Destinations

What’s in my bag: The final word Disney World packing information from a theme park professional

Planning a Walt Disney World trip has by no means been extra concerned. From reserving your lodge, eating and theme park reservations to strategizing your digital queue, rope drop, park hop and Genie+ and Lightning Lane plans, there’s a variety of stress to get it proper given the expense and time concerned.

However all of the meticulous spreadsheeting and early reserving wake-ups on the earth can’t undo the discomfort of waterlogged sneakers or the frustration of a lifeless telephone battery unable to make further Lightning Lane bookings in the course of your trip day.

So, earlier than you get out that suitcase and begin packing, take a look at this record of what to pack for a visit to Disney World.

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As a theme park professional who travels from Chicago to Walt Disney World as usually as twice a month, consider me once I say I’ve made all the errors, and my errors at the moment are your suggestions. A few of these objects might not have made your packing shortlist, however they may make or break your vacay — belief me, I’ve discovered the laborious method.

Fanny pack

BROOKE MCDONALD/THE POINTS GUY

I by no means, ever hit the parks with no fanny pack.

I wish to have my sun shades, pockets, telephone, transportable charger, FuelRod and twine, lip balm, sunscreen and umbrella all proper at my fingertips, somewhat than always slinging a backpack round and digging by it. I like the personalizable choices from Stoney Clover Lane. I’ve the common dimension however am eyeing the Jumbo for my subsequent buy.

Be warned, these are sort of expensive, so when you do not want a themed and customized choice, a budget-friendly choice is the Herschel Seventeen Waist Pack, which often begins at underneath $30 on Amazon.

Backpack

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After I go to the parks solo, I handle to pack all the pieces into only a fanny pack, however once I’m with my kiddos, everybody brings their very own backpack on the airplane and we consolidate and produce only one backpack to the parks.

My boys convey their Stoney Clover Lane Traditional Backpacks and carry their very own iPads and plush toys and I convey a Coach Outlet backpack with a compartment to soundly transport my laptop computer (since my park journeys continuously double as work journeys).

If these aren’t the precise ones for you, Petunia Pickle Backside additionally makes some Disney-themed backpacks which might be waterproof, which could be vital as a result of when at Disney … it’s going to (most likely) rain.

Associated: These are the most effective bank cards for journeys to Disney World

Rain gear

BROOKE MCDONALD/THE POINTS GUY

As I used to be saying, and I say this on a regular basis — there’s one certainty on each Walt Disney World journey: It can rain.

Repeat after me, “It. Will. Rain.” However a downpour doesn’t must put a damper in your enjoyable. When packing on your journey to Disney World, you simply must be ready with the precise sort of rain gear for your loved ones.

Compact umbrella

Rain jackets and ponchos are undoubtedly useful for including an additional layer of waterproof safety over your garments, but it surely’s usually sweltering simply earlier than, throughout and after these downpours — notably in summer season — and a jacket can simply make you’re feeling sweaty and sticky.

We pack light-weight, compact umbrellas for everybody within the household and on the most well liked days, we go away jackets and ponchos at house.

Light-weight rain jacket

Outdoors of these sizzling, humid summer season months, we pack light-weight rain jackets to maintain garments from getting soaked by. I purchase this cheap, tremendous light-weight Columbia Glennaker rain jacket for my boys, with room sufficient to suit a sweatshirt or light-weight down jacket beneath for colder days.

Columbia additionally places out an annual limited-edition assortment of outerwear themed to a brand new “Star Wars” launch. My Boba Fett-inspired waterproof Columbia jacket from final 12 months’s assortment is now my go-to rain jacket. Look out for a brand new drop this fall/winter.

Waterproof stroller cowl

If there may be even the remotest probability of a rain bathe and also you’re headed inside for a experience or a meal, please heed my phrases and canopy your stroller. I’ve come again outdoors to a positively drenched stroller extra occasions than I might care to confess.

Your greatest guess is a stroller cowl made on your particular stroller mannequin (we swear by the Child Jogger Metropolis Mini GT2), however a reasonable common cowl also needs to do the trick.

Waterproof footwear

Sure, you’ll log loads of steps throughout a Disney World trip, however your go-to cozy sneakers aren’t so cozy after they’ve been soaked by by a downpour. I swear by absolutely waterproof footwear.

My favourite half once I’m packing for the entire household — no socks to take up treasured suitcase area! Listed here are three totally different picks to fit your private model.

Birkenstock Arizona Necessities

SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

A traditional, this light-weight, versatile, waterproof model of the cork-and-leather unique is commonly the one shoe we pack for our Disney journeys. I can stroll miles in these sandals with no blisters, no soreness and no discomfort on the finish of the day. They arrive in youngsters’ sizes, too!

Crocs

The look isn’t for everybody, but when Crocs are your jam, they’re one other nice waterproof choice for each youngsters and adults. Disney frequently groups up with Crocs to create new designs, together with park- and attraction-specific types that includes characters and rides like Orange Fowl and The Haunted Mansion.

Native sneakers

SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

Native sneakers appear to be glossy sneakers however they’re light-weight and waterproof — no socks wanted. Native even has a cute collaboration with Disney if you wish to go all-in in your footwear theming.

I’ve sufficient associates who swear by these to incorporate them on this record, however a phrase of warning — not like Crocs and Birkenstocks, they offer my kiddos blisters, so you should definitely break them in at house first as they’re nice for some ft and never nice for others.

Extremely-light down

ULTRA LIGHT DOWN/UNIQLO.COM

Central Florida winters are famously unpredictable.

From about December by February, temps can fall anyplace from the 30s to the 80s, which implies you’ll have to pack all the pieces from swimsuits to heat coats. I swear by ultra-lightweight, packable down items from Uniqlo.

Its vests and jackets are cheap, weigh nearly nothing, and include their very own little pouches so you may simply tuck them away in a backpack or fanny pack through the warmest a part of the day. Within the winter, I at all times convey each a jacket and a vest.

Solar-protective clothes

Efficient solar safety is essential any time of 12 months in Central Florida. When packing for Disney World, we convey an arsenal of choices for our household. Dr. Jordan Carqueville, a number one board-certified dermatologist in Chicago, recommends beginning with the precise garments. “Solar-protective clothes is right for lengthy days within the solar and is particularly nice for teenagers,” she says.

We at all times convey rashguards for the swimming pools and water parks — particularly Storm Lagoon, the place sunscreen doesn’t stand an opportunity of staying put after a pummeling by the wave pool.

Carqueville additionally recommends masking up with a hat with at the very least a 3-inch brim, and reapplying sunscreen each 90 minutes, particularly when sweating and swimming. “When selecting a sunscreen, search for the time period ‘broad-spectrum,’ so it covers each UVA and UVB rays,” she says. Her favorites are ISDIN, EltaMD and Blue Lizard.

Supergoop Poof 100% Mineral Half Powder

I led with the knowledgeable advice however the fact is, I don’t put on a brimmed hat all day daily within the parks. However, I nonetheless shield my scalp with Supergoop Poof 100% Mineral Half Powder. It goes on like dry shampoo and retains my half from burning.

Goodr sun shades

BROOKE MCDONALD/THE POINTS GUY

A fantastic pair of sun shades is important on a Disney World packing record, but it surely looks like at the very least one member of my household loses a pair each. Single. Journey.

Goodr sun shades are my go-to for cheap however good-quality polarized sun shades. Technically dubbed “operating sun shades” (and nice for my runDisney coaching!), Goodr sunnies are light-weight, don’t slip and in some way match everybody in my household, together with my 6-year-old. We pack 5 pairs for our household of 4 in order that if (ahem, when) somebody loses a pair, we nonetheless have a backup.

Child gear

AMAZON

My boys are greater than I care to confess, however I began taking them to the parks after they have been infants and these are just a few objects I couldn’t have gotten by with out.

Tula child provider

Even when you rely totally on a stroller, a child provider was a lifesaver for me for lengthy strains once we needed to go away the stroller behind. An excellent provider can also be nice for naps in case your toddler fights stroller snoozes as mine did. I additionally beloved having the ability to pop a kiddo within the provider to observe fireworks, saving the pressure on my arms and shoulders.

Altering pad

The Child Care Facilities in Disney World theme parks are undoubtedly a mum or dad’s greatest good friend on the subject of clear and simple diaper adjustments, however you’ll wish to be certain you at all times have a transportable altering mat readily available for sudden stops.

Nursing cowl

Disney World is breastfeeding-friendly and also you’re free to nurse in public all through the parks and resorts, however as soon as once more, the Child Care Facilities are a calming place to take a break and nurse somewhat one. Anytime I wished further privateness, I used a Milk Snob nursing cowl to comfortably nurse anyplace in a pinch.

Tech

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White-noise machine

I discovered concerning the magic of white noise for sleep when my youngsters have been infants, and nonetheless pack our Rohm Journey Sound Machine for each journey as a result of it really works wonders for drowning out the incessant noise of tossing, turning, drinks of water and toilet journeys that inevitably include 4 individuals sleeping in a lodge room collectively. There are apps on your telephone that generate white noise however the Rohm is solely the most effective, most pure sound choice I’ve discovered.

USB charging station

A contemporary-day Walt Disney World trip requires a variety of tech, which implies charging a variety of gadgets at night time and all through the day.

With Disney MagicMobile, your iPhone, Apple Watch or Google Pay-enabled Android telephone can now act as your park ticket (taking the place of a MagicBand). You’ll additionally want your telephone to entry My Disney Expertise to handle eating, Genie+ and Particular person Lightning Lane reservations, in addition to the Play Disney Parks Cell App.

Disney has been including extra USB ports in lodge rooms as they’re up to date, however with so many alternative gadgets to cost, now we have discovered that there are by no means sufficient for our complete household so it’s greatest to convey a charging station to get just a few extra ports.

MagicBand+

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MagicBands aren’t a necessity, however they make it a lot simpler to faucet into the parks, your Disney World lodge room, and particular person rides with Lightning Lane reservations. Plus, the most recent model, MagicBand+, unlocks experiences unique to MagicBand+ wearers. These embody the Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters expertise in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Disney Fab 50 Quest, a type of scavenger hunt throughout all 4 parks the place you may “acquire” the 50 characters represented as golden sculptures that remember Walt Disney World’s fiftieth anniversary.

Moveable chargers

Even once you begin the day with a full cost, it probably received’t be sufficient for a full park day, so we at all times convey this high-quality transportable charger, which has sufficient juice to totally recharge at the very least two iPhones. We additionally throw just a few further transportable chargers within the backpack too, together with some further cords, simply in case.

FuelRod

And since you may by no means have too many backups, we additionally carry a FuelRod as an additional insurance coverage coverage. FuelRods are bought in merchandising machines all through the parks, however you will get them cheaper by ordering one prematurely on-line.

Swap your FuelRod at no cost at machines all through Disney World’s theme parks and lots of inns.

Waterproof telephone pouch

If you happen to’re planning a day on the pool or a Disney water park and don’t wish to be with out your telephone, a waterproof telephone pouch ensures you by no means have to go away your machine (and digicam!) behind. I additionally stick my bank cards in right here and don’t go away any valuables at my chair so I by no means spend the additional cash to hire a locker.

iPads with protecting instances

For essentially the most half, now we have a no-device rule for our youngsters as soon as we step off the airplane on trip, however we make an exception in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Right here, your “Datapad,” “Star Wars” communicate for a wise machine (iPad minis for our youngsters) logged in to the Play Disney Parks app, turns into a software for a few of the land’s experiences, together with the Batuu Bounty Hunt, performed along with a MagicBand+.

Packing cubes

When you uncover the surprise of packing cubes, you’ll by no means look again. I preserve our household of 4 organized by packing all of our garments in packing cubes. It is a nice solution to separate clothes not simply by member of the family, however by climate since Disney World could be so unpredictable. I exploit separate cubes for the entire household’s rain gear, for light-weight down, and for the pool, in order that something we don’t find yourself needing stays packed and arranged.

If you wish to make investments a bit extra in your packing cubes, TPG’s Summer season Hull swears by these Calpak packing cubes.

Associated: Why you must begin utilizing packing cubes

Cooling towel

In peak summer season warmth in Orlando, actually something to take the sting off helps. My youngsters love cooling towels. I don’t love after they use them as weapons to fling at one another, however, hey, at the very least they’re staying cool.

Neck followers

If you happen to aren’t positive a cooling towel will likely be sufficient, some households additionally make the most of transportable neck followers on the most well liked of days in Disney World. Whereas there are a number of choices available on the market, a few of the most reasonably priced are typically on sale for underneath $10 every on Amazon.

SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

Backside line

Understanding what to pack for a visit to Disney World is half the battle, so be taught from what has labored for me on our quite a few journeys to Orlando after which you may return to deciding between all of the greatest eating places at Disney World (together with my favourite outside spots) and whether or not to begin your day with Hollywood Studios or Magic Kingdom.

Further reporting by Summer season Hull.



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