A Disney park is the last place you want to be with a heavy backpack or weighed-down purse. Not only is it tiring to carry around a 15-pound bag; nobody wants to be that person holding up the line because they can’t find their wallet in a purse that could easily pass as Mary Poppins’ never-ending carpet bag! Instead, I try to consolidate as much as possible for a trip to the parks. Here are my Disney park essentials that will make for a happier back and vacation!
1. The Bag- First, you need to start with the perfect bag. If you have littler kids and will need a bit more during your time in the parks, find a comfortable, sturdy backpack that will hold everything. Otherwise, I like to use a smaller backpack or a medium-sized cross-body purse.
2. Wallet- Even if you have a credit card linked to your MagicBand, it’s a good idea to keep your wallet with you in the parks in case you would need your photo ID or a little extra cash/change. Back in the “old days,” I would keep my park ticket and Fastpasses in my wallet, but with all of the new technology, tangible tickets are quickly becoming obsolete!
3. Cell Phone- Not only is your cell phone a good communication device, it also is a useful tool for rescheduling Fastpasses, reservations, and much more on the go! Make sure you have the MyDisneyExperience app downloaded and ready to go before your trip starts! Even though my phone usually starts out in my bag, by the end of the day it’s made its way into my pocket for quick access.
4. Poncho- This one is optional, especially depending on the day and season you’re in the parks. Either a cheap poncho from the Dollar Store or a nicer, heavy-duty one will work, but it is nice to be prepared for one of those Florida storms! (and not have to overpay for a Disney parks poncho!)
5. Park Map and Times Guide- Even though many of us know most of the parks by heart, it’s always a good idea to have a park map handy. They can be a helpful tool for figuring out where you want to eat, what you want to do next, or what time a show is playing.
6. Snacks/Candy- Be prepared to settle that “rumbly in your tumbly” with a granola bar or some gummy fruit snacks. Of course, candy is something that can be enjoyed while you’re waiting in line or just walking around the park!
7. Bandaids- Unfortunately, this is something I can speak about with some experience: always have a few bandaids packed! Whether it’s a blister from a new pair of shoes or a scrape from falling down at Tom Sawyer’s Island, you never know when you’re going to need one!
8. Medications- If needed, make sure you pack some motion-sickness pills for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster or pain-killers to take care of a nasty headache, as well as any other medications that you may need.
Even though you will have to go through the bag check to get into each park, the line usually moves fairly fast. I definitely think it’s worth it to have some of these necessary items on hand!
Just a little side note: I will be in Walt Disney World next week (October 18-25) to celebrate my sixteenth birthday, so I’ll probably be doing a lot of live-tweeting and instagramming while we’re there! If you want to follow along on our adventures, my handle for both Twitter and Instagram is @disnemma.
