Twelve Essential Items to Keep in My Park Bag- Disney Edition
By Noah Hempler
We all know making sure to pack your suitcase with the essentials is important for a vacation… but when taking a trip to Disney making sure to pack a park bag is just as important! One thing I will always advocate for is making sure to bring a dedicated park bag with you for your trip. There is nothing worse than getting to the parks and realizing that you need something and having to make the trek back to your resort, especially if you took the bus to get there. Ensuring you have a well packed park bag will make sure you’re planned for anything and will keep the disruptions away while you’re exploring Walt Disney World. I thought I’d share what ‘must-have’s’ that I carry with me while I’m at the parks so I can help you be prepared for your trip as well!
Sunscreen: The. Most. Important. Thing! The Florida sun can be no joke, so please make sure you are bringing sunscreen with you. The last thing you want is to deal with a painful sunburn.
Hand Sanitizer/Wet Wipes: Germs are everywhere, especially at the Most Magical Place on Earth. You may be able to find some dispensers around the park, but being able to have it with you is way more convenient and you can make sure you have clean hands before eating and after rides.
Portable charger: An absolute need! You are going to make sure to keep your phone charged to capture all the amazing photos and videos you are going to want to take. Most importantly, so that you have access to the My Disney Experience app so you can make your Lightning Lane reservations, order meals ahead of time or check park schedules.
Fans: Truly my lifesaver while at Disney. Getting a portable neck fan can make an enormous difference when the Florida heat gets up there. If you’re a parent you can even get small portable fans that attach to your stroller to make sure your kids are comfortable as well!
Advil/Tylenol: While long park days are a blast, your body might not always agree. Making sure to have some on hand is always smart!
Reusable Water Bottle: Did you know Disney allows your refillable water bottles into the park? There are a few bottle filling stations in the park that you can use to make sure you’re always hydrated.
Snacks: Disney is one of the few theme parks that allows outside food & snacks into the park! Absolutely take advantage of this, especially if you have kiddos.
Poncho/Umbrella: Florida weather can be unpredictable. It isn’t uncommon to experience short bursts of storms while at the parks, even on sunny days. Making sure to bring a poncho/umbrella keeps you prepared and dry in case of rain so you can go about your day.
Ziplock Bags: I like to bring these to store electronics/wallet or anything else important just in case of rain, or while on rides like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure where I don’t want to risk damaging anything if my backpack gets wet.
First Aid: Disney does have first aid locations, but instead of having to locate one I find it is always smart to carry a small first aid pack with me just in case.
Blister pads: You will do A LOT of walking at Disney. Having these on hand has saved me multiple times. Having awful foot pain in the middle of your day is going to make for a miserable time.
Chapstick: If you’re chap stick obsessed like me, you get it. Some chap sticks have SPF in them as too, so those are always smart to bring along.
About the Author: Noah started with Genie Travel Company in 2024. They have been passionate about Disney their entire life and are so excited to get to plan other’s dream vacations and share the magic of Disney with others. They have a love for theme parks and also like to frequent Universal Studios. They are passionate about planning accessible friendly trips for those with autism or with disabilities.