10 Things You Need in Your Disney Park Bag

After five family trips to Disney World, I feel like I’ve finally nailed exactly what to pack in my park bag. I used to take way too much into the parks—loads of stuff we didn’t need and never used in a huge backpack that was a pain to lug around all day. And once I only took a wallet with a crossbody-style strap and nothing else. That also wasn’t great. Now I think I’ve reached a happy medium—we almost always have what we need. Anything else we can get at the first aid station or a gift shop in the park.

Depending on our plans for the day, I’ll either use a small backpack (either this Travelon backpack or a Loungefly mini backpack) or a fanny pack. Obviously, I can fit a little more a backpack than in a fanny pack. If the forecast is calling for rain, I will definitely go with the backpack so I can fit rain jackets. If the forecast is clear or we’re only planning on being in the parks for a few hours, I’ll go with the fanny pack because it’s so convenient!

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Wallet

I use a slim card holder (I got mine in the parks, but it’s similar to this one) so it doesn’t take up a lot of space. And I just take the essentials—my debit/credit card, a Disney gift card, my ID, and usually Liam’s arcade card in case he wants to stop at the arcade on the way back to the room at the end of the day. You can pay with your Magic Band at most restaurants and gift shops (the charges will go to whatever card is connected to your Disney account), so using a Magic Band can save you from carrying at least one card.

Sunglasses

Don’t forget your sunnies! The Florida sun can be fierce, and you’re definitely going to want to shield your eyes. I recommend packing at least two pairs for your vacation (in case one breaks). And don’t leave them in the room in the morning and end up at the park without them (been there). They do have sunglasses for sale in the parks, but they don’t come cheap. So don’t forget sunglasses for the littles, too!

Sunscreen

Speaking of that Florida sun, don’t forget sunscreen! We almost always forget to apply sunscreen before we leave the room in the morning and don’t realize it until the tops of our ears start to get red around 10:30 am. I’m always thankful I have sunscreen in my bag! I find something like this Sun Bum sunscreen stick is super convenient—it doesn’t take up a ton of space and it’s not going to leak all over your bag. (I’ve carried it on 90+ degree Florida days, and it’s never melted!) Plus I find it easier to put on kids, especially on their faces.

Fuel Rod

I love these! Between using the My Disney Experience app and taking a million photos a day, my phone is always dying when we’re in WDW. A Fuel Rod isn’t going to give multiple full charges like some other power banks can, but I love how light and compact these are. And the best part is that there are Fuel Rod stations all over Disney World, and you can exchange a dead one for a fully charged one for free!

Hand Sanitizer/Wet Wipes

Hand sanitizer is definitely a must-have these days, but wet wipes really come in handy, too! You might not always be near a bathroom before you want to have a snack or a meal, so hand sanitizer is key. And wet wipes are useful for wiping sticky hands or wiping down an outdoor table at a quick-service restaurant before you sit down.

Reusable Straws

Disney uses paper straws in all of their drinks, which is great for the environment but can kind of kill the enjoyment of a cold drink on a hot day after about 2.5 minutes. Ever since our first trip, we’ve been taking our own reusable straws. We’ve used straight plastic reusable straws in the past (this set from Amazon comes with a cute carrying pouch and a scrub brush), but I’m looking at purchasing something more compact for our next trip. This OXO set with a case and brush might be it!

A Refillable Water Bottle

You’ve got to stay hydrated on a long, hot Disney day, but bottled water in the parks is expensive. Luckily, you can get free ice water at any quick-service restaurant. My favorite hack is to ask for a venti ice water any time we order at Starbucks. (Did you know every Disney park has a Starbucks? Check out my Coffee Lovers Guide to Disney World here!) Depending on the bag I take, I can sometimes fit a small bottle of water which we will refill throughout the day. I’m considering purchasing one of these collapsible water bottles for our next trip (we’re going in July and it’s going to be HOT y’all). I could fit this even in my fanny pack, which is a huge plus!

Handheld Fan and/or Cooling Towel

Anything that will keep you cool in that hot Florida sun! These handheld fans SAVE OUR LIVES when we’re at Disney World in the summer! 😅 They are foldable (I can fit one in my fanny pack!), USB rechargeable, and water misting! I can’t stress enough how AMAZING these are, especially when you’re standing in an outdoor line in the middle of the afternoon. And cooling towels REALLY DO WORK. These ones from Amazon are our favorite. I love that they fold up really small so they can easily fit in any size bag! (If you want more tips on beating the heat, I’ve written a whole post on How to Stay Cool at Walt Disney World.)

Poncho or Rain Jacket

On the flip side, pop-up rain showers are super common in Florida, so it’s always good to be prepared for them! We always just throw on our rain gear and stick it out—you can really do a lot with shorter wait times this way while everyone else shelters from the rain. If I’m carrying a backpack, I’ll roll up our rain jackets and stick them in the bottom. I have a lightweight rain jacket from North Face (similar here) that rolls up fairly well (I just throw a hair tie around it to keep it rolled up). Old Navy also has some great affordable options for adults and kids. (If there’s definite rain in the forecast, I’ll also throw some lightweight sandals/flip flops in my bag, because nobody likes wet shoes and socks.)

Disposable ponchos work too—I always recommend buying these ahead of time instead of at the parks to save some money!

Ibuprofen and Tums

Or whatever your medicines of choice are! I personally always have Ibuprofen and Tums in my bag. You never know when a headache will strike or when your favorite snack will decide it doesn’t agree with you anymore (#thisis30 😆 ). Nobody wants to feel miserable with a headache or heartburn on a Disney day, so make sure you’re prepared!

Other Tips

If you can spare the room in your bag, and especially if you have kids, it’s worth it to pack an emergency snack. I usually go for something small that won’t melt or get crushed—like fruit snacks, a non-chocolate granola bar, or nuts. In my experience, kids will inevitably tell you they’re hungry when you’re halfway through an hour-long wait for the one ride they’ve been begging to ride all day. And no one needs to be dealing with a meltdown in the middle of a magical Disney day. It’s worth it to cram and snack or two into your bag, trust me!

If you’re a lover of the popular Loungefly mini backpack, I got this organizer insert for Christmas and it is a GAME CHANGER. I can fit so much in this thing and it keeps everything right where I left it instead of rolling around in the bottom. Highly recommend!

I like to use a small clear pouch like this one to keep the little stuff together (sunscreen, ibuprofen, hand sanitizer, etc). Now that Disney has changed their security procedures at the front of the park, it’s not as big of a deal. But just in case you have to get your bag checked, it makes it easier and quicker if your pouches are clear!

Is there anything you would add to this list?

What are your must-have items for your Disney park bag? Let me know in the comments below!

Check out my other tips and tricks for your Disney trip here! And don’t forget to pin this post for later!