Disneyland Visitors Share the Most Essential Items They Never Forget to Bring in Their Park Bag

Although trips to Disneyland are filled with magic and fun, it is important to be prepared to get the most out of your vacation. The best way to tackle a day at the Disneyland Resort is to pack a park bag filled with the essentials to avoid discomfort or spend unnecessary money on things you could bring from home. There is nothing worse than suffering from blisters, sunburn, dehydration, or more on a Disney vacation!

Although Disneyland's bag policy prohibits guests from bringing certain items into the park such as glass containers, large coolers, and loose ice, guests are more than welcome to bring in their own non-alcoholic drinks and snacks into the parks. You are also free to bring sunscreen, first aid items, portable fans, ponchos, and more which allow you to be prepared for all types of weather in Anaheim. All guests are subject to security screenings, however it is a straight forward process that allows all guests to feel safe to enjoy their Disney day.

For guests wanting to pack light and avoid carrying a heavy backpack around the parks, you can also store your gear in a Disneyland locker which you have unlimited access to throughout the day. Lockers cost between $7 and $15 per day depending on the size, and lockers inside the parks are only accessible during park hours. Lockers are also a great option if you want to store any merchandise you purchase throughout the day.

We recently asked our Facebook page followers what they like to include in their park bag whenever they spend time in the Disneyland parks. We had some great responses, and therefore decided to compile the top answers so that you can be prepared on your next trip! Also, be sure to check out our ultimate Disneyland packing guide to make sure you have everything you need to make your next Disney trip as smooth as possible.

Refillable Water Bottles and Electrolytes

Especially during the summer, Disneyland weather can be hot, leading to dehydration for those who are not drinking water and electrolytes. Facebook user Judi Kunkle stated “My primary pack is a hydro-pack. My #1 survival hack. I fill it with ice and water in the hotel each morning and I have at hand hydration ALL DAY.” Many other Facebook followers stated a refillable water bottle is often a staple in their park bag in order to avoid spending money on bottles of water at the parks and to stay hydrated.

In addition to water bottles, other Facebook users like to bring electrolytes, such as sports drinks. Facebook user MeLissa Knapik stated her park bag essentials include “Liquid IV packs. Walking all day, this stuff with hydrate you.” I personally use Liquid IV and other electrolyte packets in my bottles of water which adds another layer of hydration that helps me feel good all day at the parks and also tastes good!

Weather Gear – Sunscreen, Portable Fans, and Ponchos

Weather gear is another common park bag staple for many Disneyland guests. These can include but are not limited to sunscreen, hats, portable fans, or ponchos for hot and rainy weather. A popular item I've seen guests wear around the parks are portable neck fans which you can wear around your neck and stay cool handsfree. There are also misting fans to spray yourself with cool water to stay more comfortable on hot park days. I always make sure I bring a hat and sunglasses to protect my eyes and face against the bright California sun.

Facebook user Kim Andersen Kloke stated her park bag staples include “sunscreen and portable fan because it's usually scorching hot,” while Joy Taylor agreed and wrote “If I could pick two, water & sunscreen.” Lexi Pullman wrote her park bag always includes “dollar store ponchos” which is a great idea, especially since the ponchos sold at Disneyland are usually pretty expensive. I always make sure to check the weather forecast leading up to my Disneyland trip, and even if there is no rain in the forecast, it never hurts to throw in a poncho or two just in case!

External Phone Battery Chargers

First time guests to Disneyland will quickly realize how often they have to use their smart phones throughout the day. Guests can book Lightning Lane and dining reservations, mobile order food at quick service restaurants, view attraction wait times, and much more using the Disneyland app. Facebook user Larissa Roberton Flach stated her park bag essential is an “External battery for my phone – because it's always dying with how much we use the app!” I can almost guarantee that you will need to recharge your phone at least once while you are inside the parks.

Many Facebook followers also stated they never forget external phone battery chargers in their park bag. Although Disneyland has FuelRod charger stations throughout the parks, the kit costs $30 and isn't worth the cost compared to other chargers in our opinion. If you are interested in FuelRods, Amazon Prime members can purchase a two pack of FuelRods for $34.99 with free shipping which costs only $5 more than the single FueldRod for purchase inside the parks. You can also check out our favorite portable phone charger here that we personally typically carry instead of the FuelRods. Regardless of which external chargers you prefer, it's one of the most popular park bag essentials!

READ MORE – Where Can You Refill Water Bottles at Disneyland?

Extra Snacks

Although Disneyland sells all types of delicious snacks, they can be pricey and add up quickly throughout the day! Therefore, it's not a surprise that many of our Facebook followers pack extra snacks in their park bags. Michael Danner wrote “Snacks on snacks on snacks for while we wait in line. Got to keep the energy up for when you go rope drop to close!” It's a huge perk that Disney allows guests to bring various food items into the park, especially if you are looking to save money on food. If you're interested in bringing in your own snacks to save money, check out our favorite Disney snacks to bring into the parks.

Although we highly recommend purchasing the amazing snacks at Disneyland such as DOLE Whip, churros, beignets, and others, extra snacks can help save a money on a trip to Disneyland. It's also a nice convenience for when you want to get in line for an attraction with a long wait.

Hand Sanitizer and Baby Wipes

A lot of our Facebook followers stated they always bring hand sanitizer or baby wipes with them on their trips to Disneyland. Karen Eberenz Martinez stated the one thing she never forgets are “Baby wipes. Not for babies. I always have them and always seem to need them,” and Eva Eveland wrote “Sanitized wipes to wipe down tables and hands.” Along the same lines, many users stated they bring hand sanitizer to prevent the spread of germs and sickness at the parks.

Baby wipes and hand sanitizer are always a good idea especially with children who always seem to find ways to touch everything in sight, including sticky surfaces. It's also nice to have wipes or sanitizer on hand when eating and walking around the parks simultaneously. Although the Disneyland parks are extremely clean, it's also nice to have an extra wipe to use on tables or chairs you may use to enjoy a break at the parks.

Extra Pair of Socks or Shoes

Another popular answer by guests included an extra pair of socks or shoes. There were a couple different reasons why guests stated they often bring shoes and socks in their park bag. Adrienne Murrary stated a bag essential includes “Oofos sandals because I’ll switch partway through the day to give my feet a rest – and because if I want or need to get wet on a ride, I’ll switch my shoes. Oofos because I like the “recovery” arch shape.” Facebook user Loriana Bingham stated they bring “flip flops/sandals in case I get wet on water rides.” Lastly, Rob Huggy Farquhar stated they like to bring “A second pair of shoes, it refreshes the feet to change your shoes.”

Therefore, you may want to consider bringing an extra pair of socks or shoes/sandals for both comfort and if you plan on riding any of the water rides such as Grizzly River Run in Disney California Adventure. You may also want to consider bringing a pair of extra socks and shoes or flip flops for water rides, as guests typically get pretty wet. Additionally, many guests bring an extra pair of shoes on long park days in order to give their feet a rest. I strongly agree with Adrienne who mentioned Oofos sandals are great for recovery, or even another pair of tennis shoes will help relieve some of the stress put on your feet during a long day at Disney. Check out our test favorite shoes for Disneyland here!

First Aid

Although there are First Aid stations located in both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, it's always a good idea to bring basic first aid supplies such as Tylenol, blister Band-Aids, Tums, or Dramamine for nausea. Although packing a good pair of shoes is helpful, guests still often get blisters. Facebook user Dan Wood agreed and said his park bag staple is “First aid, mostly for blisters for the family. But I've helped people in the queue complaining about blisters.”

Over the counter medications such as Tylenol, Tums, and Dramamine are also helpful in case someone in your group starts to feel sick or gets a headache throughout the day. Hopefully you won't need these, but it can come in clutch without having to find the First Aid station or run back to your hotel room.

Chapstick or Lip Balm

Several Facebook users including Joanie Applegate and Janelle Martinez never forget to bring Chapstick or lip balm in their Disneyland park bag. Michael VanSickle agreed and said “I like to reapply between churros,” which I thought was a great idea! Especially when the parks are particularly dry or windy, Chapstick is incredibly handy to stay comfortable inside the parks.

For an even extra layer of protection, we recommend packing sunscreen lip balm which also protects against the sun's UV rays. Anything from lip balm, clothing, hats, or moisturizer with added SPF is always a great idea to pack in your Disneyland park bag.

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