Planning a trip to Walt Disney World is exciting, and packing your essentials for a magical vacation is an important part of that journey. Preparing ahead can make all the difference for a fun filled and stress free Magical Vacation! Before you start to fill those suitcases think about the following:
- How long are you planning to visit?
- What time of the year will you be there?
- Finally, what activities you’ll do besides visiting the Parks?
Answering these questions, when packing for Walt Disney World, is equally important, as they will guide your packing decisions. In addition, I’ve outlined, a complete Disney packing list to start you on your adventure and make planning so much easier!
You might want to pick up a set of different color packing cubes for each family member. Color coding makes packing a breeze and it’s easy to find items for each family member. They’ll keep you organized and most importantly, the packing cubes can be placed directly in the drawers.
Gathering packing essentials
So, now you know how long, the time of year and what activities you’ll be doing. Let start to get your items together.
- Use the list below to continue packing. It helps if you have a table or a space in your guest room to start to gather items
- One outfit per day for adults with few additional outfits, Infants, toddlers and children two outfits per day in case of spills or accidents (carry an outfit/diaper/wipes in a ziplock bag)
Clothing and Accessories
- Bras and Underwear
- Socks and belts
- Pajamas
- T-shirts/ character shirts
- Tops -Dressy
- Shorts
- Joggers/capris
- Dresses
- Bathing Suits/cover up
- Flip Flops/Sandals
- A Pair of Comfy broken in Athletic Shoes or 2 in case they get wet
- Cross Body,Fanny Pack or Loungefly bag
- Sunglasses
- Jewelry
- Hat/ Mickey Ears
- Lightweight jacket year round and/or a heavier coat for winter in case of colder weather
Toiletries
Disney Resorts have H20 toiletries at all of their resorts. They provide shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion so those are items you can leave at home if you choose.
- Shampoo and Conditioner
- Body Wash
- Body Lotion
- Deodorant
- Face wash
- Makeup and skin care
- Qtips
- Tweezers/Nail Trimmer
- Toothbrush/Toothpaste/Dental Floss
- Tampons and pads
medication, Vitamins and First Aid
Being prepared with these essentials will make your trip run much smoother! Bringing your vitamin/pill organizer will make packing easier too and be sure to put in your carryon luggage. You’ll want to bring some of these items in your park bag too!
- Prescription Medication/Vitamins
- Advil/Tylenol Pain Relievers
- Sunscreen
- Aloe for sunburn
- Bandaids/antibiotic cream
- Mole Skin and toe pads
- Tums
- Megababe Thigh Rescue
- Dramamine Ginger Chews/Bonine for motion sickness
Nurses are available at First Aid in each park to help if you begin to feel ill. They also have over-the-counter medications, and bandages and some other remedies if you need them during park hours. If you’ve forgotten any of these items you can find some of them at your resort gift shop they carry a limited supply of these items.
Travel Plans and Documents
Planning your vacation? Be sure to sign up for the My Disney Experience App to link your reservations so you have everything at your fingertips. You can also keep copies of your documents on your phone for easy access. Using the checklist below you’ll be sure to have all your documents in order for the trip! These items are best kept handy in your carry-on luggage.
- My Disney Experience App
- Itinerary
- AAA/CAA Card
- Disney Vacation Club Digital Card
- Magic Bands and chargers
- Airline Ticket/Boarding Pass or Mobile Wallet
- Car Rental Documents
- Hotel Confirmation
- Driver’s License/Passport
- Medical Insurance Cards
- Credit Cards/Cash/Disney Gift Cards
- Notebook and favorite assorted Pens (Pilot for me)
- Addresses and stamps for postcards
Electronics
Below are some items that will keep your electronics charged up and recording memories of your trip. A drained phone, fan or camera will not ruin your day but it’s best to be prepared. Fuel Rods are a must have for me as you can easily exchange them at multiple kiosks located conveniently in all the parks and resorts. They are lightweight and come with cords too!
- Phone Charger/Car Charger
- Clip On Light/charging cord
- Mickey Mouse Selfie Light/charging cord
- Fuel Rods and cords
- Mini Tripod with Remote
- Go Pro and or DJI Osmo Pocket
- Camera/lenses
- Extra SD Cards
- Laptop
- LaCie Portable Hard Drive
You can use a packing cube to keep all of these items hand for travel and easy access. I do keep this bag in my carry-on!
Miscellaneous
These are some other helpful things to bring on your trip that may save the day!
- Refillable Water Bottle
- Ziplock Bags – Hold Park baby/toddler change of clothes and then can be used for wet clothes. Also to keep snacks contained.
- Misting Fan
- Earplugs
- Backpack/Beach Bag
- Ponchos and an umbrella
- Quick Dry Cooling Towels for your neck and face
packing for Walt Disney World -let’s get it all in the luggage!
You’ve assembled outfits, toiletries, electronics, vitamins/medicine, travel plans and documents. If you’re using packing cubes put similar items together (underwear and bras, short and shirts sets, bathing suits and coverup you get the idea. It’s so much easier to find things this way and you’ll be able to load and unload each packing cube easier. Super helpful if changing resorts too. If you don’t have packing cubes I would recommend rolling your clothes to be able to fit more into your luggage efficiently. *Jeneice’s tip*-pack similar items into the luggage together to save time and space!
I hope you have an amazing trip! Just remember if you’ve forgotten anything there are stores at each resort with items you may need. You can always pick things up at the store if you have a car. You also have the ability to order forgotten items from Amazon Fresh, Garden Grocer or Instacart and many more.
Ready, Set – Let’s Travel!
If you’ve made it this far then you are almost ready to set off on your vacation fully packed and prepared.
A few reminders to pack these items in your carry-on:
- Reservations and travel information
- Medications
- Fragile Electronics
- Bathing Suit for arrival day
- Magic Bands
- Sunglasses
- Travel size sun screen
- Change of clothes, diapers and wipes for little ones
- Any item you must have in case your checked luggage is delayed
Wishing you a wonderful trip and hope this helped you prepare for the most magical place on Earth! Find out more about what makes up The Walt Disney World Resort here!
