Disney Packing List Guide ~ Essentials for Your Survival Kit
What is on a Disney packing list to ensure a successful Disney vacation? Our Disney Parks packing guide is a list of essential for a survival kit to make sure a Disney vacation is magical from start to finish. Whether it’s your first trip to Disney World or you’re a seasoned visitor, you’ll need to plan and pack. Beyond the basics of season-specific clothing, good walking shoes, and a full lanyard of trading pins, there are several essential items to put into a Disney Vacation Survival Kit that will help make your first day of your visit as comfortably magical as the last.
After a few dozen trips to Disney Parks, I pinpointed numerous items that our family always packs in our suitcases. I call this our Disney Vacation Survival Kit, and every item on the packing list is essential. We use them all at some point on every trip to help keep it enjoyable, no matter how long the days are.
Below, I will share the items we cannot leave home without and why they are important to pack. Notice the list doesn’t include everyday personal items, like clothes and toothbrushes. This list is a travel kit for the rigorous walking, standing, and exploring you would do on an active theme park vacation. And, while some travelers might not need everything, the list helps one think about what situations might come up at Disney.
Packing List Guide ~ The Disney Vacation Survival Kit
Sun Protection
The Florida sun can be brutal whenever you travel and not just in the summer. We have visited the Sunshine State in almost every month of the year and needed sun protection on every trip. The entire park system is designed for walking outdoors for hours on end. And, although there is shade from trees and structures throughout the parks, the sunshine does filter through, so protect your skin from scalp to toes and your eyes too.
- Sun Hat or Ball Cap – A sunburned scalp is very painful
- UV resistant shirts – Rash guard clothing is an excellent choice for toddlers but great for everyone else too.
- Sunscreen – Preferably small for carrying with to reapply all day long.
- Sunglasses – Polarized with UV protection for all family members
Moleskin
Walking all day is required when vacationing at any Disney Park. The funny thing is that you do not notice how much your feet hurt until you have developed a blister or sore. It’s a good idea to start every day by applying a strip of moleskin around any trouble spots. Moleskin is a type of protective tape that protects skin on your feet from rubbing against your shoe and causing a blister. We were not aware of this product on our first 10+ day excursions to Disney World. And boy did we pay for it! But once we discovered it, we didn’t leave home without it.
I use moleskin on the backs of my ankles, as my shoes often cause friction and sores there. My husband needs to apply moleskin on his toes to prevent blisters from forming. It comes in rolls so you can cut shapes to fit your needs. And believe me, this is a lifesaver on any vacation…or at least a foot saver.
- Comes in assorted sizes and shapes
- Buying as a roll or sheet allows you to cut and shape to your needs
- Best to pack and bring with because options are extremely limited at the hotel gift shops
First Aid Essentials
On our first trip or two to Disney World, we didn’t think much about packing a few pain relievers or bandages in the luggage. We figured the hotel or gift shop would have whatever we needed. However, after paying $8 for a pack of 4 Tylenol at Magic Kingdom in 2000, we never made that mistake again! Here’s a rundown of essentials our family won’t travel without, but feel free to add additional items to meet your family’s specific needs:
- Pain Relievers
- Upset stomach medications
- Motion sickness relievers
- Bandages
- Anti-Itch Cream (yes, Disneyworld can have mosquitos especially at night).
- Allergy medications
Forget something? Don’t panic or think the pricey items at the gift shop are your only alternative. Consider having it delivered directly to your resort using same day delivery services.
Water Shoes
I’m not exactly sure how the pool floors at Disney resorts are constructed, but they are notoriously rough compared to the ones in the upper Midwest that our family is used to. On our first few trips we went barefoot to the waterparks and resort pools but paid the price later with scraped and scuffed up feet. A day in the Typhoon Lagoon wave pool really was the final straw. After that we always packed water shoes. We invested in ones that were walkable for longer distances. These are essential in our opinion if you are heading to the pools on your vacation.
Anti Chafing Products
After one particularly wet water ride combined with unforgiving denim shorts, the need to avoid chafing became a goal for future trips. Chafing is a miserable affliction to suffer with, and one family member dealing with it can ruin the trip for everyone. Glide was our go-to solution that comes in several varieties. We have used Body Glide, Foot Glide, and Glide for Her with great success on vacation. Recently we discovered the Gold Bond product, Friction Defense with Aloe, and it is every bit as good as Glide in our opinion. If you are looking for the comfort of an anti-friction product with the soft scent of coconut and vanilla, consider Anti-Chafe Whole Body Deo stick by Dove.
Compression Stockings
Compression stockings provide amazing relief when worn at the end of a long day walking in a Disney park. I will wear them overnight rather than in the heat of the day to help reduce the swelling in my legs and feet. Some people do like to wear light compression stockings on the airplane or a long road trip to help circulation. If you have leg swelling, it is a good idea to check with your doctor on the best compression for your needs. There are prescription brands and many over-the-counter stockings that are available that can really provide some foot therapy because a Disney vacation is truly a long walk in the park.
Additional Items to Consider
- Reusable Straws—Disney Parks only have environmentally friendly paper straws available, so if you prefer something more substantial, you will need to bring them.
- White Noise Machine—If the hallway noise from other travelers is bothersome, a small white noise machine can be extremely helpful for a full night’s rest. Consider a pocket-sized white noise machine for inside of a stroller to calm a sleepy toddler too.
- Cooling Towels and Personal Misting Fans—Although we don’t personally pack these for our trips, other Disney vacationers insist they are essential. They are available to purchase in the parks but much cheaper to buy ahead of time.
- Pocket-Sized Power Bank—A long day at the parks checking reservations for restaurants and rides really eats up the charge on your phone. A pocket-sized power bank charger will be essential for families that are on the go from rope drop to the final fireworks.
Frequently Asked Questions ~ Disney Packing List Guide
Should I pack essentials or plan to buy necessities when I arrive at a Disney Park?
Almost all essentials are available in some form at Disney Parks and Resorts; however, it is much less expensive to preplan and pack as many necessities as possible. This saves your park time as well as money because tracking down specific items can mean visiting several shops.
Are basic First Aid items available at Disney parks?
Yes. Check when at your resort; you can call or visit the front desk for basic first aid items. When in the parks, ask a cast member to direct you to the onsite first aid station if any member of your party feels ill.
What is the most important thing to pack for a vacation at a Disney Park?
Although it might sound cliche, plan to pack your patience for every trip to Disney. Thousands of visitors come to Disney Parks every day, and all want their experience to be magical. Cast members do their best to give individual attention to all guests, and this takes time. Sometimes, unforeseen glitches and situations arise that can lead to delays. Rather than be impatient, plan to enjoy the downtimes by searching for Hidden Mickeys, checking your photos, or just taking in the magic around you.
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