What to Pack for a Day at the Disney Parks

Packing a Disney parks backpack takes some preparation before you even arrive on property. So I’ve compiled a list of my necessities as an avid Disney goer and now, mom. I also highly recommend packing and/or restocking your park bag the night before each park day so that you don’t forget anything the morning of trying to get out the door to go catch a bus or a monorail.

 

Masks

This is a given. We all wear cloth masks here at home; however, in warm temperatures and for extended periods of time, they aren’t the most comfortable in regards to breathability. For that reason, I packed disposable masks for the girls and for us. They are so much easier to breathe in and I felt like this would be an easy option for park days. I packed extras so that we could easily toss and put on a new one as needed.

 

Magic Bands

No magic band, no entry into the parks so definitely don’t forget these! You can either reuse magic bands from past trips or you can add them to your reservation. They have so many neat designs with prices ranging from $5 and up!

 

 

 

 

Phone Stand

Selfie sticks have been banned since they came out years ago and now with the current pandemic, not everyone may want to ask a stranger to take picture with their phone nor may a stranger be willing to help so be sure to pack a phone stand that you can easily set up to take family pictures on property to have those memories to bring home with you. For my birthday, Brad gave me this new PopSockets Phone Stand and I love it! Though it can act as a tripod, it is also completely flexible and can be attached to anything to be able to acquire the perfect shot!

 

Water Bottle

Everything at Disney is expensive so save money where you can. This includes drinks. Instead of purchasing overpriced water bottles, keep a water bottle in your bag which can be filled at water fountains and certain quick service counters.

 

 

 

 

Simplified Wallet

Whenever we go to Disney, I always streamline my wallet. I have several Disney wallets that I obviously switch to. With the majority of what you need attached to your Magic Band, not much more than an ID and any other essentials are needed. Here are the 2 I have:

       

 

Ziploc Bags

You just never know when you may need one. Leftover snack? Bag it. Half eaten lollipop? Bag it. They are also good for keeping your masks clean and organized — have one labeled with clean masks and another labeled for dirty masks if you aren’t using disposables.

 

 

Sunglasses + Case

Florida sun. Need I say more?

 

 

 

 

 

Purell Wipes

I’ve been carrying these since before the pandemic and especially since having kids. The older I get the more germaphobic I become. These are great for wiping down tables, new toys, etc. 

 

 

 

 

Hand Sanitizer

Again, this is another item I’ve always carried but especially now. I kept it hooked to the outside of my bag and used it before we ate anything or if we had to touch things on rides, etc. Disney did a great job with having sanitizing stations all over the place so we also used those any time we saw them.

 

 

 

First Aid

It never hurts to keep a small pack of first aid essentials like bandaids, Tylenol and/or tums for the unexpected boo boo, headache or tummy ache. You can also find these things at the First Aid locations in the parks if you forget them or run out.

 

 

 

Small Umbrella

This can do double duty — protection in the rain, but also shade from the sun. I was going to pack one (I have the one pictured) during our trip because of the social distancing in ride lines making some of them in full sun, but had heard that because of the upgraded metal detectors at security, it would set you off every time. So if you don’t mind having your bag checked every time you go through security, go for it. I wanted to be able to keep us moving, so I opted to leave ours behind.

 

Sunscreen

Again, Florida sun. It can be brutal so keep the sunscreen on hand to reapply as needed. No point in ruining other days of your vacation with the discomfort of sunburn. Our family loves using Sun Bum!

 

 

 

 

Snacks

Some of our favorites are fruit snacks, granola bars and small bags of teddy grahams, cheese crackers, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

Phone Charger

This isn’t something I usually pack since we go back to our resort for mid day naps when I can recharge my phone, but if you plan to play all day, this might be a good addition for your backpack.

 

 

 

 

Fan

These neck fans are awesome — great to cool you off and keep your hands free, because kids. I especially love this one over other neck fans out there because it protects your hair from getting tangled.

 

 

 

 

Ponchos

Because you never know when a pop up shower in Florida may strike. I always just grab the cheap ones from the Dollar Store because I can buy a bunch and they are compact to keep in my backpack. If they rip, we can throw them away, no big deal.

 

If Traveling With Kids:

 

Large Trash Bags

I gave up on trying to bring a stroller covers a few trips ago and just keep trash bags in my backpack. So now, if the weather looks iffy when we go in to a ride or a shower, I can cover the stroller with them or just lay them over the top and the seats to prevent them from getting drenched.

 

Peel & Stick Disposable Placemats 

God bless who ever invented these. They make meal time with babies and toddlers so much easier. You can now find them at the Dollar Store or pay around $10 for Disney themed mats. Simply peel, stick and then put snacks and food down for your little ones to feed themselves. 

 

 

 

Food Pouch Tops

These are amazing for on the go eating whether in the car, in the stroller or sitting at a restaurant so that you can eat at the same time. Just pop the top on the food pouch and voila. it’s spill proof because the lid only has a small slit in it. Baby has to apply pressure to it for it to open and then suck out the contents of the pouch. Small learning curve but. both of my girls learned how to use them fairly quickly. If they don’t finish, simply put on the attached top and finish later. Super easy to clean and comes with a storage case.

 

And of course, the backpack!

Pictured, is the same backpack I have. It’s the perfect material for ironing on patches. This color in no longer offered in stores, but I found this one on ebay. I also have it in black, which you can still find here.

 

Personalize it with fun Disney patches!

I love the new trend of making Disney denim jackets with all of the fun patches, which is where my backpack inspiration came from. I just felt like this was much more practical for me, especially as a mom carrying all of the things, always.

There’s so many fun patch options on Etsy! Here’s what I chose to put on my backpack before we left and the two newest patches to add to my collection that I’ll be ironing on soon!

Hei Hei | Anna & Elsa | Wall-E & Eve | Mickey & the Gang | Monorails | WDW Where Dreams Come True | Mickey Donut | Better Together

 

Hope this list helps you pack a well equipped back pack for your future Disney trip!