There are few things more frustrating during a Disney vacation than losing time because you forgot something important. Packing for a trip to Disney parks may seem straightforward, but there are some items that are easy to miss until it’s too late.
We’ve talked before about the benefits of having a smart Disney survival kit, but more and more lately, we are noticing that forgetting certain key items can really toss a wrench in a Disney day. Some of these are items that are difficult (or expensive) to procure in the parks. Others have become issues specifically due to ongoing restrictions related to the pandemic.
No one wants to waste avoidable time or money during a Disney vacation—something likely to happen if you fail to bring these 7 items with you to the parks…
1. A means to charge your smartphone
Smartphones have quickly moved from convenience to necessity at Disney parks. Guest phones are now expected to fulfill a dozen roles, from holding your digital MagicPass (now the primary replacement for MagicBands), to managing reservations, tracking wait times, juggling Genie+ selections (if you choose to buy Lightning Lane access), joining virtual queues, hacking every panel in sight in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge…
Your phone will be doing some heavy lifting.
My Disney Experience is a helpful app, but it’s also notorious for draining cell phone batteries—a problem exacerbated by Disney’s in-park Wi-Fi. While Disney’s free Wi-Fi is a huge boon to those trying to avoid data fees, hopping from hub to hub sucks the juice out of phone batteries at stunning speed.
A dead smartphone can cause unwelcome complications in a Disney day, but keeping your device charged isn’t as simple as just bringing a cable and looking for an outlet. While you can find outlets in some locations (such as the Tangled section of Fantasyland, Tomorrowland Light & Power Co., and near the Garden Grill in Epcot’s The Land), they are impressively hard to come by.
Disney has offered a solution called “Fuel Rods” for some years that allows guests to purchase swappable power banks for around $30, but their power banks don’t have great charging capacity for all phones, and they’ve had a few seasons where they started charging fees whenever guests wanted to make a swap.
Instead of taking a risk, it’s worth investing in a well-made portable power bank before your vacation. Many quality models are available for a price similar to or not much higher than Fuel Rods and will serve you beyond the length of your vacation. The key features I look for are portability, power capacity, and charging speed. The Ravpower model I’ve used for some years is no longer available on Amazon, but there are many alternatives to choose from, such as this lightweight one from Anker.
2. Extra masks
This is one I didn’t expect to be an issue, but wow, it can catch you by surprise.
I’ve been visiting Walt Disney World throughout the pandemic and have grown familiar with the park’s various mask requirements. I have a comfortable mask I wear at Disney, and I’ve always remembered to bring it. Most times, I also bring a spare.
The one time I slipped up was when we brought a group of teens to the park. The trip was one of the most fun times I’ve ever had at Walt Disney World, but oof—we ran into one issue after another surrounding masks, despite efforts to double check that all the kids had them. One student didn’t realize she left hers in the car until we were literally walking up to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Knowing Disney’s long history of excellent guest service, I assumed some disposable masks might be available for odd occasions when a guest forgot theirs. We looked for someone to ask and couldn’t find anyone until halfway through the line.
No one had any, and the cast member told her in no uncertain terms she needed to leave offering no alternatives or solutions. It was a surprisingly abrupt encounter—one that caught me off-guard and was extremely uncomfortable for everyone involved. While the day was eventually saved (thanks to a kind fellow guest who gave her a mask afterwards), I felt terrible I had somehow forgotten to bring a spare and put her in that situation.
These sorts of scenarios happened several times. We had two other occasions where kids misplaced their masks—on one occasion, right as we entered the queue for Rise of the Resistance. We managed to DIY one out of a layered bandana and hair ties to bring it into compliance, but once again, the whole silly mess could have been avoided if we just packed a few extra masks.
It really surprised me how difficult it was to quickly find a replacement mask in the parks—whereas the things used to be ubiquitous in every shop, they now are limited to specific locations only. As far as procuring a disposable one, cast members seemed extremely iffy about offering one, and only once was I able to get a complimentary replacement.
We’re all human and losing a mask is an easy mistake that can happen—doubly so with kids. Save yourself a headache and bring a few spares if there is any chance pandemic restrictions will be in place during your visit.
3. Something warm
At the time of this writing, fall is about to give way to winter here in Florida. While the Sunshine State is known for its warm temperatures, people might be surprised how chilly Orlando can get in the winter.
While cold days in Florida rarely rival northern states, we’ve found ourselves shivering at Disney parks more than once on a cold evening. It’s a situation ripe to result in an impulse buy to secure a sweater or jacket—two items that can be expensive if you weren’t planning for it.
Both for dealing with rain as well as colder months, we highly recommend checking the weather and bringing some sort of jacket or pullover on your next Disney park excursion if visiting any time besides the warm months.
4. Ponchos
Ponchos remain probably the most comically overpriced item in Disney parks.
No one thinks of buying a poncho before you need one—a giant plastic rain-protection sack isn’t the most glamorous of garments to include on your packing list. Once again, Florida is known as the Sunshine State, and it’s hard to remember it’s the country’s wacky-weather capital until you find yourself standing in the middle of The Most Magical Place on Earth drenched to your socks. Disneyland in California doesn’t get quite as much rain, but downpours can still happen.
Ponchos are the ultimate Disney impulse buy, usually going for a whopping $12. While Disney’s ponchos are made of a thicker material that can be reused, it’s hard to justify spending that much for a plastic sack when light alternatives are available online or at the camping section of any Walmart for $2-4. You can even buy family packs to save extra.
A few lightweight ponchos small enough to tuck into a bag are a great investment, particularly if you’ll be visiting during the rainier times of year. You may end up not needing them, but they’re way more convenient to carry than an umbrella and can prove well worth the low cost to keep you dry when the sky gets soggy.
5. Hand sanitizer
Even before the pandemic, hand sanitizer was a good thing to keep nearby in Disney parks—especially considering how kids can’t help scooting their butts along handrails.
Hand sanitizer stations are still widely available in Disney parks, but not as often as you may like. They do run out periodically. Theme parks have long been one of those places where the likelihood of picking up germs is pretty high, just due to the high capacity. Disney has done a laudable job mitigating risk, but bringing a small bottle of your own hand sanitizer is a smart move in case you find yourself in a spot it’s not easily available.
6. Sunscreen
This one has always struck me as so, so weird, but it’s really difficult to find sunscreen at Walt Disney World—at least any that hasn’t been severely marked up.
Sunscreen is another one of those items you don’t realize you missed until it’s too late. Both Florida and California are states that reach high UV exposure levels, even on cloudy days. While many medications and toiletries that you might need in a pinch can be picked up for free at Disney First Aid, sunscreen is one of the few items you can only purchase in a shop—and you will pay a premium for it.
While it’s fairly easy to buy sunscreen from a local store, you can also get good deals on travel size sunscreens online, in whatever form you like.
7. Something to do in line
Crowds are picking up with the return of the holiday season, and that means with or without Genie+, you’ll be spending some time in line. Particularly if you have kids, it’s worth having some sort of diversion to pass the time besides your smartphone.
If you’ll be visiting during a lighter season or using proven strategies to reduce your time in line, you may not need any sort of physical diversion for queue time—the games a family might enjoy on a road trip like 20 Questions or don’t-break-the-chain are great opportunities for connection in queues.
For extra-long lines (or very young kids), however, it’s wise to have a backup plan. Depending on the age of your family, this might be as simple as bringing some headphones and a splitter to enjoy an audiobook (this pairs well with that power bank we mentioned) or some simple toys or games that can be used while standing.
Enjoy this article? What’s your top “must-bring” item to have at Walt Disney World? Let us know in Facebook or in the comments. Thanks for reading!
Keep reading to learn…
- No Lightning Lane? No Problem! Make the Most Out of Your Next Disney Day WITHOUT Genie+
- Could Disney’s Multiverse Craze Solve the Biggest Problems for Marvel and Star Wars in their Parks?
- 8 Creative Ways to Upgrade Your Next Disney Vacation Without an Upcharge
- 10 Things You NEED to Know Before Visiting Walt Disney World (Series)
