Main Street Dreamin’ - A Disney World Series: Part 3 - What to Pack for Disney World
Printable Disney World Packing List - Download the FREE blank version at the end of this post!
Picture this:
A year ago you paid the deposit for your most magical trip ever. You’ve spend months researching and planning…Your brain is full of lightning lane strategies and disney-bound outfits…The excitement has built to the point that you can’t contain it anymore…You’ve counted down the days, and finally…FINALLY…it’s time to pack your bags!
You run to the closet, pull out your suitcase, and lay it out on your bed. You start packing —an hour goes by and you turn around to find that all you have in your suitcase is a tube of sunscreen and a pair of Minnie Mouse ears. And your brain goes blank on all of the essentials that you know you should be packing.
Don’t worry! Your first-time Disney World bestie has your back!
For the fourth part of my Main Street Dreamin’ Disney World Blog Series, I am bringing you a guide to everything I’m packing for Disney and I’ve also put together a FREE printable for you if you read all the way to the end. —Let’s get into it!
[Insert Suitcase Photo]
Before we start, I should point out that we will be driving to Disney World, not flying. And I also am a chronic over-packer, haha! So I know that this packing list may seem excessive for those that do fly and have to stay within a weight limit. All of these things are not necessities, so don’t feel like you have to follow it if suite case weight is a concern.
Clothing:
Obviously this category is going to be what takes up the most of your suitcase space, so I think it’s fitting to start with this. Before we ever arrive at this metaphorical moment with your suitcase, you should spend a little bit of time planning the outfits you want to wear at Disney World (from disney-bounds, to matching family outfits, to your favorite Disney-inspired oversized t-shirt). If you need a little help with those ideas, feel free to check out my most recent blog post.
Here are the clothing items I’m packing:
Cinderella T-Shirt - Amazon
Minnie Mouse T-Shirt - Amazon
Elsa T-Shirt - Amazon
Tank Tops (White, Black, Brown, Pink)
MK Film Strip Tee - Wish Upon a Shoppe
Sunshine & Iced Coffee Tee - United Monogram
Probably going to wear this on travel/arrival day with a pair of shorts or leggings.
Blue Ruffle Blogilates Ballerina Skort - Target
Pink Ruffle Blogilates Ballerina Skort - Target
White Pleated Athletic Skort - BCG, Academy Sports
Black Fitted Athletic Skort - Real Essentials, Amazon
Red Fitted Athletic Skort - Real Essentials, Amazon
Sports Bras - Amazon
These are my favorite! They are lightweight, non constrictive, and give a smooth look with fitted shirts.
Socks - Avia, Walmart
I hate socks. If my feet are too hot I get irritable. But, if I have to wear socks there are a couple that I like. Always low cut and light weight.
Tennis Shoes -
Flux Footwear - I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of these shoes. I ordered a pair and needed a different size so I am in the process of waiting for my exchange. From trying on the smaller size I can tell you they are wide on the midfoot and toebox, and the material is thin and stretchy which is exactly what I look for in a sneaker.
Adidas - The older version of this shoe was my favorite, but I have heard they have changed the design slightly and it’s not the same. I haven’t tried for myself, but this is the only version available now. I will be taking my older pair.
Birkenstocks - If you read my purchases blog post, you know about my dedication to these shoes. So I won’t go through that story again, but yes I am taking Birks to Disney World.
I will also be taking an older pair that I’m ok with getting wet for the water park.
Swimsuit - Old Navy or Shein
Rain Jacket - Big Chill Freestyle, found at Hamrick’s
Pajamas - Life is Good & Walmart
Accessories:
Let’s be honest, this can be the most exciting part of outfit planning and packing. If you need some ideas to put a finishing touch on your outfits, or if you are curious about what other items to bring with you to the parks, check out this list:
Crossbody Bag - The Gold Blush
Ear Holder Bag Charm - Amazon
Minnie Ears - Shein
Cinderella, Leopard Print, & Elsa
Earrings -
Iced Coffee Sleeve - Etsy
Waterproof Bag
You can find whole backpacks that are waterproof, but I’m just going to bring a waterproof pouch and a waterproof phone case. The phone case I will use on our waterpark day, and the waterproof pouch I will keep my camera gear in when we’re in the other parks (just in case it rains, or things get crazy on a water ride, haha!).
Mini Wallet - Amazon
I bought this for my bachelorette trip two years ago and it has survived travel and day-to-day and barely looks like it has been used at all. It is so lightweight and low profile. It’s perfect for carrying your essential items on the go.
Sunglasses - Amazon
I showed a different set in my previous post, but I ended up exchanging those for this pair and I love them!!! These are the best amazon polarized glasses I’ve ever bought, and they are almost an exact dupe of this pair.
Baseball Cap
I am not a hat girl. I just don’t think they look good on me. But I am going to bring one to use at the water park/pool, just in case I want to keep the sun off of my head/face.
Pool Towels
We are going to Blizzard Beach on our arrival day. Towels are complimentary for resort guests, but I like to be overly prepared so I am bringing a couple. If you are not staying on property, you can rent the towels for around $2 per guest.
Collapsible Water Bottle - Amazon
Toiletries & Personal Items:
This may be the less than glamorous part of packing, but essential nonetheless. From sunscreen to caring for your sore muscle, these little items can make a big difference in your Disney day. Florida heat, long park days, and all that pixie dust call for a well-stocked toiletry bag at the resort—so here’s everything I’m bringing to stay fresh, comfortable, and ready for the magic!
Shampoo & Conditioner - BioSilk
Detangler & Heat Protectant - BioSilk
Body Wash
Deoderant - Tom’s
Make Up Remover - Garnier Micellar Water
Face Moisturizer with SPF - RoC
Dental Care Items
Lotion - Palmer’s Cocoa Butter
Hair Ties & Hair Clips
Hair Brush & Travel Comb
Razor & Shaving Cream
Feminine products
First Aid Items:
I won’t be taking a ton of “just in case” things because the parks have first aid centers where you can find all of the basic things you would need. But I will be taking:
Advil - Because I’m headache prone.
Benadryl - Because I have a severe mango allergy and I like to keep this on me at all times incase I am accidentally exposed (which is more probable than you might think).
Tums - Because I have acid reflux like a 90 year old.
KT Tape - This is great to have on hand for knee pain, rolled ankles, or back pain. This is the kinesiologist in me coming out, haha!
BioFreeze - Again, blame the kinesiologist in me! I didn’t bring any of this with me to Universal last year (which is really unlike me) and by day two I was limping down to the hotel gift shop and praying that they had some. They had a similar cream in stock and it literally saved my life that day! Not to be dramatic or anything.
Ideally, I like the roll on because you don’t get it on your hands, but the gel or lotion bottles can be less bulky in your park bag —so, whichever works best for you.Stain Wipes - You never know when you’re going to spill some dole whip on yourself at 10:00am (because ice cream for breakfast is normal in Disney World). You don’t want to waste time running back to your resort to change, and you don’t want to look messy all day —so throw a few of these individual stain wipes into your bag for those just-in-case moments.
Water Wipes - I hate when my hands are messy, and antibacterial gel has an overpowering smell to me, so I prefer to carry baby wipes. These water wipes are scent free and hypoallergenic, and are great for cleaning sticky hands, or wiping off a messy trash-can-table in a pinch.
Make Up:
Eyeshadow Palette, Adrianna Nichole
BB Cream, Maybelline
Other items: Concealer, Mascara, Blush
Lip Balm, Summer Fridays
I know this is technically a make up item, but I include it separately because personally I will wear this lip balm anytime, not just when I have a full face of makeup.
Hand Soap, Dial (Gold) - This may be a niche opinion…but bar soap gives me the ick. This is probably one of my only germaphobic tendencies, haha! We use Gold Dial antibacterial soap for everything in our house, so I like to bring a bottle whenever I travel too.
Last year, I also brought a small bottle of dish soap to wash our travel bottles.
Electronics:
MagicBand+ - Disney Store
Don’t forget your Magic Band Protectors, too!
Phone Charger Cords & Portable Charging Bank
The Disney resort rooms seem to have a lot of outlets, but if you are traveling with a bigger group or you bring extra electronics like I do, a power strip may also be helpful.
Hair Styling Tools
DJI Osmo Pocket 3
Because I will be vlogging all week! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to see all of the videos after our trip.
Laptop & External Hard Drive
Professional Camera
Click HERE to download your FREE packing list printable!
And that wraps up my ultimate Disney World packing list! Whether you’re planning your very first trip or just want to make sure you’re not forgetting the essentials, I hope this guide helps you feel more prepared and excited for the magic ahead. From park essentials to comfy shoes and must-have toiletries, a little planning goes a long way in making your trip as stress-free and fun as possible.
Be sure to follow along for more first-timer Disney World content—next up in the Main Street Dreamin’ series, we’re hitting the road! I’ve still got a little more planning content to come on my instagram, but the next blog post you will see will be diving into our first-time experience in Disney! You’re not going to want to miss it —I hope you’ll follow along here, on social media, and YouTube!
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