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Do you remember the days when you could head off to a day at Disney on a whim (and without taking out a second mortgage)? Those days are long over for most attendees now that parks demand reservations and tech connectedness, and the ever-soaring cost of admission requires an efficient strategy to make the investment count. To help you avoid buying last-minute essentials during your next theme park adventure, we’re helping you plan what to pack for Disneyland and other amusement parks.
Related: The Best Disney Gifts for Celebrating the House of Mouse’s 100th Anniversary
Coming prepared means being comfortable for a long day and zillions of steps, sometimes in intense weather conditions. It also means saving on unnecessary expenses at Disney-level markup prices. Luckily, fall at California theme parks such as Disneyland and Universal Studios, or at Walt Disney World Resort — located in sunny Orlando, Fl. — means forgoing your usual earmuffs and beanies for sun hats and handheld fans during the daytime and swapping puffer jackets with light jackets and scarves for chilly evenings.
From weather protection to tech tools, here are 11 of the best items to bring to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios or any other fun-filled theme park — or leave behind at your peril.
A GOOD Backup Battery
Anker Nano Power Bank with Built-in Lightning Connector
Navigating Disney parks all but requires you to drain your phone battery — whether to check ride wait times, order food, join virtual queues or link your photos. A backup battery source is absolutely essential, and this one by Anker tucks tidily into the bottom of any iPhone with a lightning connector, so it spares you the hassle — and trip hazard — of trailing cables when you’re on the go.
Related: The Best Portable Chargers for Smartphones, Laptops and More Devices
Lightweight sunnies
Timberland Polarized Square Sunglasses
When you’re in a world that’s as immersive as Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom, a pair of polarized sunglasses — such as Timberland’s lightweight, adventure-ready pair — brings out the vibrancy of your surroundings while protecting your eyes from UV rays. These square sunglasses come in a variety of styles, including tortoise, matte black and more.
A Portable Fan
Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan
When the weather’s hot, navigating a Disney park can feel like Survivor Island. Mitigate the intensity of the heat with a handheld mini fan. This three-in-one device by Jisulife is less than five inches high and weighs four ounces. It cools for 21 hours on a single charge, so you’re good to go for the whole day. Recharge it by way of USB — and even use it as an external backup power bank to charge your phone in a pinch.
A Waterproof Poncho
Totes Hooded Rain Poncho
Packing for any eventuality means being prepared for rain if the forecast looks dicey. This ultralight and portable rain poncho will keep you covered in inclement weather. It’s compact, reusable, and packs into an included mesh bag for carrying and drying. It also does double duty to protect your clothes, gear, and hair on those water rides. (Splash Mountain may be gone, but look out for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure coming in its place in 2024.)
A Refillable Water Bottle
YETI Rambler 26 oz Bottle
Don’t get caught at Disney without the hydration you need to sustain you through a long day — and don’t unnecessarily pay exorbitant prices for single-use plastic disposables when you get desperate. Bring your own water bottle — like this Yeti’s 26-ounce Rambler stainless steel vessel — and refill it at water fountains and refilling stations throughout the park. Just make sure it’s dependably leakproof to spare your stuff, as in this version with a leak-resistant straw cap as well as double-wall vacuum insulation to keep your drink cool.
Another option? If you prefer to pack lighter, try a collapsible refillable water bottle.
A Dependable Backpack
Dagne Dover Dakota Medium Neoprene Backpack
Even if you were so inclined, you’re not permitted to wheel a wagon around Disney parks to tote your cargo. So use a backpack to stash your gear on your body while distributing the weight evenly and keeping your hands free. Dagne Dover’s medium Dakota neoprene backpack is just a better mousetrap, with thoughtfully curated interior and exterior pockets, a key fob, and a cool-looking, durable neoprene construction. (Queer Eye star and interior designer Bobby Berk recently sang the carryall brand’s praises.)
A Secure Belt Bag
Quince All-Day Neoprene Belt Bag
For extra security and convenience, complement your backpack with a belt bag. This Quince All-Day Neoprene Belt Bag keeps all your essentials organized, at the ready, and close to your body (away from would-be pickpockets). It also lets you ditch your backpack containing bulkier non-valuables, say, with your stroller when you park it. This one is versatile, all-purpose and made from recycled, post-consumer plastic bottles.
Related: The Best Belt Bags for Theme Parks, Festivals and Daily Errands
A GPS Tracker
Apple AirTag 4 Pack
You can alleviate a certain amount of stress at Disney (or wherever you travel) by hitching Apple’s teeny GPS AirTag tracker to all of your essentials. This allows you to track not just your bags, stroller, and other valuable material possessions — but any kids in the group, too. And thanks to a game-changing update in the newest iOS, you can share access to tracking between multiple people.
Got an Android? Try Tile’s Mate Bluetooth tracker, which has a range of up to 250 feet.
A Dermatologist-Approved SPF
EltaMD UV Sport SPF 50 Body Sunscreen
If you’ve been to a dermatologist recently and asked for an SPF recommendation (or even if you didn’t ask), you’re likely to have heard about Hollywood insider-beloved brand EltaMD. Formulated with zinc oxide, this SPF 50 sunscreen is sweat-resistant and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes — so you’re well covered for hot days and water rides.
a hydrating hand sanitizer
Touchland Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizer
The pandemic may be over by official measures, but the virus is still out there — along with all the other nasty potential bugs lingering amid large crowds, including the flu, RSV and the ever-unpleasant common cold. You’ll still want to hit the park with a travel-sized hand sanitizer for quick cleanups after handling high-touch surfaces and before eating all those appealing Mickey-shaped snacks. We especially love Touchland’s pocket-sized Power Mist hand sanitizer for keeping the skin soft and hydrated.
A Magic Wristband
MagicBand+
Serious Disney devotees will want to scoop up a MagicBand+ to take the experience to the next level. Available in a wide array of colors and prints, this wristband reacts to park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. The band also lets you enter Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland (as long as you have a valid admission and reservation), check in at Lightning Lane entrances, and link PhotoPass snaps to your Disney account.
