What To Bring to Disney For A Day At the Parks: Top 5 Picks
- Oct 14
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 22
A Disney Day
What I Need To Bring With Me
What's In My Bag?
Believe it or not, people actually ask this question in social media groups. And this question can apply to any day excursion: what do you carry for an active day that can last from 7AM to 11PM? No one wants to carry a lot of stuff all day and conversely, no one wants to be caught out there needing something and then paying almost double the price while you're in a theme park, on a cruise ship or resort or in another country in the tourist area.
A great way to get used to being out for a day trip or excursion is to practice in your own area. Day trips are a great way to have fun like you're on vacation without spending the night somewhere. Many people don't take the time to explore their own area anyway, so you might be pleasantly surprised and you'll figure out what you need in your day bag.
However, the place most people ask about is Disney, probably Disney World. This is because, like many theme parks, a day at Disney is more than just rides. Magic Kingdom has shows on the stage at the castle, parades and a nighttime spectacular. In between are character greetings and possibly at least one meal that will be purchased in the park. There is a water ride. The Tron cycle ride doesn't even allow bags, giving you an indication of what you should not be carrying.
Epcot features not only rides, but literally a trip around the world through the 11 pavilion of the World Showcase, 3 other areas with their experiences (World Celebration, World Nature and World Discovery). World Celebration features entertainment in the plaza near the Communicore Hall, including a nightly street party with a live DJ as well as the nighttime spectacular on the World Showcase Lagoon. Their new ride, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind features a fast moving roller coaster. You can take your bag, but hold onto it. Ditto for Test Track Your bag are stored under you for Soarin' but if it is too big, you can leave it in a designated area on the floor.
Disney's Hollywood Studios features the traditional rides with two of the most popular areas at extreme ends of the park: one is a terror drop ride, another is a traditional roller coast complete with a loop. On the other side, what looks like a kiddie roller coaster is actually a little faster than you would think: hold on to your hat and sunglasses. Galaxy's Edge, the Star Wars themed land has many activities inside its land, including building your own laser or android, a consideration when you haven't completed your day yet and you have one more thing to carry.
Finally, Disney's Animal Kingdom, features two sit down shows, a bumpy ride safari, two walk through zoos and an area that you take a train to (Rafiki's Planet Watch, where the petting zoo is). Your bags are stored in a locker in the same room as you when you ride Avatar, You can keep your bag for Dinosaur and Expedition Everest, but hold on to it! But a new land is being constructed, so stay tuned.
All of the Disney Parks offer locker rentals, they are at the front of the park.
Over at Universal Orlando, if you go on many rides, most of them require you to use a locker. The free ones are tiny, a normal backpack will not fit and you will have to pay for the larger locker for each ride. You can store it in a locker at the front of (each) park, but if you need something, that's inconvenient. You can keep your bag for Spider-Man, Transformers, E.T. and many of the kids and you put it on the ground right outside of the car for Dr. Doom. For everything else, you will have to use a locker.
For Sea World and other Busch Gardens parks and many Six Flags Parks, the rules are similar to Universal. No bags will be allowed on the roller coasters and the lockers might not be free.
So, let's get to it: why do you need to carry anything? We've all seen people just walk into a theme park with nothing (I don't even see a wallet!) and they seem to have a great day. Many people don't want to carry anything, which is totally understandable. I tried that once (we were park hopping and we wanted to do just one thing). I regretted leaving my water bottle by the time got to the entrance. Anyway, here's our list of what we carry on a day to the theme parks (and even on a day trip or excursion).
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1. Small backpack: If you've been to Disney, lately ( or even Universal, Sea World and other theme parks), you'll see that many people have backpacks by Loungefly. You can buy one directly at the parks. For Disney, the label will say Disney Parks. The other official Disney backpacks will say Disney. Other theme parks will have Loungefly products, too. But, if you want yours before you get there, see the latest that Loungefly has to offer:
2. Water bottles: Disney and the other parks have many water bottles for sale, including Tervis and Corksicle brands. Since many theme parks are in areas where it seems to be an eternal summer, a water bottle is essential. You can buy a bottle of water when you arrive and keep refilling it, but a plastic bottle will not stay cold. If I don't carry anything extra, I do carry a water bottle. Personally, Tervis and Corksicle are the brands I carry to Disney because they keep beverages cold or hot for a long time and they models I use are spill-proof. But, there are cheaper bottles that work just as well, especially if your buying one for children. The tip is to have a water bottle with you before you get to the park. BONUS TIP: get ice from any kiosk and look for the water fountains throughout the park (usually near the restrooms), so that you can refill your bottle without buying bottled water. EXTRA BONUS TIP: I make sure my water bottle can fit into the small free lockers at Universal! The NYC Traveler Tip for Your Disney Trip: hold out any metal water bottles when you walk through the metal detector. Or use the plastic Tervis. It keeps things cold for a long time, especially when you put ice in the bottle.
Walking around with a water bottle all day long is essential but can be annoying. If the water bottle doesn't fit in your other bag (backpack, daypack, fanny pack, crossbody bag, etc.), then holding it is going to enough to make you not to want to have one. A water bottle holder is the solution and there are lots of models: one that hooks onto a belt, crossbody styles, straps that hook onto another bag. Since I am usually carrying photography or videography equipment, a crossbody bag and a small backpack are good for me, but if that's too much, find a water bottle carrier that has pockets and storage. Mine can hold my phone, my small wallet (which only has my ID and one or two credit/debit cards) and my lip balm. My hand sanitizer hooks onto either bag.
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3. Be ready for the inevitable rain that always happens in theme parks. The ponchos at Disney are nice, but sometimes there's a long line when the rain starts or they run out. Umbrellas are good, but they take up a lot of space, they beep through the metal detector and you have to juggle everything else with one hand. The poncho fits over backpacks, allows air to flow through so that you don't get hot, protects your head and folds up nicely. I carry a poncho in my backpack, on the bottom of the bag. But what happens if it is wet? See below.
And in between rain showers, store your poncho in this bag picture below. Actually, I have used this bag for may things: keep my action camera gear together, put my phone in it for a water ride or for a sudden shower, put wet socks in. It's an all purpose wet bag. When it's empty, it can go into your backpack or even in your water bottle carrier. Put it at the bottom of the water bottle holder.
4. Personally, I can't be out in the sun without a hat or cap, but many people do walk around in the sun uncovered. According to health experts, you should try to protect yourself. Check out these options. I wear hats not just to showcase Disney gear but to protect myself from the sun. If you don't like caps, there are visors. And if you're in the other camp, sun hats are great too. I have visors that I can soak in cold water and then put for instant cooling. Many of them have sunscreen built into them for extra protection. Disney has other products in their Amazon Store:
Extras: tissues, anti bacterial wipes, cooling towel (Disney sells one or you can get this one), hand lotion, and clear mineral sunscreen. For people with small children, walking in without any bag at all is not much of an option. But all of these things fit into my small Loungefly backpack. I don't have to carry a huge backpack to have everything that I need. And when all is said and done, I can still carry a small snack, a travel size bottle of pain reliever and one last thing...
6. A personal fan. Yes, I definitely need one. There are several models but I wanted one
that would not set off the metal detectors. Keep the fan, external battery charger and
metal water bottle separate when you walk through. You may have to figure it out but
at least you will have your stuff with you when you need it. But if you want something
a little larger because you need to set it down on a table and keep your hands free, try
this one. Both fans come in different colors.
Some of the coolest stuff can be found at Universal Studios, especially their Harry Potter merch. Get yours before you get there.
If you fly into Florida, check out the shops at MCO airport. The prices will be the same as the parks, but shopping there seems to be less stressful. You can ask about any discounts, they may or may not apply. Disney, Universal and Sea World all have stores in the main terminal and Terminal C. You can get some stuff when you land and have it when you get to the parks.
Have a great trip!
The NYC Traveler Presents Tips for Your Trips
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All photos and videos created and copyrighted by Marcia Crayton, unless otherwise noted.
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