There’s a reason Disney Adults love going to EPCOT. This park has it all — one of the BEST thrill rides in Disney World, some of the BEST food, and the BEST character meet-and-greets. There’s something for everyone!

As a former EPCOT Cast Member, it’s safe to say I know a lot about that park. I know which water bottle refill stations to avoid (I still can’t get over that funky Florida water taste) and which characters tend to attract the longest lines. I also know how to pack the perfect park bag for a trip to EPCOT, and it’s time I share my theme park essentials! If you’re planning a trip to Disney World, you might want to bring these items to the parks.

Remember how I said EPCOT has the best meet-and-greets? Believe it or not, this park has one of the highest amounts of meet-and-greets out of all four parks! If you’re traveling with someone who LOVES Disney princesses, you might be able to meet MORE princesses in EPCOT than in Magic Kingdom. Yes, really!

When you’re packing a park bag for a day in EPCOT, I highly recommend bringing an autograph book to the park. Make sure to bring a nice, bold Sharpie or a pen, too! Here’s a hot tip from a former Character Attendant: nine times out of ten, pens don’t work. You’re better off giving characters a marker to sign their autograph — it’s easier for everyone, trust us.

OK, the next item I’m recommending might seem a little random, but it has come in handy more times than I can count. Ever seen those reusable storage bags online or at the store? These are GREAT to keep in your park bag!

EPCOT has so many great places to eat. I love the seasonal festival food booths, the pizza at Via Napoli, and the snacks around the World Showcase (looking at you, Karamell-Küche). If you’re like me, you probably want to sample a little bit of everything! But if you don’t want to waste your leftovers, you can pack them in your park bag and enjoy a little sweet treat back at your hotel. That’s where those reusable snack bags come in handy!

Reusable storage bags are easy to pack (they weigh basically nothing) and come in all different sizes. Do yourself a favor and bring them to EPCOT; your future self will thank you.

View on Amazon

Time for a confession: I have a huge collection of Disney pins. And I can’t stop collecting more. EPCOT has a ton of great places to trade pins, and if you want to get into pin collecting, this is the place to start!

Pack a handful of Disney pins in your park bag! That way, if you spot a pin you have to have, you can trade one of your pins without having to go pay for a pack of trading pins at the closest gift shop.

When I worked in EPCOT, I saw people “drinking around the world” every single day. People love a margarita from the Mexico Pavilion! If you plan to take on the challenge, bring some friends (and a couple hundred bucks; those drinks aren’t cheap) and a Drinking Around the World Passport from Amazon.

This way, you can keep track of the drinks you try, and something like this helps when it comes to splitting the bill if you’re playing along with a group.

View on Amazon

As much as I love EPCOT, I have a bone to pick with this park. There is no SHADE! When you’re in the World Showcase, you’re basically 100% exposed to the sun. With that in mind, I highly recommend packing some good sunscreen. I like the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Sunscreen!

When looking for sunscreen, you might want to pick one that is water-resistant. Between the sweat and the various water rides you might encounter, you’re gonna need sunscreen that can stand up to a busy day in the theme parks.

View on Amazon

These are just a few of the must-haves I keep in my park bag! Let us know if you have any questions (or additions) in the comments! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

The One Frustrating Reason You Should SKIP Magic Kingdom in 2025

What do you pack in your park bag? Let us know in the comments!