Prepare Your Park Bag: 12 Essentials for Disney Fun

Summer is HERE! Chances are, you’re probably thinking of how to prepare for your annual vacation, including what to pack. Seasoned Disney park-goers know that what you keep handy in your park bag is just as important as whatever you have in your suitcase, so here’s how to prepare your park bag: 12 essentials for Disney fun!

1. Solar Portable Charger

As much as I want to tell you to live in the moment and minimize screen time, your phone will be an essential part of your Disney trip. You’ll be storing your tickets there, ordering food, reserving Lightning Lane passes, checking wait times, etc., so it needs to be ready to go at all times.

I like to plug my solar charger into an outlet the night before a park day and hang it from my backpack in between uses so that it gets some extra juice from the sun, too.

2. Ziplock Bags

Usually, I prefer reusable bags when storing snacks and food, but for a Disney trip, disposable baggies really come in handy. Whether you need a place to store leftovers from your sit-down meal or a container to keep wet socks so that the rest of your belongings don’t get messy, Ziplock bags will be a lifesaver.

3. Body Glide Sticks

If you suffer from chafing when wearing shorts, Body Glide sticks are a MUST! These travel-size sticks are compact (smaller than a stick of deodorant) and vegan, doing the work of multiple products. They double as a moisturizer, too, and even though most people probably won’t experience dry skin in humid temperatures, but my naturally dry, eczema-ridden skin can use all the help it can get! Plus, it lasts all day.

I prefer the Body Glide for Her product because it contains coconut oil, making it extra hydrating. This means I don’t have to carry lotion in my park bag as well. However, any of them will work fine, and they really do help prevent sore, uncomfortable thighs. I find that they’re more effective when I apply the Body Glide sticks to my skin first (before adding sunscreen or bug spray). You can also use the sticks to your neck, shoulders, underarms, chest, groin, and booty, too!

Body Glide also sent me their Foot Glide to try, which helps prevent blisters on your feet. This has been a godsend for the area of my feet that always rubs against the collar lining and often ends up bleeding.

4. Packable Rain Jacket

If you’re heading to Orlando, you can pretty much guarantee that it will rain, and instead of paying for a pricey poncho on the spot, I like to keep my packable rain jacket with me in my park bag.

5. Hand Sanitizing Spray

Rather than using hand sanitizing gel, I prefer to bring a spray because it can double as a cleaner for messy tables, and it feels refreshing on a hot day. Yes, even just that little mist can make a difference in that insane summer heat. 😵‍💫

6. (An Extra Pair of) Socks

Your feet are either going to get gross and sweaty or soggy and wet, so an extra pair of socks is an essential but often overlooked item for your park bag. Additionally, if your feet tend to hurt after prolonged walking, a fresh pair of socks is a simple way to alleviate the discomfort.

7. Sunscreen

This one’s a no-brainer, but surprisingly, I’ve experienced many Disney park days where someone forgets their sunscreen and has to pay a lot of money for an overpriced sunblock that’s available on the property. So, let this be your friendly reminder: pack your sunscreen! And preferably, spray sunscreen so you can experience that cooling mist.

8. Mini Fan

A mini fan may seem like an extra thing to lug around, but it really makes a massive difference in that Florida humidity. So whether you prefer a neck fan, something that can be clipped to a stroller, or just some free handheld fan you have lying around, keep it handy because you’ll be angry at yourself for forgetting it!

9. Cheap Sunglasses

Disney’s not the place to wear your fancier shades, no matter how nice they are. I’ve lost so many items on rides that it’s almost embarrassing, and I know I’m not the only one. Leave the RayBans at home and bring your Target (or Amazon) shades instead.

10. Hair Ties

As a dark-haired girly, I always have hair ties on me because the sun makes my hair feel like a furnace. It’s also not a bad idea to tie your hair up on faster rides so that it doesn’t get caught on things.

11. Tissues

It’s rare, but there have been occasions at Disney parks (usually later in the day) where toilet paper becomes hard to find, or my allergies flare up while I’m in the middle of a queue somewhere, and having tissues on hand definitely saved me.

12. Deodorant

This one doesn’t really need an explanation. Pack your deodorant, people! If we all work together, we can minimize the midday smelliness at theme parks.

How do you like to prepare your park bag? What are your must-have essentials for a fun Disney experience? Share in the comments below!

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