Inside: The ultimate Disney World packing list — not just shorts and sunscreen, but the clever, unusual items that will save you money, keep you cool, and make your trip so much more comfortable.
You’re going to Disney World! Before you start Googling “what to pack,” let me save you some time. We’ve been traveling to Walt Disney World almost every year since 2003, and over those trips we’ve learned that the difference between a magical vacation and an exhausting one often comes down to what’s in your bag.
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This isn’t a list of obvious things like “bring sunscreen.” This is the list of items you’d never think to pack — but once you’ve had them, you’ll never go without. I’ve also included the practical packing tips that will help you make smart decisions about clothes, shoes, and how much to bring.
A note before we dive in: this is the ULTIMATE list, which means you won’t need everything on it. Read through the tips first to figure out what makes sense for your trip — the time of year, how long you’re staying, whether you’re flying or driving, and whether you’re traveling with kids will all affect what you need.
Contents
How to Use This Packing List
Before you start throwing things in a suitcase, a few questions worth thinking through:
What time of year are you visiting? Orlando weather varies wildly. Summers are hot, humid, and prone to sudden heavy downpours. Winters can be surprisingly cool, especially at night — we’ve had December trips where we started in scarves and ended in shorts. Pack layers if you’re going in the cooler months, and prioritise cooling gear and rain gear for summer.
How long is your trip? A two-day visit to one park requires a very different packing list than a ten-day resort stay. For longer trips, find out whether your hotel has laundry facilities — if it does, you can pack fewer clothes and refresh them mid-trip.
Are you flying or driving? If you’re driving to Orlando you can bring a lot more — think crates of bottled water, a full snack haul, even a small cooler. Flying means working within your baggage allowance, so you’ll want to be more strategic.
What to Wear at Disney World
The Best Clothes for Disney
Comfort over style is the only rule that matters at Disney World. You’ll be on your feet for ten or more hours a day, often in intense heat and humidity, so prioritise breathable fabrics and practical choices.
- Cotton over polyester — polyester traps heat and will make you sweat even more. Go for cotton or moisture-wicking fabrics.
- Shorts and T-shirts — the Disney park uniform for good reason. Light, comfortable, and easy to layer.
- A light layer — even on the hottest summer days, indoor attractions and restaurants are air-conditioned to the point of being chilly. Throw a lightweight cardigan or hoodie in your bag.
- More than one outfit per day — in the summer heat you’ll be grateful for a fresh outfit for the evening, especially if you’re heading to a park after a resort break.
- Matching family Disney shirts — Disney World is honestly the one place on earth where every member of your family will happily wear matching outfits. It also makes it easier to spot your group in a crowd. We have a huge collection of Disney shirt ideas if you need inspiration.
Pro tip: If you’re visiting during Halloween season, check out our family Disney Halloween costumes — many of them are designed to be comfortable enough to wear around the parks all day.
The Best Shoes for Disney
Your feet will take a serious beating at Disney World — we’re talking five to ten miles of walking per day. Footwear is probably the most important thing you’ll pack.
- Break in new shoes before you go — this is non-negotiable. Never wear brand new shoes to Disney. If you’ve bought new footwear specially for the trip, walk miles in them before you leave.
- Crocs or comfortable sneakers — my husband swaps his usual shoes for Crocs at Disney every single year, and he’s not wrong. Comfort beats style here every time.
- Save flip flops for the water parks — they’re not practical for a full day in the theme parks.
- Water shoes — pack a pair in your bag for water rides. Your feet will get wet on the raft rides and log flumes, and walking around in wet sneakers for the rest of the day is a blister waiting to happen. Put the water shoes on before a wet ride, stash your sneakers in a locker, and change back afterwards.
Kids’ Costumes at Disney
There is nothing more magical than a little girl meeting Cinderella while wearing the same dress. If you have young children, consider packing a Disney costume for them to wear in the parks.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Only children aged 13 and under can wear costumes in the Disney World theme parks (unless you’re attending Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, where the whole family can dress up)
- Costumes can get very hot in Florida weather — think about comfort as well as magic
- Pack a change of clothes for when they’re ready to take it off
Check out our collection of Disney inspired outfits for kids for ideas that are comfortable enough for a full day in the parks.
What to Pack for the Parks: Genius Items You’d Never Think Of
These are the unusual, clever items that the most experienced Disney visitors swear by. None of them are obvious — but once you’ve used them, you’ll pack them every single time.
Anti-chafe stick — the single most important item on this list. Florida is humid, you’ll be sweating, and you’ll be walking for hours. Chafing is a real and miserable problem. Apply this every morning and your future self will thank you.
Neck fan — a hands-free bladeless fan that hangs around your neck and keeps a constant airflow going. Game-changing in the summer heat, especially in queues where there’s no shade or breeze.
Cooler backpack — the easiest way to bring your own snacks and cold drinks into the parks without everything melting. Disney allows you to bring food in, and doing so will save you a fortune.
Glow sticks — wildly versatile. Wrap one around your stroller handle to find it easily in the stroller parking area. Put one on the toilet cistern in your hotel room so you can see at night without turning the lights on. Let kids wear them during evening fireworks and parades instead of buying expensive light-up toys in the parks. They keep anxious little ones calmer on dark rides too.
Portable battery pack — your phone battery will not survive a full day at Disney. Between photos, the My Disney Experience app, Lightning Lane bookings, and the odd YouTube video in a queue, you’ll be running on empty by 2pm. A power bank is essential.
Rain ponchos — it will rain at some point, almost certainly a sudden and very heavy downpour. The ponchos Disney sells are expensive and all identical — which makes it very hard to spot your children in a crowd. Bring your own colourful ones instead. They pack down to almost nothing.
Brita filtered water bottle — Florida tap water doesn’t taste great, and buying bottled water in the parks adds up fast. A filtered water bottle means you can refill at any water fountain and it’ll actually taste fine.
Ear defenders for kids — some attractions, the fireworks, and even the general park noise can be overwhelming for children (and adults) with sensory sensitivities. A pair of ear defenders can make the difference between a child who’s distressed and one who’s having the time of their life.
Carabiner clips — small and lightweight but incredibly useful. Clip water bottles, hats, and bags to the outside of your backpack to free up space inside.
Shout wipes — one per child per day, minimum. Ketchup, ice cream, popcorn butter — it will happen.
Crystal Light or drink mix singles — if you’re not a fan of Florida water but don’t want to carry bottles, dissolve a sachet into a refilled water bottle and you’re sorted.
Dried snacks and trail mix — Disney allows you to bring food into the parks, and all that walking makes you hungry. A stash of snacks in your bag means fewer expensive impulse stops and happier kids.
Pro tip: If you’re looking for a bag that fits all of this without breaking your back, check out our guide to the best mom backpack for Disney World — we cover exactly what to carry and how to pack it.
What to Pack for Kids at Disney
Travelling with little ones adds a few extra items to the list:
Child harness backpack — if you have a toddler who doesn’t like holding hands, one of these cute animal-shaped backpacks with a wrist tether gives them a sense of independence while keeping them safe in the crowds.
AirTag — pop one in your child’s bag or shoe as a backup. In a park as busy as Disney World, peace of mind is worth it.
Pipe cleaners — sounds odd, but pack a handful and you’ll be glad you did. Kids can twist them into bracelets, animals, rings — they’re a brilliant queue activity for little ones. Just watch for sharp ends with very young children.
Fidget toys — for older kids, a small selection of fidget toys in the bag will get you through the longer queues.
Waterproof bandages — someone will get a scrape. They always do.
Autograph book and chubby pen — character meets are one of the most magical parts of any Disney trip. Bring a dedicated Disney autograph book and a chunky pen that little hands can hold easily. You can add photos next to each autograph when you get home.
Over-the-door shoe holder — if you have a stroller, hang one of these over the handle at the back. It holds water bottles, sunscreen, hats, snacks, and anything else you need to access quickly. Just don’t overload it or the stroller may tip when your child gets out.
What to Pack for Your Hotel Room
The parks get most of the attention, but a few packing choices can make your hotel room much easier to live in — especially on longer trips.
Packing cubes — if you’ve never used packing cubes, this trip will convert you. Pack each family member’s clothes in a separate cube; when you arrive, just pull the cube out of the suitcase rather than unpacking everything. If you’re arriving late and need pyjamas fast, pack one cube with just the things you need for the first night.
Collapsible laundry hamper — Disney hotel rooms don’t have much storage, and dirty laundry takes over surprisingly quickly. A lightweight pop-up hamper keeps things organised. If you’re doing laundry during your trip, just carry the whole hamper to the laundry room.
Hanging closet shelf — extra vertical storage for clothes in a room that often doesn’t have enough wardrobe space.
Hanging toiletry bag — keeps everything together and easy to find in a bathroom that’s being used by multiple people.
Wrinkle release spray — even the most careful packing results in crumpled clothes. A quick spritz and a shake and they look freshly pressed.
Travel electronics organiser — one pouch for charging cables, memory cards, portable battery, adapters. Stops them disappearing into the bottom of your bag.
Ziplock bags in multiple sizes — one of those packing items that sounds boring until you desperately need one. Wet swimsuits, snacks for tomorrow, a phone in the rain, a scrumpled park map — they earn their place every time.
Travel dish wipes — if you’re using refillable mugs at the resort, a few of these make it easy to give your mug a quick clean before switching drinks.
Disney World Packing Tips
Should You Bring a Stroller?
If your children are stroller age, bring your own rather than renting in the parks. Park rentals are expensive and the strollers are basic. A private rental from a company like Kingdom Strollers is worth considering if you don’t want to bring your own — they deliver Baby Joggers to your hotel for a reasonable daily rate.
Even if your children have technically outgrown their stroller, consider renting one anyway. Disney World covers enormous distances, and children who would normally walk fine will flag quickly in the Florida heat. We rented for our seven-year-old twins and covered significantly more ground — and they were much happier for it.
Note: Disney has a stroller size limit. Your stroller must be no wider than 31 inches and no longer than 52 inches to be permitted in the parks. Wagon-style strollers are banned.
Do You Need a Car Seat?
If you’re flying into Orlando and renting a car with young children in car seats, seriously consider bringing your own rather than renting one from the car hire company. Rental car seats can be pricey to add, and you can’t always verify their safety history. Most airlines let you check a car seat for free. A car seat travel bag protects it in the hold and tends to be spacious enough to stuff a blanket or extra clothing in too.
What to Do When It Rains
It will rain. Probably hard and suddenly. If you’re visiting in summer, afternoon downpours are practically a daily feature of Florida life. The good news: they tend to be short, queue times drop while guests shelter, and the parks clear out briefly — which means this is actually a great time to ride things. Check out our full guide to what to do at Disney World when it rains for strategies that will help you make the most of it.
Save Money Before You Go
Some of the best Disney savings happen before you even leave home. Bringing your own snacks, ponchos, glow sticks, and water bottles saves a surprising amount over the course of a trip — Disney’s in-park prices for all of these are significantly higher than what you’d pay online. For bigger savings strategies, take a look at our guides on how to save money for Disney World and Disney World hacks that save you time and money.
The Disney Packing List: Quick Reference
For the parks: Anti-chafe stick · neck fan · cooler backpack · glow sticks · portable battery pack · rain ponchos · filtered water bottle · ear defenders · carabiner clips · shout wipes · drink mix singles · dried snacks · water shoes
For kids: Harness backpack + AirTag · pipe cleaners · fidget toys · waterproof bandages · autograph book + chubby pen · stroller organiser
For your hotel room: Packing cubes · collapsible laundry hamper · hanging closet shelf · hanging toiletry bag · wrinkle release spray · travel electronics organiser · ziplock bags · travel dish wipes
Ready to Plan the Rest of Your Trip?
Now that your packing is sorted, here are a few more resources to help you plan a magical trip:
- The best mom backpack for Disney World — what bag to carry and exactly what to put in it
- 50 Disney World hacks — save time and money throughout your trip
- Disney dining plan hacks — how to make the most of your dining credits
- What to do at Disney World when it rains — plan for the inevitable downpour
- Disney World Water Parks — everything you need to know before you visit Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach
