One of the biggest questions when going to Disney is what do I need to bring into the park? You don’t want to be bogged down with things you don’t need, but you also won’t want to be caught without something important. So what do we take every time we go to Disney? What did we take when Viola was younger that we don’t need anymore?
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Magic Band/Park tickets/Wallet/phone. This may be obvious, but it’s something you definitely don’t want to forget. You’ll need your park ticket in whatever form you prefer. We use MagicBands, but you can also use physical tickets or your phone. Even if you have a MagicBand, don’t forget your phone. You’ll need the My Disney Experience app for mobile food orders, wait times, DAS Selections (if applicable) showtimes and even checking your photos. It’s also a good idea to have a form of ID and your preferred payment method. Don’t rely on cash alone, while many locations accept it, some snack locations are cashless.
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Water Bottle. We always bring at least one reusable water bottle. We fill it with ice and water before leaving home and refill it throughout the day as needed. Pro tip: Any quick-service or snack location with fountain drinks will give you free water if you ask. We sometimes alternate between asking for ice water and no ice depending on how much ice we already have. During the hotter months, we’ll bring two and share between the three of us to stay hydrated.
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Snacks. As mentioned in a previous post, Viola is a picky eater, so having snacks on hand is important. Let’s be honest, we all get a little hangry sometimes. We use stackable containers to organize snacks. Our go-to options are Goldfish, fruit snacks, and marshmallows.
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Popcorn Bucket. We bring a refillable popcorn bucket to help with snacking throughout the day. One of our first stops when we arrive at a park is to a snack location to refill it.
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Baby Wipes. We always have some on hand, for cleaning hands, wiping down tables, or handling small spills. You never know when you’ll need one, especially when a sink isn’t near by.
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Sunscreen. This is something we sometimes bring and sometimes leave at home. As annual passholders, we often just visit for a few hours in the evenings or morning. In those cases, we apply sunscreen before leaving and skip bringing it. If we are doing a full day, then don’t forget it, especially in the summer you will want to reapply.
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Change of underwear/clothes. You never know when you’ll get caught in a rainstorm and need dry clothes. Depending on your child’s stage of potty training, you may want to pack multiple outfits or at least extra underwear and pants.
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Band-Aids, Tylenol, and Basic First Aid. You don’t need anything extensive. Disney has first aid stations in every park, but for small cuts or scrapes, having a quick Band-Aid on hand can be very helpful.
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Headphones. Viola doesn’t need headphones, but if you have a child that is noise sensitive they will be extremely helpful with all the different sounds that are heard through out the park.
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Diapers/Pull ups. We don’t need these anymore, but if your child isn’t potty trained they’re a must. Pack more than you think you need. Pro-Tip, store them in a plastic bag inside your park bag to keep them dry, especially if it rains or you get wet on rides like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. If you run out, Baby Care Centers located in each park usually have some for sale.
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Small toys/ fidget toys. Use your judgement on how much you want to bring, but a couple of small toys can be a lifesaver when waiting in line or for food.
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Child’s Tablet. We use to bring Viola’s tablet when she was still using a stroller and needed a safe place to regulate. Now she just uses our phones in line, so we don’t carry the extra device. It is something to consider if their tablet helps your child.
This list is what works for us and what we needed when Viola was younger. You can always adjust based on your own family’s needs. For example, we don’t bring ponchos, but many families swear by them. At the end of the day, your “must haves” are whatever helps your family have a successful and enjoyable park day, and that will look different for everyone.