Whether you’re planning your first Walt Disney World vacation or your hundredth, you will inevitably arrive at the parks and think to yourself, “I forgot to pack __________!”

Over the years, we’ve forgotten sunscreen, socks, Apple Watch chargers, contact lens solution, and deodorant.

Of course, these items are readily available at airport shops as well as the Disney World parks and resorts, but you pay a steep premium over what you would have if you’d either purchased the items at home or remembered the ones you already had.

We are here to help you avoid the ghosts of our past vacations! Read on for a comprehensive list of items you should consider packing for your next Disney World vacation.

Keep in mind that you may not need ALL of these items depending on your specific travel party and plans. Still, you may find some tips about items you would never have considered, and you’ll be thankful to have them once you’re in the parks.

One additional note is to remember leaving a bit of space in your luggage when you are flying to Disney World. You’ll want enough space to bring home merchandise and souvenirs you purchase on your trip. We’ve even gone so far as to take a mostly empty bag on occasion!

Clothing

Again, some of what we’re listing here is situational. For example, when you’re visiting in the summer, you will NOT need sweatshirts or jackets. On the other hand, weather in January can be nippy, especially at night.

You may also want to plan for an “evening” outfit if you are going to the parks on a hot day, as you WILL sweat and may want a shower to clean up before dinner.

Below are the clothing items you should consider packing for your Walt Disney World Vacation.

• Shirts
• Shorts
• Disney-themed gear
• Pants, including jeans and capris
• Sweater
• Workout clothes
• Sweatshirt
• Sundress
• Light jacket
• Underwear
• Bras
• Socks
• Shoes
• Walking shoes (IMPORTANT – make sure these are not brand-new shoes. You want shoes that you know are comfortable for walking.)
• Sandals or flip-flops
• Hats
• Ponytail holders and other hair accessories
• Jewelry
• Watch
• Swimwear (including bathing suits, cover-ups, and aqua shoes)
• Dressy clothes (only needed for certain Disney restaurants with dress codes)
• Dress shoes
• Pajamas
• Belts
• Sunglasses
• Prescription glasses

Toiletries

In our experience, these items are the easiest ones to forget. Please confirm you’ve packed the important toiletries from this list. Some items are provided at Disney resorts, including shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, Kleenex, soap, and a hair dryer. You may prefer to use your own, though.

• Brush and/or comb
• Contact lenses and contact lens solution/storage case
• Cosmetics
• Curling iron or hair straightener
• Dental floss
• Deodorant
• Face wipes or wash
• Feminine hygiene products
• Hand sanitizer
• Hair dryer
• Hair spray
• Lip balm
• Moisturizer
• Nail clippers (be sure to pack in checked luggage)
• Q-tips
• Razor
• Shampoo and Conditioner
• Shaving cream
• Shower gel
• Soap
• Sunscreen
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Tweezers

Medication

If you have prescriptions, you may want to pack them first to ensure you don’t forget them. When flying, they should go in your carry-on luggage to avoid getting lost or misplaced. TSA suggests that you keep them in their original packaging or in a pill organizer.

• Allergy medications
• Aloe vera
• Antacids
• Antibiotic ointment
• Anti-itch spray
• Band-Aids
• Birth control
• Cough drops
• Medical supplies (EpiPen, inhalers, insulin, etc.)
• Moleskin (helps with blisters)
• Motion sickness medication or tools
• Prescription medications
• Supplements
• Thermometer
• Tylenol or ibuprofen
• Vitamins

For the Children

Note that while Disney World does not require you to share birth certificates as proof of age for children, you may want to have a backup photo on your phone just in case.

Some of the items on this list will depend on whether you drive or fly. Also, there are stroller rentals available both directly from Disney World or from independent contractors.

• Baby bottles
• Baby carrier/sling
• Baby food
• Baby monitor
• Baby wipes
• Bedding
• Car seat
• Changing pad
• Coloring book and crayons
• Diaper bag
• Diapers (bring extra)
• Diaper cream
• Handheld games
• Formula
• Juice
• Milk
• Outlet covers
• Pacifiers
• Pre-purchased souvenirs (you might save money by purchasing items ahead of the trip and presenting them during your vacation)
• Sippy cups
• Snacks
• Snack containers
• Stroller and stroller tags
• Stroller fan
• Stuffed animals
• Swim diapers
• Temporary safety tattoos
• Toys

Important Items

Even though you may have all of your hotel and dining reservations on My Disney Experience, we recommend either taking a photo of the reservations and keeping them on your phone OR printing them.

Similarly, you should do the same with your admission tickets. While unlikely, you could lose signal at Disney and be unable to retrieve that information via My Disney Experience. Such an event would be disastrous without screenshots of your reservations!

• Auto insurance card (for those renting vehicles)
• Boarding passes
• Cash (especially for tips)
• Credit cards
• Drivers License, Real ID or Passport
• Envelopes for Mousekeeping tips
• Health insurance card
• Hotel reservations
• MagicBands
• Rental car confirmation
• Restaurant reservations
• Tickets/passes

In Your Carry-On for Your Flight

Note that some of these will be duplicated from earlier sections. It’s just important that some of these items be in your carry-on so that you can enjoy the parks on your first day without even having to dig through your luggage!

• AirTags
• Cash
• Change of clothes (Just in case! While rare, luggage sometimes gets lost.)
• Chargers (phone, Kindle, iPad, Switch, fitness tracker, MagicBand+)
• Clorox wipes (we’ve cleaned our airplane seats more than once before sitting down)
• Earplugs
• Entertainment (Kim favors books or the Nintendo Switch, while David prefers downloading shows or movies onto his iPad)
• Hair band or hair ties
• Hand sanitizer (3.4 ounces or less, packed in a plastic baggie)
• Lip balm
• MagicBands
• Noise-cancelling headphones
• Pajamas
• Phones
• Portable chargers or battery packs
• Snacks (you CAN bring food into the parks)
• Swimsuits
• Theme park bag (backpack, tote, or other bag you will carry into the parks)
• Travel pillow
• Wallet with ID (driver’s license, passport, or Real ID)
• Water bottle (empty)

Electronics

• Appropriate cables for all electronics you intend to use
• Camera
• Camera battery charger
• Earbuds or headphones
• E-reader
• Fitness tracker and charger
• Laptop (if needed) and charger
• MagicBand+
• MagicBand+ charger
• Memory cards for camera
• Phone
• Phone charger
• Portable chargers or battery packs
• Tablet
• Tablet charger

Disney-Themed Items

• Autograph book and Sharpie for getting autographs
• Disney themed t-shirts or sweatshirts
• Mickey or Minnie ears
• Pennies or quarters for pressing
• Pins for trading, and lanyard for pins

Everything Else

• Belt bag, backpack, or tote for parks
• Books
• Collapsible cooler
• Cooling towel
• Compact umbrella
• Extra bag for souvenirs
• Games
• Glow sticks
• Nightlight
• Notebook
• Pens
• Pop-up hamper
• Portable, rechargeable fan
• Postcard stamps
• Rain jacket/poncho
• Reusable straws (PLEASE note that the straws at Disney World restaurants are NOT all gluten-free)
• Sewing kit
• Small flashlight
• Stain remover
• Ziploc bags

We’ll cover what to pack for a day at the park in a separate section. Remember that the list above is VERY comprehensive, and items may not apply to you. We just want to help you be prepared for anything that you might experience! Please use our ideas as a jumping-off point for what works best for your family.

Packing for Your Day in the Parks

Now that you know everything you should consider packing for the totality of your Walt Disney World vacation, let’s talk about what to take with you for a day at one of the parks.

As part of this discussion, we’ll also make sure you are aware of items that are prohibited in the parks. Before you can enter any Disney theme park, you must pass through security. They WILL check for these items.

Prohibited Items

First of all, note that Disney reserves the right to not allow ANY bag, parcel, or other item. They will also deal with any unattended bag, luggage, or other object at their discretion. So, please stay with your bags and other items to avoid any unintended scares or consequences.

The following items are officially prohibited within Disney World theme parks:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Any trailer-like object that is pulled by an Electric Conveyance Vehicle (ECV), wheelchair, stroller, or person
• Balloons are not permitted at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, water parks, ESPN Wide World of Sports, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Costumes and masks may not be worn by those 14 and older, except during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom
• Drones
• Firearms, ammunition, knives, and/or weapons of any kind
• Folding Chairs
• Glass containers other than small items such as baby food jars
• Horns, whistles, large megaphones, or other artificial noise makers
• Inline skates or shoes with built-in wheels
• Marijuana (including marijuana enriched products) or other illegal substances
• Non-Coast Guard approved flotation devices or swim noodles at any water park
• Pets except for service animals (a service animal is a dog or miniature horse that is trained to do work or perform tasks for, and to assist, an individual with a disability)
• Plastic straws are not permitted at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, water parks or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Remote control toys
• Scooters
• Self-defense or other restraining items (pepper spray, mace, etc.)
• Selfie sticks, hand-held extension poles for cameras or mobile devices, flags and banners
• Skateboards
• Strollers that are greater than 31″ in width and 52″ in length
• Suitcases, bags, coolers or backpacks, with or without wheels, larger than 24″ long x 15″ wide x 18″ high are not allowed in any theme park or water park. Loose or dry ice is not permitted in these containers. Re-usable ice packs are recommended.
• Toys or other objects that resemble firearms
• Tripods or monopod stands that cannot fit inside a standard backpack or that extend over 6’
• Wagons, including stroller wagons
• Wheeled mobility devices with less than 3 wheels or devices that cannot maintain stability and balance when stopped, unpowered and/or unoccupied. Training wheels and/or modifications are not permitted. Devices must be manually or electrically powered and operated at a walking pace. Devices should be single rider and not exceed 36″ (92 cm) in width and 52″ (132 cm) in length.