What’s in our Disney Park Bag?

As many of you already know, one of the most important aspects of a Disney vacation is being prepared for what could happen. Circumstances change quickly at Disney - it can go from sun, to torrential downpour, back to sun in the blink of an eye. And our kid’s attitudes can change even quicker! We have found that having the proper supplies in your ‘park bag’ can save the day, especially when the unexpected occurs. (Quick side note: The unexpected will occur! It always does, and for us that is part of the fun that comes with every Walt Disney World adventure!)

So what does our typical ‘park bag’ look like? First, it depends on what kind of park day we’re planning. If it is a longer day we are planning we generally take a backpack. If a shorter park day, we opt for the fanny pack/crossbody.

Backpack

First and foremost, we think about the weather. We make sure everyone has either an umbrella or a poncho for when the rain arrives (notice I said when, not if). We don’t like to move around the parks in the rain, but when we think the rain is about to end we generally move to our next attraction and want to be as dry as possible on our way (this is a great way to get on an E-Ticket attraction with a lower wait). If we think there is a really good chance of getting wet, we will also take a change of clothes, especially for the kids. Believe me, you haven’t experienced feeling cold until you’ve tried to eat in a Disney World restaurant while soaking wet! Lastly, depending on the time of year, we may pack a long-sleeve shirt for the evenings when the temperature falls.

Next, we think about charging supplies. If you haven’t noticed, we film in the parks constantly and need to charge our phones several times throughout the day. We use portable chargers and fuel rods. At Walt Disney World, fuel rod exchange is free so after you make the initial investment staying charged in the parks is easy. This may not be as much of a concern when you aren't filming your trip, but with the necessity of using the My Disney Experience app to navigate your day, keeping a fully charged phone has never been so important.

Then we think about comfort. This is where we make sure everyone has sunglasses or a hat and that we have plenty of sunscreen. We also carry basic medical supplies such as band-aids, Dramamine, and Advil. All of these items have saved our day on at least one occasion, and have helped stop a kid meltdown about a million times.

Lastly, we include a few miscellaneous items like a waterproof case (to store our phones on water rides), chapstick (because Frank is addicted to it), cash (because even though it has never happened, how would you pay for anything if your magicband didn’t work?) and portable fans (see our favorite fans here). It is also worth a mention that when our kids get tired of wearing their Mickey ears the backpack is a perfect place for Mom or Dad to carry them around.

Fanny Pack/Crossbody (click here to see our favorite)

Removing any of the items from the backpack list above is tough for us, but when we are planning a shorter park trip we don’t like carrying a large bag around.

Again, the most important thing to remember: plan for the weather. Even in Florida, the weather outlook over a period of several hours is fairly reliable. If it is going to rain, we dress accordingly. If it is sunny, we just wear sunglasses or hats. And after we apply sunscreen in the room (for a short trip) we know it will last for the duration of the visit and reapplication won’t be needed. Also, if you had a true weather emergency, these supplies can always be bought in the parks but we generally advise against this given the high prices you will pay versus using your pre-bought items.

We also leave our medical supplies in the room. Each park at Walt Disney World has a first aid station. It is common that someone in our party will get a headache or will scrape their knee. When this happens, a simple visit to the first aid station gets you the attention that you need! We have always found it interesting that the parks sell Tylenol and Advil - and it is quite expensive - but if you visit the first aid station they will give you a dose of the same medicine for free!

So what actually makes it into our fanny pack/crossbody? Phone chargers, of course, and cash. But not much else because the space is so limited. Sometimes we can fit a single portable fan, but this just turns into an argument later in the day over who gets to use it. And our general rule when carrying a fanny pack/crossbody? If you take it from the room with you, you are wearing it (or carrying it) the rest of the night!

Just remember when planning your vacation that every family is different and has different needs so be sure to pack your "park bag" to fit your family!

Have a Magical Day!