Our first Disney World trip of the year is finally here, and I’m deep in packing mode. We’ve got five park days ahead—including a water park day—and this is the first of four trips we’ll be taking this year thanks to our Incredi Pass. Yes, we’re going all in. For complete details on our Incredi-Pass strategy, check out our Cut Disney World Costs in Half with the Incredi-Pass guide.
Planning multiple Disney trips? Learn how to earn credit card points for Disney World vacations to fund your hotels and travel.
We’re driving down, which means a car full of gear, snacks, and two dogs riding along for the adventure. We rented a car for free using the Pepper App. (we accumulated enough points to get a Hopper gift card that covered the car rental). For complete details on this money-saving strategy, see our How to Experience Disney World on a Budget: Our Trip for Under $450 Per Person case study.
On to packing for our trip. Here’s what’s making the packing list:
Park Essentials
- Park bag: Lightweight backpack or Loungefly
- Park day essentials: portable chargers, cooling towel, sunscreen, hydrating salts.
- Clothing: Comfy walking shoes, moisture-wicking socks, outfits planned per day (with a few backups), Mickey ears, and hats (some great Disney themed hats here.
- Disney Themed gear: We love taking Disney shirts with us, and love some these matching family Pj’s.
- Water park gear: Swimsuits, flip flops or Crocs (Disney themed ones)
Car Ride Must-Haves
- Snacks + drinks: Road trip fuel—trail mix, granola bars, water bottles, and caffeine.
- Car Bag for each Kid: Everyone packs their own backpack with devices, chargers, and snacks
- Entertainment: Playlists, podcasts, and probably a rewatch of our favorite Disney ride videos before we get there.
- Dog gear: Beds, bowls, food, leashes, cart for our senior dog, AirTag for each dog (and holder for their collar), and their favorite toys. We’ve got their travel setup dialed in at this point.
At the Hotel
- Toiletries + meds: The usual plus stuff for sunburns, blisters, and headaches. Disney fun comes with a few battle scars.
- Laundry stuff: Packing lighter means planning to do a load or two mid-trip. I like these laundry soap sheets when traveling, its easier than packing laundry soap.
- Extras: Reusable water bottles, Ziplocks for wet clothes or snacks, food storage containers to being fruit for everyone to the park (each person gets their own container each day filled with fruit).
Basic Disney World Packing List
For the Parks:
- Park backpack
- Battery pack + charging cables
- Cooling towel
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle
- Ziplock bags
- Hydrating salts
Clothing:
- Daily outfits
- Extra outfit or two
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Moisture-wicking socks
- Mickey ears + hats
- Swimsuits
- Flip flops
- Quick-dry towel
- Toiletries
For the Road:
- Snacks (bars, fruit, trail mix)
- Drinks (water, energy drinks)
- Entertainment (podcasts, playlists)
- Paper towels + trash bags
Dog Essentials:
- Food + bowls
- Leashes + collars
- Beds/blankets
- Toys
- Waste bags
Toiletries & Health:
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Hairbrush
- Meds (daily + pain relief, allergy, etc.)
- Blister care + band-aids
- Lotion/chapstick
Extras:
- Laundry detergent sheets
- Sunglasses
For more on what to pack check out our Check out our Amazon Essential Guide. Let us know what’s on your packing list! In addition to your packing essentials, don’t forget to consider some of the best travel gifts for Disney lovers to make your trip even more magical. Whether it’s fun themed apparel, unique souvenirs, or practical gadgets designed for the parks, these items can enhance your overall experience. Share your favorite finds and tips with fellow travelers to help them prepare for their Disney adventure!
Before you pack, make sure you’ve planned your trip budget. See our Disney vacation with credit card points guide for complete trip planning strategies.
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About Points to Magic
Our team at Points to Magic is led by Danielle, a CPA with 19 years of financial expertise. We specialize in helping families save thousands on Disney vacations using credit card points and cashback strategies. Every recommendation is personally tested through our own family trips.
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