: a mini Disney backpack for Amelia, autograph books & pens, magic bands, lanyards and pins for the kids, an assortment of Minnie and Mickey ears, two bubble wands (bring extra bubbles if you plan on getting one!), 2 spray fans, an Ariel Nuomi (Amelia), and a magnetic mini stuffed Sebastian (Amelia). All of these things are fun to have but obviously not necessary in the least.
Park Bag
We usually use a backpack that Joe carries and then I carry a belt bag and we try to think of anything we could need during the day. For us, that looks like sunscreen (a tube and a face stick), hats for each kid (Amelia only ever wants to wear her Minnie ears but we bring one just in case), sunglasses, neck fans for the kids, water bottles for everyone, a phone charger and backup battery, plastic ponchos for everyone, a long sleeve tee for everyone, a mini first aid kit (including pain meds in case anyone gets a random headache), autograph books and a pen for each kid, and their lanyards with their pins. We all wear our Magic bands the whole trip but, if you don’t, make sure to bring it everywhere you go. That’s pretty much it!
Pool Bag
It’s helpful for me to pack a designated pool bag before we go because otherwise I forget things the kids would want for the pool. I learned the first year we were there that it’s annoying to have to rearrange bags in the hotel room- I always lose things that way… or forget to put them back in the bag where they actually belong. Really, all we need for the pool are goggles (recently ordered this case), ear plugs, and our ear dryer (yep, that’s a thing) for Amelia but I put extra sunscreen in here, too. It’s just nice to have a place to put things when you’re at the pool.
Miscellaneous
Stain treater
Medicine bag (allergy meds, inhalers, pain meds)
First Aid kit
Nori handheld steamer
Soft cooler for the car
Snacks (granola bars, nut mixes, electrolyte packets)
Vitamins and probiotics
I love this line of Disney bags where the Mickey stitching is so subtle yet still feels magical. This bright pink is my favorite but it also comes in other bold and pretty shades like red, marigold, and teal.
I bought these sneakers when I was looking for a comfortable pair of sneakers for our trip to Disney World two years ago and they were the only sneakers I wore the entire trip. They’re lightweight, sustainable, wildly comfortable, and washable!
Other tips I've learned along the way:
- We use a Disney travel agent. Her name is Mary Kate (follow her on Instagram here!) and she is incredible! She knows all of the restaurants, tips, tricks… you name it, she knows it. This is probably my number one recommendation if you’re planning a Disney trip!
- Pack a long sleeve tee for everyone that goes in a dedicated bag you’ll bring everywhere while you’re there. The restaurants are COLD!
- Cooling fans and water spritzers are worth it if you’re going in the summer (we bought fans for the kids on Amazon & bring them every year… bring batteries if you do this).
- Bring reusable water bottles. There are refillable water bottle stations everywhere!
- You can rent a stroller while you’re there. Like, a good one! We use Kingdom Strollers and they will deliver to your hotel plus pick it up at the end of your trip. We don’t need a stroller for the kids anymore but might rent one this year just to leave the backpack on so we don’t have to carry it around in the heat.
- Along the same note, you can Amazon food/snacks/etc. to your hotel so you don’t have stop to buy a million snacks & also, it makes me feel better to have at least a few healthier options (especially since we indulge in ALL the treats while we’re there!).
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