Don’t Pack These Items For Your Disney Trip. They Can Cause Headaches and Some Are Banned.

When it’s time to pack for your Disney vacation, it’s important to keep in mind that certain items are not allowed on property. Even though Disneyland and Walt Disney World both have their own set of property rules, it can sometimes be unclear what exactly is allowed and what’s not.

There are many items that are completely banned, while others only have certain stipulations that need to be followed.

We visit the Disney Parks frequently and are very familiar with the items that can be brought and which ones should be left at home. To help avoid problems during your time at Disney, we’re going to take a deeper look at the Disney property rules and clarify which items you shouldn’t pack for your trip.

The Obvious… Don't Bring Weapons!

Disney has very strict rules against weapons. Guests are not permitted to have firearms, ammunition, knives, or any other form of weapon in their possession while on Disney property. Even if you have a concealed carry permit, you will not be allowed to carry your concealed weapon during your Disney vacation.

Self-defense items are also not permitted. This includes things such as pepper spray, mace, restraining items, and more. These items, while generally carried as a form of protection, can still be harmful to other Guests and Cast Members. 

If you regularly carry self-defense items for protection, rest assured that Disney takes safety very seriously and has numerous security protocols in place for the wellbeing of everyone on property. Disney’s security measures include, but are not limited to, uniformed police officers, metal detectors, hazard detection dogs, and bag checks. There are also other measures in place that are not visible to the public.

Sometimes this makes guests uncomfortable if they are walking around the Disneyland Resort in the local Anaheim area, see our previous post on our opinions on the safety around the Disneyland area. 

While weapons of any kind are not permitted on property, objects and toys that have a weapon-like appearance are also against the rules. This doesn’t, however, apply to merchandise items. Some items, such as Buzz Lightyear astro blasters and Pirates of the Caribbean swords, clearly have a weapon-like appearance. However, these are allowed to be carried.

No Smoking & Illegal Substances

In 2019, Disney implemented a smoking ban that led to the removal of smoking within the theme parks and other locations on property. Smoking of any kind is prohibited in the Disney theme parks, water parks, and the Esplanade between the Disneyland Resort parks and the Downtown Disney District. This includes the smoking of tobacco, e-cigarettes, marijuana, and any other products that produce smoke or vapor.

Currently, there are no designated smoking areas at Disneyland Resort. At Walt Disney World, there are designated smoking areas outside of the theme park entrances, the ESPN Wide World of Sports entrance, and in specially marked outdoor areas at Disney Springs and the Walt Disney World Resort hotels.

While there are smoking areas, smoking is not permitted in the rooms, on patios, or on the balconies of Disney Resort hotels. If smoking does occur in your room, you will be charged a recovery fee of $250-$500.

Marijuana is never permitted on Disney property, even in the smoking areas. This also includes products that are enriched with marijuana, such as edibles, beverages, and topicals. Other illegal substances are also prohibited.

No BYOB Here

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Alcohol is available for purchase throughout Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. However, you cannot bring your own alcoholic beverages to most locations on property. The presence of outside alcoholic beverages is banned at the Disney theme parks, water parks, and in most cases, Disney Springs and the Downtown Disney District. If Disney security finds that you have or are attempting to bring in your own alcohol, it will be confiscated. You could also face the possibility of being banned.

While outside alcoholic beverages are not permitted in most places, there are a few exceptions. If you are staying on property at a Disney Resort hotel, you are allowed to bring your own alcohol to enjoy in your room. If you’re having alcohol delivered to your resort as part of a grocery order, you’ll need to be present at the time of the delivery in order to show proper identification.

The other exception is in regard to Disney Springs and the Downtown Disney District. At these locations, Guests are allowed to bring a bottle of wine to enjoy with a meal at select table service restaurants. If you plan to do this, please note that corkage fees do apply.

Stroller & Wagon Size Limits Apply

If you’re traveling with small children and are planning on bringing a stroller along with you, you’re more than welcome to! Personal strollers are allowed to be brought on property. The only stroller restriction is size. Strollers that are greater than 31” (79cm) wide and 52” (132cm) long will not be permitted unless you get an approved disability/wheelchair tag from guest services.

If your stroller is too large, rather than buying a new one for vacation, consider renting one! Stroller rental is available on property at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Third party rental companies are also available. This is a convenient option if you’re needing a stroller outside of the theme parks, are traveling to other locations besides Disney, or are looking for a comfier stroller for your child.

While standard strollers are allowed, stroller wagons are not. Wagons of all kinds are not allowed at the theme parks, water parks, or indoor venues at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Limits on Food Containers & Utensils

One nice thing about Disney is that Guests are allowed to bring outside food and beverages into the parks. This is a great way to cut back on dining expenses, which can be a major part of many families' vacation budget. The ability to bring your own food is also beneficial for those with specific dietary restrictions or those who are looking for healthier dining options. It’s also nice to have snacks and drinks on hand so you can continue to hydrate and munch on food throughout the day. Even though outside food and beverages are allowed, there are some specifications.

If you're bringing food or drinks that need to remain cool, you can bring your items in a cooler. Coolers, however, are not permitted to be larger than 24” (61cm) long, 15” (38cm) wide, and 18” (46cm) high. Ice, both loose and dry, is not allowed. Instead, you may use reusable ice packs to keep your items cool.

When it comes to containers, glass is not allowed. However, small glass containers, such as baby food jars, are. The only area where larger glass containers are permitted is at the Disney Resort hotels. This means that if you have groceries in your room, it’s ok to have items that are in glass, such as condiment bottles or a jar of pickles.

This Drink Rule Only Applies to Animal Kingdom

All of the previous rules apply at all of the Disney theme parks. However, Animal Kingdom has one additional rule. For the safety of the animals, plastic straws are not permitted. In their place, paper straws are available. Many Guests don’t enjoy paper straws though. My mother has found that she doesn’t like how paper straws feel in her mouth or that they get soggy in her drinks.

In an effort to avoid them, she brings her own reusable straws along with her. This is something that you can also do when visiting Animal Kingdom. I would avoid bringing plastic straws, even if they are reusable. Straws can be found in other materials such as silicone or metal. Keep in mind that glass is not allowed, so avoid bringing glass straws.

No Oversized Bags

Park bags are an essential part of a Disney trip for many Guests. Bags can be used to carry essentials for babies and tots, spare clothes, extra shoes, water bottles, and so much more. We asked our followers on Facebook what items are absolute necessities for their Disney park bag. Find out what they had to say by viewing their responses here!

Thankfully, bags are allowed at the Disney theme parks and water parks. There are, however, size restrictions. Bags and backpacks will not be allowed into the parks if they are larger than 24” (61cm) long, 15” (38cm) wide, and 18” (46cm) high.

Costumes & Masks

Since Disney is full of characters, which are essentially people dressed in costumes, it may be assumed that it’s ok to wear costumes at Disney. This, however, is not the case. With the exception of special events, such as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Oogie Boogie Bash, only Guests who are 14 or younger are allowed to wear costumes.

This also applies to masks. No Guest over the age of 14 is allowed to wear a mask unless it’s required for medical purposes. Certain restrictions also apply to the masks that children wear. These masks are not allowed to cover the child’s entire face, leaving a clear visual of the child’s eyes at all times.

If you were planning on showcasing your favorite character by dressing like them at Disney, consider DisneyBounding! DisneyBounding is when you wear normal, everyday clothes, but style them to resemble a specific Disney character.

Take a look at our our full guide on DisneyBounding for more information! In it, you'll find tips, inspiration photos, and a look at Disney's rules and regulations.

Skip the Selfie Stick

It’s not uncommon for Guests to want to capture their magical time at Disney through photography or videography. While there is no rule against doing so, there are a few stipulations for the multimedia accessories that are allowed on property.

Selfie sticks and any other sort of hand-held extension pole for cameras or mobile devices are not permitted. Not only can these be disruptive to other Guests, especially during shows, they also pose safety concerns. Beyond the possibility of accidentally hitting someone, these sticks can also cause threats in regard to ride functionality. If these items were to be dropped on a ride, it could result in Guest or Cast Member injury and damage to the attraction.

Even though hand-held poles are not allowed, tripods and monopod stands are. However, they must be able to fit inside a standard backpack and are not allowed to extend over 6’ (182cm).

Balloon Restrictions Vary

One type of merchandise item that’s a staple for the Disney Parks are the balloons! With the most popular being the Mickey shaped balloons, specialty balloons are also available that are themed to specific characters, holidays, and events. 

Disney balloons are not only popular among children, but adults as well. Multiple merchandise lines and products have even been made to celebrate the love of these balloons.

Since the balloons are such a popular item at Disney, it may not be obvious that they are not permitted everywhere. While the balloons are available for purchase at almost all of the theme parks, they are not sold at or allowed to be brought into Animal Kingdom.

If a balloon would get loose, it could become a safety hazard for the animals. If an animal attempted to eat a balloon, it could choke on it or experience complications if they fully ingested it. The string could also be a threat to the animals, creating a possibility of entanglement or strangulation.

Since animals can also be found at Animal Kingdom Lodge, balloons are not permitted there either. That rule applies to both Kidani Village and Jambo House.

Balloons are also not permitted at the Disney water parks or the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

What Happens to Your Balloon?

If you come to one of these locations with a balloon, you will have to turn the balloon over to a Cast Member. Luckily, you’ll be able to get your balloon back! During your time apart, your balloon will spend time at “Balloon Daycare”. When you retrieve your balloon later in the day, you’ll receive a cute note that tells you about all the fun that your balloon had at daycare. This process makes it easier for little ones when they have to separate from their balloon for a while.

Pets & Emotional Support Animals

As a general rule, pets and other animals are not permitted on Disney property. Service animals, however, are allowed. One thing that you need to know is that Disney is very particular about what they consider to be a service animal. At Disney, only dogs or miniature horses that are trained to work, perform tasks for, or assist Guests with a disability are considered service animals.

Animals that are used for emotional support, comfort, or companionship are not considered service animals and will not be allowed on property. These animals and pets will only be allowed at select pet friendly Disney Resort hotels. That being said, the only type of animal that’s permitted at these hotels are dogs.

If you’re traveling with other animals to Walt Disney World, they can enjoy a stay at Best Friends Pet Hotel. Here, daytime and overnight boarding is available for dogs, cats, and small pets such as birds, reptiles, and rodents. A variety of boarding options and extras are available for your furry, scaly, or feathered friend at Best Friends Pet Hotel. The accommodations at this pet hotel will make your pet feel like they’re on their own magical Disney vacation.

READ MORE – Leave The Magic Kingdom to Eat at These Quick Service Restaurants at Nearby Resorts

There are many different restaurant options near the Magic Kingdom that are FAR BETTER than anything that you can get inside the theme park. That park has the worst dining of pretty much any Disney theme park around the world and the restaurants nearby are much better. See Leave The Magic Kingdom to Eat at These Quick Service Restaurants at Nearby Resorts.

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Disney has a variety of rules in place for the safety and happiness of its guests, and if guests break these rules, there can be consequences—even for celebrities. See the celebrities who have been banned from Disney Parks and what they did!