7 Things to Carry in Your Disney Day Pack

Wilderness Explorers always carry well packed backpacks.

A trip to the Disney Parks is fun, exciting, and expensive. You can save yourself from emergency purchases during your trip by planning ahead and packing the right items in your day pack. Here is my list of seven things you should carry with you in the Disney Parks.

1. Water Bottle

     This is absolutely necessary, especially if you are going to Disney World in the summer. You are going to be outside all day walking around so hydration is really important. When you go to pick out a water bottle, find one that is light weight. There are good options for both reusable and disposable bottles that won’t add a bunch of extra weight to your bag. There is no need to buy water in the parks. You can get free ice water at every food counter and restaurant which you can use to refill your own water bottle.

2. Snacks

      While there are lots of food options in the Disney Parks, most of the snack options are high in sugar and come with an extra line to wait in. It’s way more convenient to carry a few snacks of your own that you can eat while in line for a ride. Always pick options that will not melt (especially if you are going in the summer). This means no snack bars or gorp with any kind of chocolate. We like to make our own gorp so that we get exactly what we want.

3. Travel Sunscreen

      Since you will be outside for most of the day, you are at an increased risk of sunburn. You will want to reapply sunscreen about midday, or after riding Splash Mountain, just to be safe. Find a small bottle that you can refill each night. This will cut down on weight while providing ever important sun protection.

4. Camera

      I know everyone has a camera on their phones, but you might want to consider taking a small digital camera as well. Your phone memory will fill up much more quickly than a camera so if you are going on a longer vacation, a camera will save you from having to download pictures every night. You will also save yourself from trying to find an outlet to charge your phone half way through the day. Both Disneyland and Disney World have park apps that can be used for maps, ride wait time, and restaurant reservations so you will lose a lot of battery life. Don’t miss out on a great picture opportunity because your battery is dead and memory is full.

5. First Aid Kit

      This does not need to be humongous. You will need some Band-Aids (they are great if you start to get blisters from all the walking you will be doing), Advil or Aleve, and any important medications you have. If you need anything more intense, you can go to one of the first aid centers in the parks. You will still want something for quick fixes though.

6. Hand Sanitizer

     Disney Parks are full of things to touch and play with. Even as adults you will have fun playing with the interactive queue gadgets. Just keep in mind that everybody else in the park has also touched that same object as they walked by. Keep yourself healthy by using hand sanitizer.

7. Rain Gear

      You should make sure everything in your bag is at least water resistant if you are going to Florida because it will rain on you at least once. You should also pack some type of rain gear. Which type will be entirely up to you. Personally, I prefer a travel umbrella, but many people swear by ponchos.

If you are looking for something to carry all this stuff around in, make sure you get a bag that is durable but light. I recommend a canvas drawstring backpack. Make sure you get one that is good quality, one of my past emergency purchases was a new backpack when mine fell apart. We have some great options in our ExtraordinEAR Gear shop on Etsy (yes, this is a shameless self-promotion plug).

What is the number one thing you recommend carrying into the parks? Comment Below!