Disney Guests End Up Buying These 9 Common Items They Should’ve Brought With Them

There are several areas that can add up to a major expense during a Disney trip, between hotels, tickets, dining, and more. While there are other experiences that you may choose to put money towards that can elevate your vacation, like dining packages or other splurges, there are many other things that visitors end up unexpectedly buying in a pinch because they are underprepared.

We joke that it's easy to go into Disneyland and blow your budget on fun purchases like souvenirs or popcorn buckets, but there are some less fun items that you may end up needing to buy purely out of necessity. You may have forgotten one of these things, dismissed the need for it, or not even thought of it in the first place. However, if you're not careful, some of these unexpected purchases can end up eating up a significant amount of money.

Here are the top 9 most common items Disney visitors end up buying in a pinch and kick themselves over it!

Make Sure You Prepare Before Your Trip

The best way to avoid missing any of these essentials is to make sure you refer to a detailed Disney packing list before your trip. While it may not seem necessary, referring to a Disneyland packing list or Disney World packing list will help you to make sure you have everything you need for the specific resort you're visiting, including some items you might not have thought of.

Below, we will detail the items that Disney visitors end up buying in a pinch that they could have prepared for. Most of these items are more expensive at the parks, so it's worth it to think about them ahead of time so that you don't end up spending more money than you need to.

Proper Layers For the Cold

If you're unfamiliar with the weather patterns of Southern California or Orlando, you may find yourself in for a surprise if you operate under the assumption that the weather will stay the same throughout your trip. Southern California is known for its warm temperatures and overall mild weather throughout the year, but many people are surprised by the chillier mornings and evenings at Disneyland and find that they don't have proper layers to keep them warm. The same applies to those who visit Disney World expecting hot, humid weather and come without layers in the mornings and evenings. Doing your research ahead of time will save you money in the long run so you don't end up having packed a dysfunctional wardrobe during your visit that you need to remedy.

While it may seem like you can just tough it out in this situation, many will find that they are far too cold and need to buy a sweatshirt to keep them warm. I have found myself in my situation before at Disney, and after a good fight, I gave in to the need to buy something in a pinch. This can be a good Disney souvenir if you were already planning on getting something like this, but if you weren't, it may be difficult to find something reasonably priced on the fly. Additionally, you're more inclined to rush this purchase and choose something out of convenience if you're just getting a sweatshirt to warm up, and you may not even get something that you really liked and properly considered.

Layers are extremely important to bring no matter which park you're visiting—don't write off this essential packing list item! We recommend bringing a sweatshirt that you can tie around your waist or store in your backpack when you don't need it.

Ponchos

If you are visiting Disney World, rain is always a possibility, especially during the summer months, so you'll want to make sure you are prepared with a poncho no matter when you visit. Some may get caught off guard by the rain, buy ponchos in a pinch, and regret not having bought them at a much cheaper price before their trip.

We recommend a poncho over an umbrella, as it can be a nuisance to carry around when it's not raining and it's difficult to walk through foot traffic with. A poncho is much easier to store when you don't need it, and you don't have to worry about carrying it around as you just wear it when it's raining.

Even if you're visiting Disneyland, where rain is less likely, be sure to still check the forecast, and consider getting a poncho if there is a possibility you'll go on a water ride like Grizzly River Run or the upcoming Tiana's Bayou Adventure. It's no fun walking around in wet clothes, so a poncho can help prevent you from getting really soaked. To dodge the higher cost of ponchos at the park that many end up getting in a pinch, you can order them in a pack on Amazon for a much more reasonable cost.

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Bandaids/Medical Supplies

Another thing that people end up buying unexpectedly is any over-the-counter medicines or first aid items that are needed. While nobody likes to think that they could experience pain or discomfort during their day, there's always the possibility of this with so much walking and action at Disney.

While you definitely don't want to go over the top with “just-in-case” items, take a moment before your trip to think of what you may realistically need during your day. Are you prone to stomach aches or muscle aches? Do your ankles blister easily? Could your kids take a tumble during the day? It's worth it to bring any small items that can help to keep you and your family comfortable in case of pain like Tums or Pepto Bismol, pain reliever, and bandaids or Moleskin.

If you pack some of these medical items, you'll be glad you ended up bringing them. There's nothing worse than being uncomfortable or in pain looking for medicine at Disneyland in a pinch, so it pays to come prepared. I always like to bring a travel-sized Advil container in my bag for muscle aches, and it always pays off to have it whether for myself or someone else in my group.

Water Bottles and Snacks

Another couple of things people end up buying in a pinch are water bottles and snacks between meals. Water bottles are very overpriced in the parks, so it pays off to either bring your own refillable water bottle or buy some in a case as part of a grocery delivery to drink in your hotel room and bring to the parks. You can also avoid the expense of water bottles by asking for a cup of free ice water at counter-service restaurants. You can see some of our Disney snack ideas here.

Under the wrong circumstances, snacks can also be a problematic unexpected purchase. It's one thing to want to enjoy a Mickey pretzel or get a special treat during the day, it's another thing to simply get one because you're hungry, especially when you're close to a meal. Food at Disney is not cheap, which is why many will choose to come prepared with some smaller snack items to save money.

Bringing some lightweight items like dried fruit, trail mix, granola bars, etc. can help you stay energized until your next meal. Plus, these items won't fill you up as many of the heavier Disney snacks can. On a recent Disney trip, I gave in to the impulse to buy a snack in a pinch and then was in trouble when it came time to attend a dining reservation because I had filled up on something heavy! Having some small pre-packed snacks ready to go when you need them can really help in this type of situation.

Any Essentials (Toothpaste, Sunscreen, Etc.)

As much as you may make a deliberate effort to remember all of the essentials like toiletries, sunscreen, charger, etc., you may still arrive at Disney and realize you forgot something. While gift shops at hotels are usually stocked with all of these necessities, they also often come with a bigger price tag.

Be sure to always double-check your packing list to make sure you don't leave behind any of these items and end up kicking yourself over it later. We have a convenient printable version of our Disney Parks packing list that you can print out and then check off the items as you pack them. See all of our Disneyland printables here. This is the best way to make sure you don't make any silly mistakes while packing and leave behind something you really need. We've all been there!

Locker Rentals

A little bit of planning ahead can often prevent you from getting into a situation where you're forced to rent a locker in a pinch. You may find yourself in this situation partway through the day if you overpacked your bag—after lugging around a heavy weight for most of the way, you may give in to the impulse to get a locker to take some of the strain off. You'll want to strike a balance between having the essentials and going overboard with the “just-in-case” items. Remember that you're going to need to carry whatever you end up packing, and Disney days are not short!

This scenario can also happen if you buy souvenirs near the start of the day that are awkward or heavy to carry. You may try to lug these around for a bit but end up resorting to a locker rental. Unless it is an item that you know will go fast, we recommend waiting closer to the end of the day to get your souvenirs. This can also be a good strategy for saving money as well—as we mention in our guide to doing Disneyland on a budget, another option is to only buy souvenirs on the last day of your trip to be sure it's something you really want. This way, it's not as easy to fall victim to impulsive purchases that you'll have to carry around the parks.

Kids Toys

There is so much flashy merchandise at Disney, and kids will be dazzled by all of it from the minute they enter the parks. Most of the time, you can get these items for much cheaper outside of Disney, but many parents may end up spending more than they intended in a pinch to make their kids happy.

One of our top tips for parents visiting Disney with kids is to buy souvenirs before your vacation that you know your kids will be drawn to. Things like bubble wands, glow sticks, plushies, and more can all be found for a much more reasonable price outside of Disney at retail stores or through Amazon before your trip. It pays off to come prepared with these so you can stay within your souvenir budget.

Portable Chargers

One of the most common items that people have to buy in a pinch is a portable charger. We consider this to be one of the most important things you don't want to forget during your Disney vacation. Whether you forgot to bring your own portable charger or underestimated the importance of having one, you never want to end up with a dead phone at Disney. Many make the mistake of writing off the need for a portable charger and then end up having to buy one out of necessity.

They are available around Disney if you need them—see our guide to FuelRod chargers at Disneyland and FuelRod chargers at Disney World to see their locations, cost, and how they work—but you can avoid this expense by buying a good portable charger ahead of time that you can take on every Disney trip. We recommend the AnkerPowerCore 10000, which you can conveniently buy on Amazon before your vacation.

Uber/Lyft

The last common thing that Disney visitors buy in a pinch is an Uber or Lyft for transportation, especially for navigating Walt Disney World. You may have a solid plan in place for using the complimentary Walt Disney World-operated transportation, but if you're running behind, you can end up losing valuable time at the parks without an alternative.

Unlike the other items on this list, however, this is not necessarily something you should end up kicking yourself over if you buy it in a pinch. You can always have a plan in place for using the free transportation, but if things don't go according to plan, Uber/Lyft is always a good choice to get you around the resort quicker. This is one of the Walt Disney World transportation hacks we would recommend if you're running late for something time-sensitive like a dining reservation. It's always wise to save as much money wherever you can during your Disney trip, but getting an Uber/Lyft is a smart backup plan if you don't end up accounting for enough transportation time.

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