I go to Disney World for my job as a theme park reporter, and in the past few years of doing that, I’ve packed a park bag over 250 times.

Yep, that’s right, I did the math, and we’re well into the triple digits here. At home, I have a designated box of theme park supplies and an array of bags to choose from, some specific to the season, park, weather, or itinerary. So today, I’m here to share my expertise with you. Let’s get packing!

It All Starts With the Bag

Where to start? With your park bag itself. You’ll first want to identify your personal needs for a park day. If it’s a long day or you’re a heavy packer, you should probably choose a larger, more utilitarian backpack. They may not be cute, but you could dress one up with patches or bag charms to make it more Disney-themed.

If you don’t pack quite as heavy and you have a look or an outfit you’re going for, a Disney Loungefly is a great option! I have a few of these at home, and I can get all my usual park essentials to fit in them (you just have to be careful about your water bottle size). If you’re looking for one to try out, this Fantasia Loungefly is simply stunning.

It converts between a backpack and a crossbody bag, so it’s very useful in the parks.

VIEW ON AMAZON

But for the light packers or the winter visits (I find that I need fewer items on my person when the weather’s not as hot and sticky), you can go with a fanny pack. There are some Disney-themed ones out there, or you can go for a basic design and add bag charms and keychains — that’s really popular right now. We’ve used the ODODOS Unisex Mini Belt Bag.

This one has an adjustable strap and zipper storage for your smaller items. It also comes in more than two dozen different colors on Amazon.

VIEW ON AMAZON

My Seven Must-Have Items

You may not pack exactly the way that I do, but there are a few items I keep in my bag almost always — I consider them the must-haves for a successful theme park day. First up is a water bottle! My personal favorite is the Owala FreeSip. There are water bottle refill stations throughout the parks, and staying hydrated is an absolute MUST.

I simply cannot express to you how thirsty you’ll get on a hot summer day in Disney World, or even on a mild winter day. With all those steps, standing in the sun, and going from park open to park close, you need water to make sure you don’t get ill.

VIEW ON AMAZON

Next on my list is my tried-and-true Jisulife Handheld Fan. You don’t have to get this same one, but I’m a huge FAN of it (sorry for the pun, I just couldn’t resist 😉). It has battery life that lasts me DAYS on end, and with three wind speeds, it keeps me cool on even the hottest, most challenging park visits.

It’s rechargeable, and it even has a flashlight on the bottom. It folds up fairly compactly for easy storage. There have been many occasions on my visits when having a small fan has come in handy, so I keep this one in my bag at all times.

VIEW ON AMAZON

After that, I’m going to recommend a portable phone charger of some sort. As for me, I’m a FuelRod girlie through and through. I love that I can swap them out in the parks to get fully charged versions, so I don’t have to remember to recharge my battery pack before a park visit.

Now, you can buy these at the stands in the parks (which I have unfortunately done too many times when I forgot a charger at home), or you can shop for them on Amazon ahead of time. Sometimes they’re cheaper online than they are in the parks.

VIEW ON AMAZON

Now, the goal with my next item is to not have to use it, but I like to keep one on me just in case. A poncho! Our team’s favorite is the FROGG TOGGS Reusable Poncho. It comes with a storage bag, and it’s surprisingly high quality.

It rains frequently in Florida — sometimes every day in the summer — and it’s nice to have something you can just throw on, so that you can continue about your day in the parks. This is also good to have on hand if you’re planning to do a water ride.

VIEW ON AMAZON

My fifth must-have is actually two separate items, and it might not qualify for everyone, but as a girl with long hair, it’s a necessity. I always keep a miniature hairbrush or comb in my bag, along with a couple of hair ties or a claw clip. When you’re hitting the roller coasters and even Dumbo the Flying Elephant, your hair can get pretty windswept.

It’s nice to be able to brush out the tangles midday or after a particularly wild ride, and having the hair ties on hand is helpful for when it gets too dang hot to have my hair on my neck any longer. Plus, if I don’t pull my hair back, I simply will not be able to see a thing on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. 😂

VIEW ON AMAZON

Of course, it wouldn’t be my responsibility if I left this item off the list — sunscreen! As I’ve mentioned several times already, the sun and heat in Florida are intense, and I’ve seen wayyyy too many people in the parks with painful-looking sunburns to skip out on the sun protection.

We’re fans of the Supergoop! Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 sunscreen when we’re in the parks. Stays on well, even when you’re sweating!

VIEW ON AMAZON

Last in my list of must-haves is a good pair of sunglasses, but NOT an expensive pair! I usually get some simple but cute sunglasses from Amazon or Target that’ll match most outfits and do the trick in the parks. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people lose glasses or sunglasses in the parks, so I’m not risking it with something pricey.

Every time I forget to pack my sunglasses, I find myself regretting it when I’m standing in the middle of Tomorrowland, holding my hand over my eyes just so I can see where I’m going. The sun is BRUTAL, y’all.

Packing Tips

Finally, it’s time for some of my best packing tips. If you’re using a larger bag or a bag that doesn’t have a lot of built-in storage, I recommend organizing things with a zipper pouch. Whenever I carry a Loungefly, I often use a small zipper bag to put some first aid items, basic medicine, and an anti-chafe stick (it’s a lifesaver!) in. That way, those things aren’t just rolling around the bottom of the bag.

Speaking of zipper bags, it’s a good idea to bring a Ziploc or reusable waterproof zipper pouch. These can be super useful to put your phone and other valuables inside when going on water rides or when it’s raining. They can also be used to store paper items that you don’t want to get wet or damaged (like those adorable character meal autograph cards!).

If your bag isn’t big enough to hold your water bottle inside, I suggest getting some kind of carabiner clip to attach it to the strap when you’re walking. Carrying a bottle all day can be rather annoying, and it increases the chance of you setting it down and leaving it somewhere. You can also use carabiner clips or velcro straps to attach Minnie ears to the outside of your bag when you’re not wearing them!

Don’t use a wallet if you don’t have to! This may seem counterintuitive, but when I’m trying to maximize space in a small bag, I’d rather just put my cards and cash directly into an inner zip pocket than take up bag space with a bulky wallet and cards I don’t need. Most days, I only have four cards on me in the parks — driver’s license, debit card, credit card, and my Annual Pass. Many fanny packs even have built-in billfolds and card pockets.

Last but not least, I’ll tell you to have a few snacks on hand. If you’ve got the bag space, it’s nice to have a prepackaged snack or two in your bag. I’m all about eating Disney snacks throughout the day, but sometimes you find yourself in need of a pick-me-up in a long ride queue or while you’re waiting to board the Monorail after the fireworks. In the chance that you don’t have time to stop for food, prepare ahead of time, and your future self will thank you.

That’s a wrap on my (rather long) advice for how to pack the perfect park bag. Hopefully, this article will help you in your next theme park venture, and you’ll be prepared for whatever the day has in store!

For more tips on how to navigate the parks, subscribe to our newsletter and our YouTube channel!

I Go to Disney World Every Week, and These Are My Must-Dos in Magic Kingdom When It’s Too Dang Hot

What do you pack in your Disney World park bag? Tell us in the comments!