I grew up with a dad who typed out his packing checklist, whether he was traveling for one business day or 14 days to another country. And so, I like to have a little list that I check off as I go when packing.

When it comes to Disney World, my list is a bit extensive and not so little. After decades of traveling to the parks, I have it down to a science of what I need to bring with me.

These are the items you need on your Disney checklist, with a few important notes about each item. Plus, I’ll tell you the things you can leave at home.

Disney Packing List: The Top 4 Essentials

To start out, these are the obvious items you need, but let me tell you what exactly you should get. I’ve been traveling to Disney World for the last 30 years. Now that I go on an annual basis, I’ve got a list of things I simply cannot survive the parks without. From moisture-wicking socks to a pack of Pepto, I’ve got it all.

Because everyone has different styles, you won’t find clothing or swimsuits on this list; this is more about things you actually need. If you want apparel inspo, I personally shop at Disney Store, BoxLunch and Etsy for themed clothing.

HOKA Bondi 9

$164 to $175

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For my next trip, I’m testing out a Vera Bradley suitcase + backpack combo, and these four items are going to be the first things I pack.

1. Good shoes: You need to wear really good walking shoes to Disney; you’re going to do anywhere from 15,000 to 20,000 steps in a day. I recommend a pair of HOKA sneakers or Crocs; those are my two go-to brands when I travel to Disney World and Disneyland. Just remember, don’t break in a pair of new shoes on Day 1 of your trip; try to wear them before you travel. The Bondi 9 is my preferred sneaker, but people online also love the Brooks Glycerin 22. And Brooks recently released a whole Disney collection, so they’re a hot park shoe.
2. Moisture-wicking socks: Good shoes won’t matter if your socks are of poor quality. Skip the all-cotton socks and get moisture-wicking socks instead. My recommendation is either Bombas or Feetures, both of which I use whenever I am traveling to Disney. I recommend carrying a spare pair in your bag, because Florida rain is no joke. If your feet get wet when at the parks, you’ll want to switch them out to avoid walking around in soggy socks. I pack double the socks per trip, so if I am traveling for eight days, I have 16 pairs of socks in my suitcase.
3. A Disney MagicBand: If you’re staying at a Disney World resort hotel, a MagicBand is a must. If you’re staying at a Good Neighbor Hotel, this isn’t a need because you won’t get to use half of the perks. This reason I consider this a must, not a want, is that if you are staying on property, a MagicBand practically eliminates the need for carrying a wallet around. Just remember to order your MagicBand after booking your hotel to get a 25% off discount.
4. Mickey ears: Is it really a Disney trip if you’re not wearing a Mickey ears headband? You can’t go wrong with any style, like these custom nameplate ears from BaubleBar or these Minnie Mouse Plush Ears from Disney Store. I personally think you need at least four pairs to wear per trip, but I am possibly a little overzealous.

Disney packing checklist: What you need to pack to bring to the parks

Now, there’s a ton of little essentials that you might not think of when packing, but you will be mad if you forget them. Most of which can be found on Amazon for between $3 and $25!

All of these are essentials and should be in your suitcase to bring with you to all of the theme parks.

• Hand Sanitizer: I don’t mess around with germs. I have hand sanitizer in every single bag I own, and Disney is no different. I love this Mickey Keychain Sanitizer from Touchland for that extra sparkle.
• Sanitizing wipes: These sanitizing wipes are great for wiping down a table when you’re getting some quick service food or come in handy you don’t like touching railings. Also, Wet Wipes are skin-safe, so you can use them on your hands if you get a little too much churro dust or popcorn grease on you while snacking.
• Sunscreen: I firmly believe the recommendation from dermatologists to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen yearround, but it is especially important if you’re traveling to Disney during the summertime. To make it easy to apply in Disney, I like to have a spray sunscreen, and this Vacation Super Spritz SPF50 Face Mist is perfectly sized for small bags.
• Sunglasses: Similar to sunscreen, if you’re traveling during summer, you really need sunglasses. DIFF Eyewear has an exclusive Disney Princess collection, with Elsa Polarized Sunglasses coming soon. I’ve seen these rectangle sunglasses all over TikTok as the “it” girl frames to wear in the parks, and I wound up buying some for my next Disney trip.
• A fan: If it is over 80 degrees, you need a hand fan in your park bag. This Minnie-shaped one is what I always pack, but recently my friend showed me this turbo fan from Amazon that she called a “mini Dyson.” It really is that good.
• A poncho: Rather than pack an umbrella, bring a poncho. It is great if it starts pouring rain or if you get the front seat on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Amazon has a five-pack for under $15, whereas it’ll cost you $10 to $12 in the parks for a single poncho.
• A portable charger: FuelRod is the official charger of the Disney Parks, but I am an Anker girl to my core. I’m the type to travel with a few portable chargers, in case anyone in my group needs one. I don’t like needing to bring a cord, so I always make sure my portable chargers are cord-free. My two favorites from Anker are this Nano Power Bank with Built-In USB-C and the Anker MagGo Power Bank.
• A reusable water bottle: You can get free water all over Disney World from anywhere with a soda fountain or the drinking fountains near bathrooms, so you want to have a water bottle with you at all times. This compact Micro Hydro Mini Bottle is easy to carry around if you need something small. Pro tip: Fill it with ice before leaving your hotel and fill it with water when you get to the parks.
• Liquid I.V.: I always have an electrolyte packet on hand because I’m never hydrated enough at Disney. My favorite is the Popsicle Firecracker flavor.
• A small-to-medium bag: I typically store a backpack in a locker with extra clothing and Crocs, and then I like to carry a small bag around with me during the day. My top recommendations would be Vera Bradley’s Woodward Small Belt Bag or Stoney Clover Lane’s Pouchette Crossbody Bag.
• Pepto Bismol: There is a lot of food to eat at Disney World, especially if you’re heading to EPCOT. I would not be caught dead without Pepto Bismol in my bag. Honestly, I carry it 24/7 and might be buried with it; I hate getting a stomachache.
• Advil: I have either Advil or Tylenol on me in the event I get a headache after a lot of rides or too much sun. You can get a ton of mini packs of Advil from Amazon for under $12.
• Band-Aids: You can get Band-Aids and tampons from guest services, but rather than locating them when you’ve got a little cut or blister, I always have some Band-Aids and Blister pads packed in my emergency kit.
• Aquaphor: I am never without a mini tube of Aquaphor. It is the easiest quick fix for any skin ailment. It can soothe irritated skin after too much sun or a bit of chafing from walking around all day.
• An anti-chafing balm: On that note, you should really have an anti-chafing stick in your bag. I swear by the MegaBabe Thigh Rescue balm. It comes in a mini, which means I can carry it in my crossbody if I want to.
• Mini deodorant: If you’re going to the parks during the summertime, pack some extra deodorant; you don’t want to be the stinky stranger. I always have a small Dove deodorant on hand.
• A Ziploc bag or wet bag: If your socks or clothing get wet from the rain or a ride, you don’t want to get the rest of your stuff wet, so a Ziploc bag for socks or a wet bag for larger clothing items is a must-have.
• A reusable straw: If you hate paper straws, bring a compact portable straw (this one from Amazon comes with a keychain) because Disney only has paper straws, and they disintegrate relatively fast.

Dr. Scholl’s® Tired, Achy Feet Soothing & Reviving Foot Mask

$13 $12

Dr. Scholl’s Tired, Achy Feet Soothing & Reviving Foot Mask features self-heating booties that gently warm up, helping to relax and soothe tired, achy feet for immediate relief. Infused with Epsom salt and menthol, these moisturizing socks penetrate deep into foot muscles, offering fast and lasting relief from daily foot discomfort.

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There are a few things you’ll want to bring with you and keep at your hotel for the end of a long park day.

• A massage ball: For your achy, tired feet, you can either bring a golf ball or a spiky massage ball to roll under your foot to work out your muscles.
• Foot mask: In that same vein, Dr. Scholl’s sells a foot mask for achy feet that you can slip on when you get back to your hotel and kick your feet up to watch a movie.
• Tiger balm/muscle relief balm: Keeping in line with tired and achy muscles, you’ll want to have some Tiger Balm or any muscle relief balm to lather yourself in after a long day walking around.
• Headache relief cap: All of these after-park products are about relief, and if you’ve heard children screaming all day or you were squinting in the sun for 12 hours, this headache relief cap is exactly what you need.

What not to pack for Disney World

1. Large umbrellas: They take up a lot of space and can cause a holdup at security. Get a compact umbrella or a pack poncho instead!
2. Selfie sticks: They’re on Disney’s list of items you can’t bring into the parks, so leave the sticks at home.
3. Stroller wagons: Also on that list of prohibited items! You’re better off renting a stroller from Disney or bringing a travel stroller. Keep in mind that if you’re bringing a stroller, you need to completely empty the bottom of it when going through security.
4. Bug spray: You can get this for free at the parks! There’s an animal-safe mosquito repellent available upon request.