Ultimate Walt Disney World Packing List and What to Wear to Walt Disney World

There are lots of items that people miss frequently when packing for any Disney Parks trip which can lead to pricey spur of the moment purchases in the parks! This list should cover everything you need to know to bring to Walt Disney World!

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Walt Disney World Packing List

Here is everything and anything that you might ever need to bring on your Walt Disney World vacation…

What to Wear to Walt Disney World

When it comes to planning your list of clothes, think about what you would want to wear to be comfortable walking for miles in a day. You will easily do 7-8 miles a day if you spend all day at a Walt Disney World park!

But don't sacrifice style for comfort, you will have these pictures forever and you will want to look your best! There's always a comfortable (get it?) medium when it comes to clothes.

Also be sure to check the weather! You can expect hot and humid weather most of the year with chance of rain. So be prepared for rainy days!

Two pairs of comfortable walking shoes: Have at least two pairs of comfortable shoes you can switch back and forth with.

Don't be like Sofia Vergara's character on “Modern Family” and wear high heels to the park. The only remedy to high heels is to buy squishy bright yellow Minnie Mouse shoes like she did (the video is pretty funny). She ignored our Walt Disney World packing list…

Birkenstocks are great walking shoes for summer weather and you can easily pair them with socks at night to stay warm if it gets chilly. If you have hiking or athletic shoes, those are good choices too! Don't forget flip flops for the pool!

Extra Layers: Florida weather has hot sunny days but also is known for humidity and rain! Wear layers and bring a rain poncho!

Dress up clothes: The only places in the parks with a dress code are the signature dining restaurants. Their dress code states, “The dress code for Signature Dining restaurants is Resort casual. Not permitted in dining room: tank tops, swimsuits or swimsuit cover-ups, hats for gentlemen, cutoffs, torn clothing of any kind or T-shirts with offensive language and/or graphics.”

Even if you don't plan on dining in a signature dining restaurant, still bring one nice outfit for a nice dinner. It's fun to dress up and look nice, you will feel good, and look good!

Large hat and sunglasses: A hat can help keep the sun off you and prevent sunburns. Sunglasses are a must anytime you'll be outdoors all day.

One great company is Blenders Eyewear. They offer polarized sunglasses and ‘knock off' polarized options for a reasonable price. Shop for sunglasses here.

Put a pair of Croakies on the sunglasses so you can let your sunglasses hang while on attractions and not have to dig for them or risk them breaking..

Bathing suit: You will want a swimming suit to enjoy the hotel pool and that's the best way to take a break in the afternoons to cool off.

Beyond these suggestions, clothing really is a personal preference. When you are deciding what to pack for Walt Disney World, keep these simple packing guidelines in mind.

• Just make sure to follow the rules on the Walt Disney World official dress page. Wear shoes at all times and do not show clothing or tattoos inappropriate content.
• Above all make sure you are extremely comfortable in whatever you are wearing. You will be walking around Walt Disney World all day long and don't want to be wearing anything that doesn't fit well or isn't comfortable to wear in extremely hot weather. Avoid clothing that is too tight or itchy. You will likely wear the same Walt Disney World outfit from 7am to midnight.
• Wear layers to the parks everyday. With the humidity, the evenings and mornings can be chilly so its smart to bring layers! Especially if you are following my Walt Disney World FastPass+ tips and getting to the parks right when they open and staying late into the night. Bring a sweatshirt that is easy to stuff in a backpack or tie around your waist. Or a flannel works just as well!
• You will probably be seen by at least 25,000 people and you will be taking photos all day long. Don't confuse being comfortable with looking sloppy. Remember that you will have photographs from your trip for the rest of your life.
• You are going to Walt Disney World so don't forget to wear some Disney clothing or accessories! Mickey or Minnie ears, tshirts, or even matching family shirts can be a great way to make your photos more magical.

General fashion advice for the ladies:

When it comes to style, some of us ladies don't like to sacrifice our style to be comfortable. But we also don't want to show up and be uncomfortable all day! Here are some tips from our editor on how to be fashionable yet reasonable for a day at the parks:

• If you want to wear a dress, wear spandex biking shorts under your dress! This way you can climb off and on the rides without worrying about any fashion disasters!
• If it gets hot during the day, rather than putting your hair up in a ponytail, braid it so when it cools down you can unbraid your hair and it will be wavy- not dented.
• Speaking of hair, to keep your curls intact after using a curling wand or curling iron- try Bumble Finish Spray- it always keeps my hair curly throughout the entire day.
• If you want to keep your makeup looking fresh, try Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray, I sprayed this on my makeup at the beginning of a 12 hour day at the parks when the weather was 100 degrees.. and my makeup was still nearly perfect by the end. Amazing! It even helped my makeup survive a dip on Splash Mountain!
• If you buy new clothes for your trip, like most people do, make sure to try them on one more time before you pack. More than once, I've found myself not liking things I bought weeks prior when it came to packing time.

What Else to Bring to Walt Disney World

Here is everything and anything you might ever need to bring with on your Walt Disney World trip. These are items that we have found we needed year after year of visiting the parks! We have also included anything you would need for bringing kids to the parks as well.

Good bag or backpack to carry with you in the park: Ensure you have a comfortable bag or backpack that won't hurt your back after carrying it all day. Just make sure it's not too heavy- you will regret that choice later! Make sure it can fit comfortably between your feet on the rides. One of my favorite purses to bring to the Disney parks is one that switches between a crossbody and handbag style purse.

Water Bottle: You can easily get dehydrated quickly with all the walking in the hot weather so make sure to bring a water bottle everyday! The Hydro Flask or Swell Bottles are great because they are double layered and will not “sweat” as the ice melts- this way nothing else will get wet.

Camera: If your phone camera takes great pictures, this will often do just fine. But if you have a professional camera, decide whether you want to bring it along. Keep in mind that you will have to carry it all day and risk it getting wet. Either way, make sure you know your camera well.

Device Battery Packs: You will definitely want some type of battery pack to charge your phone- you don't want to run out of battery when you need your phone for pictures, calls, or anything else.

One of the highest recommended battery packs is the KMASHI battery pack. This pack holds 3-4 phone charges. You can charge any device that uses a USB plug. I highly recommend adding a battery pack to your Walt Disney World packing list as it will allow you to avoid a dead battery.

Also, be sure to bring an extra camera SD card and battery if you intend on snapping pictures all day.

Ziploc bags of all sizes: Bring a variety of Ziploc bags for leftover food, things to keep dry on water rides, pins, or anything else you want to keep separate. They will come in handy, I promsie!

Your own ponchos: One common thing in Florida: rain, rain, rain! And you can use the poncho to avoid getting overly soaked on the water rides. You can order these on Amazon.

If rain is forecast, DO NOT bring an umbrella so that you are not stuck carrying an umbrella around when you go inside or if the rain stops. 

Lanyards: Lanyards work great for holding trading pins or your park tickets. There are plenty Disney themed ones to buy in the parks too!

Sunscreen: This is important- no one wants a sunburn on vacation. And sunscreen will cost more in the parks! Carry some with into the park so you can reapply throughout the day.

Aloe Vera: Alas, if you get sunburnt then make sure you have some aloe vera on hand to help ease the discomfort.

Aquaphor ointment: Any theme park is filled with germs so you should be washing your hands and sanitizing frequently. This can dry out your hands so one thing we use is Aquaphor ointment to keep your hands from drying out.

Gold Bond Powder: All the walking can start to make your legs chafe, if you know this could be a problem for you then try putting on the dry Gold Bond Powder in the morning. It works wonders!

Chapstick or lip balm: Your lips can easily get chapped when you don't drink enough water- make sure you have some on hand. Get the sunscreen ones to avoid sunburns. Buy chapstick here.

Small pack of Kleenex: The tissues and toliet paper in the bathrooms can be scratchy so bring your own Kleenex! You can buy travel sized for your bag. Buy Kleenex travel packs here.

Anti-bacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer: Don't forget to bring sanitizer and use it before you eat meals!  Buy travel hand sanitizer here.

Moleskin or band aids for blisters: The amount of walking can cause blisters and they can develop in just one day. Moleskin can help cover them so they don't hurt.

Pain reliever of your choice: Don't forget to pack some pain reliever! Always good to have just in case.

Tums or Pepto Bismol: You will be happy you packed these if any of the food disagrees with your stomach!

Ear plugs: If you're jammed in a hotel room with others, bringing ear plugs can be a great choice. This way you can sleep even if others are still awake or watching tv.

Power strip: Bringing a travel strip can be great if you're traveling with a big group. This way there are plenty of outlets for everyone.

I really like this power strip that includes both plugs and USB ports for using in your room. Not only is this outlet light weight, but it has built in USB ports so that you don't have to carry the Apple chord boxes.

Autograph book: Don't forget an autograph book for your kids (or you!) to collect character autographs! Bring a fat pen so that the characters can grip it more easily and their signature can be more legible. I like the clickable Sharpies!

Your own glow sticks: Before all of the nighttime parades and spectaculars, Cast Members circulate selling glow in the dark toys. Popping out a glow stick or necklace to give to your child right when they see the toys can be a good way to avoid this higher end purchase. You can order these here.

Pennies and quarters: If you plan on collecting pressed pennies during your trip at Walt Disney World. Bring along shiny pennies and quarters to operate the machines in the parks. Each machines costs 50 cents to press a penny.

Pins for trading: As we outline in the souvenir guide, you should purchase pins for trading before arriving at Walt Disney World. These other pins are a fraction of the price and are just as worthy for trading.

Stroller: If your child needs a stroller during the day, I highly recommend either bringing your own or renting one from a third party. Disney's prices are higher and you may not bring the stroller back to your hotel. Check out the stroller selection and be sure to purchase one that is easy to travel with. You can also rent a stroller from a nearby company so you don't have to travel with your own stroller.

Anything you need to make your child comfortable: Make sure to access the sleeping situation of your children before leaving home. Do they sleep with a night light? Do they need their favorite stuffed animal? Even the littlest thing to improve the amount or quality of sleep is valuable.

Cash or credit card: There are ATMs throughout the Walt Disney World Resort where you can withdraw cash, but you shouldn't need it for any reason if you have a credit or debit card. If you are staying at Walt Disney World on property hotel, you can make charges to your room anywhere on Walt Disney World Resort property.

Travel documents: Make sure to pack all of the critical travel documents like your driver's license or identification, proof car-insurance (if you are renting a car), health insurance card, confirmation of Walt Disney World tickets, confirmation of your hotel near Walt Disney World, confirmation of plane tickets, and written emergency contacts.

Extra room in your suitcase: Leave extra room in your suitcase so you can fit all your souvenirs! Make sure you have a suitcase that has extra room in it to carry back your purchases.

Food to Bring to Walt Disney World

I highly recommend bringing your own snacks to the parks with you each day this way you always have something to eat in case you get hungry while in line or not within close reach of a snack stand.

Snacks: Some of my favorite snacks for the parks are the various assortments of trek mixes, dried fruit, and granola bars from Trader Joe's. These really sustain me throughout the trip and keep me full between breakfast and lunch. You can order these on Amazon and have them sent directly to your hotel to be waiting for you. Read our guide to the best snacks to bring to Disney.

Breakfast: Depending on where you are staying at Walt Disney World, you may have breakfast provided at your hotel. If you do not have breakfast provided with your hotel room, I suggest buying breakfast food and eating something in your room before leaving for the day. Then, if you are still hungry, stop for a snack after spending a couple of hours in the park. Do not, I repeat, do not go out to breakfast and be late to the rope drop opening of Walt Disney World. You need the morning to get on attractions with low wait times!

Case of water: Consider picking up a jug of water or a case of water bottles. I have never had a problem with the taste of the in-park water, but never liked the water that comes out of the faucet in the hotel room.

Chewing gum: Walt Disney World does not sell gum anywhere in the resort. If you need to chew gum, be sure to bring your own.

Via Powdered Starbucks Coffee: To avoid spending money on coffee at Walt Disney World, you can bring your own powdered coffee with you. Get hot water from your hotel or ask for a free cup of hot water from any counter service restaurant in Walt Disney World. You can order this on Amazon.

What to Bring to Walt Disney World

Below is a complete list of Walt Disney World items to bring with you into the parks everyday. Also see our quick explainer on the Disney bag policy.

• Your park tickets (purchase your discount Walt Disney World tickets)
• Backpack (see our description of the best Walt Disney World backpack in the section above)
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat
• Jacket and poncho
• Trading pins (click here for our ultimate Disney pin trading guide)
• Wallet
• Snacks: Granola bars, fruit, trail mix. Something to tide you over to your next snack or meal.
• Phone charger and phone battery pack (see phone and charger recommendation in packing list above)
• Water Bottle (see water bottle recommendations in Disney checklist above)
• Optional: The worst thing to get wet on a water ride are your socks. They never seem to dry. You could throw an extra pair in your backpack if it's a colder day and want to enjoy the water rides.
• Optional for the fashionistas: extra makeup for quick touch ups throughout the day and hair ties!