Getting ready for Disney World? Here is the ultimate Disney World packing list for adults. Everything you need for a great time and what not to pack!
For this article, I focused on the more unique items that I found helpful to have at Disney World. The items listed below helped me to have the best experience at Walt Disney World.
For the ultimate Disney World packing list below, I’ve also made suggestions about what not to pack. These things will be more of a burden than a benefit at Disney World.
So let’s get to it! On to the ultimate Disney World packing list for adults!
Note: For a complete list of everything that I pack as a full-time traveler, check out this article.
Bags & Luggage
I use the following bags and luggage for my Disney World trips:
- Belt Bag: I use a belt bag as my day pack. Using a smaller bag helps me to minimize what I carry with me during the day. Big backpacks can really get heavy as the day wears on. I wear the belt bag as a crossbody bag, so it doesn’t interfere with the lap bars on the rides.
- Packable Backpack: On days when I need to carry some extra things with me (like an umbrella or rain jacket), I use a packable backpack. A packable backpack takes up very little room in my luggage and is lightweight.
- Carry-on luggage: I do my best to use just carry-on luggage when going to Disney World. Otherwise, I get carried away with too many items that I have to sort through. This takes away time from relaxing or enjoying the parks.
- Packable duffel bag: Although I aim to bring fewer items with me, I do bring a packable duffel bag that can be checked. I can use this packable duffel bag if I find some great souvenirs at Disney World that don’t fit in my regular suitcase.
What to leave at home: I recommend leaving the big backpacks at home. Backpacks just feel heavier and heavier as you spend a long day walking around in the hot Florida sun.
Day pack essentials
I use a belt bag (formerly known as a fanny pack) for my day pack at Disney World. I try to avoid a big backpack or purse because these items can get heavy and uncomfortable on long days. I wear the belt bag as a crossbody bag, so it doesn’t interfere with the lap bars on the rides.
Here are the items I pack in my belt bag:
- Hand Sanitizer: You touch a lot of public surfaces at Disney World. I always have hand sanitizer on my ultimate Disney World packing list.
- Headache/pain medicine: Long days at the park can lead to muscle aches and headaches. Be sure to pack some headache/pain medicine for when you’ll inevitably need it at the park.
- Motion sickness medicine: I get pretty bad motion sickness. I take motion sickness medicine first thing in the morning, before getting on any rides.
- Kleenex tissues: Rather than put a full travel pack of Kleenex tissues in my belt bag, I put 2-3 tissues in my belt bag. Then I have tissues handy but they don’t take up too much space in my bag.
- Combo hairbrush and mirror: The ever-practical brush/mirror combo is a must-pack. Those Disney rollercoasters can whip around your hair!
- Chapstick: I am rarely without this chapstick. My mom keeps me stocked up because she knows I like it so much!
- Gum: A surprising number of Disney foods have a lot of garlic or onions. Gum is a must for post-meal freshness.
- Floss: Having food stuck in your teeth is no way to spend your vacation! I save the tiny floss packets that my dentist gives me and always carry one in my belt bag.
- Pen: Some places require you to sign your receipt at Disney World. A pen is handy to have in those moments.
Credit card & license
Much of Disney World is electronic, so you don’t need to carry cash with you. I just carry these two cards with me while at Disney World and leave my wallet at home:
- Credit card: Disney World is expensive, so I make sure I use a credit card that gives me points for every dollar spent. I use the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card.
- Driver’s license: It’s always handy to have your driver’s license with you. You never know when you’ll need it.
What to leave at home: Since Disney World has credit card readers everywhere, I recommend leaving your debit card back at the hotel room. Since you won’t need it, it’s better off not risking losing it.
Electronics & electronics accessories
These electronics are a must to pack for Disney World:
- Power strip: One of my favorite travel items is a portable power strip that has both USB and regular plugs. I can charge everything at once.
- Portable power bank: You’ll use the Disney Experience app pretty regularly while at Disney World. You don’t want your phone to die, leaving you without a way to book lightning passes or make mobile food orders.
- Phone wrist strap: I’m always worried about dropping my phone, so I use a wrist strap to secure my phone to my wrist.
- Fan/portable charger combo: One of my friends brought this on the last trip to Disney World and it was a big hit.
Toiletries
The toiletries below are the ones that I thought came in particularly handy at Disney World. If you’d like a full list of the toiletries that I travel with, check out this article.
- Hair ties: Since it can get hot at Disney World, hair ties are great to pull back hair off the neck.
- Sunscreen: Sunscreen is a must in the Florida sun.
- Feminine products (period underwear or tampons): We struggled to find feminine products in the parks. So make sure to bring feminine products with you.
- Mini first aid kit: I unfortunately got a blister on the last day in the park, which benefited from a mini-first aid kit.
Clothing: General
Even in the wintertime, Disney World can be hot and humid. You want to pack clothes that are lightweight, wick away sweat, and are wrinkle-resistant.
Athleisure clothing typically meets these requirements. For that reason, I pack a lot of Athleta and Lululemon clothes for my trips to Disney World.
These clothes help me to feel comfortable while still looking reasonably put-together.
What to leave at home: I recommend leaving all cotton clothing and anything else that wrinkles easily at home. These items just don’t look great after a day of sweating. And they’ll make you uncomfortable. Free up room in your luggage by leaving these items at home.
Clothing: Tops
While the Florida sun is *hot*, I usually wear long-sleeved tops at Disney World.
This is because I want to get as much sun protection as possible.
Even if I diligently apply sunscreen, it rubs off as I get on and off rides and as I shift my belt bag on my shoulder.
If I stick to athleisure clothing that wicks away sweat, I’m still reasonably comfortable in long-sleeved shirts. These are my favorite shirts to wear at Disney World.
Clothing: Bottoms
Just like tops, my bottoms need to meet the criteria of being light-weight, wrinkle-resistant, and able to wick away sweat. These are my favorite pants to wear at Disney World.
Clothing: Shoes
Shoes are the key thing that will make or break your Disney World experience. Here is what I recommend packing based on my personal experience:
- Athletic shoes: I recommend bringing comfortable, broken-in athletic shoes to wear at Walt Disney World. These shoes should have lots of cushion in the sole to withstand the *miles* of walking on hard concrete at the parks.
Tip: If you have newer shoes, wear them as much as possible before your Disney World trip. New shoes can mean blisters. And blisters can wreck your day.
- Flat, thin sandals: After a long day, it is so nice to slip off your walking shoes and put on breathable sandals to walk around the hotel. Thin sandals are also great for nice dinners or footwear for the pool.
What to leave at home: I recommend leaving any new shoes at home. New shoes have a tendency to cause blisters and make our feet very uncomfortable. I recommend only bringing your most-comfortable, broken-in shoes.
Clothing: Dresses
Disney World has some nice restaurants, where it’s fun to dress up a little bit more.
- Nicer dress: I bring one nicer dress that I pair with flat sandals (not heels). So it still ends up being a fairly casual dress outfit.
- Casual dress: I also bring one casual dress that doubles as a swim cover-up.
Clothing: Accessories
These are the key accessories on my ultimate Disney World packing list:
- Scarf: A scarf is great for dressing up an outfit and keeping warm on chilly nights.
- Sunglasses: Sunglasses are a must for the Florida sun.
- Foldable hat: I go back and forth about hats because they can be a pain to carry around. But it’s nice to have one available for long days in the sun.
- 1 pair of compression socks: My feet swell like crazy after walking in the humid Florida weather. I pack a pair of compression socks to wear at night to help with the swelling.
- Mini umbrella: For rainy days, a mini umbrella can really help your comfort levels.
- Reusable water bottle: Disney World has a number of water fountains where you can fill up your water bottle.
- Bug-repellent bracelets: I’ve read that Disney World sprays for mosquitos. But I was still eaten alive! I love bug-repellent bracelets because they’re long-lasting and don’t smell nearly as bad as bug sprays.
Clothing: Swim
When packing for Disney World, here are the swim-related items that I pack:
- Long-sleeved swimsuit: I love my sun protection, so I usually wear a long-sleeved swimsuit in Florida.
- Rash guards: I also pack some rash guards to wear over both swimsuits and over tank tops on sunny days.
- Cover-up: For my swim cover-up, I pack a casual dress that I can also use as a day dress.
Packing can be stressful. I hope this ultimate Disney World packing list for adults helps to ease some of your packing stress.
Have a wonderful trip to Disney World!
Have a comment or a question? I’d love to hear from you! Visit me on Instagram at eastbymidwest or send me an email at pam@eastbymidwest.com.
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