Disney Park Bag Essentials – What to Pack

Packing up your Disney park bag might seem a little stressful, especially if the weather feels unpredictable, or even if it’s your first time to the parks.

So to help make this process a little bit easier, here are some Disney park bag essentials.

And since packing your park bag for Disney World and Disneyland are quite different, I separated the lists based on which park you’re going to.

Jump to:

• Disney World Park Bag Essentials
• Disneyland Park Bag Essentials
• Disney World Park Bag Packing List
• Disneyland Park Bag Packing List
• Best Disney Park Bags
• My Personal Disney Park Bag
• FAQs and Disney Parks Bag Policy

Disney World Park Bag Essentials

Here are some products I recommend you pack in your Disney World park bag:

Weather-Related Items

Disney World during summer is probably one of the most humid, hottest, and wettest theme park experience you’ll ever encounter in your life.

But then there are those other months when the weather is absolutely perfect.

With that being said, here are some weather-related park bag essentials:

1. Portable, handheld fan: Packable, battery fans are an absolute game changer to help keep you cool during the hottest afternoons and evenings. This is by far one of the most important Disney park bag must haves.

• Here’s my favorite option
• Here’s one just as good

2. Sunglasses: It’s called the sunshine state for a reason lol

3. Poncho: From April to September, it rains A LOT. With the daily thunderstorms and spontaneous rain showers, having a poncho on-hand is very important

4. Small umbrella: If ponchos aren’t your thing, or if they make you feel too hot and sticky, an umbrella is the perfect choice to help keep you dry.

5. Rain-jacket: A light, packable rain jacket is a great option to throw own during rain showers. Personally, this is one thing I tend to omit from my park bag, but that’s just me.

6. Hand Towel: I don’t care what anyone says, but since I sweat so much, I sometimes pack a “sweat” rag to help wipe off some of that sweat.

Health and Toiletries Related Items

It’s always handy to have a few toiletries and cosmetic items on hand, as well as a few OTC meds:

1. Sunscreen: you absolutely need to protect your skin from the Florida sun

2. Deodorant: whether if it’s for your armpits or thighs, a small, travel-sized deodorant is so essential.

3. Tissues: those small packs you can get from the travel section at Target are perfect

4. Wet wipes: sometimes you just need a good hand wiping, especially after getting on and off attractions or touching surfaces and door handles.

5. Hand sanitizer: rides, more specifically seat belts and lap bars are filled with bacteria. The last thing you want to do is to snacking on some Disney World goodies without cleaning your hands.

6. Meds: Even though the first aid stations at all the parks might have most essentials like bandaids and some common meds, packing some of your own OTC medicine like painkillers or Dramamine is always a safer bet.

7. TUMS or Pesto Bismol: There are so many unique food and drinks at Disney World (especially Epcot) that you might find yourself with an upset stomach. Gift stores throughout the parks sell these, but the last thing you want to do is pay those outrageous theme park prices.

8. Makeup and hair essentials: Don’t forget to pack any mascara, lipstick, makeup wipes, hair ties, etc.

Electronics

Here are a few electronic essentials I recommend you pack in your park bag:

1. Portable battery: Always have to make sure your phones, camera, and portable fans are charged.

2. Smart Watch: A smartwatch such as an Apple Watch is an absolute gamechanger for the parks, especially since you can load up your park pass onto your watch and use it like a MagicBand. Plus, it’s always nice to keep track of your steps for the day.

Park Items

Here are some theme-park related items you need to bring with you as well:

1. Photo-ID or Passport: If you’re looking to drink around the world or just grab a beer with dinner at Magic Kingdom, make sure you have a photo ID or passport handy.

2. Autograph Book and Sharpie: If you’re looking to get some character autographs, make sure to bring an autograph book and your own pen/Sharpie.

3. Credit Card: Although you can charge items via Apple Pay at stores and kiosks or MagicBands at restaurants, having a credit card is always handy, especially if there are some technical issues occurring at the park.

4. Refillable Water Bottles: Bottled water at Disney World costs $3.75 to $5 a bottle. Plus, with the growing number of water bottle refilling stations scattered throughout all the parks, this is a great way to save some money. You can refill at any water fountain, quick service restaurant, or even Starbucks.

5. Water-enhancers: Sometime to help mask the sulfury taste found in Florida water, I recommend you pack a Mio or Liquid IV to help make the water taste drinkable.

6. Kid-specific items: Although I don’t have much experience packing for kids for a park day, some things I assume parents need to pack are diapers, a change of clothes, and some snacks.

7. Own Straw: This may seem like a stress, but since every straw found on Disney World property is made with paper, they absolutely suck. So bringing your own straws is a viable option. However, you are not allowed to bring plastic straws into Animal Kingdom.

8. Annual Pass: If you’re an annual passholder, be sure to have your digital or physical pass handy in order to take advantage of some dining or shopping discounts.

9. Pennies: If you love to collect pressed pennies, be sure to bring some shiny new quarters and pennies.

10. Gum: You won’t find any gum anywhere on Disney property.

11. Ziploc bags: If you plan on riding water rides like Splash Mountain or Kali River Rapids, these bags will help keep some of your essentials nice and dry.

Disneyland Park Bag Essentials

Here are some products I recommend you pack in your Disneyland park bag:

Weather-Related Items

Besides those couple blazing hot months in the summer, the weather at Disneyland is beautiful. That said, here are some items I try to bring whenever I go to the park:

1. Sunglasses: There is no way you can enjoy your day at Disneyland, especially California Adventure without sunglasses.

2. Portable fan: If you get hot easily, a portable, battery powered fan is essential.

• Here’s my favorite option
• Here’s one just as good

3. Light Jacket: Once the sun goes down, the temperature usually drops quite a bit. So a light jacket is pretty handy to have in your bag for those type of nights.

4. Deodorant: If you plan on being at the parks for the entire day, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

5. Poncho: Although it’s safe to have during any day that their is forecasted rain showers, I think a poncho is very important to pack if you plan on riding Splash Mountain or Grizzly Bear Run.

Health and Toiletries Related Items

It’s always so handy to have a few toiletries and cosmetic items on hand, as well as a few OTC meds, if needed:

1. Sunscreen: Always have to protect your skin when having fun at the parks.

2. Lip balm or chapstick: Always gotta protect your lips from the dry climate in Southern California.

3. Deodorant: whether if it’s for your armpits or thighs, a small, travel-sized deodorant does the job.

4. Tissues: those small packs you can get from the travel section at Target or Walmart are perfect.

5. Wet wipes: sometimes you just need a good hand wiping, especially after getting on and off rides or touching surfaces and door handles.

6. Meds: pack some of your own OTC medicine like painkillers or Dramamine if you get nauseous on rides.

7. Hand sanitizer: rides, more specifically seat belts and lap bars are filled with bacteria. The last thing you want to do is to snacking on some Disneyland goodies without cleaning your hands.

8. TUMS or Pesto Bismol: There are so many unique food and drinks at DL, DCA, and Downtown Disney, that you might find yourself with an upset stomach. Gift stores throughout the parks sell these, but the last thing you want to do is pay those outrageous theme park prices.

9. Makeup and hair essentials: Don’t forget to pack any mascara, lipstick, makeup wipes, hair ties, etc.

Electronics

Here is one tech gadget I try to pack in my bag:

1. Portable battery charger: Always have to make sure that your phone, camera, and portable fan are always charged and ready.

Park Items

Here are a few generic products you always want to make sure you have with you:

1. Photo ID: If you plan on grabbing a beer or cocktail at either park, be sure to have an ID with you.

2. Autograph Book and Sharpie: If you’re looking to get some autographs, make sure to bring an autograph book and your own pen/Sharpie. 3. Credit Card: Although you can charge items via Apple Pay at stores and food and store kiosks, having a credit card is always handy, especially if there are some technical issues occurring at the park.

3. Pennies: If you collect pressed pennies, don’t forget to pack your quarters and pennies.

4. Magic Key: If you’re a Magic Key holder, be sure to have your annual pass on your phone that way you can take advantage of your discounts.

5. Gum: You won’t find any gum anywhere on Disney property.

6. Ziploc bags: If you plan on riding water rides, these bags will help keep some of your essentials nice and dry.

Disney World Park Bag Packing List

Here is everything you should pack for a Disney World park day:

• portable fan
• refillable water bottle
• chapstick
• sunscreen
• packable poncho
• sunglasses
• mini-deodarant
• beauty and hair essentials
• hand towel
• hand sanitizer
• tissues
• portable battery charger
• autograph book and pen
• any OTC meds you may need
• photo-ID

Disneyland Park Bag Packing List

• portable fan
• sunglasses
• refillable water bottle
• autograph book and pen
• portable battery charger
• tissues
• chapstick
• beauty and hair essentials
• sunscreen
• light jacket for the evenings
• hand sanitizer
• any OTC meds you may need

Best Disney Park Bags

Here are some of my favorite bags that either myself or my wife use that I recommend for holing all your essentials when exploring the parks:

1. Lululemon City Adventurer Backpack Mini 11L ($98)

Perfect size, light, and water repellent. You’d be surprised how many Disney park essentials you can fit in this thing.

2. Lululemon Easy Access Crossbody Bag ($38)

It’s pretty small but it does the job. When I wear it to the parks, its big enough to hold my aviator sunglasses with case, mini-deodorant, mini-cologne, pack of Honest wipes, a Fuel Rod, and a Liquid IV.

3. Loungefly Backpack ($75+)

The best Disney park bag out there only because there are so many cool designs out there that there’s literally a bag for everyone.

…

Thanks for reading and hopefully this guide has helped you properly pack the right Disney park bag essentials.

Related: If you need help packing your suitcase for your Disney World trip or even Aulani resort stay, I got you covered.

• Disney World Packing Guide
• Aulani Packing Guide

My Personal Disney Park Bag

Here’s a quick look at what I throw in my Disney park bag. I use this at both Disney World and Disneyland. Plus, I’ve even take it on my recent Disney Cruise because it great for holding sunglasses, travel credit cards, and my passport for port excursions.

• Honest wipes (use the code URBAN to get 15% off plus free shipping)
• sunglasses with case
• Honest Self Defense Mineral Sunscreen Fluid
• Honest Face and Body Lotion
• Fuel Rod battery charger
• mini-deodorant
• mini-cologne
• Dove hand sanitizer or Honest Hand Sanitizer Spray
• Liquid IV (use the code ADAMBRYAN to get 25% off)

These items fluctuate depending on where I’m going and the weather, but this is generally what I try to bring with me.

FAQs and Disney Parks Bag Policy