If Your Park Bag Looks Like This, You're a Disney World Expert

If you’re heading to Disney World for vacation, being prepared is the best way to make sure you have a successful trip!

EPCOT

Being prepared usually means going into your vacation with dining reservations, a list of must-dos, and some semblance of how the My Disney Experience and Genie+ work, but there’s something else we’d like to add. One major part of being prepared is packing the perfect park bag!

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I’m a theme park reporter, and that means I’ve got a LOT of experience with packing a park bag (I do it multiple times a week!). Over my years of visiting the parks, I’ve developed a pretty foolproof method to ensure I have a successful park day. And it all comes down to my packing skills!

Animal Kingdom

Let’s dive in to my secrets!

The Best Park Bags

First of all, your park day success is going to start with your choice of bag. While a large backpack might be convenient for carrying the essentials, it’s also going to be cumbersome and heavy, as well as difficult to fit on the rides. Carrying a tote bag or a purse can be a bother, too — you don’t want to constantly be adjusting the straps on your bag and you don’t want to worry that your belongings will fall out while on a ride.

Hollywood Studios

For those reasons, there are two types of bags I primarily carry when I’m in the parks — a small backpack (like a Loungefly) or a fanny pack/belt bag. Both of these options are easy to travel with, can be packed with most (if not all) of my essentials, and allow me to remain hands-free.

Well, time to buy more Loungeflys.

A Loungefly or other small backpack is my go-to choice for a day when I’m staying in the park for a long time, or for when I need to pack more items. Typically, I pack a little heavier in the summertime with items like water bottles, deodorant, chafing sticks, cooling towels, and hand fans, so I need the extra space.

Loungefly backpack

If I can stand to pack lighter or I’m just going to the parks for a few hours, a fanny pack or belt bag is the way I go! This will be able to hold all my basic necessities without getting too heavy and it’s easier access than a backpack.

New belt bag

But what goes in the bags?

Park Bag Essentials

Well, if we want to make it through the day without any major snafus, we’ve got to have a solid packing list! One of the first items on my list, ESPECIALLY in the summer, is rain gear! You don’t want to go to the parks in the summer months without a poncho, rain jacket, or umbrella because Central Florida has afternoon rainstorms nearly every day.

Ponchos in Disney World

After that, I want to make sure I’m thoroughly hydrated! Packing a water bottle is a MUST in the summer because I want to be as hydrated as possible. In the winter, I can usually make it through the day with free water cups from quick service restaurants, but in the heat, I need the extra ounces of H2O that a refillable bottle provides.

©Amazon

These days, you’ll be using your phone a LOT in Disney World. Not only will you need it to take photos, but you’ll also use it constantly to access the My Disney Experience app, which is home to the wait times list, Mobile Order, Genie+, and more! Because of this, I never leave home without packing a portable phone charger in my park bag.

FuelRods can be found all around the parks!

And a little bonus item? For me personally, I love having a pack of wet wipes on hand for my park days. I eat a lot of melty, sticky, or messy snacks, so it’s nice to be able to clean up afterward. The tables in Disney World are also often sticky, so I appreciate having my wipes to clean off any surfaces before I eat off of them.

Clorox Wipes

So there you have it — my tricks for packing the perfect park bag! I hope this helps with your next Disney World vacation. Stay tuned to DFB for more tips and advice!

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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

What’s in your park bag? Let us know in the comments!