28 Top Disneyland Packing List Items for 2024 + What to Wear & NOT to Bring

What to Pack for Disneyland – 28 Essentials

• 1. Neck Wallet

  Amusement parks are crowded, and crowds attract thieves. Petty theft is one of the most common crimes for a reason, that’s why we use a neck wallet to hold all of our credit cards, cash, phones, passports, and important travel documents. It can be worn discretely under your shirt so you’re not flashing your money around, and is useful for keeping everything organized during long travel days. This one even has RFID-blocking material to stop modern thieves from scanning your financial data.

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• 2. Lipstick-Sized Portable Charger

  Imagine this scenario. You’re standing with your entire family, who traveled miles, in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle – and your phone battery dies. This is a quintessential photo opportunity and you’re going to miss it. This charger is small and holds two full charges for iPhone 8. The small cylinder design makes it easy to pack. You never know when you need to call for a ride or have an emergency that requires GPS, this device will ensure you can charge on-the-go!

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• 3. Filtered Water Bottle

  Disneyland allows their visitors to bring in outside beverages as long as they aren’t glass. This Brita water bottle is perfect because it has a built-in filter that allows you to have clean water wherever you roam and uses BPA-free plastic instead of glass. It will save you a ton of money on bottled water, not to mention the benefit of reduced plastic waste to the environment. It’s a must-have for everyone!

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• 4. Quick-Dry Travel Towel

  Do you plan on riding Splash Mountain or the rapids of the Grizzly River Run? If you do, plan on getting wet. But that’s okay. It’s part of the appeal! This quick-dry towel is easy to pack and will allow you to use it more frequently than a regular towel. It dries 10x faster than cotton material and is much less bulky to walk around with than a beach towel.

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• 5. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

  You may not realize it when joining free Wi-Fi networks at cafes, coffee shops, airports, and hotels – but this can put you at risk of being hacked. I was taught this lesson first-hand after my credit card number was stolen at an Airbnb, which you always assume will be safe. To protect your passwords and financial data, use a virtual private network like NordVPN that offers you a secure channel to surf the internet. We even use a VPN at home and consider it to be one of the smartest things you can use.

  It even eliminates censorship blocks, which means you won’t be limited to the bans in whatever country you’re visiting and can enjoy full access to the internet. Many nations hinder your access to YouTube, Netflix, and other popular websites that you’ll likely use on your trip. It’s a very small price to pay for your personal protection and strict no-log coverage (which means anyone from the government to hackers to creepy neighbors can’t track your online activity!)

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• 6. Motion Sickness Relief

  The loopty-loops of Space Mountain and spinning tea cups can seriously do a number on you! While kids seem to have iron-clad stomachs – parents may need a little anti-nausea support. These natural patches are great for motion or sea sickness and last for days. My wife field-tested many brands and this one came out on top! She loves that they’re effective but super gentle with no side effects.

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• 7. Windproof Travel Umbrella

  Rain is common nearly everywhere in the world. But umbrellas are for more than just rain protection. They offer a shield from the sun, which you’ll get plenty of in places like California! This small umbrella can handle a gust of wind with fortitude. And it’s small, so it can slip into any bag easily yet still covers two people in case of inclement weather.

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• 8. Travel Insurance for Disneyland

  Disney trips are not cheap, and you don’t want your trip to cost double due to unforeseen emergencies. If you’re visiting a place 100-miles or more away from home, travel insurance may be required and your domestic provider does not follow you overseas. We strongly recommend it to avoid paying out-of-pocket for common travel mishaps like flight delays, baggage loss, theft, rental car accidents, international medical bills, and more.

  We use Faye because they are unlike any other provider we’ve ever worked with. Using their mobile app, we received our reimbursement when we needed it most (instead of filling out months of tedious paperwork!) Faye is made by travelers for travelers, and the claims process is so easy. They even have plans for entire trip cancellations, so your investment will be protected if any surprises come up. It’s a small expense to enjoy your vacation peacefully without any extra (potentially catastrophic) costs.

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• 9. Waterproof Daypack

  To carry your essentials – like phones, wallets, water bottles, an umbrella, medicine, etc. – we highly recommend this lightweight travel daypack. Because it was designed for camping, it offers organization that regular backpacks don’t. It’s super lightweight, waterproof, and tear-resistant, which makes it perfect for exploring.

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• 10. Hanging Toiletry Bag

  Since families generally travel to Disneyland together, the bathroom can quickly become a cluttered, overwhelming, and chaotic part of your suite. Instead of sprawling tons of toiletry products in complete disarray all around the bathroom – get everyone a hanging toiletry bag. It’s an absolute GEM and I wish I had bought it sooner.

  Each person’s items will be neatly kept in one place, hung at eye-level to quickly find things, and there is no confusion. Creating a built-in shelf that hangs from any door, hook, or shower pole – this one folds out with 4 giant pockets on the inside (with elastic bands that hold each bottle in place to prevent spills), plus 3 external pockets for smaller items. They offer several styles and color options so everyone can get something that fits their unique personality.

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• 11. Packing Cubes

  Once you try organizers, you never go back. These packing cubes are the ideal way to stay organized when living away from home. They help you sort anything from clothing items to plates, napkins, and snacks. This set comes with 2 laundry bags to separate your clean and dirty items, and there are many colors to choose from so every family member can have their own hue. For once, you will actually know where everything is(!) instead of throwing items all over the hotel room in total disarray while you look for that missing Mickey shirt or long-lost sock.

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• 12. Universal Waterproof Phone Pouch

  Water rides don’t only drench you… they soak every fiber of your being! Most phones are not waterproof, which means you have to protect them. This pouch will fit most phones and has a clear front and back to allow you to use it while it’s in the case, which means you won’t miss those memorable moments on the water rides and can even record underwater videos at the hotel pool. We recommend attaching a flotation strap to your wrist so the phone doesn’t accidentally fall in or become unretrievable.

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• 13. Cooling Towel

  Spending long hours in the sun can overheat anyone and overheating is not uncommon. That’s where a cooling towel can come in handy to beat the heat! It drops to nearly 30-degrees colder than the outside temperature and serves as such sweet relief. We use it for theme parks, concerts, tropical destinations, hikes, camping, and more. Just place it over your head, neck, or on the shoulders, and your body temp will instantly decrease. Need more chilly solace? Simply add more water! It’s chemical-free and kind of magical, which matches the Disney vibe 🙂

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• 14. Luggage Straps

  Gone are the days of suitcases exploding open onto the airport conveyor belt! We tend to overpack for big family vacations, which can add stress to your delicate zipper (particularly with how baggage handlers conduct their business these days!) Reinforce your luggage with these adjustable straps that fit on nearly any bag. We’ve had a suitcase fly open at awfully inopportune times, so now we always strap on these heavy-duty belts to make sure everything arrives in one piece.

  You can attach them to multiple suitcases as a tether for all bags to move in unison. It’s also great as a makeshift handle if anything breaks, and the vibrant straps help you to quickly identify your cases from across the room (instead of fighting with other stressed-out families that crowd around the arrivals terminal in a sweeping expanse of similar-looking bags!) It’s a serious time- and stress-saver.

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• 15. Stroller

  While they are a total joy – you won’t be allowed to bring in Wagons to Disney parks. But! Strollers are absolutely allowed. Note that Disney requires the maximum size to be 31 inches in width by 52 inches in length. The dimensions are similar for the two-seater, but doubled. You can check out the stroller rules here.

  We love this one by MomPush that folds up mega easily for lifting to and from car, and is lightweight enough to carry when you have to. It’s one of our more affordable strollers and we use it for general outings since it’s resilient, smooth gliding, and offers both parent- or outward-facing use.

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• 16. Universal Power Adapter

  Whether you’re at Disneyland Paris, Japan, California, Hong Kong, or Shanghai – a universal adapter will keep all of your devices fully charged. The last thing you want is to plug your phone or laptop into a faulty adapter that ruins your lifelines. This adapter has a built-in fuse protector and comes with a lifetime replacement guarantee, so you can trust the quality of craftsmanship. It works in 100+ countries which means it will serve you in tons of future travel!

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• 17. Blister Balm

  People walk an average of 5-7 miles per day at Disney parks, and your feet can be exhausted by the end of all that sightseeing. I use blister balm to reduce the friction and chafing on my feet and ankles. It uses active vitamins to smooth your skin, increase hydration, and reduce the possibility of blisters.

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• 18. Cooler

  While Disneyland doesn’t allow visitors to bring in alcoholic beverages, they do allow patrons to bring in coolers with refreshments (as long as they are not in glass containers, nor do you use loose or dry ice). The dimensions of this cooler are below the 24” x 15” x 18” restrictions set by the park. It’s also on wheels, making moving around the park easier.

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• 19. Handheld Fan

  When you’re standing in line for long durations in the summer heat, you will be wishing you had a handheld fan. This small item in your artillery packs a serious punch and the wind power is small but mighty. I promise you won’t regret having it!

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• 20. Packable “Just in Case” Bag

  This “just in case” bag is a simple solution to the dilemma that has plagued travelers for a millennia! – Not having as much room in their suitcase on the way home as they did on the way there. It happens to us all, so use this additional bag to do a little shopping and pick up iconic souvenirs on your vacation. Disney is known for awesome keepsakes like Disney ears, trading pins, jewelry, charms, art, and much more. This tote is a lightweight duffle material and counts as your personal item on the flight home to avoid carry-on fees!

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• 21. TSA-Approved Luggage Locks

  We advise that all travelers use luggage locks to secure their most valued items. We bring a couple of sets on each trip to use for checked luggage that will be out of sight for long durations, backpacks when walking through crowded attractions, and lockers in the city or at your hotel. These are TSA-approved so security staff won’t have to cut them off with a giant pair of scissors and you won’t suffer any delays in transit.

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• 22. Hand Sanitizer

  While COVID-19 times feel mostly behind us, there has always been a need for hand sanitizer (or sanitizing wipes if you prefer) since Disneyland is a place where millions of people are touching everything! Kids pass colds back and forth like candy. So use this preventative method to stay ahead of germs and sickness. It’s a little larger than the pocket-sized and great for travel.

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• 23. Children’s Safety I.D. Bands

  Unfortunately, children do get lost at Disney parks, dozens per day in fact. And while Disney has an excellent system in place to help parents find their little ones fast – you can never have too many precautions. Use these children’s safety I.D. bands to reduce the stress you may feel about navigating through big crowds with one or more children. These wristbands are waterproof and reusable so that if your children get separated, an adult can easily contact you.

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• 24. Deodorant Wipes

  When the UV rays are hitting the blacktop concrete, sweat is inevitable. Use these deodorant wipes to reduce the amount of stink and perspiration you’re exuding. This elegant solution comes in small individual packets, so you can store them in your pocket or wallet for immediate use. It’s majorly refreshing and just feels like a treat on a hot day!

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• 25. Sunscreen

  We all know that our skin has a love/hate relationship with the sun. It feels good on our bodies, but if we have too much, we can suffer severe consequences. That’s why everyone should be using sunscreen. It never hurts to protect yourself and your loved ones. Sun Bum is a vegan and reef-friendly brand that is gentle on skin and safe for kids.

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• 26. Waterproof Pocket Blanket

  Our family loves staying late to watch the parades and firework shows. Use a waterproof pocket blanket to find a front-row seat for the live entertainment. It’s way better than having a soaked butt or clothing stains from wet ground! And this one folds up compactly in its case that is about the size of your hand, so it won’t take up much space in your backpack. It even comes with the stakes to make it windproof.

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• 27. Silicon Straws

  If you are a die-hard Disney park fan, you already know that the drink straws are absolutely AWFUL! While the Disneyland experience is pure magic, the paper straws are simply not – they get immediately soggy and fall apart after a few sips, disintegrating into nothingness. While we love the attempt at a sustainable option, we prefer to bring our own reusable and sturdy alternative like these silicone straws. They’re strong and won’t leave a paper trail in your mouth. You’re welcome!

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• 28. Official Disney Autograph Book

  Our kids LOVE having an autograph book to get in-person signatures from their favorite ‘celebrities’ like Mickey, Elsa, Ariel, Tinkerbelle, Aladdin, and more. It’s a wonderful way to memorialize their time in the Happiest Place on Earth, and each character writes distinct notes to each person in their unique handwriting. You can get these books at the park, but the prices will be significantly higher.

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