7 Everyday Essentials to Bring in your Disney Park Backpack- Knowing How & What to pack
Packing for any vacation can be stressful, but Disney Trips where you’re in the park all day long? Those packing lists can seem extremely overwhelming. Finding a happy medium between bringing only your phone and wallet, and wearing a 40 lbs backpack all day long can be hard… But it’s easier than it seems. I’ll show you the several everyday essentials you should pack in your day bag, without it killing your back by the end of the day! Each of these items can easily fit in a small backpack, purse, or even Loungefly bag, which makes carrying them around all day at the Disney Parks easy! (Pro tip: buying these items before your trip can save you money and worries.) By the end of this blog post, I guarantee you’ll know how to pack your own bag and what to put in it for your own Disney Trip!
1. Portable Charger:
I personally HAVE TO bring at least one portable charger with me wherever I go. I use it almost everyday, since I love to take photos and videos. I recommend this My Charge Portable Charger Battery Pack. It’s most compatible with iPhones with Lightning and USB C built in cables, as well as having a USB outlet. To recharge, just plug this product directly in. I like to charge these each night and repack it everyday to ensure it's charged and ready-to-go. I can get 2-3 full charges out of this specific charger, so I highly recommend it for a Disney Park Day.
2. Poncho/ Jacket
Depending on what season you are visiting Disney Parks, you could get rained on quite a bit (especially if you’re visiting Walt Disney World). Checking the weather forecast before your trip is a must do- you can prepare by either bringing a jacket or poncho. If you’re planning on going on wet rides like Grizzly River Run, Splash Mountain (soon to be Tiana’s Bayou Adventure), or Kali River Rapids, bringing a poncho is already a good idea to prevent being drenched with water all day long. I recommend buying and bringing these disposable plastic ponchos with you- they are very compact, and it comes in a pack of five!
If you would rather a non-disposable jacket option to stay dry, I highly recommend this Columbia Rain Jacket. I’ve had the Women’s Arcadia Ii one for years, and it’s still in great condition. It’s also very compact and light, and is super easy to pack. However, it is not meant for warmth, so I would recommend layering with this jacket if you are cold.
Unfortunately, Disney Parks do not have a magical dome that controls rain, wind, clouds, or even the sun. Good thing we can adapt with these awesome jackets and ponchos! Even an umbrella is a good idea to bring to the park on days that it’s just down-pouring rain.
3. Chapstick
Having chapped, dry lips is the worst! I love bringing my chapstick with me, even to Disneyland. This is one of those items you forget about until it’s too late, and the worst part is that the Disney Parks do not sell chapstick or lip balm in many locations. Even then, it is normally behind the counter with other medicine products at bigger stores, and it is a lot more expensive. At that point, it’s really just worth bringing your own. I recommend Burt’s Bees chapsticks, especially the Pomegranate or Salted Caramel limited edition ones. They have tons of different flavors, so you can pick which one you would like! I’ve linked just the basic Burt’s Bees lip balm you can check out if you want!
4. Sunscreen/ Lotion
Sunscreen and lotion is another one of those products that Disney hardly sells, so I personally prefer to bring my own. Especially on sunny, hot days, you can get sunburnt very easily so it’s important to bring and apply sunscreen. Whether you use spray or lotion sunscreen, it's important to have a high SPF (70+) in order to have long lasting protection from the sun. I personally like the Banana Boat Sport Ultra Spray and Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Body Mist products. Each of these sprays are SPF 70 or above, and they feel lightweight when wearing them. Really, any sunscreen will do- the most important thing is to protect your skin.
5. Cameras
Cameras are such an important part of capturing the memories you are making, especially at a place like Disneyland. Now, with phone camera’s being better than ever, it’s not necessary to bring a secondary camera with you. However, if you want special photos such as film, polaroids, or professional photos on your DSLR camera. Something about bringing a disposable film camera is so nostalgic and fun- and it’s easy to use for all ages! I personally love Kodak’s brand of disposable camera, and buying them in a pack is fun! The only downside to these cameras is that there’s only so much film- but that’s what our digital cameras on our phones are for!
6. Hand Sanitizer
When you start thinking about all of the millions of people who visit and touch everything at the Disney Parks, you definitely have a strong urge to go wash your hands. But, washing your hands every 15 minutes is not that realistic, especially at Disneyland. So, the next best thing is to bring your own hand sanitizer to get rid of bacteria and germs on your hands and help you feel cleaner. Disney does sell hand sanitizer, and even sometimes has it out for free, but bringing your own to be prepared is even better. Small containers of hand sanitizer are the best for the parks, so they can fit in your small bags. I usually just pick up some hand sanitizer from a store before my trip, as it's usually A LOT cheaper than it is at the parks. Any brand will do, but I’ve been loving Target’s Touchland Aloe Hand Sanitizer Spray. Honestly, even the normal small Purell sanitizers you can pick up at gas stations work great too!
7. First Aid Kit
Last but not least, I definitely recommend bringing a small first aid kit with you in your bag. Whether it's self made, or a pre-packaged kit, it’s important to have bandaids, medicine, blister treatments, and more. It’s pretty common to get blisters after walking around the parks all day long, so it’s good to be prepared for that and any other minor cuts or scrapes that happen. Every Disney Park does have a First Aid Center near the front of the park where they hand out free bandages, but any painkillers or medicine does cost extra inside the park. And the prices of those special medicines are raised from your normal drugstore prices. Having even a small bottle of Advil handy in your bag is super helpful for any unpredictable ailments that may happen. For little kits, I really love the Welly Human Repair First Aid Travel Kits.
These are small, perfect sized first aid kits with bandages, ointments, creams, and sanitizers. Pairing this with a small bottle of Advil is a great combination for any small accidents that may happen. But, if you’re in a park and you find you’re without any first aid items you need, locate a Cast Member and they will help you.
