ashenA few posts ago we talked about the things to do in Orlando, Florida and visiting the Disney World was a part of it. Today, we will try to zero in on a few of the most essential things to pack when going to Disney World. Note just like any other destination, there are so many variables in play here. Weather being the prominent one. Number of people travelling, other places apart from Disney World that you are planning to visit. Packing for Disney is anything but a piece of cake. Since you are going to be in the heat and in the cold at different times you need to know about the right clothing to pack as well. One of the most important outcomes of packing the right way, is that you avoid many additional costs by not purchasing stuff on premises because you forgot to pack them. So what to pack for Disney World? Let’s have a step by step breakdown;
If you are planning to visit by mid-2022, you need to be aware of a few modified rules. We will elaborate more on them towards the end of this post. But for now, know about the face masks which are a must as Walt Disney World has reinstated its indoor face mask rule. This includes buses, monorails and the Disney Skyliner as well. However, it is optional outdoors. Definitely check the availability first, then purchase the tickets and make reservations at the parks. You can visit the other park after 1 P.M if you purchase a park hopper ticket.
Alright, that’s enough for the rules for now. Let’s start with what to pack for Disney World.
Wearables And Associated Accessories To Pack For Disney World
I thought it would be appropriate to start off with what to wear and other wearables that might be necessary in Disney World. You need a Disney appropriate outfit and I’m pretty sure we are all thinking travel shorts or jeans and t-shirt. While they need to be practical they also should blend in the vibrant environment. In other words you would want something practical and stylish.
What To Wear
For guys of course, a short and tee would be the best combination. I doubt most guys would want to look cute in outfits. This section is mostly dedicated to girls who are natural fashion enthusiasts. According to Lia Garcia of practicalwanderlust a dress with a pair of bike shorts is the best when you are in for a Disneybound look. Extremely easy to wear, breathable and stretchy fabric provides complete coverage. Plus it makes a convenient location for storing your phone. Also if the weather is colder, you are better off with a pair of travel jeans.
Now the shirt you choose is extremely important. Something that would adapt with the weather, won’t smell bad because of the accumulating sweat and make you feel disgusting. There are plenty of Disney-themed t-shirts that fulfill your outfit to be Disney-appropriate. Cotton material would be the best. See that you choose something that blends in with the atmosphere around you.
Shoes And Socks
For guys who don’t care about fashion the Crocs sandals are the best choice to accommodate your feet as you walk through the parks on hot days. You need something lightweight and breathable. Girls can go with these too since there are so many color variations that can match with your cute Disney dresses. You can also take a look at some of Teva Omnium sandals.
If you are planning to spend some time near aquatic areas such as the hotel pool or Blizzard Beach, you are going to need aqua socks. Who wouldn’t want to freshen up on a hot day? These socks are a comfortable fit, breathable, stretchy and come with a rubber sole. Plenty of color choices and they are extremely cheap as well.
Umbrellas And Sun Hats
We already mentioned that the weather can get extremely hot. So you need to protect yourself from the sun in as many ways as possible. Let’s start off with the SPF Sun Hat for Women. It is not so expensive, fashionable and most importantly it gets the job done. Rated UPF 50+ maximum sun protection, breathable, lightweight, stylish and includes a high quality hat band for superior comfort and fit. Also guys can check out the EINSKEY Sun Hat which also can be fitted into a Women’s profile. Lightweight, packable, breathable and protects you from the rays.
If you purchased proper Sun Hats, then an umbrella is optional of course. However, if you do choose to have one just make sure it is lightweight, compact and most importantly windproof. Something like the Repel Umbrella Windproof Travel Umbrella. Built tough and strong, automatic open and close, strong grip plus it has many color choices.
Apart from the above mentioned clothing accessories, having safe backups can be very resourceful. For example a raincoat, since you never know when there might be a sudden downpour. Check out one of Marmots or The North Face’s rain jackets. Lightweight, packable and waterproof. An extra pair of shoes or sandals. If you unfortunately hurt your foot, have a blister because of the active heavy walking, it will definitely help to change your shoe pair. As always, have something lightweight and breathable and doesn’t occupy huge of space on your backpack.
That part covers the topic of what to wear to Disney World. We kept it as brief as possible without aiming to be too redundant. Since it is more or less of a backpack tour, we need to keep our backs as lightweight as possible.
Best Gadgets And Other Gear For Disney World
As we mentioned before, we do not want the backpack to weigh us down because of the ton of stuff inside nor do we want to regret not bringing a power bank, or some hand sanitizers. Obviously, every gear and accessory mentioned here won’t suit everyone and by no means should you carry everything. Then again there are a few essential electronics that your backpack has to make space for.
Power Bank
There are enough and more ways to drain the battery life from your phone while in a place like Disney World. Grabbing selfies, posting photos and videos on social media, poor reception and even merely scrolling through your phone can result in battery dying down. Therefore packing extra amps is a must. Check out the below portable charger by Anker which packs 20KmAh. It can charge 2 phones at once. Fast charging and there is also the smaller size available for you to conveniently carry around.
An Appropriate Travel Backpack
As needless as this may come off, it is better to be safe than sorry. So make sure the backpack you carry is lightweight, breathable with good quality material that won’t exhaust you as you enjoy Disney World. The iDoyovezy 20L daypack for less than 10 bucks will keep your sweat and perspiration at bay and allow you to wonder tirelessly. The backpack can be folded into the wallet size and fit into a matching storage bag. Made of water-resistant material and the zipper has a good water barrier. Comes with a main zipper pocket, a front zipper pocket and two mesh side pockets. Embedded with easily adjustable buckles and breathable shoulder straps.
A Water Bottle
It is better to have a water bottle with a filter. Water is accessible anywhere in Disney World. So having a water bottle is the best as opposed to using and throwing away about 20 plastic cups. Some tourists complain that Florida water tastes awful. Which is why we recommend a bottle with a filter. The LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle is equipped with advanced filtration techniques to filter microplastics, chlorine, organic chemical matter and sand, dirt. The activated carbon filter lasts up to 100 liters of water. 22 oz capacity, reusable, durable and BPA-free.
Hand Sanitizer
Well this goes without saying, but we will say it anyway. The venues aren’t exactly sparkling clean so packing a few hand sanitizers is a hygienic thought. It’s not like you can keep running to washrooms and get your hands rinsed. Especially with the Covid, avoiding touching too many publicly accessible stuff is the best. Check these sanitizer wipes, you can use them from cleaning your hands to phone, wallet or literally any surface.
Packing And Compression Cubes
These aren’t Disney specific per say, Since they are generally used for organising the inside of your luggage. The compression cubes allow you to create more space by improving the organised nature of the stuff inside your carry-on. The ones that we recommend won’t damage delicate fabrics, and are made of high-quality fabric for durability.
Sunscreen
You’ll need to protect any exposed skin from the sun to avoid getting a sunburn. You need a mineral filter based sunscreen, also known as a physical sunscreen. Do not go for the aerosol spray since you will only be using a very minute amount and the majority is lost in thin air. CeraVe Tinted Sunscreen with SPF 30 is what we recommend. A minimalist proven sunscreen used by many in their travels to tropical regions. It is Oxybenzone free, paraben free, fragrance free and chemical filter free.
Travel Pillow And Kit
Better safe than sorry huh? Good and comfortable for your neck and shoulders when standing on those lengthy queues. This pillow is made with premium memory foam, and it adapts to your shoulders and neck to cradle and support your upper body. Also has a unique side storage compartment that’s perfect for holding your cell phone, glasses.
Sunglasses
You can choose a pair of sunglasses that are Disney appropriate and get the other job done as well. Surprising fact: many expensive sunglasses get left behind at Disney and are divided among Cast Members for 50 cents a pop according to Lia of practicalwanderlust. So our advice is to bring a few pairs of cheap sunglasses. There are plenty of cheap sunglasses that are made for fashion lovers. Our recommendation is the Sun-Staches Disney Minnie Mouse sunglasses. Costs only 12 bucks but packs a lot of features. Impact resistant lenses, UV protection and blends in well with most female outfits for Disney.
Photography Gear
Unless you own a DSLR, and are a content creator, there is no point in purchasing a professional camera or burrowing one. Your smartphone camera is more than enough to capture a few memorable pics of your visit. Just imagine having a camera bag tag along with you all day long and having to fumble for the tripod and what not. Also you have PhotoPass Photographers all over the park and they will capture a decent photo for you using your phone or camera. Therefore you don’t have to worry about your photography skills.
Food To Pack For Disney World
Just like most other tourist attraction places, the food here is expensive and you need to save your time to spend much of it sightseeing at Disney. Hence just grab some of the snacks we recommend below. They are supposed to keep you fueled throughout your tour when standing in lines in the heat and walking all over the premises. Additionally most of the snacks at Disney World are merely sugar treats and you will only be full for an hour or so which is not what we need. And you’ll regret having spent that money on something that can’t keep you full for several hours. So take a look at the list below and try to grab some of those snacks before leaving for Disney World.
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars– Each chocolate peanut butter protein bar contains 20 grams of protein, 2 grams of sugar, and 200 calories.
- Lenny & Larry’s The Complete Cookie– 16g of plant based proteins and 10g of fiber. Non GMO Project Verified, Vegan and Kosher friendly.
- Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzels– Contains 9 bags each of Mini Pretzels, Sourdough Nibblers, Pretzel Sticks, Honey Mustard & Onion Pretzel Pieces.
- Viter Energy Wintergreen Caffeinated Mints– 40mg of caffeine per mint, a B Vitamins complex, and fast oral sublingual and buccal absorption. 2 mints contain as much caffeine as 1 cup of coffee or energy drink.
Summary
That pretty much concludes our thoughts on what to pack for Disney World. Of course these things vary from traveler to traveler and on the season. For example, What to pack for Disney World in December? Needless to say what you mainly require is layers of clothes to keep you warm. It doesn’t get as cold as the winter in some states. But you need to be prepared for the possibility of rain. So pack long sleeve shirts, long pants, and a jacket. Also if cold is your weakness, then a pair of gloves won’t hurt as well. The days will be warm, but the nights will be colder. So you need to be ready for both. Also packing an extra pair of shoes won’t hurt in case it rains.
Again, you don’t have to pack everything included in this list and you can change it in a way that suits you. We tried to keep it as minimalistic as possible, leaving out the unnecessary stuff. It is a list clearly aimed at improving your trip to Disney World while also cutting down on costs and heavy backpacks. We hope you found the post helpful and please don’t hesitate to comment your suggestions on other Disney World stuff that you believe would add value to this post.
