25 Things To Carry Around If You’re Going To Disney World This Year
Samar Hadri / Buzzfeed
This crossbody is pretty much the perfect size you need for your theme park adventures — and it's definitely the first thing you need. A big mistake I see people make at the park is one of two things: either bringing an oversized backpack packed to the brim with things or not bringing any bag at all. Now, I know most people's first instinct is to bring the largest backpack they own, but frankly, those people quickly realize how big of a mistake it is after their first day of walking all day long in the Florida heat carrying wayyyy too many pounds on their shoulders. Plus, huge backpacks are super annoying to bring onto rides, since at Disney you need to place the bag at your feet (large items will not fit comfortably), and at Universal, you need to place any bag into a locker (which are pretty small and only fit small bags, like this one).
This bag is pretty much the perfect size because it can comfortably slip into a Universal locker, and it's a good size to place at your feet on a Disney ride without getting super annoyed midway through the coaster. It's large enough to hold all your essentials — and has a space for your bottle and umbrella (both are must-haves in Florida).
Promising review: "This bag was helpful during our trip to Disneyland. We put our super important things, like phones, wallets, keys, etc., in the bag and left our diaper bag with our stroller while we went on rides. It gave us peace of mind knowing we had our important items with us and that they were secured on me. The bag was super comfortable to wear and easy to take on and off. And knowing I can use this bag again for similar situations makes me even happier I bought it. If you’re on the fence, buy this bag! You won’t regret it!" —HalesComet
Promising review: "Bought this before going to Universal Studios Orlando and the Theme Parks with the purpose of utilizing this to hold extra power banks, water, and other small items such as a poncho, beanie, and snacks. Let me tell you - it is definitely a must-have. Got to wear it on most rides, instead of placing it in the lockers, saving valuable time." —Abbas Qureshi
Get it from Amazon for $23.74+ (available in 20 colors).
One size fits all, and according to reviewers, it can fit up to size 5X.
As a Florida native, let me let you in on a little secret — the weather app lies, and it's liable to rain at any moment, even if it says clear skies all day. You're definitely gonna need a poncho, because nothing ruins a vacation like not being prepared during a random thunderstorm.
Allow me to paint you a (word) picture of a scene I personally witnessed at least once a week: It's a hot day, Magic Kingdom is packed, and tourists are happily walking about. You're checking your Disney Experience app and trying to make it to the Haunted Mansion line while the wait time is still manageable. All of a sudden, with literally zero warning, rain begins to fall. All of a sudden, rather than leisurely walking toward your ride, you're instead running for cover into the closest gift shop — along with about a hundred other people. Now you're waiting inside this shop, literally packed to the brim, just waiting for the rain to finally halt. You're at the mercy of the Florida skies.
Meanwhile, the locals and the tourists in the know just calmly take out this oversized poncho (which covers everything and leaves you dry), and lazily walk to their next ride (especially now that the wait time will be like five mins).
Promising review: "Perfect for theme park visits! The zip front is an excellent feature, so you're not having to peel off a wet raincoat when it stops raining. The pocket is great for keeping your phone, and the carry pouch for the poncho in. The hood is also nice and roomy to cover Minnie's ears, but also has a nice elastic drawstring. Best pre-vacay purchase!!" —Natalie
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 31 colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
The hardest part about tackling the parks, no matter what time of year, is the fact that Orlando is perpetually hot, hot, hot! 🔥 The summer is even worse. You're gonna be waiting in outdoor lines a lottt more often than you would assume in both Disney and Universal, and trust me when I say that the sun can be brutal. Having these on hand for you and your family is actually a must. Just wet the towels at any water fountain (they can be found all over the parks, even in long, outdoor lines), wring them out, and place them on your neck and face to cool down. Make sure you're getting a towel for each member of the family, especially the little ones who are bound to overheat.
Promising review: "These were wonderful for my trip to Disney World! We had just gotten back and I’m so glad I got these! Definitely keeps you cool and is lightweight and a MUST for a trip to Disney during the hot summer months or if u are going to be out in the heat for anything!" —Amazon Customer
Promising review: "Great price, got four for just a dollar more than getting one was at the last location I looked online. They come in a waterproof pouch, you can keep a little water in so it always stays wet. And they’re quite long, so they can wrap around your head and neck or hang around your neck and still have lengths to wipe around your face and head. Great for our Disney World trip." —Cassandra
Get it from Amazon for $11.69+ (available in 10 colors and multipack options).
Orange Blossom Home / Etsy
Alright, so I love my Mickey ears just as much as the next person, but after a while, they can start irritating or hurting your head just a bit. Especially if you're gonna be wearing them all day long. Now let me tell you, because of the shape of the ears or headband, it makes for an awkward fit in your bag, and you could risk messing them up if you try to stuff them in. This clip, meanwhile, shows the world that you're a theme park master.
They keep the ears on hand for the times you want to quickly put them on for a pic, and then you can just clip them back onto your bag when you're tired of wearing them. Honestly, you're gonna need this.
Orange Blossom Home is a small business in Winter Garden, Florida. They sell a wide variety of Disney-inspired products and customizable home decor.
Promising review: "Love being able to hang the ears on my bag so they don't get squished in my purse." —Cheryl LeBlanc
Get it from Orange Blossom Home on Etsy for $11+ (available in 44 patterns and customization options).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
The sun is brutal, and you need sunglasses — but trust me, you don't want to bring along your expensive, designer pair when they're liable to get scratched or lost in the chaos that is a theme park vacation. These are polarised, so they're perfect for blocking out the sun and they're cheap and come in value packs, so you can wear them on board the ride with zero fear of them accidentally flying off.
Promising review: "Took these to Disney, as we all know the sun is brutal there. I have always had a hard time, even with glasses on, not squinting. I did not have to squint with these. I will buy them again. Great price for the quality." —Eileen Ashenfelter
Get it from Amazon for $10.39+ (available in 10 colors, plus value packs of two and three).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Say hello to the one thing I never leave my home without. There's literally no way I would even attempt to head to a theme park without this fan on hand. It doesn't matter that I've lived my entire life in Orlando, and I should be used to the heat by now, nope. There's no way I'm leaving my house without this.
It's small enough to fit in most of my pockets, and the charge lasts foreverrrr. Like, I use this through most of my day without needing to recharge. Plus, on the days I somehow forget my portable charger at home, this doubles as one!
Promising review: "I love this! I brought this on a trip to Disney back in September, and it was still hot most of those days. I was able to pack this in my mini backpack with no problems. It didn't take up hardly any room, and the battery life was excellent! We were at Disney for about a week, and I may have charged it once or twice the entire time! It definitely came in handy when we were waiting in the sun in the long lines." —Danielle N Lee
Get it from Amazon for $15.29+ (available in six colors).
If you have kids and a stroller, don't even attempt braving the theme parks without this fan. I use it all day long while walking outdoors. It has three different levels of speed, and even has a built-in LED light when I wanna distract my daughter. It's way too hot out for babies, especially during the summer, and a stroller fan is often something we forget to pack because it's easy to underestimate just how hot it can get for the little ones. I have this on my stroller all year long for my daughter, even if I'm not going to a theme park.
Promising review: "This fan keeps my son nice and cool, even in the hot Florida summer. The big kicker is that when I took it to Disney, it lasted the whole day with only one recharge. It’s really easy to use as well: just a simple push button to select the fan speed and light. I actually bought a second one for my jogging stroller so I can keep the other on the big stroller. Highly recommend." —Reed Mason
Get it from Amazon for $22.49 (available in blue and black).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
The year is 2019, and Disney World has completely banned plastic straws and switched to the paper ones that melt into my Coke the second it touches the liquid. It's awful. Annual passholder groups on Facebook (and everywhere else) are in an uproar. People are asking Disney to switch back, and there are mass debates over it.
Regardless, the paper straws are there to stay. Because of this, I always make sure I bring along these reusable straws because nothing ruins my perfect ice cream float like the taste of a paper straw. Trust me, you're going to thank me.
Promising review: "Disney only has paper straws now. I fully understand why they changed, but I hate paper straws. These are wonderful. They clip into your bag. They are adjustable, so kids' smaller drinks are no problem. And the cleaning wand is well made." —Tonya F
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in six color packs).
Amazon
After a day (or days) of walking under the Florida sun and sweating everywhere, you're gonna be begging for this anti-chafe cream. It does a great job in protecting your skin from the awful rubbing and chafing that is sure to occur after a long day of walking in the heat.
Promising review: "If you are going on a Disney trip, BUY THIS. I will never not have this in hand on our WDW vacations. Get the feet to glide one, too, while you’re at it. If you have thighs that rub (or….are a dude) this is going to save you from feeling like your stuff is on fire after walking that average of 8 miles a day at Magic Kingdom. Put this in your cart: seriously! If I could give this infinity stars, I would!" —JSandlin08
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three sizes and multipacks).
Amazon
This balm is ~wonderfall~. Getting a blister puts a damper on your vacation super fast, especially when you still have several more days of theme parking to get to. I apply this balm liberally to my heel, and it works wonders in reducing my chances of getting blisters — a must-have when I have a full day of walking ahead of me.
Promising review: "Used this product on our last trip to Disney, where we walked an average of 9–10 miles each day for several days. IT WORKED! I did not come home with a single blister or sore toe!" —Vickie Raggard
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two sizes and a multipack option).
I love using these Disney-themed snack bags as a way to pack a few of my fave snacks, just in case I get a little hungry while stuck in a ridiculously long line. Now that Epic Universe is open, and I was stuck in a 3-hour queue, I was super thankful I filled these up with some chips that I could munch on while making friends with my fellow theme park enthusiasts.
Promising review: "Super easy to wash and dry. Used these for when we went to Disney and loved the durability and the cute characters they have on them." —Shantelle
Get it from Amazon for $9.30+ (available in 27 patterns).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Plus, it's lead-, latex-, and BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and can be used for hot or cold drinks.
This is an awesome bottle to have with you in theme parks! It collapses into a small size that I can just toss into my bag easily when not in use, so it's not consistently taking up space when not full of water. A refillable water bottle is key at the parks; you need to stay hydrated while trapezing under the sun.
Promising review: "Bought this water bottle for a trip to Disney World. At home, I always have my 40-ounce water bottle nearby. I was worried about walking around the park and not having quick access to water on those hot park days. We only brought a fanny pack in and didn't have room for something big. This was perfect! It wasn't too overbearing to hold and was super easy to fold up and throw in the bag when not in use. My only regret is I didn't buy two!" —E. Alarcón
Get it from Amazon for $8.29+ (available in three sizes/styles and 14 colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Bugs. Are. Awful. And while both theme parks do a lot to make sure there are as few problems with bugs as possible, it's not perfect, so you're bound to run into a few creepy crawlies. These bracelets are *chef's kiss*. I wear one of these around my wrist while walking around the parks just to ensure my fun time won't get ruined by an ill-timed mosquito bite.
Promising review: "Great for long days outside and not having to worry about reapplying. No one got bitten for an entire week at Disney, being outside because we all had one on. Great idea to put on your ankle if you don't like the smell or want it on your wrist." —Perpetual Purchasers
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in larger multipacks).
Note: Based on the AAD Guidelines all sunscreens should have an SPF of at least 30 and protect against UVA and UVB rays.
This is my daily sunscreen. I lather this on right before my normal makeup routine and carry it around in my designated theme park bag when I go to the parks because it's always a smart idea to reapply after a few hours to protect your skin from the sun.
Promising review: "I am pale and don't tan. I just burn and peel and am pale again. Other sunscreens I tried, I kept having to reapply every few hours, even though they were SPF 70 and 80, and I hated how they smelled, and they made my skin feel like it was suffocating. This sunscreen is nothing like that. The smell isn't strong, it goes on much lighter, so my skin isn't suffocating, and I only have to apply it once a day to go to Disney. Love it!" —B_Z
Get it from Amazon for $8.88.
After giving birth, my feet swell up just by the thought of walking around too much. I wear these first thing in the morning, and spend my day trapezing around Disney and Universal in comfort, knowing that I won't have to deal with the annoyance of swelling after I get home and slip off my sneakers.
Read more about how compression socks may help with foot pain by helping reduce inflammation and improving circulation, according to Cleveland Clinic
Promising review: "These socks are great. I wore them for a recent trip to Disney World. At first, I was a bit concerned that the socks would feel hot (the air temperature was about 90 degrees). However, these socks are very breathable and comfortable. So, heat was not a problem. I walked all day into the evening (my fitness tracker said I walked 8 miles). Even after all that time and distance, my legs felt great! I would definitely buy more socks from this seller again." —Florida Girl
Promising review: "These are great. I have swelling problems and used these at Disney. A week at Disney usually makes my feet and legs swell. They worked really well and were soooo helpful to have! My legs and feet didn't swell and, in turn, weren't painful. I will definitely use them for any major walking going forward." —Kimberly C
Get it from Amazon for $14.11+ (available in 17 colors and six sizes).
So here's a secret — even while wearing a hijab, my hair can still get frizzy — thanks Florida humidity 🙄. I just spritz this into my hair before I brave the humidity, and this basically takes care of any potential frizz!
Promising review: "Helped control my wavy, frizzy hair even at Disney World!" —Bridget M
Promising review: "I bought the travel size to try it out and see if it was a product I could use. I was blown away by the results. My hair is thick, dry, and has the tendency to get frizzy. In the first use after reading the instructions, I noticed a significant change! The longer I use it, the more positives I see. I do not need to restyle as heavily from day to day. The humidity has no effect. My hair looks richer in color and healthier." —Shauna
Promising review: "I have thick curly hair that tends to get frizzy. This has replaced all of the products I was using before: leave-in conditioner, frizz serum, curl cream, shine spray, hair spray, and various curl refreshers I have tried on the day after I wash my hair. I now only use this after washing and towel drying, then just spritz on water the second day after washing. This product makes my hair frizz-free, soft, shiny, and defines my curls!" —Amanda C
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in two sizes). A curly hair version is also available.
We can all agree that sunburns are awful, right? I keep a tube of this around all year long, and I usually reach for it after a particularly long day at the parks. It's wonderful for calming down any redness or pain from sunburns (which, to be honest, I'm ridiculously pale, so I tend to get them more often than I'd like to admit). You're gonna want to bring this on vacation because, believe me, you don't want to deal with going to the parks without it after getting sunburned on your very first park day.
Promising review: "I’ve had this bottle for over a year! It’s lasted with my family through Disney World, Destin spring break, and every time we go to the pool! I’ve had some bad sunburns. I slather this on and reapply after it’s soaked in, and I wake up with a deep tan. Whatever is in it is like magic!" —Natalie Smith
Get it from Amazon for $9.03+ (available in a three-pack).
This charger uses USB C
Promising review: "Whenever we start packing for a trip, all the portable chargers are mysteriously missing. I got these right before our trip to Disney and they were perfect! Small, compact, cordless, and fast!!" —westfield-shopper
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
If you need to keep some vitamins and meds on hand, you're not gonna wanna lug around full bottles all over the parks. I keep this organizer with me (full of Tylenol usually) so that I don't need to carry around the large, clunky bottle.
Promising review: "Loved using these! It came with labels, and I was able to take meds to Disney World in my backpack. It is small enough, but also fits 10–20 tablets of most medications. It has been almost one year, and I still use them in my backpack/purse." —Krista Bartock
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $6.97 (available in two color options).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
This is an impressively built umbrella, and it's perfect for me and my family. It protects us from rain and shine alike, and I just keep it tucked into one of my bags' outer pockets in the event I need it (which, let's be honest, is often).
Promising review: "This is the best travel umbrella I’ve ever owned! It’s very easy to open and close one-handed with the push button. It’s very sturdy and fits nicely in a carry-on or backpack." —C.J.
Get it from Amazon for $19.91+ (available in three sizes and 22 colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
They're incredibly easy to use and refill, with zero leakage! Just press the bottom of the tube against your favorite perfume gauge and keep clicking until it is refilled. No need to carefully pour and waste your favorite perfume on the bathroom tile; just click it, and you're good to go!
I have these because after a full day of sweating through the parks, believe me, you're gonna want something to freshen you up.
Promising review: "Soooo easy to use! Fit every single one of my various perfumes, from expensive to inexpensive! They’re small enough to fit right into an already-packed makeup bag or purse pocket. I have a varying schedule and feel my perfume is the topper to a pulled-together look — so knowing I can rotate through all my scents easily each day is a nice little perk!" —Denys Davis
Get four from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in three color packs and a pack of five).
So life with, as of writing this, an eight-month-old, is a life of cleaning stains. I keep this small spray with me because when my daughter spits up her veggie puree or has a blowout, I don't have to panic about her ruining her outfit. I just spray the stain, run it under water, and watch it disappear. I also use it on my clothes, because I've accidentally spilled butterbeer on my Slytherin hoodie a few too many times.
Promising review: "This stuff is magic! It gets the grease out of my husband’s work clothes and gets all the food stains out of my 10-month-old daughter's clothes! It’s so easy to spray on and throw in the wash! Love the smaller sizes too, so I can keep it in the diaper bag and use while we’re away." —Clayton Koch
Get it from Amazon for $7.97.
Disney World still gives out physical park cards — cards you're gonna need to keep on hand when park hopping. My family and I wear these lanyards around our necks so that we can keep each of our individual cards on hand, and so we can make sure we can differentiate between our passes.
Promising review: "My kids used these for their pins at Disney! The zipper pouch was perfect for keeping pins not to trade safe! They opened and closed them a million times, and they held up and were very durable! The kids loved the Mickey/Minnie design. Great product! Highly recommend!" —Amie
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
I use these water shoes every time I go to one of the water parks. Flip-flops get so irritating to use, and having to slip them off and secure them before wading into the water is annoying at best. Meanwhile, these water shoes stay secure on my feet, and when walking around, I'm not liable to slip on the floor!
Promising review: "Purchased these for my granddaughter's birthday trip to Disney World for the poolside and beach. We both like them. No slips at the poolside." —Terri Jordan
Get them from Amazon for $7.96+ (available in 46 colors, kid sizes 1–32, women's sizes 3.5–15, and men's sizes 3–14).
Daisy Dimple Designs / Etsy
I adore these little holders. There's such high traffic in Disney and Universal both, believe me, you're gonna want to keep some hand sanitizer on hand and hooked onto your bag so you can sanitize your hands before indulging in some pretzels or churros.
These hand sanitizer holders are designed to hold a 1-oz. bottle of Pocket Bac hand sanitizer from Bath and Body Works.
Daisy Dimple Designs is a small business on Etsy based in Kenosha, Wisconsin. They sell a wide variety of Disney-inspired products and bags.
Promising review: "Loved them! Great service and wonderful product." —Lori Torres
Get it from Daisy Dimple Designs on Etsy for $9.50 (available in 10 patterns).
Amazon
And when this deliciously smelling scent has finished, you can replace the case with any other Touchland set!
Check out what Buzzfeed editor Heather Braga has to say about this: "I am a self-proclaimed Disney Adult, so you better believe I was excited to literally get my hands on this Touchland collab! I love that I can reuse it with other Touchland sprays when this one runs out (they're so moisturizing) and that I can choose to attach it to my keys or toss it in my tote. The included power mist is watermelon scented (divine) and would be refreshing to use on a hot summer day."
Promising review: "I absolutely love these hand sanitizers! We brought them with us to Disney World and managed not to get sick, which is hard to do with so many people around you. Every sanitizer I’ve used has dried out my sensitive skin but these made my hands even softer!! My kids had fun with the spray function so I didn’t even have to make them use it, they would ask for it! I really don’t do many reviews but I loved this product enough to share with others :)" —Carrie
Get it from Amazon for $20.
Tap to play GIF Tap to play GIF
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
……Read full article on BuzzFeed-Shopping
Lifestyle
Comments
Leave a comment in Nestia App