What to Pack for
Walt Disney World
The reservations are made, the hotel is paid for, and you’re now just a few days or weeks away from a family vacation to Walt Disney World. Whether this is your first time visiting Florida or you’re looking for new ideas for theme park essentials, here is my main “what to pack” list for Florida. It’s not an exhaustive list, but if you cover these essentials, you can rest easily knowing you won’t miss something important when you arrive.
The Absolute Essentials
No matter what time of year you are visiting, there are some items that you need to pack. Some of these items are travel essentials and others are Florida essentials, but you don’t want to miss any of these.
- Travel Documents and passports
- Wallet with some US cash
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunscreen (At least SPF 30)
- Sun protection (hats, sunglasses)
- A park backpack
- Reusable water bottle
- Portable battery charger
- Phone charging cables
IMPORTANT NOTE
Comfortable walking shoes does NOT mean flip flops, Crocs, or shoes with no support. People often walk +20k steps each day during park days, so make sure your shoes can handle it without causing pain or blisters.
This is not the time to break in new shoes!
General Necessities
The next list is general vacation essential items. You don’t want to forget any of these items, but if you did forget one or two, it would not be the end of the world.
Clothes
- An outfit planned out for each day, plus extra clothing for emergencies
- Swimsuits
- Shoes or sandals that can get wet
- Hats that provide good sun protection
- Rain jacket or ponchos
- A light jacket (seasonal)
- Good socks
Toiletries
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Prescription medicines
- OTC pain relief (Ibuprofen AND acetaminophen)
- Motion sickness medication
- Cold medicine
- Allergy medicine
- After-sun care like aloe vera gel
- Hair care products
- Lotion
- Bandaids and moleskin padding
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Deodorant
- Tampons and pads
- anti-chafing stick / Body glide lotion
Electronics
- Cell phone
- Portable battery charger
- Charging cables
- Outlet to USB plug + USB hub
- Portable fan
- Camera + extra SD card*
- Batteries*
Other Items
- Refillable water bottle
- Hand sanitizer
- Umbrella
- Quiet time activities (book, iPad, etc)
- Cooling items
- Extra bags for wet or dirty clothes
SUN SAFETY
Please make sure you take sun safety seriously, especially if you have never been to Florida before. As a very pale Canadian, the heat and sun are almost always why I need to cut park days short.
To quote the sun safety ads of the 80s and 90s, slip on a shirt, slap on a hat and slop on some sun screen.
If you’re staying on site…
While I listed shampoo and conditioner on the packing list, I personally never pack any because the shampoo, conditioner, soap and lotion provided by Disney is my absolute favourite scent. It is quite common for Disney regulars to ask housekeeping for extra bars of soap to bring home because the sea salt scent is so popular.
My Favourite Items
The following links are affiliate links and I may make a little commission off any sales. The more you buy, the more I can travel to share even more great opportunities, so… use the links!
CUBY Folding Travel Umbrella with 99% UV Protection
I love this umbrella because not only does it handle Florida rain but it also handles Florida sun. The anti-UV protection is an absolute game changer during a hot day in Florida, and the fact it’s waterproof means it can play double duty when it rains. And spoiler, it always rains in Florida.
3-in-1 Wireless Magsafe Travel Charger with adapter
Everything needs to be charged these days, which means you end up travelling with lots of cables. As an iPhone, Apple Watch and Airpod user, this little folding charger has let me cut down on the number of cables I need, which is always appreciated. It sits nicely on a bedside table too, which is great.
Gaiatop Mini Portable USB-rechargable 3-Speed Fan
This fan stays in my purse both in Florida and in Canadian summers. It’s quiet, powerful and has cooled me down in many hot situations down south. It is charged with a Micro-USB cable and I have yet to be in a situation where the battery ran out while I’m in the parks.
Brita Filtering Water Bottle with Straw
Florida tap water is notoriously awful and bottled water in the parks is $4 and it’s Dasani, which might be just as awful. During my last trip, I tested out the Brita filtering water bottle and was VERY impressed with how much it improved the water. What I like to do is ask for a cup or two of ice at the quick service restaurants, put it in my water bottle and then fill it with water at a water bottle filling station. The reason I ask for JUST ice is because it’s easier to fill the whole bottle if the cup is just ice and then I use the fountain.
Anker 20,000mAh Power bank with built-in USB-C Cable
You really need a phone with the My Disney Experience app to get the most out of your day at Disney, which means you need a fully charged phone the entire day. And with phones now also being our cameras, it is very easy to drain your phone’s battery throughout the day. Anker is the best brand for power banks, and I believe it’s worth paying a little extra for the brand name versus a cheaper brand.
Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport Sunscreen Spray – SPF 50
If you’re in Canada, there will be a few months of the year where it is not easy to get sunscreen, so here is my favourite, available to order all year. I LOVE this sunscreen because I have not had a sunburn since I started using it. Using the spray versus the lotion means it’s a lot easier to get full coverage, even when I’m by myself, and the sports version means it is designed to be sweat-resistant and can withstand an active day at the parks.
This packing list does not need to be followed completely. Some people might not need these things, and some people may need lots of other items! Make sure you’re packing for what is best for your family, and no matter what you’ll have a great time!
