14 Disney Park Bag Essentials

A family vacation to Walt Disney World comes with a lot of decisions. What to pack in your Disney Park Bag is one of them. What should be on your Disney Park Bag Packing List so you’re not regretting life and needing a chiropractor by the end of your Disney Day? Here’s our Disney Park Bag Essentials List so that you can be prepared for your days in the parks. And we’re sharing our printable Disney Park Bag Packing List too! 

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So, first things first. If you’re heading to Disney World, you’re in for long days in the parks, and lots of fun! But you’re also in for lots of sunshine, maybe some rain, a dead phone battery and germs. Which means you’ll be needing things like sunscreen, sanitizer, a phone charger and more. So, what Should You Have in your Disney Park Bag? Your Disney Park Bag should have only the most necessary items. We’re keeping this list small, mainly because you’ll be carrying your bag around all day long, but also because a few things will be needed if you hope to survive the Florida heat! Here’s our lineup of what Disney Bag Essentials you should have in your park day bag. 

A Disney Park Backpack

We would be amiss if we didn’t actually tell what kind of Disney Park Bag is best. You can grab a backpack, mini backpack, sling bag, or crossbody bag. All are great choices. Pick ONE!

Crossbody

• We love a good crossbody bag as our Disney Day bag, but sometimes it’s hard to find the right kind. It’s important to find one that is the right size for a water bottle, has plenty of pockets (which means our cameras, phone, and money are safe), and it is 100% washable.

Mini Backpack

• If you have camera gear aim for a mini backpack small enough to fit under a plane seat and lightweight enough to bring on rides.

Drawstring Bag For Kids

• If you’re not toting the stroller around, you can arm each of the children with a lightweight drawstring bag. Just beware of ones that have thin straps that will dig into little shoulders.

Water Bottle

An absolute must have for your Disney Park Bag is a water bottle. An empty water bottle can be filled just about everywhere in the parks. In the hot Florida sun, it’s important to stay hydrated. Take it from us, grumpiness will ensue if you’re not drinking enough. We love Swell and Yeti! You can also always ask for free complimentary water at any quick-serve restaurant.

Sunscreen and Lip Balm

While your large bottle of sunscreen is probably packed in your suitcase you can have a smaller sunscreen in your vacation bag for the first day in the parks. Per TSA you’re allowed cream or oil or spray up to 3.4oz. Be sure to buy a sample size for this first day. After that first day with the travel size, we upgraded ourselves to the spray can of 100 SPF sunscreen that we tote about to the parks every day. It’s totally necessary and we recommend you do the same with the goal of reapplying at least twice throughout the day. We like banana boat sport 100spf and sun bum 70spf. You will be surprised how quickly your lips will dry out in the heat. Be sure to bring one in a squeeze tube, because if it’s hot enough the standard lip balm stick will melt.

Sunglasses

Big or Small, make sure your sunglasses are comfy. And maybe a little cheap, since they’re the most often thing lost at Disney. Also keep in mind that sunglasses at Disney World are typically in that $20 dollar range at the gift shop, so bring a couple cheap pairs of sunglasses, if you’re prone to losing them. 

A Poncho

If you’re traveling in the shoulder seasons chances are you’ll catch some rain. While you should definitely check the weather before traveling to Orlando, be prepared to stash a small poncho in your bag just in case. If you’re not willing to spring for the 10-dollar poncho at the Disney gift shop, you can pay a little less for a Coleman poncho ahead of time, and they have kids’ sizes too. We also like this 6 pack of ponchos at Amazon. Super cheap but highly rated!

Phone Charger and Cords

Chances are your phone will be attached to your hand, but do be sure to keep it safe in a pocket in your crossbody bag. Walt Disney World collects about 8,000 lost phones a year. Be sure to have a Phone Charging Battery Pack and your Cords! There are charging stations at the Tangled bathrooms at Magic Kingdom and France at Epcot as well as other park locations.

This Battery Pack is light and small and will fit in your bag for on-the-go charging. We also love the Fuelrod program which allows the one-time purchase of a charger and then exchanges throughout your vacation for fresh batteries at kiosks across the park when you need them. And a quick tip: your phone will be using the battery in its constant search for consistent wi-fi… so turn off your wi-fi when you get in the parks.

Camera

If you’ve purchased Disney Photopass and Memory Maker you won’t need to worry about seeing your vacation through the lens. But you will need to worry about finding the Disney photographers whenever you’re ready for those family photos. If you want something slightly more handheld, but really really high quality, try a Canon DSLR Easy to use and pretty good on the auto setting, you can grow with this camera as your photography skills improve. We also love easy, travel-friendly mirrorless camera options, like the Olympus Pen, if you’re looking for something smaller. 

MagicBands

You can’t leave the resort without it. Your MagicBand is your ticket to everything including your key to your room, rides, and parks, and allows you to pay contactless. Check out everything a Disney Magic Band can do, and why we recommend having it in your park bag, or on your wrist at all times! 

An RFID Wallet

Be sure to have an RFID wallet, and use one credit card for all your Disney expenses. If you attach it to your Magic Band you can set amount alerts for when you reach a spending limit with your concierge. Leave the checkbook, other credit cards, business cards, and anything else in your luggage. Use this cute card holder with RFID protection. This not only keeps your bag light and easy to carry but means you have some backup credit cards and your banking info safe in case something gets lost or stolen.

Bug Repellent

Okay, since your Disney Day Bag, needs to still be light, we recommend  You just need a mini bottle of bug repellent, to TSA standards, or better yet, Bug Repellent Wipes, which are easy to carry, super effective and light. While you won’t need bug repellent as much during the colder months, if you’re traveling in the summer, these are a must buy. 

Hand Sanitizer and Wet Wipes

We carry both wipes and hand sanitizer- particularly to clean up post-rides at Disney. You’d be amazed by how much you touch without realizing it. So having these on hand is a lifesaver. We love the hand sanitizers from Bath and Body Works. And adding a cute Disney Hand Sanitizer Keychain to your Disney Park Bag Essentials, can hold your sanitizer in style! Woohoo! 

Small First Aid and Meds Kit

Okay, for your mini first aid kit we recommend just a couple of things, especially as Disney Parks have First Aid Stations at every park. Band-Aids, Pain Reliever, Neosporin, and Hydrocortisone Cream are basics. Also consider if you need things like Lactaid, or other meds you typically have on hand. 

Clorox Wipes

For extra protection you can add Clorox wipes to your bag. We use these to wipe down airplane seats, rides, and tables in quick service locations across the parks. Especially important in the winter months, when people tend to get sick more, we recommend a small package for your Disney Park Bag. 

Disney Character Autograph Book and Marker

A must have if you’re meeting Disney World Characters during your visit, having an autograph book and a marker in your bag, is essential! Because if your first day in the parks includes any meet and greets or Disney Character Dining, you’ll want to make sure you have it! Of course, if you’re looking for something less conventional, we’ve seen people have their jean jackets signed, pillowcases, hats, and shoes too. Whatever floats your boat! 

Reusable Silverware

If you’re an EPCOT festival lover then you know that not only is getting plasticware from EVERY SINGLE Outdoor kitchen bad for the planet, but it’s also not so great for your health! All that touching of buttons and waiting in lines to get silverware is something we’d rather skip! Thankfully there are tons of eco-friendly silverware options out there. Grab a set of reusable silverware from amazon for every person in your travel party and be a little safer and kinder to the planet! 

There you have it! A quick lineup of all the things you need for your first day at Disney. We have a whole Disney Packing List that is pretty complete and includes everything you need. Want the whole list of everything for your first day? Check out our list on Amazon!