Park Bag Essentials: What To Pack For A Day At Disney

by Kaylyn Cromer

Working for Magic Vacations – I love planning the perfect vacation for my wonderful clients. Making sure all the little details come together for a great trip is what I aim for and we know a day in Disney can be magical and filled with smiles, laughter, first-time experiences and unforgettable memories! But we all know the opposite as well, Disney can also bring out the crankiest side in people we have ever seen and it is sure to also come with its difficulties and meltdowns. I have put together this list of park bag essentials to make your day in Disney as easy and as smooth as possible. Everyone will have different ideas on what they prefer to bring and I have read tips and tricks to packing a good park bag. I hope this helps you gain some knowledge for your next trip and makes your packing a little easier so you can have the most magical day in Disney, so let’s get started!..

This is my park bag!

1 — Camera – A day in Disney is full of making priceless memories and snapping a LOT of pictures. A decent camera is a good investment if you travel often and it is something I carry with me on each trip to Disney (pictured is my Nikon D5000 camera). I also use my phone often times for selfies in front of the castle and shooting while on rides. Having a good camera and editing apps are fantastic to document your vacation from start to finish.

2 — Wallet – This is my personalized Mickey wallet that is perfect for Disney. Since we use Magicbands for linking our credit cards to while traveling I tend to not carry my full wallet with me or even cash. This simple wallet has and ID holder in the front and 2 card slots in the back as well as a small pouch for small cash (also comes with a lanyard if you’d prefer to have around your neck). Perfect for a park day with my gift card, ID and tip money for the table service meals. (This wallet was purchased from etsy: coverunderthemat was the shop name and is around $15.)

3 — Sunglasses – I always bring a pair of shades while we are in the parks because it’s Florida and it is sunny a lot! (This bag has a spot to slide your glasses into when your not using them as well!)

4 — Penny Press Collection Book and change – My kids love having the special pictures on the pressed pennies, so we carry with us a coin booklet (bought from Disney parks around $8) and we have a recycled M&Ms tube full of quarters and shiny pennies for the machines. We stack them 2 quarters and 1 penny in a pattern to easily go from one machine to the other without having to dump the entire tube out!

5 — Ears – You cannot have a day at Disney without a pair of ears (or hats, which I also collect)! I can do multiple changes throughout the day of ears and hats to make the pictures even more magical. Also, hats while in Florida = extra shade from the heat (pictured are ears from Disney Parks and are $25).

6 — Hand Sanitizer – Yep, Disney is magical, however we also know that with millions of visitors each year, there are also a ton of germs! I carry this stuff with me everywhere, and if I don’t have the bottle of sanitizer I have a backup wipe pack usually with me.

7 — Water bottle – Let’s face it Disney is hot! It is always smart to have a drink with you at all times. I often times use the refillable mugs we get at the resorts or a refillable bottle from home, just as long as we have something to fill up during the day. Waiting in lines takes a while and the heat can make a magical day miserable if you don’t stay hydrated! (Disney gives freewater at counter services places. Save some money while in the parks and grab as many as you like!)

8 — Snacks – Along with the water to stay hydrated, snacks are super helpful! We always travel with granola bars, trail mix, goldfish, crackers or fruit so while waiting or with super cranky kids we have something on hand to keep them occupied and fill their tummies.

9 — Cooling towel – These are a lifesaver! Florida heat can be a crucial factor to your park day and these fitness cooling towels are amazing! These towels are simple to use just dampen with water, ring out excess, grab the ends and snap the fabric a few times and it’s done. These stay at least 20 degrees cooler and don’t wet your clothes while you wear them. If you feel it start to wear off, you can snap the fabric again ro reactivate or do the simple steps again! (pictured is Mission brand, purchased around $10).

10 — Ponchos – Since we are talking about Florida weather a lot we might as well face it, it’s Florida and there is a chance of rain almost daily! Ponchos are a great way to stay as dry as possible and still enjoy a day in the parks. These can easily be bought in camping gear sections and even at most dollar stores. (If you have a stroller grab an extra to cover for parking while on rides and keeping your belongings dry.)

11 — Camera battery – We all know that camera is top of the list to bring with you while on your magical vacation! But, don’t forget extra batteries. Simple- you don’t want your video to stop halfway through Happily Ever After fireworks (trust me, I’ve had it happen)!

12 — Portable phone charger – This may be the most important item in this entire bag! Since we all take pictures and videos with your phones, call lost party members and use the Disney app while in the parks for ride wait times and making fast passes…..our phones die…..and fast! (Pictured is a Bytech portable charger. This can charge two phone at once time. Charges fast and can last days when not in use. I have used this brand for years and absolutely recommend to everyone looking for one. This was bought on Amazon for around $30.)

Now for a close up on the actual bag. I have a lot of people ask what a good park bag looks like and where I got it from. So here are some details…

This bag was purchased on Ebay, for around $20. This isn’t a name brand; I honestly didn’t even care about that. I searched for a crossbody/sling type style of bag and came across this in my search and I now have used this several times when visiting the parks.

This bag has 3 main pockets on the front, a collapsible mesh side for a water bottle and on the left side it has a slot your cord can come in/out of so you can charge your phone and keep the battery pack in the back pocket while you wear it. One of my favorite thing about this bag is that you can wear it on either shoulder. The clip at the bottom can be attached to a metal ring on either side that way it gives more options so you don’t tire easily from only one shoulder carrying your essentials. Also located on the main strap of the bag is a slot for your sunglasses to loop through when not in use. Overall, I love this bag and it has made the day much easier in the parks. The only thing left for my next trip is to decorate it with all my pins!

I hope this helped ease the stress and questions you have about what to take with you in the parks. There are tons of things each family has as an essential to pack in their bag and I would love to hear yours! Sometimes what goes in the bag is more important anyways. For more articles or if you have more questions about planning your magic vacation to Disney, please contact me at kaylyn.cromer@magicvacations.net. I am here to help you with any and all vacation needs!

Kaylyn

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