The Ultimate Packing List for Disney World

MagicBands are an RFID-enabled bracelet that can be used as your park ticket, hotel room key, Lightning Lanes, and payment card at Disney World.

Disney used to provide these to resort guests for free, but they now cost $14.99 and up.

But if you'd rather not rely on your phone for these things, or don't have an Apple watch, MagicBands are your next best option.

You can buy them at most resort and park gift shops, as well as on ShopDisney.

Check out my post about MagicBand+ & MagicBand to learn more about this fun accessory.

Protect your MagicBand with fun flair. Includes 12 different colors, including 1 print and 3 that glow in the dark!

This is one item I always pack for Disney World, without fail. As much as I love MagicBands, they have a tendency to pop off your wrist.

On one trip, my niece lost her MagicBand and was so upset because she had gotten a cute Jibbitz type accessory from a friend she made at the park.

From then on, I've always traveled with BitBelts to ensure I (or my family) don't lose my band.

In fact, it saved me from losing my MagicBand just last month, when it tried to pop off while I was riding Alien Swirling Saucers!

Do yourself a favor and get a pack of these to share with family and friends to protect your band!

Packing a good power bank is more important than ever for your Disney World trip, given the growing reliance on the My Disney Experience app.

The app is used to manage Genie+, lightning lanes, mobile orders, and mobile checkout at gift shops, so expect to constantly be using your phone throughout your day at the park - aside from taking photos, that is!

I love the iWalk portable chargers because it's super small and lightweight, plus you don't have to remember to pack a cord since it plugs right into your phone.

Don't let a sunburn ruin your vacation! Pack plenty of your favorite sunscreen and carry some with you in your park bag.

I'm a big fan of the Sun Bum broad spectrum (UVA / UVB) sunscreen line.

It's vegan and doesn't use octinoxate or oxybenzone, which can be harmful to your body and marine life. Plus it smells incredible and doesn't leave a white cast on your skin!

Personally I use SPF 50 since my skin is very pale and I burn easily, but it comes in other levels so you can choose one that best works for your skin.

For my face, I really like Sun Bum SPF 45 face mist. It feels so refreshing when reapplying on a hot day!

Lastly, Coola Scalp & Hair Mist works great for protecting your scalp from the sun so you don't get sunburnt on your hair part or experience peeling sunburn in your hair (ew).

Speaking of sun protection - don't forget about your lips! Pack a lip balm with SPF built in to help prevent your lips from getting burnt.

My personal fave is Sun Bum SPF 30 lip balm in Banana scent. It goes everywhere with me - even outside of Disney World!

Even before 2020, I always brought hand sanitizer with me to the parks to help keep icky germs away in case I can't get to a sink to wash my hands right away. Nothing's worse than getting sick while on vacation!

I like Touchland hand sanitizer spray. Many hand sanitizers are too harsh on my skin and create a lot of redness and irritation. This brand doesn't do any of that!

It also comes in a ton of fun scents and has accessories that make it easy to carry with you everywhere, like keychain attachments.

Lastly, it's only 1 fl. oz, so it's TSA-compliant for those flying into the Orlando area.

A travel pack of sanitizing wipes is another important item to bring with you. You can find travel-sized packs on Amazon or even in the travel aisle at stores like Target or Walmart.

They can be used to wipe down your seat arms and tray tables on the plane, as well as wipe down tables at the park before you eat.

Last, but not least, bring a small first aid kit with bandages, over-the-counter pain reliever, Tums or Pepto-Bismol tablets, and alcohol swabs, at minimum.

Worse comes to worse, you can head to the first aid office at the park you're visiting, but these items will either tide you over til you get there or help you avoid needing to backtrack there, wasting your time.

Keep hydrated in the hot Florida sun by taking a refillable water bottle in your park bag. I recommend bringing a bottle with a filter, such as Brita.

While tap water in the Orlando area is safe to drink, the filter will help remove chlorine and other contaminants that you aren't used to and make it more palatable.

Bottled water is available for purchase at the parks, as well, but it's both expensive and terrible for the environment. So if you have room in your bag, add this to your Disney World packing list.

While air conditioning is easy to find at the parks, you'll probably want to carry something with you to help you keep cool when you can't get to AC.

Some folks prefer the FrogTog Chilly Pad towels that can wrap around your head or neck. I prefer a portable fan.

This fan from Amazon is rechargeable via an included USB cord. Plus it has 3 speeds and looks like a hidden Mickey!

What you pack for your hair is totally up to personal preference.

If you have long hair, I recommend stashing a hair tie or 2 in your bag. Sometimes it gets so hot that you'll want to get your hair off your neck or it might get in the way on rides. Trust me on this one!

I usually have a claw clip, too, but find that they often get in the way on a lot of rides.

A hat might be a good idea too. It's great for sun coverage, protecting your scalp from sunburn, and covering messy hair from sweating.

Last up - this wouldn't be a blog post about what to pack for Disney World if I didn't mention the iconic Minnie ears!

This accessory is not only a ton of fun, they're a great way to keep your hair out of your eyes, too.

You can find Minnie ears on ShopDisney or licensed Disney-focused small businesses (like BBBrooke.com).

If you don't have a pair and don't get around to purchasing them ahead of your trip, pretty much every gift shop at the Disney resorts and theme parks sells them, so they're easy to find at Disney World too.

If you've never been to Florida, you might think it's constantly sunny year round - until you visit for the first time.

Florida is actually super humid and it rains a lot. Orlando is prone to quick afternoon showers nearly every day, particularly in the Summer and early Fall months (aka "Hurricane Season").

Don't let these sun showers ruin your day - bring a rain poncho! They'll keep you dry - at least from head to shin - so you can keep having fun at the parks despite the rain.

You can buy a multi-pack of disposable ponchos at places like Amazon, Dick's Sporting Goods, or REI.

They fold down into a tiny bundle and weigh next to nothing, so they won't take up much space in your park bag. On the flip side, they are flimsy, stick to your skin if it's wet or sweaty, and don't breathe well.

It'll do in a pinch, but for a few bucks more, you can get a reusable poncho that can be reused on future trips (even at non-Disney locations!) and aren't as frustrating to use.

This cute reusable poncho folds down flat and can slip into your Loungefly backpack or purse without taking up too much space. I always have one on me, no matter what time of year I'm visiting!

Stash a handful of pennies and quarters in your park bag for a quick and cheap souvenir - pressed pennies!

Throughout the parks, you'll find pressed penny machines that squishes a penny and imprints it with a ride or character design.

Afterward, you can store them in a fun album like the Pennybandz Postcard (pictured above), which stores up to 60 pressed pennies and comes in a ton of different Disney designs.

Protect your peepers with a good pair of sunglasses. I can't go anywhere without my sunglasses - and I always pack a backup pair too.

If you wear your hair tied up, avoid metal styles like Ray Ban aviators so they don't get caught in your hair when you push them up on your head.

No one wants to deal with hair mishaps in the middle of the park!

I swear by SOJOS sunglasses, available on Amazon.

They come in a variety of trendy styles and colors for men and women.

Plus, they are quite affordable, so if they get lost or broken, you can easily replace them.

But I will say, I've had several pair for years and they're all still in fantastic shape!

I'm a fan of the oversized cat eye style and you'll likely see me in the exact pair shown above.

If you'll be meeting characters, don't forget to take an autograph book and pen or marker with you.

That way you can get everyone's autograph and add your character PhotoPass pics to the book afterward for a fun souvenirs.

A visit to Disney World involves a ton of walking. Get ahead of the game and protect your feet from blister with some anti blister balm.

This is the exact brand that I use and it has never failed me! Even if I'm wearing shoes that don't ordinarily bother me, I use it at Disney just in case. I've never had a blister when I remember to use this!

Just apply to high friction areas for the shoes you're planning to wear, such as under straps, the sides of your big and pinky toes, and wherever else you feel is needed.

If you've got thick or muscular thighs like me, all the walking you'll be doing at Disney World might cause chafing. This is also excellent for runDisney races!

Just glide onto both sides of your inner thighs and you'll be protected from redness and irritation that comes with chafing.

No more penguin waddling out of the park!

No ironing needed. Just spray, smooth, and go.

This is the exact brand I use. I've had the same set for nearly 10 years now and they still look brand new!

Ordinarily I’d keep my smartphone tucked away at all times when on vacation, but as mentioned earlier in this post, smartphones are a key tool for managing your day at Disney World.

You’ll no doubt use it to get into the park, check ride wait times, manage Genie+, and take photos throughout the day.

TIP: If you don't have unlimited internet access on your phone, there is free WiFi in the parks and at Disney resorts.