Main Street Dreamin’ - A Disney World Series: Part 2 - Everything I’ve Bought for Disney World [Haul]
I don’t know about you, but there is something about having a trip planned that makes me feel a little…spend-y! 🤪💸
I don’t think shopping before a trip (even a Disney World trip) is necessary, however, I am the type of person that will window shop and argue with myself over something I really want to buy 99% of the time, so when a trip or special occasion comes around I kind of use it as my excuse to relax my purse strings and buy some things and that I have been needing (ex: new shoes) or wanting (ex: new makeup, necklace, etc.). Is anyone else like this or is it just me?!
While there are very few Disney specific things on this list, I thought it would still be fun to share some of the things I’ve been gathering over the last year. If you’re looking for a list of what I will be packing for Disney World, that will come in another blog post soon.
Electronics & Activities:
Screenshot of our MagicBand+ from my new YouTube video!
MagicBand+
I figured I would start with the most Disney-specific thing on my list, and the thing that I would consider to be the most “essential” thing for my list. However, I really can’t call it essential because you can totally have a successful Disney trip without it. If you don’t know what a MagicBand+ is, it is a wristband created by Disney to be worn in the parks for features such as: park entry, room access, and paying for purchases. Think of it like a Disney-Apple-Watch. The MagicBand+ is a second generation of it’s technology and enhances the MagicBand experience by including haptic vibrations, lights, and gesture recognition, and also interacts with areas and experiences around the parks. We chose the following bands:
Walt Disney World Park Icons [no longer available]
Pro Tip: If you booked your vacation as a package (resort stay + park tickets), you can save money when purchasing your Magic Bands by purchasing through your reservation. I missed this fact when I purchased my Magic Bands. However, the selection of styles is limited so you may find a MagicBand design that you like better on the Disney Store website.
Charging Blocks:
It seems like every time I buy a new electronic device it comes with the charging cord but no charging block. I feel like I am always pulling my charging blocks from one device to another. The MagicBand+ is no different. The charging cable is included in the box, but supplying a charging block is totally up to you. Since I know our family will have a ton of devices to charge in our resort room every night, I decided to purchase a 6-pack of dual-port charging blocks on Amazon.
BitBelt Band Loops:
From what I’ve heard, MagicBands have a tendency to fall off and get lost sometimes. Thankfully, you can find these silicone watch loops on Amazon to protect your MagicBand! There are several different companies to purchase from, and a variety of colors and pack sizes. I went with this Glow In The Dark pack from BitBelt.
Magnetic Phone Tripod Stand:
Although I did not specifically purchase this tripod for Disney, I do feel like it will be a handy addition to my park bag. This magsafe tripod is extremely light weight, folds flat, and can be bent to different angles to capture food content, park content, or a group photo on the go! I bought this from UrbanEase Living on the TikTok shop.
Puzzle & Activity Books:
To keep my mind and my hands busy on the 6+ hour road trip from Georgia to Orlando, I like to have a few puzzle books or activities in the car. I know there are plenty of phone games to play, but sometimes cell service is spotty on road trips, your using your phone for GPS, or you simply don’t want to be on your phone for the whole trip. That’s why I like to be a little old fashioned and bring along some puzzle books. Word searches are my favorite, but I have also found that crossword puzzles are great group activities and can help spark conversation and avoid roadtrip silence. I’m bringing these two with me:
Disney Word Search & Coloring Book (I bought mine from Five Below, but it is also available on Amazon)
The Ultimate Brain Health Puzzle Book for Adults (Amazon)
Accessories:
Minnie Mouse Ears:
Wearing ears to the parks is a quintessential part of any Disney trip. However, at $25+ per pair, the cost of this accessory can add up quickly if you want a variety of ears to match each of your outfits. I will be splurging on an authentic pair of classic Minnie ears once we’re at Disney, but to be more cost effective I bought a few cheap pairs from Shein to match some of the outfits that I am planning. You can also find some other headband options at a variety of price points through Amazon and Etsy.
Beige and White Checkered Nylon Bum Bag from The Gold Blush
Crossbody Bag:
When I went to Universal Studios last year, I found a small-ish nylon backpack from Marshalls and it was the perfect size for a park bag. However, I quickly learned that tank tops, backpack straps, and Florida heat don’t mix. After a couple days of straps rubbing the creases of my arms, I was in so much pain that my husband had to carry around my hot pink backpack for the next two days.
I knew I wouldn’t do a backpack for a theme park again, but I wanted something bigger than your typical belt bag. When I saw this gorgeous bag come across my TikTok FYP, I immediately knew it would be the perfect theme park bag. It is extremely spacious, has multiple pockets, easy to use zipper handles, an adjustable strap (to be worn close to the chest or at the hip), and it is water resistant and can be wiped off if your melting dole whip drips onto your bag.
I went with the white and tan checkered color, but there are so many colors to choose from!
Bag Keychain Headband Holder:
After a few hours of headband-wearing, I’m sure I’ll be ready for a break from being a mouse. As much as I love channeling my inner Minnie, those ears can start to feel like a villain-level curse by mid-afternoon. That’s why I’m bringing along a practically perfect little keychain that snaps around my headband and clips onto my backpack—like a fairy godmother for my forehead. It’s the ultimate way to let it go when the headband headache hits, without cramming your cute ears into your bag (or losing them all together).
I found this 2-pack of bow-shaped ear holders on Amazon, but you can also find some customized options on Etsy.
Magical Iced Coffee Sleeve by FlutterStickers
Magical Iced Coffee Sleeve:
My latest obsession? Iced coffee sleeves. I’m so obsessed that the entire center console of my car is full of them. It’s like my iced coffee addiction has its own wardrobe. Of course, I wanted to add a little pixie dust to my collection and find a magical iced coffee sleeve for the parks. This super cute design came from a shop called FlutterStickers on Etsy!
Customized Disney Font Necklace:
I’m not really into expensive jewelry, but I do love to match my jewelry to the theme of my outfit. I asked for this necklace for my birthday this year, and my parents delivered! I like that this isn’t over the top Disney, but is a subtle reference that I can wear every day. This necklace came from BlackWhiteCustomize on Etsy.
BaubleBar Mickey Mouse Necklace:
The custom name necklace was supposed to be my only Disney necklace, but Marshall’s had other plans! I like to search through the Marshall’s/TJMaxx jewelry section pretty often to search for Disney BaubleBar pieces, but I had never actually bought any of the pieces I found. Until now!
This Mickey Mouse Disney Pavé Pendant Necklace is almost identical to another initial necklace I had been talking myself in and out of for months at TJMaxx. When I saw the sweet little Mickey silhouette on the beautiful pearlescent background, I new it was meant to be. This necklace is still available on BaubleBar for $40…I feel even better about my purchase knowing I found it for $15!
Cinderella’s Castle Earrings:
As I mentioned before, I like to match my jewelry to the theme of my outfits, especially for theme park outfits! This will be a little hint to one of my Disney-bound outfits. These beautiful, holographic acrylic etched earrings are available in Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty’s castle to fit whichever theme park you call home! I found them from CraftCloudJewelry on Etsy!
Sunglasses:
Florida didn’t get the nickname The Sunshine State for nothing—so sunglasses are definitely a must-have for any Disney World trip. Some people treat sunglasses like a wardrobe investment and drop hundreds on a single pair. And while I totally respect a good splurge for quality, sunglasses just aren’t one of those things I can justify spending big on. I tend to be a little...let’s say casual with my sunglasses. I’m rough on them, I misplace them constantly (though they usually turn up a month later in some random bag), and I know myself well enough to keep it budget-friendly. So I go for affordable polarized pairs from Amazon. Are they as crystal-clear as my husband’s fancy lenses? Maybe not. But for me? They do the trick—and I won’t cry if they end up lost in the depths of my park bag.
Last year I bought this set from Amazon for our trip to Universal Studios. This year, I have been loving the oversized lens trendy so I bought this set from Amazon. However, as I am writing this blog post I have realized that these are not actually polarized lenses, so I may exchange them before our trip.
Update: I did exchange them for this pair, and I like them a lot better!
Beauty Products:
Moisturizer with Sunscreen:
This was mostly just a restock purchase. The RoC Multi Correxion Hydrate + Plump Daily Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid - SPF 30 is my all time favorite moisturizer for a couple reasons. I am very picky about lotions and moisturizers because I don’t like the greasy or sticky texture, but this RoC moisturizer isn’t greasy at all and makes my skin feel perfectly hydrated. I also fully trust the SPF qualities of this moisturizer after using it at the beach a couple years ago. I wore this moisturizer on my face during our honeymoon to Clearwater Beach, FL and used regular sunscreen on the rest of my body. My body was burnt to a crisp, but my face looked like I hadn’t been in the sun at all. I have been a total believer ever since, and I am now on my third (or fourth?) bottle of this moisturizer. In my opinion it’s worth every penny, and if you time your purchase correctly you can get a $5 gift card with your beauty product purchase at Target.
BB Cream:
This was another restock purchase of something I use on a normal day-to-day basis. When I want a little bit of coverage, but not a full coverage foundation the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream is my go to product. It has survived my 8+ hour wedding photography days and 12+ hour theme park days. I don’t think make up is a necessity for a theme park vacation, but if you’re like me and like to feel a little bit put together, then I would definitely recommend this product.
This BB Cream also contains SPF, but I haven’t tested it’s effectiveness on its own.
Self-Tanner:
I recently saw an ad for this Beauty by Earth Self Tanner on Instagram. It was advertised as a self tanner thar is free of hormone disrupting ingredients, which I am all for (especially as someone who struggles with PCOS). This tanner is made in the USA with Natural & Organic Ingredients and goes on like a lotion.
The texture and application of this self-tanner were amazing—super smooth, streak-free, and easy to apply—but the real game-changer was the color payoff. I’m naturally very pale and don’t tan easily, so I usually rely on self-tanners when I want that glowy, sun-kissed look. The problem? Most of them just don’t get me as deep or dark as I’d like. This product, though? Total game-changer. Within just a few hours, I was already as bronzed as I typically get after multiple applications with other brands. And after leaving it on overnight? Let’s just say I woke up with the glow of my dreams—no sunburn required.
Speaking of sunburn… I have discovered that if I apply self tanner before a trip I don’t burn at all. So while I’m not typically someone that self tans frequently, I do include this in my vacation prep rituals because it saves me the pain of being sunburnt. I bought this Beauty by Earth Self Tanner on Amazon.
Summer Friday’s Lip Balm:
If you’re like me, you’ve probably seen this lip balm on every influencer and “it-girl” instagram account in recent months. Ringing in at $24, it’s no Chapstick or Carmex. I decided to give in to the influencing and give it a go, hoping that it would be moisturizing and not sticky or overly glossy so that it would be great to keep in my purse for everyday wear. Long story short —this is now my favorite lip balm. It is glossy when it goes on, but it melts into your lips to give you long-lasting moisture without being a thick heavy gloss all day. A little of this product goes a long way and the tube is huge, so I think the $24 price tag is a worth while investment that you will have for quite a while. I bought the shade “Pink Sugar” from Amazon.
Adriana Nichole Cosmetics Palette:
Another TikTok Shop find… The “I am Everything” Palette from Adriana Nichole Cosmetics. I always say to myself “If you can’t wear glitter eyeshadow for [insert occasion here], when can you wear it?!” and of course Disney World is probably the most fitting occasion for glitter eyeshadow. This stunning eyeshadow palette has 6 duo-chrome colors and three neutrals, and I feel like it is the perfect makeup palette for every occasion in Disney World. I purchased mine from TikTok shop but you can also find it on the website HERE.
Clothing:
Footwear:
Good footwear is crucial when you will be walking thousands of steps per day, but I think “good footwear” is a subjective qualification. Personally, I live in sandals year round and for every occasion. I have done this since I was little and truly I always say I’m happier when my toes are free, haha! I wear tennis shoes to workout and I only wear closed-toe shoes when I will be outdoors for an extended period of time and it will be below freezing.
Last year, I brought a trusty pair of adidas cloud foam lightweight tennis shoes to Universal studios. These are my go-to tennis shoes, but to be honest with you I was in so much pain by day two that I was running to the hotel shop for some Biofreeze for my knees and back to get me through the day. I fought through the parks in tennis shoes for a few more days, and then on the final days I went back to my favorite sandals (Birkenstocks) and I was more comfortable than I had been all week. With that being said, I plan to brave the Disney parks in Birkenstocks this year, but I am bringing a pair of tennis shoes too just in case that plan backfires (Shoutout to Miranda from allears.net for being a flip flop theme park girlie and making me believe this is not a crazy idea, lol).
Here are my footwear purchases:
Birkenstocks: Arizona Birko-Flor, Copper (Link)
Flux Footwear: Adapt Runner, White/Gum (Link)
These are marketed as wide-toe-box, zero-drop, shoes which is extremely important for natural foot position and (hopefully) little-to-no foot pain. They are a new purchase and arriving in the mail today, so I will definitely report back on if I think they are worth the hype.
T-Shirts:
A good themed t-shirt can totally make a Disney-bound outfit—it’s the perfect way to be on-theme without going full costume. I ended up with a small collection that covers all the bases: three are part of my planned park day outfits (I’ll dive into those in my next blog post!), one was a just-for-fun buy, and the last one… well, let’s call it my husband’s subtle agreement to Disney-bound with me without fully committing to mouse ears—and honestly, I’ll take it. 😂
Cinderella T-Shirt - Amazon
Vintage Minnie Mouse with Leopard Bow T-Shirt - Amazon
Elsa Retro Poster T-Shirt - Amazon
MK Film Strip Tee - Wish Upon a Shoppe
Maximus T-Shirt - Mynilo on Etsy
Athletic Skirts:
Hello, my name is Sami and I have an athletic skirt obsession. I think they are the greatest fashion trend (especially for theme parks) that has come about in recent years. It is just such a comfortable, easy, way to feel like you have elevated your outfit but can also be cool and on the move at the same time. Ten out of ten, would highly recommend. I’m developing quite a collection, especially with these that I’ve purchased for Disney:
High Waisted PowerSoft Skort, Opaline - Old Navy
Blogilates Ballerina Skort, Blue and Pink - Target & Poshmark (no longer available in stores) but a similar version can be found at Popflex
I also tried several knock offs from Amazon, and found this one to be the best but still doesn’t compare to the actual Blogilates skirt.
BCG Women's Tennis HI Mini Pleat Skort, White - Academy Sports
Real Essentials Active Skort Lightweight Comfy & Breathable Tennis Golf Skirt, Red and Black - 4-pack on Amazon
I bought mine individually from Hamricks, but I would buy the 4-pack in a heartbeat. This might be my favorite athletic skirt ever!
Rain Jacket:
Nobody wants to think about the fact that it could rain while you’re on vacation, it is better to be prepared for those “just in case” moments. I don’t think rain ponchos do very much to actually keep you dry, they are single use, and then just a mess to deal with after the rain has passed. I didn’t want to spend a fortune on a rain jacket, but I happened to stumble upon a discounted light weight rain jacket from the brand Big Chill Freestyle for $10. I can’t find a link because I bought mine from Hamricks, but you can find similar versions from this same brand online.
Conclusion:
That wraps up all of the fun Disney trip purchases I’ve made while getting ready for our vacation—from Minnie ears and theme park outfits to beauty must-haves and travel accessories. I hope this post gave you some helpful ideas and inspiration for what to buy before your trip to Disney World! To hear more about all of my purchases, be sure to check out the video version on YouTube.
If you're in the middle of planning your first Disney World vacation, be sure to follow along with my Main Street Dreamin’ series. Next up, I’ll be sharing my full Disney outfit plans, including how I’m Disney-bounding in each park. You won’t want to miss it!
Thanks for reading!
xo, Sami
