31 Top Disney Packing List Items for 2024 + What to Wear & NOT to Bring

What to Pack for Disney – 31 Essentials

• 1. Wearable Neck Wallet

  A neck wallet is an essential item for Disney to ensure your valuables are safe from sticky fingers (or when you’re going 60 mph on a roller coaster!) The simple but beautiful idea behind these pouches is to keep your items tucked away securely. It can be worn underneath your shirt to minimize the risk of pickpocketing and prevent valuables like your I.D. and phone from flying away on high-speed rides. It’s also RFID-blocking to prevent e-thieves from scanning your wallet for credit card info as they stroll by.

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• 2. Handheld Fan

  Sweating profusely in the direct sun can ruin an otherwise perfect day, so I recommend bringing a personal fan with you to help keep yourself and your kid(s) plenty cool in the theme-park heat. This little gem is USB rechargeable battery operated and packs a cooling, gentle breeze when you need it most. Especially during peak season, you’ll be waiting in long lines that can consume hours of the day. Skip melting like an ice cream cone or feeling held back from the pure joy of Disney!

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• 3. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

  As you can imagine, there are A LOT of visitors at Disney every day (approximately 250,000 at each park). That also means there are a lot of strangers connecting to public Wi-Fi networks in the park, hotels, coffee shops, and restaurants. Not to mention, Disney was a victim of extensive cyberattacks just last year and tons of customer data was breached.

  A VPN is the best way to keep private information safe from hackers who may try to steal your passwords, credit card numbers, or identity. It also stops curious eyes from monitoring your online activity, including your internet provider, government entities, and nosy onlookers! If you value your privacy, NordVPN is our preferred provider for reliable security. Being untraceable is affordable and worth it for the sheer peace of mind. Get it before your trip to unlock flight deals, and it will also remove censorship to ensure you can use Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and Disney+ just as you would at home.

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• 4. Lipstick-Sized Portable Charger

  You’ll be snapping photos and managing vacation plans on the Disney Experience App, so you will need a well-charged device. Never worry about a dead battery again with a portable charger – this one is a family favorite because it’s about the size of a tube of lipstick yet powerful enough to charge several devices (phones, cameras, and other USB-standard electronics). We throw it into our backpack and forget about the rest.

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• 5. Quick-Dry Travel Towel

  A quick-dry towel has infinite possibilities and will be handy in so many ways. You can sit on it, dry off with it, use it as a sun shield, keep sweat off your skin, dry off the little ones after playing in the water, etc. These towels are perfect for a day (or days) at Disney because they dry extremely fast, 10x quicker than cotton, and weigh next to nothing. No more lugging around soggy, stinky towels!

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• 6. Hanging Toiletry Bag

  No matter where you’re staying (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, or Hollywood Studios etc.), this hanging toiletry bag is the perfect solution to limited countertop space. Instead of having the whole family’s toiletries sprawled out in utter chaos across every inch of the hotel, use this hanging toiletry bag to consolidate everyone’s essential bathroom and hygiene products.

  It saves our routine (and our sanity!) by hanging on any door, shower pole, towel rack, or hook to display 4 giant pockets. This one pictured is leakproof and also comes with a lifetime happiness guarantee. It was designed in Hawaii by avid travelers who were seeking better travel accessories – so they made their own! This bag took dozens of iterations but has resulted in a flawless organizer that you’ll never want to travel without.

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• 7. Travel Insurance for Disney

  A Disney trip is already expensive, which means paying out-of-pocket for major emergencies could cost a fortune. As much as we hope everything goes smoothly on vacation, accidents happen. Like our friend who broke her arm while on a getaway – thankfully, she had travel insurance and was able to focus on her recovery rather than footing the nearly $50K bill for transit and treatment!

  Travel insurance will protect your family against flight delays, theft, baggage loss, medical emergencies, cancellations, and more. Especially if traveling internationally, since your provider generally will not cover you outside the country. We use Faye because they have a modern approach as the first all-digital provider. Made by travelers for travelers, reimbursements are handled quickly through their mobile app, and they support you when you need it most (instead of delaying the claims process or giving you endless paperwork like most providers). Ultimately, you can’t afford to travel without it and Faye makes the process completely painless!

  Get a quote in less than 60 seconds with Faye ➜

• 8. Stroller

  While wagons are against the park rules, you ARE allowed to bring in a stroller. But! There are size limitations – all single strollers at Disney parks must not exceed 31 inches in width and 52 inches in length, and all double strollers may not exceed the same width but 60 inches in length.

  This 2-in-1 Convertible Stroller by MomPush is an awesome, lightweight option that falls within Disney’s approved parameters. I like that you can use it as a bassinet, parent-facing, or outward facing so it grows with your little one and folds up easily for ride storage.

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• 9. Cooling Towels

  One of the lesser-known facts about Disney parks (and really most amusement parks) is that they can be incredibly hot even when the weather isn’t blistering. The combination of crowds of warm-bodied people, reflective surfaces, and very little shade can cause some seriously intense temperatures. This cooling towel feels heavenly on a hot day, dropping to 30-degrees colder than the outside air temp. It’s easy to use and can be worn throughout the day to keep you cooler for longer. I highly recommend bringing one – just wet it at a sink or drinking fountain, squeeze excess water out, and enjoy the pleasant chill.

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• 10. Waterproof Backpack

  Okay, this is a seriously non-negotiable item for me when going to places like Disney. When you bring items onto rides like Splash Mountain, you’ll have to store them on the wet floorboards of the ride, where they’ll get absolutely soaked! Protect your essentials with this waterproof backpack. It folds up into its own tiny storage pouch when not in use so it won’t take up much space when packing and offers a compact (yet high-volume) design.

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• 11. Children Safety I.D. Bands

  It is easier than you think to lose someone in the buzzing crowds of Disney. In fact, about 11-15 kids get lost in Disney parks each day (don’t worry, Disney is aware of its mayhem and has precautions in place, so children typically find their parents in under 30 minutes).

  Regardless, I can’t stress this enough – you can never have too many precautions. These bands are waterproof and reusable, so you can write your contact information on the blank line and have your little one wear it as a bracelet. If a child strays, an adult can easily contact you.

  If you have a runner, also consider these child wrist links to keep a close eye on them.

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• 12. Packing Cubes

  Staying organized while with your family at Disney is critical for the enjoyment of all. These cubes make it easy to know exactly where everyone’s belongings are because you can keep all t-shirts in one cube, all pants in another, etc. They also have an index card holder on the back so you can write precisely what’s in each cube. If you’re going as a family, we recommend getting a different color set per family member so you’ll never be confused about where everyone’s things are. A TOTAL GAME-CHANGER!

  Available on HeroTravelSupply.com with an exclusive 15% discount using the coupon code “HERO”.

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• 13. Discounted Daypasses & Transfers

  Get Your Guide is our preferred booking service for excursions and authentic tours. They even have Disney Daypasses for the most international parks (Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, etc.) along with transportation options to simplify your planning! You can also choose between single-day passes or multi-day passes. The Disney site may be best for booking the U.S. locations.

  Get Your Guide generally has great deals and offers discounts for booking in advance. I compared it with the Disney website and these were quite a bit cheaper!

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• 14. Blister Balm

  This stuff is GOLD and has saved my feet on more than one occasion. I try to bring blister prevention with me whenever I know I’m going to be doing a lot of walking, even if I’m in trusted shoes. Excessive walking is hard enough on my feet, I don’t need blisters adding to that and slowing me down! This balm is fantastic – it glides on smoothly and stays on for a long time using vitamins A and C to help protect my feet from the friction that causes blisters. Be sure you have good walking shoes in the first place!

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• 15. Filtered Water Bottle

  Carrying a refillable water bottle with you is always a good idea when you’re at Disney or any similar park. They charge out the wazoo for bottled drinks, but if you bring your own water bottle and simply fill it at drinking fountains, you’ll be set for the day and have extra cash to spend on more enjoyable things. I personally like to have the filter in my water bottle to be extra sure that the water is clean and tasty enough for my family and me.

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• 16. Windproof Travel Umbrella

  It’s funny, but the way the weather behaves around Disney World makes it hard to predict when it’s going to rain. Spoiler alert: It rains A LOT (sometimes 15 days a month!) Storms can pop up out of nowhere, even when it looks like a sunny day. If you’re unprepared, this can leave you soggy and cold for the rest of the afternoon. Carrying around a windproof travel umbrella (or two) is a smart precaution for staying ahead of moody weather.

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• 17. Motion Sickness Relief

  While kids tend to have iron stomachs against all the spinning tea cups and looping rollercoasters – sometimes the adults need a little help! These motion sickness patches are my go-to. I recently field-tested a bunch of brands and this one came out on top (by far!) as the most effective for relieving any motion or seasickness.

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• 18. Universal Waterproof Cell Phone Case

  I am beyond in love with this phone case! It’s waterproof, dust-proof, and dirt-proof. But most of all, it actually works. I can seal my phone inside and still have access to the touchscreen and the camera so I can snap pictures at the hotel pool, on the rides, and at the attractions without any worry. It’s super affordable and designed in Hawaii by a woman-owned company – what more could you ask for! Don’t forget the flotation straps to keep everything buoyant and sinkproof!

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• 19. Luggage Straps

  You’re likely going to fly to a Disney park, which means entrusting your belongings to the baggage handlers who often put your bags under serious duress. Suitcases are tossed, thrown, slid, and generally roughed-up as they make their way to your destination. Whether your family uses a soft or hard-shell suitcase, there’s always a chance that the zipper will break in the midst of rough transit, especially if you’ve filled your bag to the brim with Disney souvenirs and shopping items.

  Reinforce your zippers with these adjustable luggage straps so they don’t bust under pressure. Another major perk is being able to spot your colorful luggage from across the airport instead of scanning hundreds of identical bags at the arrivals carousel. If you’re doing a Disney cruise, they may all be piled for pick-up in a port warehouse, making it a nightmare to find your bag without a clear identifier. Bonus hack – use these belts to tether multiple cases together, which is mega helpful for a family on the move!

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• 20. Packable “Just in Case” Bag

  When leaving the happiest place on earth, you may want to bring a little magic home with you. You’ll inevitably do a bit of shopping on your trip and souvenirs make excellent gifts! This “just in case” bag is the best way to save yourself carry-on fees because it counts as a personal item bag, folding to the size of a sandwich when empty and fitting neatly under your plane seat when full. Some of the best trinkets to collect at Disney parks are Lightsabers, hats, mugs, Mickey ears, ornaments, toys, snacks, sweets, art, etc.

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• 21. Luggage Locks

  While the park does have lockers available, these combination locks add an extra layer of defense. Simply attach it to your bag or backpack and you won’t have to worry about anyone rummaging through your stuff in the chaotic crowds. This is especially important if you wear your valuables behind you or in a purse at your side because they are out of sight. These locks are TSA-Approved so you can use them for air travel, and they’re 10x harder to crack than typical 3-digit locks.

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• 22. Picnic Blanket for Parades

  One of the most fun parts of any Disney park experience is the parades. They’re colorful, entertaining for all age groups, and a wonderful way to see all of your family’s favorite characters. These performances can last a while and I prefer to find a central viewing spot before parades start, so I always bring a comfortable blanket to sit on while we wait. This one is very small when folded, and you can easily carry it with you or store it in a backpack until showtime.

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• 23. Sunscreen

  Long days in the park can lead to a ferocious sunburn, not to mention the black-top pavement reflecting light back at you more intensely. You don’t want to look like a walking tomato or be in physical pain on your trip, so use this natural sunscreen with a high UVF of 50. It’s waterproof and reef-safe so you can use it for future beach vacays or snorkeling trips too!

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• 24. Glow Sticks

  Glow sticks are a necessity if you’ll be staying after dark for any park festivities. Trust me: if you’re going to bring your kids to a nighttime parade, restaurant, or show, everyone seems to have them and you don’t want to be the odd-one out. The park sells them at exorbitant prices, but you can always bring in your own and save a TON of money! That way, you can be the kids’ hero without breaking the bank.

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• 25. Sanitizing Wipes

  About 60 million people visit Disney parks each year, and harmful bacteria can spread quickly at a theme park! While they have sanitizing stations in some areas, it’s nice to carry your own for before meals, wiping down rides, or simply cleaning everyone’s hands. These wipes are pocket-sized and individually wrapped, I love that they kill 99% of germs to keep our family safe from preventable sickness.

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• 26. Mesh Slip-on Water Shoes

  We found out the hard way that walking around Disney in soggy shoes is horribly uncomfortable and can lead to blisters. My solution was to wear these top-notch mesh slip-on water shoes. They’re built like sneakers so they’re very comfortable and supportive for walking around the park all day, but they’re also made of breathable mesh that allows both air and water to flow through them. Water doesn’t get trapped inside, so you don’t have to slosh around in wet shoes after riding the Kali River Rapids at the Animal Kingdom!

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• 27. Official Autograph Book

  With stars like Mickey, Anna & Elsa, Cinderella, Gaston, Chewbacca, and more – an official autograph book is a beautiful way for your kiddos to document the memory of meeting their favorite characters. You can ask almost every lead for their autograph or request a love note for your little tot. Each signature is distinct to that specific character and your kids love seeing their names written uniquely by each idol. Autograph books are sold at Disney theme parks for a significantly higher price tag, so buying your own ahead of time is a much better value.

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• 28. Natural Deodorant Wipes

  Even though rides like “Journey to Imagination” and “Stitches Great Escape” are purposefully stinky for ambiance (the aromas of chili cheese hot dogs and straight-up skunk) – you don’t have to be stinky too! The heat and activity combined can leave you feeling fragrant and sweaty. Instead of just dealing with it or trying to clean up with paper towels in the public bathroom (hey, we’ve all been there), try these lovely deodorant wipes that can be carried with you for on-the-go use. Made with pre and probiotics to protect your skin’s barrier, they leave you feeling fresh as a daisy.

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• 29. Childs’ Sun Hat

  It’s harder than you think to find a quality kid-friendly sun hat, so I’ve scoured the internet to find a viable option. Especially if you have fair skin, a good sun hat can be a lifesaver on warm, bright days. It’s always good to stick a sun hat on the little ones so that they don’t overheat and the UV rays don’t harm their eyes. Plus, bucket hats are a 90’s classic for a reason – they look good on everyone. This one is inexpensive and comes in all sizes. Here are equally cool options for mom and dad.

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• 30. Stroller Clips

  Don’t underestimate the power of stroller clips, they are a must-have for anyone traveling with kids. These nifty little clips will keep all of your loose items attached to your stroller or cart. They make life so much easier when little ones are trying their hardest to scatter blankies, sippy cups, toys to the four winds while you’re navigating the chaos of Disney! Even your purse, camera, daybag, and other heavier items can be secured with these sturdy clips.

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• 31. Rain Poncho

  Rides like Jungle Cruise and Splash Mountain are known for getting you absolutely soaked! Magic Kingdom is brimming with water rides like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and The Pirates of the Caribbean. And if they have the jets turned up high, you are likely to get drenched. In any case, you won’t regret bringing these light-as-a-feather ponchos to protect your clothes and bags on any super soaker.

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