What to Pack for Disney World: the Ultimate Checklist

Knowing what to pack for a trip to Walt Disney World is the first step towards pushing through the anxiety and on to the fun. If you’re struggling with your Disney World packing list, I’ve created a guide, and printable packing list, and a list for items you might not have on Amazon.

I’ll outline all of the things you should take Disney that you may or may not have thought of. I’ll give a few tips on how to keep the chaos down in your hotel room, and I’ll let you know what not to bring, especially if you are staying onsite at a Disney resort. Then you'll be more prepared for the most magical place on Earth.

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There’ll be some things on the list that you may not end up needing, but I say better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. The exception is if you’re trying to fly with only carry-on luggage.

If you want, you can skip all of this and go straight to the printable ultimate packing list and shopping lists. Here you go. (Amazon links are affiliate links. I may earn from purchases and buy more Mickey bars, but you won’t be charged more)

Clothes to Pack for Disney World

Everyone needs clothes for Disney World. It’s a rule. They’ll kick you out if you’re not wearing clothes. However, the amount of clothes you have to wear seems to get less and less each year.

Here’s our family, definitely wearing clothes at Disney World

So what should you wear? Unless you are going in the dead of winter AND hit a cold snap, you’ll almost always be comfortable in shorts/skirts and T-shirts. The weather can get up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, and even in late spring and early fall, and it can stay over 60 or 70, December or January. That being said, you may want a hoodie or pants for early mornings, late evenings, or if you’re spending extended amounts of time in the air-conditioning. It's also possible for the temperature in Central Florida to drop below 50 in the winter months. If it drops below 40, iguanas might start falling from trees.

Here are the basics:

-shirts (Disney-themed, if you prefer)
-shorts/skirts/biker shorts
-pants, hoodie, or longsleeve T-shirt if the weather demands it (I’d bring only one to save space)
-comfortable shoes (see my best shoes for Disney World)
-socks
-bathing suit, water shoes, flip flops for pools and water parks
-hats, Mickey ears, costumes (for kids), bounding clothes
-nice clothes if you’re going to a fancy dinner (this is not required except a few restaurants)
-pajamas
-underwear

For more information on packing in the winter months, check out my guide to Disney in February.

My daughter in a hoodie at Coronado in February.

Pack something for every day, unless you plan on doing laundry (which is a great option if you want to save space).

Second Dad to the Right Tip: We often put our kids’ clothes into gallon ziplocs to speed things up in the mornings, and reduce the chaos.

Click on the picture for a printable pdf. It actually has two pages.

What to Pack to Take into a Disney Park

You also need to pack the supplies that you’re going to take into the Disney theme parks. Plenty of people at Disney World get teased from bringing tons of supplies in, but the more you bring in, the less you have to spend on necessities. Anything you buy at Disney World will be wildly inflated, so save your money for the snacks and souvenirs, not sunscreen or ponchos.

The first thing you need to figure out is how you’re going to store all of your supplies. If you’re bringing a stroller, bring one with lots of storage and clip bags to the handles. But if you’re kids are grown, or you’re not bringing any, you need to have a good backpack. Either way, here are some of things I recommend you consider bringing into the park with you and packing in your park bag.

A stroller at Disney World, expertly overpacked.

-Suncare- the Florida sun will roast you alive. Bring sunscreen and reapply it every 90 minutes or so (not a doctor). I recommend having a face sunscreen and a big bottle or spray. Your face will get a lot more attention from the sun, and a face stick will be infinitely easier to apply to your kids. Oh, and don’t forget the top of your head, even the part.

-Hydration- You’ll also need a lot of water at Disney World. The Florida heat is no joke. Disney offers water fountains and free ice water at all dining establishments, but it famously tastes like eggs (sulfur). If you don’t feel like drinking that all day, I recommend bringing in bottled water or reusable water bottles with a filter.

-Snacks- You’ll also need fuel for all of the walking you’re going to do. You could spend money on snacks in the parks, but they’ll be expensive and probably not very healthy. Consider bringing protein bars or trail mix or maybe even sandwiches for meals.

Here’s some other supplies to consider:

-Portable Phone Charger- For better or for worse, a trip to a Disney World theme park typically requires heavy use of your cell phone—for tickets, for Lightning Lanes, for Disney dining reservations, for ride waits and maps, for communication, and, of course, for pictures and videos. If you want your phone to last all day, consider bringing a portable power bank or at least a charger to plug into the wall. We usually go through one full charge on each of our cell phones.

Here’s the best portable chargers for Disney.

-Rain Gear- Rain is frequent and sporadic at Disney World. One minute it’s sunny, and the next, it’s storming. You can prepare by bringing ponchos and shoe covers. You can also just hide indoors or accept the wetness. Rain gear is also a good idea if you don't want to get wet on the water rides. We were stuck buying ponchos at Magic Kingdom one time, and they were $20 a piece.

The world’s cutest poncho model.

-Autograph Books- One of the best parts of Disney parks is getting to meet the Disney characters. One of the great ways to commemorate this is by getting signatures in autograph books. It’s one of my kids’ favorite parts of Disney to look over the books at home. Here’s the best character signature books for Disney World.

Autograph books are one of my kids’ favorite things to pack for Disney World.

-Hand Sanitizer- Disney World is a global place where you can meet people from all over the world. It's also the depository for some the world's most exotic germs.

Supplies for Kids at Disney World Theme Parks

If you’re like us and bringing kids to the Disney parks, they require their own supplies.

-Stroller- First, as I mentioned earlier, a stroller is a great way to store all of this stuff. Even if you’re kids have outgrown strollers at home, expecting them to walk 10 miles a day and stay happy is a big ask. Bring a stroller just in case. Here’s the best strollers for Disney.

The best stroller for Disney World (Bob Revolution). We can even fit an extra child on the foot rest.

-Diaper Bag- A good diaper bag can serve as a holder of toddler supplies as well as park supplies. Many of them have places to keep things warm or cold and a connected changing pad. However, these often have metal rods in them that can trigger security. Sorry.

-Snacks- Having snacks on hand like goldfish, pouches, and easy-to-store fruit like oranges keep your kids going and limit the whining and asking for expensive snacks.

-Ear Protection- If you’re child is sensitive to loud noises like fireworks or concerts, consider bringing some ear protection with you.

-Air Tags- if you’re kids are runners, air tag them, so you can find them. Or, put it on your valuables so that your wallet doesn’t wander off or end up in the bottom of the lake.

-Change of Clothes- Kids sometimes need a change of clothes. Mine certainly have needed it. I don’t think I need to elaborate.

The only reason this kid owns this Raglan Road shirt is because he destroyed his clothes, and we forgot to bring a change of clothes.

-Fun Things- I recommend buying souvenirs ahead of time, as well as buying fun things like glow sticks for your kids.

-Things for Lines- It's also great to pack some things to have fun in the long lines, like trivia or sticker sheets. However, the best game for elementary or older kids is Heads Up on your phone.

Final Items to Consider

-Cooler Bags- If you want to bring drinks and snacks that you want to keep cold, bring a cooler bag. Disney doesn’t allow hard-sided coolers, and you’re ice will need to be in bags, but this is a perfect way to stay cool and keep from spending money on food.

-Cooling Items- It’s also really hot at Disney World most of the year. Consider bringing portable fans, neck fans, or stroller fans. Using fans with cooling towels can else magnify the effect. We always take fans and towels with us from April to September.

Here’s the best portable fans for Disney World.

For the Hotel

Disney World isn’t just about the parks. There’s also plenty of activities at the resorts to be prepared for, so pack accordingly.

-Bathing Suits- Every Disney resort and almost every non-Disney resort has a great pool to relax in. Disney also has great water parks. Don’t forget your bathing suit.

-Medicine- One of the best ways to prepare for anything at Disney World is be a walking pharmacy. Pack pain killers, stomach medicine, first aid kit, band-aids, aloe, rash cream, motion sickness medicine, allergy medicine or anything that might help you deal with spending the whole day in the sun while walking 10 miles and eating rich food.  

-Toiletries- All vacations require toiletries. A Disney trip is no different. Bring your toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant (for the love of God), a chafing stick, razor, beauty products, and anything else you’ll need

-Wall Chargers- You’re going to want to charge your phone, portable chargers, and fans at night.

-Sleep Aids- A good Disney World trip requires a good night sleep. Consider melatonin (not a doctor) and a sound machine. Even if you don’t use one at home, a sound machine will keep you from waking each other up, hearing the neighbors, or hearing any outside noises.

-Laundry Pods- If you’re going to laundry, bring your own detergent. We like to do laundry at Disney because we can pack less and we’ll have less to deal with when we get home. The gel packs are much easier to deal with than regular detergent, and it’s expensive in the laundry rooms.

-Pop-up Laundry Hamper- This will cut down on the chaos. Trust me.

-Ziploc Bags- I mentioned that we bring these to sort out clothes for each day, but they’re also great for dirty clothes, toiletries, snacks, ice, or anything else you want to compartmentalize.

What Not to Pack for Disney World

There’s also a few things you don’t need to pack for Disney World, either because they aren’t allowed or they aren’t necessary. Obviously, don’t bring weapons or other illegal substances.

-Appliances- Don’t bring anything that could be a fire hazard. Disney won’t allow kettles, crockpots, or irons, and they’ll take up tons of room in your luggage.

-Towels- Disney and most non-Disney hotels will offer towels for your shower and for the pool. They take up tons of room in your luggage, so don’t bring them. Occasionally, we’ll bring our Olaf towel and Magic Carpet towel because they’re awesome.

There’s so many extra towels and life jackets, they decorate with them.

-Chairs- You can’t take chairs to the park. You won’t need them at the pool. Don’t bring a chair. The only use I’ve ever seen for a camping chair was a guy at the airport when everyone’s plane got cancelled.

-Life Jackets- If you’re staying at a Disney resort, they provide life jackets of all sizes, which are probably better than my puddle jumper. You may want yours if you’re staying offsite, though.

-Bug Spray- Disney works really hard to make sure you won’t have to deal with bugs. We’ve never had a problem with mosquitoes, moths, love bugs, cockroaches, or anything else, anywhere near Disney. I’ve heard that if you do have a problem, guest services will help you out.

Also remember that there are different restrictions for different areas at Disney World. No loose ice or hard-sided colors in the parks. No selfie sticks or wagons at the park. You can have your own alcohol everywhere except at the parks and in restaurants. No glass at the pool.

Travel Necessities for Disney World

Whether you’re traveling to Disney World or anywhere else, especially by plane, you’ll want to make sure you have the proper documentation and other travel necessities.

-Identification- Make sure you have your license, passport if coming internationally, and other items you might need.

-Credit Cards/Cash- You can pay with your phone, magic band, or watch at lots of places, but I still recommend having your credit card and some cash handy in a pinch.

-Magic Bands- These aren’t mandatory, but if you like them bring them. They can open your resort door, function as your ticket, and can pay for things. If you get a Magic Band+, it will interact with things throughout the park and light up in sync with fireworks shows.

-Theme Park Tickets- You can get into the park with tickets on your phone, room key card, watch, or magic band, just make sure you have SOME way to get into the park for everyone. Phone is easiest for a group.

-Disney Gift Cards- Gift cards are great way to limit spending or save up for Disney World. Just don’t forget them when it’s time to go on your Disney vacation.

-Plane Ticket Confirmation/Boarding Passes- If you can’t get to Disney World, you can’t go to Disney World. Make sure you have everything you need for travel arrangements.

What to Do if You Forgot Something

Inevitably, you are going to forget something or need something you weren’t expecting. Luckily there are plenty of ways to obtain the supplies you need.

-Front Desk and Gift Shop- Many toiletries and souvenirs are available from the front desk or gift shop. Expect to pay a steep price, though.

Amazon/Walmart/Garden Grocer/Uber Eats- There are variety of places that you can get supplies and snacks quickly. Utilizing this will cut down on your cost and the amount of time you need to pack. Be aware that if you order alcohol, you will have to pick up in person (unless you use Garden Grocer). However, after delivery fees, alcohol is often cheaper in the gift shop.

Outlet Malls- If you really messed up and have no clothes, there are several outlet malls where you can get cheap necessities. You can also check out the Disney Character Warehouses at the Outlet Malls for the cheapest souvenirs.

Conclusion and Further Reading

Follow these guidelines to have a great idea of what you need to pack for your Walt Disney World vacation, and have an amazing time! Of course, every family and trip are different, so my list isn’t for everyone. Let me know in the comments if you think I left something off the list. Finally, I also want to say that if you're reading this, I'm sorry that you're the family member stuck with worrying about this for the entire family. I see you.

Here's the printable Disney Packing Checklist again and my shopping list for essential items.

For more information on packing, check out these articles:

How to Stay Cool at Disney World

Tips for Taking a Baby to Disney World

Or check out my packing guide for Disney Cruise Line.