Disney World is one of my favourite places to travel to! While there are lots of Disney packing tips for kids and families, in all my planning I found it hard to find good packing lists for adults. Here are my tried and true Disney packing tips split into two categories: “Be Prepared” and “All you need is a little faith, trust, and pixie dust.” Whether you carry a huge suitcase and have the Magic Express drop it at your door or you pack carry on only to save on luggage fees, I have some Disney packing tips that will work for you to create your perfect Disney Packing List!
Disney Packing Tips for the “Be Prepared” Traveller
Pack anything you need for the day in your carry on!
Whether you plan to spend the evening at the pool or head straight into the parks for some fun, pack the items you will need in your carry on such as your park bag or bathing suite. Often the Magic Express bags will not arrive until a few hours after you, and you don’t want to miss out on the fun because you don’t have your swim suit!
Bring an over-the-door pocket shoe organizer with clear pockets.
These are an organizing life saver! No, they aren’t for shoes, they are for all the little bits and bobs you collect or bring with you including magic bands, toiletries, little toys, Sorcerers cards, etc. Instead of tossing every item beneath the TV or into your suitcase, put them into a pocket. Get one with clear pockets so you can see everything in them.
Bring a pop-up laundry hamper.
These keep your suitcases free of dirty laundry, and don’t take up too much space.
Ponchos, umbrellas, waterproof shoes, rain coats, quick dry clothing….
Whatever you prefer to keep yourself dry. Now I have had a trip where it did not rain one drop (in January) and I have also experienced a week that rained every day (in August). Being soggy is no fun, and Disney ponchos are cute, but expensive! Do yourself a favour and pack your own.
Ziploc bags
These are perfect for snacks, wet clothes, leftovers, small items that might get lost, packs of Sorcerers cards that have been opened… honestly the list goes on. I usually pack a few large and a bunch of small ones and I always use a few.
Multiple pairs of shoes
Your shoes will probably get wet, your feet will hurt, you will want more than one pair. I would limit it to three, but you do you boo.
Filter Water Bottles
These are amazing! You might have heard that Florida water tastes well… like it’s straight from the marsh, and I am not here to argue… Save some money and bring a reusable water bottle. Bonus: at any restaurant (with a tap) they will serve free cups of ice water that you can pour into your bottle, so you won’t need to carry around those open cups.
Extra outfits.
I love coming back from a hot, humid, sweaty, morning in the parks and changing into dry comfy clothes. Usually I do a load of laundry halfway through the trip, but you could also just pack a few extra outfits to change into.
Food
If your plan is to save money then pack snacks and even microwaveable food. If your room doesn’t have a microwave you can usually call housekeeping and they will bring one to your room, otherwise the counter service food court at your resort will have microwaves to use. Check out my Favourite Travel Snack!
Thank you cards
I love leaving a card for house keeping with the tip inside or leaving a thank you card at a desk for a cast member who went above and beyond. You can also leave cast compliments online, or shout them out on Twitter! It’s a great way to spread some of your own magic.
Tips for the “All You Need is Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie Dust” Traveller
Leave your luggage at bell services.
If you are headed straight to the parks (or the pool) and your room is not ready yet you can store your bags with bell services. I often plan to arrive at Disney first thing in the morning and then head to the parks! I always pack a smaller park bag and tuck it into my carry on. When the plane is about to land or while we are waiting for the Disney Magical Express I pull it out, re-pack anything I needed for the plane, and am ready to drop my bag with bell services as soon as we get to the hotel. When your room is ready just head back and grab your bags!
Do laundry.
All Disney World hotels have laundry rooms, at value and moderate resorts you need to pay, but at deluxe and DVC properties it’s free. Bring a couple of Tide pods or plan to buy soap there. If you are staying off property you can easily wash out a few clothes in the sink, just bring quick drying stuff. This means you can bring less clothing and save more room for souvenirs!
Leave the water bottle at home.
All Disney restaurants give out free ice water. Head to a quick service location and grab some whenever your thirst needs to be quenched.
Leave the first aid kit at home too.
If you need any band aids head to the first aid station in any of the parks where they can give you almost anything you might need.
Take a mid-day break.
Chances are, if you want to pack light for your trip, then you want to pack light when you head into the parks too! By heading back to your room you won’t need to pack everything needed for the day. No need to pack ponchos, if it starts raining you’ll be able to get dry clothes in a few hours, no need to pack the camera for the evening if you take your pictures in the morning, leave it at the hotel for those fireworks. Reapply sunscreen back in the room instead of lugging it around all day. I love leaving the room with just a fanny pack, and if you manage with just a few things in your pockets then you can skip security!
Pack versatile and neutral clothes.
If you are packing light, you want to bring as few clothes as possible, so bring clothes you can re-wear in different configurations. You might buy a shirt or some accessories too (read: Minnie Ears) so plan those into your outfit choices!
Leave the big camera at home.
I love my DSLR, but I don’t usually bring it to Disney because Photopass is the most amazing thing ever! Seriously I love Photopass so check it out.
Leave most of your toiletries at home!
All Disney World resort rooms come stocked with shampoo and conditioner, body wash, and soap. Plan to use theirs and leave yours at home!
Don’t bother packing little fans or cooling towels.
I know more than one Disney fan will swear by whatever fan/cooling towel/spray bottle they use and tell you it is a must buy. I have had spray bottles, cooling towels, fans, the works and honestly most of them took up space and didn’t work that well. My trick for beating the heat? Air conditioning. Book a sit-down meal, see a show or head back to your room and the pool during the hottest parts of the day. If you really need a spray bottle, grab one at Disney because theirs work the best and hold the most water.
Collect only a few small souvenirs.
I used to be the type to buy out the whole store when I went to Disney, but every time I got home I had nowhere to put it all. Now I have cleaned and purged my house and I don’t want it full again. My best tip is to limit the souvenirs you bring back. I collect tiny Minnie stuffies and pins and I often like to buy a popcorn bucket and that is usually all I will get. Now don’t get me wrong, Disney is tempting and there are so many cute things! But give yourself a budget or limit and you will be able to fly home carry-on too.
I don’t know if you can tell, but I love prepping for Disney! I hope you found these Disney Packing Tips helpful. If you are looking for more tips then here are my Top Ten Tips for Disney World.
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