The Best Things To Pack In Your Disney Park Bag

As Scar says, always “be prepared.”

The items in your Disney park bag can really make or break your day. Everyone knows getting caught in a mid-afternoon rain shower is probably going to happen while you’re at Disney (hey, it’s Florida), but no one wants to spend that extra cash to get an overpriced poncho. That’s why your park bags have to be stocked.

So we broke down what each of us here at Wishes and Wayfinding has in our park bags — and you might be surprised at how prepared or unprepared we are. Maybe you can learn a thing or two from what we have (or don’t have) packed.

Nicole’s Park Bag

Bag: Mini backpack (current: LOVEVOOK Mini Backpack)

What I Pack:

• Insulated water bottle that stays cold for 24 hours

  • Kids sizes work well for smaller backpacks

• Travel pack of Clorox wipes

• Travel pack of tissues

• Hand sanitizer

• Band-Aids and blister bandages

• Poncho

• Mini hairbrush

• Portable charger and charging cord

• Hair scrunchies

• Lip balm

• Ziploc bags

• Wallet

• Travel-sized sunscreen

• Sunglasses

• Extra socks

• Mickey ears & holder keychain

• Clif bars

I like to use mini backpacks as a park bag because they are big enough to hold all of the things you might need while in Disney. I think it’s better to be prepared and bring things you may not use than end up needing something and having to buy it at 10 times the price from a Disney gift shop. There are tons of cute Disney-themed mini backpacks from Loungefly or if you’re looking for a more reasonably-priced bag, Amazon has some good options too!

Bailey’s Park Bag:

Bag: Small backpack that is surprisingly under-packed

What I Pack:

• Wallet with only the essentials: ID, credit cards, and maybe some cash (yeah idk why either)

• Dollar Tree poncho that will be thrown away at the end of the trip

• A single granola bar

• Light sweatshirt

• TUMS — gotta keep that GERD under control

• Ibuprofen

• Bandaids

• Lip balm

• Hand sanitizer

• Portable charger that plugs right into my phone (if we’re lucky)

You may think, “wow, a mini backpack, that chick must have everything.” Sadly, you’d be wrong. My park bag is like a walking medicine cabinet of TUMS and ibuprofen, but I’m never really that prepared. I typically eat my one granola bar by 11 a.m. and then am mooching off someone else’s treats. Plus, my poncho is basically destroyed by day three, so I just pray it doesn’t rain too hard.

I get that a sweatshirt sounds weird — it’s Florida — but depending on what time of year you go, the morning or nights can get chilly. Plus, sometimes the air conditioning is just too much.

If you take one piece of advice from my list, I urge you, dear reader, do not be like me, bring a water bottle. You will regret it if you don’t.

Olivia’s Park Bag:

Bag: Crossbody purse (current: V+BENIE Camera Bag)

What I Pack:

• Fuel Rod portable charger (comes with the perfect small USB to USB-C charger. Worth the $35 as I grabbed 5 refills during my day at Disneyland!)

• Blister Band-Aids (IYKYK)

• Dollar Tree poncho

• SPF lip balm
  

• Travel spray sunscreen

• Wint-O-Green LIFE SAVERS (this is basically my brand)

• Bath and Body Works hand sanitizer and holder

• Liquid I.V.

• Advil

• Dramamine Non-Drowsy (the vertigo girlies get it)

• Collapsible water bottle (to clip on my purse and fill with free quick-service ice water)

• Wet Ones (I’m a messy girl)
  

My bag is all about the essentials and bringing as little as possible to the parks. This makes bag check faster so you can quickly ~walk~ (not run), to attractions at rope drop, and pack up your stuff after taking photos.

I particularly like crossbodies because it’s easier to take on and off on rides, and it forces me to limit what I bring. Plus, the one linked above has a pocket on the side that’s perfect for maneuvering your phone.

Sam’s Park Bag:

Bag: Loungefly backpack

What I Pack:

• Poncho (can’t stop, won’t stop)

• Portable charger

• Wallet (cash and cards, with a few pennies for the pressed-penny machines)

• Hand sanitizer

• Small sunscreen

• Chapstick

• Granola bar

• Fruit snacks

• Goldfish crackers

• Occasional photo prop (yes, I did shove a child-sized pirate vest in my bag)

• Pins that I plan to trade so they’re easily accessible

I recently traded in a fanny pack for my Loungefly backpack. While I was a big fanny pack girl before, the mini backpack is a big upgrade — plus, it's so on-theme and adorable.

As for everything INSIDE the backpack, I try to stick to the essentials that will get me from rope drop to fireworks.