Don’t Leave Home Without This When Traveling to Walt Disney World

Happily, Disney stocks many common items you might have forgotten to pack for your Walt Disney World vacation. But who wants to spend time and money tracking down things you could have brought from home?  Here are some items you won’t want to leave home without when traveling to WDW.

Clothes for Inclement Weather

Orlando is rightfully known for its hot, sunny weather. But there are times when the weather in Walt Disney World is not exactly cooperative, and it’s a good idea to be prepared!  

It can get downright chilly in Florida, especially first thing in the morning or once the sun goes down. Packing a warm sweater or blanket can come in handy for early morning jaunts or late-night adventures. Similarly, bringing a rain poncho can save you a lot of grief (and money, because ponchos in the Parks aren’t cheap!) on a wet WDW day.

Comfortable Shoes

This one might go without saying, but then, we’ve lost count of the Guests we’ve seen trying to navigate Walt Disney World’s Theme Parks in flip flops or high heels.  Comfortable shoes are your best friend when in WDW!  

You’ll likely be doing a lot of walking no matter where you go on property.  Guests average between 17,000 to 19,000 steps a day when vacationing at WDW, and we’ve had days with step counts of over 20,000.  So be kind to your feet, and bring along your most comfortable pair(s) of sneakers – and if you’re buying new shoes to bring, break them in before your trip to avoid any uncomfortable surprises in WDW.

Water Bottle

This is another item we never leave home without when heading to Disney World.  With all that walking, plus the heat of Orlando to deal with, you’re going to need to be hydrated, so bringing a water bottle (or buying a themed WDW water bottle on the property) is a necessity.  

There are plenty of water fountains throughout the Theme Parks, and many quick service locations offer free cups of ice water you can pour into your water bottle when you need a refill.  Sure, you could buy bottled water, but that will add up quickly, and bringing your own bottle is much more environmentally friendly anyway!

Snacks and/or Breakfast Food

Many Guests assume that outside food isn’t allowed in Walt Disney World Theme Parks.  Not true!  As long as you’re not transporting food in a glass container, and don’t need to heat or refrigerate your snacks, you can absolutely bring your own food into Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, or Disney’s Hollywood Studios!  

In fact, this is a great idea, not only for those with dietary restrictions, but for Guests with picky eaters in their party, or who simply want to save a bit of money on meals within WDW.  Food can get pricy in the Parks, after all!  Pro tip: bring a box of cereal and a couple of plastic bowls, and buy a carton of milk at your Resort – voila, quick and easy (and cheap!) breakfast in your Resort room!

Empty Space in Luggage

This one is tough, but try to resist the temptation to overpack when traveling to Walt Disney World, so that you can leave some room in your luggage.  We’ve never met anyone who could resist the allure of WDW merchandise.  Chances are you’ll end up bringing home more gifts and souvenirs than you planned, and you’ll need somewhere to put all of those goodies. 

Consider packing your suitcase only ¾ full, bringing an extra suitcase, or stashing a collapsible bag that won’t take up much space in your suitcase.  That way, you’ll have plenty of room to fill up on all that Disney magic, without worrying about squeezing it all into your luggage.

Hand Sanitizer or Sanitizer Wipes

If you’ve been to Walt Disney World since the pandemic, you’ll know that Guests can find free hand sanitizer everywhere on the property.  But when used repeatedly throughout a vacation, it can dry out your hands.  If you have a tried-and-true hand sanitizer, it’s a good idea to bring it along. 

Sanitizer wipes are another great idea since you’ll be touching surfaces that have been touched by lots of other Guests before you.  High-touch surfaces are cleaned by Cast Members, but not always as often as you’d wish, so it’s good to have your own antibacterial wipes to sanitize any surface that needs it.

Swimwear

Even if you’re not planning a day in Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park (WDW’s other water Park, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, has been closed since the pandemic began, with no word yet on when it will reopen), it’s a good idea to pack your swimwear when vacationing at Walt Disney World. 

All WDW Resort Hotels, whether Deluxe, Moderate, or Value level, feature swimming pools, and the weather in Orlando can get uncomfortably warm.  There’s nothing like starting or ending your day in WDW with a refreshing swim!

Patience

Finally, be sure to pack a healthy dose of patience when traveling to WDW.  It doesn’t take up any space, and it will help you through even the most hectic, frustrating day in the Theme Parks.  After all, you’re vacationing in the most magical place on Earth – take a breath, take a page out of Elsa’s book, and let it go!

Bottom Line

With so much to do before a vacation, it’s nice to take the guesswork out of packing, especially if you haven’t traveled in a while thanks to COVID-19. Being prepared with these must-pack items will help you save time and money so you can have the most magical WDW vacation ever!