Packing for disney

Going to Disney is always my favorite. I could be there forever. Unfortunately, my vacation time and wallet wouldn't allow for that. Anyhow, I wanted to take a minute to talk about what to pack for Disney. I find it helpful to make a list to go off of and then on the day we leave, I go through the list and check off what we have. 

1. A reusable water bottle: some people are unaware that you can get free ice water at almost all of the quick-service food locations in the Disney parks. When you're going in a large group, and you're spending $5 on bottled water, that can add up pretty quickly. Take advantage of the free water! I found reusable character water bottles on clearance at Meijer for us. Along with the free water, Disney allows you to bring in food and drinks; this could be another way to save money. You can't bring in a cooler; however, you could bring in a lunch box with ice packs to store your items. The first year we visited Disney we were on a budget and all about cost-saving tips. I brought a bunch of little snack items like chips, granola bars, and candy to keep us full in between meals.
2. Sunscreen: you're going to be in direct sunlight for most of the day. Make sure to protect yourself and your little ones with a good sunscreen. 
3. Ponchos: please please please, pack these! I buy them at the dollar store and store them in my bag. Ponchos at Disney are pretty expensive; therefore, I always recommend coming prepared. You can guarantee that it will rain at least once during your trip. The rain doesn't last very long!
   
4. Character autograph books: I got these off Amazon. I've seen different creative ideas for gathering autographs including wearing plain t-shirts that characters can sign, getting photo albums so that once you print out your picture, you can place it next to a signature, DIY autograph books, and even a big frame. I highly recommend getting a big sharpie for the characters to use. They have a hard enough time seeing through their costumes; therefore, the bigger the sharpie/marker, the better they can sign and personalize. 
   
5. Stroller: if you have little ones, this can be a lifesaver for their legs and your arms. They're going to get tired and may even nap. The stroller allows you to keep moving around without having to carry them in your arms. When you're exhausted, hot, and sunburnt, the last thing you'll want to do is carry them. The first time we went, we used a larger stroller that allowed us to put items in the basket at the bottom. Now, I have a six-year-old and a three-year-old. This past trip we still took a stroller for our six year old and I did not regret it one bit. As an adult, you'll be tired by the end of the day, so I can only imagine how the kids feel. 
   
   
   
   
6. Good shoes: I can't stress this enough; you will be walking for miles every day. You need to have comfortable, supportive shoes. This is not the time to wear your thin flip flops. Protect your feet! 
7. Backpack: I'm a big purse lover. The bigger, the better! However, for Disney, I wouldn't recommend a purse. You'll get tired of switching arms and having the weight on one shoulder. Get a practical backpack; this will evenly distribute the weight and gives you an area to hold any souvenirs you buy. On a side note, if you're staying at a Disney resort, you can have your purchased items sent to your resort. Allow for 24 hours of travel between the park and your resort. If you're not staying at a Disney resort, you can still have your items held and sent to the front of the park for pick up on your way out. This is a valuable tip if say you decide to purchase the life-size replica of the Stormtrooper. I'm not here to judge. 
8. Download the Disney app: you'll find everything you need on there from dining menus, wait times for rides, and even where the closest restroom is. Your fast pass options will be listed on there as well as any dining reservations. On the app, you can search for whatever you're looking for in various Disney locations. We even used it to find a specific pin. The app located the store we could buy the pin. (If you're looking for the avengers Ironman pin...we didn't have any luck!) 
9. Back up battery pack for your phone: since you'll be using the Disney app pretty frequently, you're going to want a battery pack to charge your phone. You don't have to spend big money on them either. We brought two, one for Devon and I. This is something you probably won't want to share with the people in your group. Battery life is pretty essential. I would also suggest taking a screenshot of your fast pass options and setting it as your screensaver to save some battery life. 
10. Magic bands: this is optional for those that are not staying onsite. You can purchase them through Disney's website and link your tickets. If you're staying onsite make sure you don't forget these! They act as a key to get into your hotel room. You can personalize your magic bands any way you'd like, and they are waterproof. If you are not staying onsite, they are not critical. You will receive a card that you will use to get into the parks. Whether you do use a magic band or a ticket card, you will scan a fingerprint that will link to your ticket. This can give you ease of mind in case you are worried you will lose your ticket.

I hope this list helps all of you who may be visiting for the first time or even the veterans that are getting ready to visit again! If by chance you forget any of these, you can find all these items in the Disney parks store. As always, feel free to comment on any other things you think you need to pack or any questions.

With love, Carolina