So, your next Disney World vacation is on the horizon. The days are counting down, the excitement is building, and it’s time to start packing. There are many lists on the internet containing suggestions of what to pack for a Walt Disney World vacation. These can be helpful resources if you want to check off items to make sure you don’t forget anything. Today, I want to share a short list with you comprised of five items I consider to be essential when making my own Disney World packing list.
Comfortable Shoes
Comfortable shoes are an absolute must for a Disney vacation. The average visitor walks tens of thousands of steps per day when visiting Disney World. You may have already heard the advice to avoid wearing brand new shoes for the first time on your Disney vacation. If you haven’t heard this advice before, you’re hearing it now! Choose shoes that you have already broken in and become used to wearing. This guarantees you know they will be comfortable while walking for hours a day on your trip.
Better still: bring more than one pair of comfortable shoes! Your feet will thank you. The reason I say this is because you may need different footwear for different occasions, and sometimes your feet may just need a break from a particular pair. Don’t even get me started on what happens when your shoes become soaked from a sudden rainstorm or an unexpectedly wet ride on “It’s A Small World” (just kidding!). I have been there, literally blow drying someone’s shoes to get them dry enough to continue the Disney fun. If only my traveling companion had packed a second pair of shoes…well, it would have made things much easier.
Ponchos/Rain Gear
Remember that story about soaked shoes due to sudden rainstorms? Equally uncomfortable is the lack of appropriate rainwear. Whether it’s a poncho, a raincoat, or an umbrella, when the raindrops start falling, you will be glad you came prepared. The MouseHouseNews.net team has been in situations where no rain was predicted in the forecast. Suddenly, ten minutes later, the skies opened up and buckets poured down. This is when you be will be especially thankful for that rain gear.
Ponchos are convenient because they are easy to tuck into a park bag or even a pocket. Yes, Disney does sell ponchos in the parks when the weather warrants it. You will often see Cast Members quickly setting up the displays right around the times when those sudden rainstorms pop up. However, you will pay a price for convenience. The Disney branded ones are not cheap! You may prefer to save some money for other souvenirs by purchasing ponchos before your trip. You can find inexpensive ponchos at your local dollar store or on Amazon. Our team tends to prefer ponchos that are designed with actual sleeves and drawstring hoods, since they feel a little more sturdy and allow for more consistent coverage from the rain.
Sunscreen
On the other end of the spectrum, when it’s not raining, the sun can be blazing! Protecting your skin from the strong UV rays is highly recommended. No matter what brand of sunscreen you prefer or application method is most comfortable to you, please take sun protection seriously. If nothing else, getting a nasty sunburn is a quick way to make yourself miserable while on your vacation!
It’s also important to make sure you bring sunscreen along in your park bag for reapplication throughout the day. Most sunscreens recommend reapplying after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating and at least every two hours. Don’t forget areas like the tops of your ears or the part in your hair! In addition to my regular sunscreen lotion, I like to bring along a powdered sunscreen that I can reapply over my makeup or in my part throughout the day.
Zipper Storage Bags
While this one may not be an absolute essential for everyone, it’s definitely a very useful item to have handy. I like to bring along a couple of quart-size and gallon-size zipper storage bags in my park bag each day. These bags can be used to store wet ponchos when you take them off, protect electronic devices while riding water rides, store leftover treats you don’t want to finish right then and there, or even bring back extra maple popcorn from EPCOT’s Canada Popcorn Cart for your friends back home. Packing these storage bags was a helpful tip I learned years ago, and it’s definitely a staple on my “must haves” list whenever I visit Disney World.
Patience
I know, I know…this last one is going to be such a cliché, but it’s completely true. Pack your patience! You will be waiting in lines. Lines for transportation, lines for rides, lines for food, lines for the restroom…you get the picture. Patience and kindness towards Cast Members and your fellow Disney guests is an absolute must. If you go into it with realistic expectations and know that you will sometimes have to wait, it will make it a lot easier to enjoy yourself.
Everyone’s packing list for a Disney vacation is going to look different, and it’s not necessary to pack everything under the sun. Disney gift shops are well stocked with basic items if you do ultimately forget an important item. Although you are paying a price for convenience, sometimes that $4 bag of cough drops is the best item you will purchase during your entire trip! All joking aside, it is also possible to drive or Uber/Lyft to nearby stores or use a grocery delivery service to purchase items you may have forgotten. So get those bags packed for your stay in the Magic, and stay tuned to MouseHouseNews.net for more tips and tricks for your upcoming trip to Walt Disney World! See ya real soon!
