With multiple trips under our belt, we have developed the ultimate packing list for Walt Disney World. We can fit it all in our luggage for flying or we can load it into the back of our van for driving. We have everything that we could need for our trip and we never find ourselves wishing that we would have packed something.
For clothing, you need one outfit per day of your trip plus an extra outfit. If you plan to do laundry, pack at least enough to last you until the halfway point in your trip. Doing laundry at Disney World is easy! The laundry rooms are located by the pool in most resorts, so you can swim while your clothes wash.
Clothing & Accessories
Children:
2 pairs of touring shoes
Bathing suit(s)
Hair accessories
Hat
PJs
Sandals
Shirts
Shorts
Socks
Sunglasses
Underwear
Adults:
2 pairs of touring shoes
Bathing suit
Belt(s)
Hat
PJs
Sandals
Shirts
Shorts
Socks
Sunglasses
Underwear
Bras (at least 2 in case one breaks)
Baby:
2 outfits per day
Baby wash and shampoo
Bathing suit and swim diapers
Bibs
Blanket
Changing pad (portable)
Cups and/or bottles
Diaper rash cream
Diapers (figure at least 8 diapers per day of your trip)
Food (formula, baby food, etc)
Gear (stroller, pack and play, baby carrier, etc)
Light jacket
Pacifiers
Shoes
Snacks
Socks
Spoons
Sun hat
Sunscreen for baby (we love Babyganics)
Toys
Wipes
In The Room StuffÂ
Autograph book and pens
Batteries (for your camera or any other devices that need batteries)
Camera and charger
Cash/credit card
Cell phone and charger
Directions to hotel (if driving)
Dollar bills for tips & tolls (You’ll need $4.50 to pay the tolls for the Florida Turnpike which is so worth it!)
Handheld fans (we get pocket sized ones at Walmart in the Sporting Goods department)
Laptop & charger
Laundry soap (I save the travel size packages for our trips)
MagicBands
Moleskin (great for blisters)
Pennies for pressing
Pillows (if you are driving)
Pins for trading
Rain ponchos (get the cheap ones at the Dollar Tree that you can throw away)
Scissors (we always need these for something!)
Sound Machine (to block out the sound from other rooms, especially at the values)
Souvenirs from past trips that you want to reuse (ears, light up toys, etc)
Snacks
Toys and other things to entertain your children
Travel Documents and tickets
Video Camera and charger
Toiletries
Bug spray
Deodorant
Feminine Products
Hair brush
Hair spray
Lotion
Make up
Nail clippers
Perfume
Razors
Shampoo and conditioner (adult’s)
Shampoo and conditioner (kid’s)
Shaving cream
Soap (if you use a different kind than the one the resort supplies)
Sunscreen
Toothpaste (adult’s)
Toothpaste (kid’s)
First Aid
Medications (Imodium, Pain, Antibiotic ointment, Anti-itch gel/spray, Antacids/stomach remedies, Kids pain medicine, Sinus/allergy medicine, Eyedrops, Cough drops)
Band-Aids
Aloe vera gel
In the car
Drinks & snacks
Ipad or tablet
Movies
New small toys
Portable DVD player
Snacks
Bottled water
Chips/pretzels
Crackers
Fruit snacks
Granola bars
Juice boxes
Pop Tarts
In Our Park Bag
We carry an LL Bean Backpack and pack the following for the day in the parks:
Diapers
Wipes
Changing pad
Diaper ointment
Change of clothes for baby
Bib
Food & snacks for baby
Small toys
Sunscreen
Bug spray
Autograph book and pens
Pennies for pressing
Pins for trading
Pain Reliever
Couple of Bandaids
Handheld fans
I hope this list helps you with your packing!
Learn more tips and tricks for your next Walt Disney World vacation. Destinations in Florida can also help you add tips and tricks to your next vacation.
Thank you! I look forward to your posts and your money-saving guide is so helpful.
That’s a pretty accurate, comprehensive list! Only things I would add are Shout wipes, hand sanitizer and DRAMAMINE! Lol….in case you have a kid who gets motion sick on the rides. ( or you decide to brave Mission Space at Epcot!). Collapsible water bottles (like Sharkskinzz) are handy to pack to refill with water throughout the day w/out adding too much bulk/weight to your park pack!
Thanks I have a trip in May and i am in charge of packing and i always forget something you are a life saver!!!!!!
I always make sure that I take Dramamine (or store brand equivalent). Some of the rides such as California Screamin’ and Space Mountain tend to make me nauseous. I take the non-drowsy formula of Dramamine and do not have any problems. I’ve forgotten in the past and then had to buy it in the park, which was really expensive!
I love your list and it makes me feel better about the quantity of stuff we take with us. We have driven and flown and I seem to figure it out either way. I have close friends that dreaded going to disneyland. Once I explain the theory behind how to have a pleasureable experience at disneyland without going crazy, they gave it a try and have loved going ever since. They want to put together a trip with us. The husband even mention to my husband that he was wishing for a disney trip soon. My husband about fell out of his chair.
another thing we started doing (since we drive to disney) is instead of packing lots of bags of stuff, we just started packing clear plastic bins. It is so much easier than a suitcase & if they are clear you can see everything without having to dig through. One for food stuff & another for clothes. they stack well in our excursion too!!
Great minds think alike! My list is just as extensive as yours. They may make fun of how we pack but deep down they know they can rest easy because we’ve got it all covered. That’s a mom’s job! :)
I do have a few different things I include since we fly instead of drive to Disneyland. Since my daughter collects mini snowglobes and since we cannot carry them in the overhead bins, they need to be packed in our suitcases. Do you know the panic that sets in about the possibility of her snowglobe being broken in the luggage below the plane?! Well, to overcome that I take a packing box, bubble wrap and packing tape. Actually on the way to Disneyland, the box holds a loaf of bread in my suitcase to make sure it doesn’t get smashed up. And on the way back home, it safely and securely holds a bubble wrapped snowglobe for my daughter and our Christmas ornament for that year. Knock on wood, this has worked for us but we still say a little prayer each time just to be sure everything arrives home in one piece. Whew, who knew flying could be so stressful! LOL.
I also pack a couple of stamps for postcards we mail from Disneyland. It’s fun to put them in the mailboxes on Main Street. Did you know those are official mailboxes and the mail is collected and sent out? :)
Also for us ladies, don’t forget the Midol ! Best pain reliever if you are on vacation and you need it.
We also pack a roll of paper towels and Wet One antibacterial wipes (the single packs). The Wet Ones are easy to carry in your pocket so there’s no excuse for not cleaning your hands before you eat. And the paper towels are very handy in the hotel room. I lay them on the counter as I make PB&J sandwiches and to wipe the counters. They also make handy placemats when sitting at the table to eat. And they are good to use in the microwave of your hotel room.
Also a lot of the stuff we pack like the paper towels, food, and travel size toiletries get used and thrown away, so then there is room in our suitcases for packing our sourvenirs for the return trip home. My family may think my list is overkill, but like I said they rest easy because they know I have it covered. It helps makes the vacation go smoother so we can have lots of fun. Can’t wait to go back!
We pack my husbands backpack with shoes and then stuff the whole thing into a duffle bag. That way we have an extra bag to take all of our goodies home in at the end of the trip! The shoes don’t take up extra room in our suitcases and we have the backpack to pack lunches in while in the parks during the day. Win, Win, Win all around!
I loathe the idea of paying $31/day for a double stroller rental in the parks, so when we went 18 months ago, I sought out a consignment shop in Orlando and purchased 2 umbrella strollers for $10! They weren’t the prettiest things in the world and the one wheel was a bit janky, but they were small and foldable and CHEAP! We figured we’d just donate them to our hotel property at the end of the trip but ended up bringing them home with us and using them again this past February when we went back to Disney! $10 and they’ve lasted two trips to the parks and 18 months of trips around town in between!
on our last day (last Friday, actually!!) we ended up paying 15 for a stroller for our little boy who will be five in a week. Best money spent ever. We got to the park around 11 that day and left after ten that night. Next trip we will be bringing our usual stroller because we will have a six or seven month old.. And if we need to rent a stroller for our five year old (who will be almost six by then, OMG) we will. The other days he was fine without it, when we left for naps and then returned. He doesn’t really nap but he (and I!!) rested. I can’t wait for next Christmas, we are making Disney an annual trip in lieu of Christmas presents..
Don’t forget the hand sanitizer! :)
Wow! I wonder if you’d pack that much if you flew there….and how much extra you’d have to pay for checking all those bags. I prefer to travel light. I figure if I need something I can just buy it there. Last time we went (2 adults, a 3 year old and an 18 month old) we just took one suitcase, one carryon and a diaper bag. The Disney Magical Express people even commented on how little we had with us!
GREAT LIST and im leaving for disney on sunday morning and ur list helped me alot i also bring ipods nintedos kindles! and i like the sleepmask idea itz a pretty good idea!!!
We specifically booked through Southwest because they let you have two free bags per ticket. We checked 3 bags, one had food in it for breakfasts, and then we used that bag for our dirty laundry to come home and condensed the remaining food in one of our suitcases. And an extra carry on to come home because we packed our heavy winter coats in it. On the way there, we just put our coats into each of our carry ons and it was way too bulky. We also carried a cooler for snacks because we didn’t have much of a layover to eat meals. We won’t do that next time though, both on the way there and home we did not get the cooler out for a snack.
Also, I think that we spent more money on food at target across the street in an effort to save money.. I don’t think that it saved anything… I think that it cost more actually. But oh well, we had a magical time!!!
Great list! I”m an overpacker too… as well as an overorganizer. My packing list (for DH, myself, and 4 kids under the age of 6) is in Excel, color coded based on what gets packed where. Everyone makes fun of me, but it works adn makes packing so much easier! We fly but rent a car so we can buy diapers and food items when we get there.
WOW! That is an awesome idea. Our trip is in 3 weeks with 6 kids and 2 adults. I am responsible for packing for myself and the 3 little ones under 5. I have been wanting a way to start a list and this makes sense!
Does anyone have a suggestion as to the best packpack to take in to the park? I took a small one last time but I got frustrated that our bottles of water got everything in the backpack wet as they would “sweat”? Pictures would be great, if you have them.
Michele:
They sell waterbottle that don’t sweat! I saw them at REI and BassPro, but probably most outdoors stores will carry them. The only drawback is that they’re pricy…around 19-20 dollars each. But a cheap alternative is to slip each refillable bottle into a colorful (new!) sock. That seems to keep my water bottles from getting everything else soggy.
I slide ours into a gallon freezer bag and toss a hotel washcloth in it. That was if it sweats or spills it should all be contained.
We just got back :( sad face because other than the obvious, the weather was wonderful!! High 70’s, low 80’s even sometimes, and now back in WA state it is freezing!! But I used a Jansport backpack and it worked great, it has an outside pocket for the water bottle.
Santa brought each of our kids a personalized backpacks with their names and a Camelback water bottle. It is my favorite brand, they last forever, and the little kid ones are only 12.99. We took them in empty (as are the rules) and filled them at water fountains, which were located frequently throughout DL. I just bought bottled water for myself mostly because I am a water snob and I had a cold sore (just before Christmas, so NOT FAIR) so I didn’t want to share. But for the kids and not picky adults it worked great.
But the camelback water bottles don’t leak or condensate. I use them all the time at home (with ice and filtered water, lol). If you don’t put the spout on correctly, they will leak though, as Grandma learned the hard way, after filling it at Starbucks and then putting it back in the backpack (luckily outside pocket!) and lying the bag on the underseat of the airplane…. but it was just user error and have had no other problems for over a year now. :)
Wow! I have a list, too, for vacations. The only things I can think of on mine that are not on yours are baby items, like diapers (which you don’t need), books (for all of us, including my toddler), and additional electronics and accessories (video camera, chargers for both video and still camera, extra batteries and cards for both, tripod, MP3 players + chargers, GPS + charger; laptop, unless it’s a really quick trip).
For those who fly, carriers are making it harder and harder to be able to take everything you might need. I love driving just because I can take whatever I want, and don’t have to mess with security lines and baggage checks. The plus to flying though is getting there so much faster!
Myself, I’m an overpacker, and I love not having to spend full price for something. It hurts buying something at the last minute that I know I could have paid 80% less back home for!
Unless we’re already out in CA visiting, we have to fly down to FL. With bag weight limits and fees, it’s better for us to be economical. Febreze can refresh clothing and a plastic bag works for a laundry bag. Pants and shorts can be worn more than one time. No extra shoes just the comfy ones that are good for walking. I put all my pills in one of those seven-day holders, to eliminate space taken up by bottles. Vitamins are the same way. Doug will use the shampoo and soap that’s in the hotel rooms, so we only have to worry about my stuff.
After flying cross-country many times over the past decade, I’ve learned how to be space- and money-efficient. :)
on our first trip, i totally overpacked! as in 2 extra outfits per person per day and we were there 10 days! talk about alot of extra clothes!!! if you really use everything you pack, then i would say there is no harm done. if you only use a portion or half, as we did, then i would say you overpacked!! i am a firm believer in bringing it from home and not having to look for it somewhere or not having something if/when i need it! but, sometimes it just isn’t worth it to schlep it around unnecessarily! to each their own!! pack as you see fit for your family! : )
Oh! And when we just went, I made stickers for both of my kids using address labels and I just printed out my cell phone number. One for each kid, each day. That way if, God Forbid, we got separated, it would be helpful in reuinting us…I can’t tell you how many parents/cast members etc commented on how brilliant they thought the idea was…(I can’t take credit, I’m sure I read about it somewhere) but it was nice, even for older kids who do know your number, they might forget it if they’re frazzled or not remember the area code etc….
Rain ponchos from the dollar store! Even if the weather doesn’t require them, they are nice to have on some of the rides. At AK on the Kali River Rapids, there is a cart just before you get on the ride that sells them, I think for $7 each!! You’ll be kicking yourself if you could have gotten a two pack for $1!!!
We add travel size Fabreeze room freshener (cause…you know) and travel size lysol spray. Sometimes we add a nightlight but leaving the bathroom light on with the door cracked works, too. Oh, and we always take an extra bag because we seem to wind up taking more home than we brought! lol
After lugging an overpacked suitcase around Italy last year though, I have decided that it’s best to multi-use clothes as another reader pointed out. For that we also take a travel fabreeze fabric spray to make sure we’re always fresh smelling. You can always take a sample size of fabric softener as well and wash some things in the sink to dry overnight.
We always bring two Over The Door shoe hangers to contain toiletries in one and “stuff” in the other (chargers, batteries, sun glasses). Makes it very easy to find everything and keeps the counter clear. We found a fantastic packing list on the Disboards that we’ve adapted – we have one for parks, a different one for the cruise and one for general vacations.
Oh, and don’t forget any coupons for stores or restaurants that you know you’ll be visiting.
I probally pack almost as much however I do condense the clothes. I will mutli purpose them. I may only take 3 prs of shorts and 6 shirts for a 7 day trip. I probally overpack as well but with the price of airfare and baggage fees I have become a pro on packing carry-ons! I have pet peeve about carry-ons so I make sure they are way undersized and all can fit in one overhead. I use the spacesaver bags too so I can fit more into a smaller space. Works great!!! We are booked for May 29th to June 5th with Free dining staying at Port Orleams French Quarter and can’t wait!!!!!!
I never leave home with out my coupon, restaurant coupons..plus Restaurant.com certificates,,Gotta save money even on vacation LOL
Not such a crazy list, especially since you drive. I love, love, love the idea of bringing a pop-up hamper! I’m going to implement that for our next trip…just last week my sister and BIL invited us to go the week of Thanksgiving! We know the place has washer/dryer, so we’ll be packing half the clothes we need and do laundry halfway through the week. The hamper will come in really handy for that.
One of our most valued items that was at first an afterthought: I had a ziploc baggie of Mickey and friends and toy story figurines for my kids (4 1/2 and almost 2) to play with in the car, and we brought them to the park (my husband’s idea). They played with them waiting for rides and in line for characters, as well as waiting in restaurants for food or waiting for parades or shows to start. I highly recommend having something small to entertain young kids in lines or any other waiting time.
For people flying…there are grocery services that deliver groceries to the room. This is great if you have a villa, or even useful if you don’t have one since the savings on water alone is worth it!!! Shop around since some of them have varying delivery charges.
I just got back from Disney. I take a LOT of picture. I have a great camera and usually use rechargeable batteries, but I didn’t want to battle with that so I bought 2 20 packs of batteries. I got questioned at the airport about it! LOL
My sister did the grocery delivery service on our trip in October of 2009 to WDW. She had diapers, wipes, a case of water, a case of Diet Coke, snacks (fruit snacks, pretzels, granola bars, etc) delivered to her room. She got it right after we arrived. It was so nice that she didn’t have to pack any of that extra stuff…or spend the time to go out and buy it.
I also carry one of the power strip extension cords to use with all the electronics. The plug is usually behind or under a table. I plug in the power cord and place it on the table/desk. We can charge the laptop, rechargeable camera batteries, game boy, and 3 cell phones at one time. Or it is handy when we stay at POP and use one of the fridge/coffee maker swaps.
I do this too! After a few hotel stays I got SOO frustrated! They always have the plugs in the dumbest, most hard to reach places, and they are always filled with the tv and appliances so there is no room to plug something in anyway. Having your own power cord helps so much.
That is a great idea! We are planning our next trip at the POP – staying on Disney resort for the first time. What is the fridge/coffee maker swaps? We have a little one, so we will definitely be needing a fridge in the room!
I always bring extra contacts and earplanes. If you get bad ear aches from flying, then these are a must. I even make my kids wear them.
I am just the opposite…I bring (on every trip) as LITTLE as I can get away with. Too much stuff to haul around exhausts me. So I plan for multiple uses for each thing, mix and match outfits, etc. Small things that I can pick up quickly at my destination (such as shampoo, soaps, etc,) I buy in one quick stop when we arrive, and I usually grab some local postcards, the area newspaper and a map at that same stop. I haven’t found any significant difference in prices in most locations, and with the high cost of baggage fees when flying, I actually end up saving money. If we’re driving, the extra space in the car makes everyone much happier. And then there is the time…less stuff means we can get into the hotel room and out much faster, get our baggage off the airline carousel faster (one bag and go versus waiting for several), less time needed to repack when it’s time to go home.
But that’s just me! To each their own! And enjoy your trip!
I always say I’m going to do this, and then I start packing and it’s all downhill from there. Haha. Oh well! Good for you, one day I’ll hopefully be able to pack that way!
I too am an over packer! My husband makes fun of me but we have rarely forgot or needed something we did not bring, lol. I do bring the following
– Hand soap
– bottle dryer rack (a cheep one I got at Burlington Coat Factory for .99)
– Dish Soap (to wash my son’s bottles and cups)
– Bottle brush
– Plastic small bag’s sented like powder (for stinky diapers)
– warm clothes/jackets just in case it is a little cool
– an extra out fit for each person just in case
– samples of laundry soap and dryer sheets just in case we need to do laundry
-stroller
– a small cooler and a cheep ice pack to bring along cold juice for my son
– A night light ( just in case our son wakes up in the midle of the night he will not get scared. We also leave the bathrom light on)
We will be visiting Orlando/Kissimmee the end of April to the first week in May. I like to bring everyday things along with some extra’s. My list is very similar to your with a few extras added in =)
I pack our cell chargers, my sons DS, Disney movies for car, plastic cups, plastic utensils, napkins, paper plates, trash bags and paper towels. Oh and plastic utensils!
I never go on any trip without them. Makes snacking in the car and hotel so much easier!
And we always seem to fill up the little hotel trash cans quick (esp if we bring back leftovers or order pizza so I love having trash bags!
I also pack ear plugs and sleep masks any time I travel. Never know how the noise or light will come into your room!
great list!! i too take all that & probably more…love some of the tips from others on here, like the shoe thing ont he door!! GREAT idea!!! we got a PIN NUMBER for FREE DINING so hoping to book another disney trip for May 20-30!! i would go 5 times a year if I could!!!!!
Last year when we went we had a water bag that we took to the park.It was a backpack and it came with a water bottle and also had pockets to put your camera and credit cards.It saved on buying some many drinks.
Vitamins
Perfect timing!! We leave this Saturday and I went and bought our snacks tonight! I can’t wait!!!!
I also pack…
Shout wipes
Friction Block (formerly called blister block)
Luden’s cherry throat drops (because I can’t use regular cough drops)
But the #1 thing that has saved me MANY times in the parks (and daily life in general) is the medication holder I keep in my purse… It’s an altoids gum tin. It’s small enough to fit in any fanny pack or purse but large enough to carry at least 2 doses of all the medications I do need and the stuff my family might need. I hope this helps
Great idea for the medicine!
When we went last march my husband decided to put his foot down on my “over packing” so i secretly packed the stuff he said we could just buy there. And then when he needed something id show him how much it cost and pull out the one i brought from home and make him thank me :) By the end of the trip i had a running tally of what he said we could just buy there and a seperate list of what it cost to buy at home and bring with us. At a savings of 70% he was very happy im defiant LOL. He use to say the time it takes to do coupons isnt worth the savings but he now sits with me on sunday nights making meal plans and clipping coupons. And before he buys ANYTHING anymore he has me help him look for discounts and coupons lol. After 11 yrs hes finally catching on that his silly wife knows what shes doing :)
Would it make you feel better if I told you that my list is almost identical to yours, I just have a few MORE items on mine? Ear plugs (my son is sensitive to noise so we use these for some of the rides), window decorations, a family game, a bottle of hand soap because I can’t stand to use soap that has been sitting on the hotel sink, Clorox wipes. I even take one of those pocket shoe organizers to hang on the bathroom door. I keep our hair accessories, brushes, toothpaste, phone chargers, daily medicines, etc. in it to keep the sink area organized.
What a great idea on the shoe organizer!! I am definitely bringing one when we go to Disney in August. Clean up an organization will be a snap. I have one hanging in my home bathroom, but never thought to bring on vacation!! Thanks for the tip
Exactly like my list! I too overpack, but you never know when you need it! I also have to add stroller, stroller fan, sheets for pack and play, Lysol, bottles, formula… All the baby stuff… So I take TONS! And we take a couple pillows!
DON’T FORGET THE COOLER!
I always overpack and get made fun of too…the only thing I didn’t see on your list that I would bring is a sweatshirt/hoodie because you never know lol. We are going to Disney the end of May and even then I will pack a hoodie for everyone.
You’re so right! One year @ Disney, the weather suddenly went from warm and pleasant to cold and rainy. So much so, that we were soon freezing in our t- shirts and shorts. Finally, we gave in and spent a bundle on Disney’s sweat shirts sold at the park!
I have a similar list for Disney trips and beach vacations. When my kids were about 7-8, they got their own list. They were responsible for laying out all their own things, then I checked and packed. It worked well. My youngest is now 15 and packs himself with few mishaps. We did get 3 hours away for a weekend swim meet with rainy/snowy weather, he left home with slippers on and forgot to pack shoes. Oops. My daughter got to Disney once when she was about the same age without panties. She went to the gift shop and bought herself Disney ones with her own $ and didn’t tell me until I found them in the laundry. Lessons learned.
I know gifts are a big thing at Disney.. But I heard on the radio the other day to save on a budget you might want to go to a Disney Store and buy before hand and when the kids ask for something say lets see what Mickey or Cinderella left for us tonight..
Wow that is a lot of stuff- we probably bring about 1/2 that much :)
Thanks for the list! We are leaving to Disney World on Friday!!! This helps a ton!
I love your list~My family and I will be taking our first ever trip to Disney World this May, and your list gives me an idea on what to pack. Thanks
I don’t think that’s a crazy list! I think its wonderful. You are making sure you don’t have to buy extra stuff and that all of your money goes to the fun stuff! Awesome!
Looks like my list, I take travel size paper towels with us. I over pack too. We fly so next time we go, I’m going to ship package to hotel so can pack more in suitcases.
How do you ship stuff to your hotel? Do you have to label it so they know it is for you to pick up when you check in? We are flying this year so we were thinking of mailing water to pop century but I didn’t know how to do it so they don’t throw it out or whatever.
Thanks!! We need this for our upcoming trip!!!!