Ultimate Disney World Packing List: What to Bring for a Magical Trip

Disney World may be a dream place to visit, but packing for it can be a nightmare. To help you choose what to bring and what to leave behind, we provide you with the best Disney World packing list for 2025, along with some helpful tips to make your stay more comfortable. We even suggest the best apps to keep your trip organized and have the best time at the park. Don’t miss it!

Picture by Brian McGowan on Unsplash

What to Pack for the Best Disney World Trip

Whether you’re visiting with family or on your own, a trip to Disney World is quite a big deal. Especially if you’re staying for a couple of days. Let’s get straight to it. The parks are enormous, and you’ll have so much to do that your daypack has to be optimized to the max. Do you really have time to lose with unnecessary items?

Important Documents

Let’s start with the park tickets, since you’ll need them just to enter. Some people prefer the traditional tickets, which can be purchased in the park. But nowadays it’s easier with a My Disney Experience account and a Magic Band. You can buy them in various locations, including World of Disney and Disney’s Pin Traders at Disney Springs, as well as select Disney Resort hotel shops. Alternatively, you can have them shipped to your location if you’re in the U.S.

This last one is quite interesting, as you can use it to access various features at Disney World, not only the park entrance. You’ll need it if you’re planning to use the Lightning Lane.

If you’ve already purchased your tickets in advance, they should appear in your Disney Experience account. You just have to look at your Disney Experience account to see them, and they can be linked directly to your Magic Band or app for easy access at the park.

No matter where you’re traveling, you’ll need identification on you, and Disney is no exception. You can use your driver’s license if you’re from the U.S.; if not, your passport is also acceptable, but it must be the original.

Disney App and Reservations

Now that we mentioned the apps, let’s start with the most useful one that you can download right now, My Disney Experience, which provides quite a lot of advantages.

• Park Maps: Get access to interactive maps of the parks. They include schedules, navigation guides, attraction wait times, and even character locations.

• Restaurant Reservations: Allows you to make dining reservations up to 60 days in advance. Believe us, you’ll need that advantage.

• Mobile Ordering: Facilitates the purchase of fast food through online ordering, allowing you to avoid lines and pick up your food at a scheduled time. Great for maximizing your time at the park.

• Genie+ and Lightning Lane: Through the app, you can purchase Lightning Lane passes (single and multiple) for faster access to attractions! No more waiting 2 hours for a roller coaster.

• Virtual Queues: Another effective way to reduce the time you spend physically in queues. Just join the virtual queues! Although it is not available for all attractions.

• Connect with Friends and Family: The app allows you to coordinate plans and share photos with other group members.

• Reservation Access: View details of your hotel reservation on the app. You’ll need your confirmation number and last name to link your reservation.

Photo by David Guerrero on Pexels

More useful apps for your trip to Disney

• Play Disney Parks (Free): Interactive games based on attractions and exclusive content. Perfect for entertainment while waiting in lines.

• Disney World Lines by TouringPlans (Free): Provides information on wait times, itinerary planning, and crowd ratings. Helps maximize your time in the park.

• The Weather Channel (Free): Weather forecasts and weather alerts, will it be sunny? Will it rain? An essential part of planning your days in the park.

• Magic Guide for Disney World (Free, with in-app purchases): Get quick access to park hours, wait times, restaurant menus, interactive maps, and so much more.

General Year-Round Packing List for A Disney World Trip

Clothing and Footwear

Disney might be where magic meets reality, but don’t underestimate how much walking you’ll be doing. When packing your clothes and shoes, we recommend prioritizing comfort. You don’t need to dress fancy, and it could be a bad idea. Instead, go for short-sleeved T-shirts, preferably made of light and breathable fabrics, or longer ones for cooler evenings. You can wear leggings or jeans, which are better suited for long walks, and try to avoid wearing short shorts, as you are in a family-friendly environment.

As for footwear, avoid trying new shoes. They might be really nice-looking, but there’s a high possibility of blisters. Go for your trusty sneakers or your comfortable sandals. And ladies, don’t pack the heels, just don’t.

For costumes, adults can’t wear full costumes for security reasons. But that doesn’t mean you can’t dress to match your favorite character! You can put on your Disney shirts and go around the park with Mickey ears! Don’t worry, you might feel a bit silly, but it’s part of the fun!

Sun Protection Must-Haves

Walking around in the middle of Florida means that the sun is going to be strong. Here are some tips and must-haves to protect your skin.

• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and don’t forget to reapply it every two hours, or more frequently if you swim or sweat too much.

• Don’t forget the accessories! A wide-brimmed hat is better than a baseball cap to protect you against the sun, and it can be really fashionable. Also, add sunglasses, your eyesight will thank you in a few years.

• Seek the shade. From 10 am to 4 pm, the sun is stronger, so try to spend as much time as possible in the shade or indoors. You can, for example, schedule your outdoor activities for early morning or late afternoon.

Hydration supplies

Walking around with a big old bottle of water might seem like a boring, responsible thing. But it’s so much better than losing half a day for a heat wave. Florida is really hot, and walking around a gigantic park full of people doesn’t help.

So, be responsible, pack your reusable bottle, and try to drink at least 2 liters of water per day. A bit more if it’s really hot. A thermos can be a great idea, especially when you add some ice, allowing you to enjoy a refreshing drink at any moment.

You can also try consuming fruits, especially those with a high water content. Like melon, apples, and oranges. Not only are they delicious, but they also have natural fibers and vitamins. Try to avoid drinks with high levels of caffeine or alcohol, since they can contribute to dehydration, or add to your water intake to compensate.

Tech and Accessories

• Smartphone: Essential on your packing list for Disney World 2025. As we have already discussed, the My Disney Experience app is essential for optimizing your trip, navigating the park, and staying updated. Additionally, your phone is the perfect tool for capturing photos and videos of your Disney adventure!

• Portable Chargers: Not strictly necessary, but a nice addition in case your phone runs out of battery.

• Rechargeable Fan: Ideal to keep you cool in Florida’s high temperatures while waiting in lines or walking around the park.

• USB Chargers: Bring a wall adapter with multiple USB ports to charge multiple devices in your hotel room. A compact organizer can help you keep all your cables and chargers protected.

• Headphones: The parks might be a bit overwhelming, with all the people going around and the big, noisy attractions. Noise cancelers are great, but music can also help you pass the time during long queues.

• An eSIM: The best thing about this? You don’t have to pack it! Simply install it and enjoy a stable internet connection. And a trip to Disney is the best time to try Yoho Mobile’s free eSIM! For future trips, you can use the code YOHO12 for 12% off your purchase.

Packing Tips for Families and Adults

We’ve covered the adults’ necessities, so let’s now discuss the needs of the small ones. After all, Disney World is a dream come true for them, too.

• Comfortable Clothing: Just like you, make sure they’re comfortable and calm in the clothes you pack. If they have a favorite, make sure to add it, and always pack them a jacket for the cool evenings.

• Comfortable Shoes: If you’re little one can walk, pack them comfortable shoes as they surely want to explore the whole park by themselves. Since they barely occupy space, keep an extra pair on hand in case the first pair gets too dirty.

Photo by Bo shou

Items for Babies and Toddlers

Carrying a baby around sure adds a level of difficulty to any trip. But just look at their happy little face! Just make sure they’re comfortable and that the trip doesn’t disrupt their schedule too much, or they’ll get cranky. Here are some things you can’t forget when going with a baby to Disney World:

• Diapers and Wipes: Don’t forget to pack plenty of diapers and wipes. Childcare stations at the park do offer these products, but they can be expensive.

• Strollers: A stroller is essential for all children under six years old, as it will allow them to rest during the day. If you think that it’s a lot of space on your luggage, just imagine carrying your 4-year-old all the time in the park.

Food and Beverages

It’s not a secret that the food in Disney World is expensive. Really expensive in some cases, but we buy it because it’s Disney and it looks good. So here are some alternatives that you can pack for your kids.

• Healthy Snacks: Kids tend to get hungry a lot during the day, especially if they’re in a park filled with food options. To save money and boost their energy, you can pack healthy snacks such as dried fruit, granola bars, or crackers.

• Reusable Bottles: Bring reusable water bottles to keep kids hydrated throughout the day. You can refill them at water fountains inside the park. Bonus if the bottle is Disney-themed!

Entertainment for Wait Times

Even with all the tips we gave you, some attractions still have longer wait times. To help your kids make the wait more bearable, don’t forget to pack some essential items.

• Toys and Books: Bring small toys, such as figurines and little cars, and create a quick game with whatever you have nearby. Another option is coloring books, especially if they’re Disney-themed!

• Noise-canceling Headphones: If your children are sensitive to loud noises, consider packing headphones that help mitigate sound during shows or rides.

Other essentials

• Safety and Identification: Ensure your children wear wristbands or tags with contact information in case they become separated from the group.

• Health and Hygiene: Include in your Disney 2025 packing list a small basic first aid kit with bandages, band-aids, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, insect repellent, and any personal medication that your child uses frequently.

If you’re methodical and follow our tricks and tips, packing for Disney World will be a breeze. No matter how many people, if you’re alone, or even with kids, you already know everything that you need. So have a great trip to Disney World!