food IS a theme park
Disneyland is continuing with its phased reopening.
Disneyland
Hotel-wise, only Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel are currently welcoming guests — but Disneyland Hotel has plans to reopen soon. And starting next month, Disneyland Resort as a whole is offering some pretty sweet savings for hotel guests!
We’re continuing to follow the progress on the Jungle Cruise’s reimagining in Disney World!
Jungle Cruise
This classic ride is getting a brand-new story line and characters, and we’re slowly seeing the project take shape! Most recently, scenes were being removed as that iconic rhino scene got a refresh with our new animatronic cast. And now, we’ve got another update!
Mickey Mouse and his pals are great examples of the power of friendship!
Mickey and Goofy
We love seeing the gang come together for adventures like on Minnie and Mickey’s Runaway Railway. And Donald, Pluto, and Goofy are some of our favorite characters to see around the parks. The classic Disney characters have been friends for as long as we can remember, and now, you can win a chance to be in a photography series inspired by them!
You’ve booked your Disney World trip, you’ve made your park pass reservations, and you’ve made your advance dining reservations, so what’s next? Well, you probably need to start thinking about what you need for your trip!
Cinderella Castle
But where to even begin? Well, we’ve tackled visiting the parks a zillion and one times and we’ve put together a list of must-have items that you’ll want to put in your suitcase when you start packing. These are all tried and true items, too, and you’ll thank us for making sure that you’re as prepared as possible to have a magical trip!
The one thing you will need more than anything else is a mobile phone charger. Because trust us — you will be using your phone A LOT at Disney World. You’ll need to access the My Disney Experience app for just about everything nowadays: from unlocking your hotel room to ordering food to scanning into the parks. And that takes a lot of battery power.
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We’re big fans of this charger by RAVPower. You’ll get up to 11 days of power, so you won’t have to charge it a lot. It’s easy to throw into your bag with your phone when you need to get to charging, too. It’s a little pricey at $64.59, but keep an eye on Amazon because it often goes on sale. Trust us, it’s worth it. Having the peace of mind that anywhere you go you’ve got a battery is NICE.
Let’s face it — we travel with a lot of electronics and things that need to be plugged in now. And Disney World hotels just often don’t have enough places to plug everyone’s devices in. (Ever do that awkward fight to claim the outlets closest to the beds with your family?) So bringing your own extra Power Strip is a must! This Anker Power Strip is perfect for traveling — and it’s easy to pack, too!
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You can grab it now for $18.99. You’ll have everything you need to plug all your stuff into. It’s got both extra outlets AND USB plugs, so you’ll be all set.
Disney World hotels no longer have alarm clocks, and well, you don’t want to miss rope drop, do you? But how will you wake up? If you’re kickin’ it old school and not a fan of checking your phone for the time, a travel clock is perfect. This basic Digital Alarm Clock is all you need.
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It’s small enough to throw into your bag, and it’s got a nice loud alarm that will get you and your family up on time every morning. And it’s only $12.97. Yes, we realize many people also use their smartphones for alarm clocks, but call us old-fashioned — we like a real alarm clock.
Okay, so Florida weather can be extreme. Downpours in the middle of the day, even when the forecast calls for clear skies, are common. And the heat and humidity can get downright unbearable in the summer. For the latter, we like the cooling towels by Frogg Toggs — in the summer, we won’t leave our hotel room without one.
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These come in a variety of colors, too, so you can match your cooling towel to your outfit. Toss one in your bag, run it under some water in the parks, wave it around for a sec, and you’ll have cool comfort all day. This particular towel is $12.99.
Another way to stay cool in the Florida heat is to bring your own personal portable fan. And although we’ve seen some cute Disney ones, they’re not always that great. We recommend this one on Amazon that is tried and true.
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What’s great about this $16.99 mini fan is that it’s rechargeable via USB, so you can totally use your mobile charger to keep it powered all day.
The Florida sun isn’t just hot, it also gets a LOT of UV rays. If you’re going to be out in the sun most of the day, we ask that you PLEASE wear sunscreen to protect your skin. We’re fans of Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Oxide because it’s great for sensitive skin and is SPF 50 and waterproof.
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This sunscreen also doesn’t leave you feeling greasy like some other sunscreens. You can grab it now for $14.50.
Y’all know us — we’re the first to tell you not to pay for bottled water at Disney World. Not only can you get free cups of water almost everywhere in the parks, but you can also bring your own water bottle in and fill it at refilling stations located in the parks. And that’s where a Collapsible Water Bottle comes in handy because you can just collapse it down pretty small and throw it into your bag when you’re not using it.
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We like this Special Made Collapsible Water Bottle because it collapses down super small and doesn’t take up hardly any space in your bag! And it’s only $9.99.
Remember those random rain showers we mentioned? Well, they happen a lot, and you need to be prepared. Even if you think it might not rain, the chances that there will be a 10-minute downpour at Disney World are high nearly every day. So bringing along raingear that packs easily into your bag is a no-brainer.
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We like this Windbreaker because it’s lightweight (perfect for summer), waterproof, and fits inside a little pouch that you can just throw in your day bag when you’re not using it (read: your other park bag stuff won’t get soggy after that mid-day shower!). You can get it now for $26.99.
When it IS sunny out, though, it’s VERY SUNNY. They don’t call Florida “The Sunshine State” for nothing. And you’ll want to protect your eyes as much as possible. Yes, Ray-Bans are expensive, but the $120 Wayfarers are classic for style AND these sunglasses hold up (and yes, we HAVE accidentally sat on them and they didn’t break).
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They come in a variety of colors, too, so you can match just about any outfit. AND they come in various sizes so you can get the best fit for your face.
If sunglasses aren’t your thing, or you want to shade your eyes and face even further from the brutal Florida sign, why not consider a hat? And the cool thing is, it doesn’t have to be a plain old hat — it can be a Disney hat, like this Mickey Mouse Baseball Cap that comes in a variety of colors.
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This classic cap is $15.67.
The health and safety guidelines at the parks are changing rapidly, and we’re doing our best to make sure you’re aware of any changes that happen. Right now, face masks are no longer required outdoors but are still required when standing in line and when indoors, unless actively eating or drinking. So one of the things we’ll recommend is to bring extra masks. And although there are some cute Disney ones, it’s good to have some Disposable Masks on hand, too.
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These Disposable Masks come in black, which means they’re a little more stylish than the medical blue ones. And you can get a pack of 100 for $11.99.
Because mask guidelines mean you’ll be taking your mask on and off more at Disney World, we highly recommend a mask chain to keep you from losing your mask. This is basically a lanyard that you attach to your mask so that when it’s off, it can just hang around your neck. You can get a Pack of 7 Mask Lanyards that comes in a variety of colors.
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This is going to be a game-changer for mask-wearing at the parks. This is one of our go-to items right now, so we highly recommend it! This pack is $6.99.
You’ll also need sanitizing wipes for your hands and pretty much everything you touch. You might also want to keep your phone wiped down, but you can also use them to wipe down tables before you sit down to eat. These Purell Sanitizing Wipes packs are travel-sized, so they’re easy to carry around in your day bag.
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You can get six packs now on Amazon for $15.21.
One thing we are always going to recommend is bringing more than one pair of shoes with you when you visit Disney World. You might find the shoes that are the comfiest for you at home aren’t necessarily as comfy when on your feet all day at theme parks. Trust us — we’ve worn our favorite shoes for hours on end walking around back home only to learn too late they just don’t quite cut it at Disney World! And here’s the thing — different shoes work for different people. For sneakers, we like Skechers GoWalks because that memory foam insole makes a HUGE difference when you’re on your feet all day.
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They come in a variety of styles, colors, and price points.
If you’re more of a sandals person, you can’t go wrong with Birkenstocks. These sandals were literally made for walking.
© Nordstrom
They come in a variety of styles and range in price from $45 and up. Be sure to give these some time to break in before your trip though, then your feet will last all day!
We’re big fans of wearing skirts, especially in the summer, because they’re just a lot cooler than pants and even shorts. But when things get hot and sweaty, wearing skirts can be an issue. That’s where these Bestena Slip Shorts come in. And the best part? You don’t have to worry about what happens when the wind picks up and you pull a Marilyn Monroe (or as you do the awkward roll/fumble out of your car to exit Space Mountain and inadvertently flash the exiting guests!).
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Bike shorts also work in a pinch, although slip shorts do occasionally tend to be lighter. These are $13.99. Your not-so-tender thighs will thank you!
There is a Loungefly Mini Backpack for almost every Disney character, movie, and attraction. And these bags make great park bags because you can fit a lot into them. Take a look at this Loungefly Minnie Mouse Dress Mini Backpack — it’s PERFECT for a trip to Disney World, right?
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This bag is $89.
We also like the Vera Bradley Hipster Bags, especially the Disney ones. Her designs have fun patterns, like this Minnie Mouse Garden Party Hipster Bag.
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This one has a lot of zippered compartments and is great for keeping yourself organized while you’re walking all over Disney World! It’s available for $85.
If you want a bag on a budget, you can still get something like this Mickey Mouse Sketch Cinch Sack. There’s plenty of room for all your stuff!
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This bag is available now for $19.99.
And in case you hadn’t noticed, fanny packs have made a huge comeback! They’re so handy to wear and keep you hands-free, so yeah, we get it! And you can even get a Loungefly Marvel Belt Bag now.
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This fanny pack, AKA belt bag, is available for $29.98.
In addition to the usual — wallet, sanitizer and/or sanitizing wipes, IDs, tickets, etc — you’ll want to make sure your day bag is stocked with things you need. And we always bring Ziploc Bags because sometimes we can’t eat a whole snack and we’re not about to throw out perfectly good food we can eat later. Don’t even get us started on their usefulness saving your phone and wallet from water rides! Plus, if you tote around sanitizer like we often do, sometimes those bottles love to leak. Toss one in to save your goodies!
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We like the slider lock bags, too, because they’re a little easier to seal (because you also don’t want food getting into your bag and making a mess!).
It’s important to keep your lips moisturized and protected from the hot sun. And with face masks, your lips are even more prone to drying out! So you’ll want to put Chapstick on your lips as much as you can.
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We highly recommend getting the kind with SPF protection! We found a three-pack on Amazon with SPF 15 for $2.94. That’s about as cheap as you’ll find it!
Your hands are going to get super dry, too, especially if you’re using a lot of hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes — the alcohol in sanitizers can do a number on your skin. We recommend something like Gold Bond Ultimate Intensive Healing Hand Cream, which will keep your hands hydrated and soft.
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You can grab a 3 oz. bottle of this hand cream for $3.76.
Although Disney World has hand sanitizing stations all over the parks, their sanitizer tends to dry your hands out and it feels sticky. And sticky hand sanitizer is no fun. Wish Hand Sanitizer with Vitamin E is not sticky AND it makes your hands feel soft when you use it.
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We like to get the big bottle for $4.99 and then put it into small travel-sized bottles to carry around with us in our day bag.
Okay, so here’s the thing: accidents — and blisters — happen. And rather than having to take time out of your day to go to each park’s first aid station, why not have what you need on hand? And one of the things we recommend the most is Anti-Blister Balm. Because even your most comfy shoes can cause blisters (especially on hot days when your feet sweat).
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We like the Body Glide balm for $8 that you just glide over your heels and anywhere else you tend to get blisters. Believe us — this stuff really works to prevent blisters!
Sometimes, though, blisters will still happen. And that’s when you’ll need Moleskin to cover and protect that sensitive skin. Dr. Scholl’s has a Moleskin padding roll that you can cut into various sizes depending on what you need.
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This stuff is a real lifesaver! A little bit can get you back on your feet in no time! You can grab it on Amazon for $5.71.
Finally, you might have the occasional cut or scrape you need to treat with a Band-Aid, so yes, bring some Band-Aids with you. You can get a massive box of Bandaids in multiple sizes (including some fun Disney ones!) that should treat just about any kind of wound.
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This box is $6.88 on Amazon, and you might be surprised how much you need it!
We’re at the parks almost every day, and these are the things we make sure to always pack for our trips! We’ve tried just about everything, so we hope this list is helpful to you when you start making your own Disney World packing list.
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs!
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Did we miss anything? What else do you pack when you’re going to Disney World? Let us know in the comments!
Since Disney World reopened about a year ago, a LOT has changed regarding health and safety measures in the parks.
Mickey Face Mask
For a while, there were tons of different policies to keep up with, but since the COVID-19 vaccine has rolled out across the country, health and safety measures have started to dwindle down. We’ve seen the removal of temperature checks, physical distancing markers, and face masks outdoors, but there’s a new policy starting today — Disney World guests no longer need to wear masks in most locations.
Halloween is coming up in Disney World!
It’s almost Halloween! Kinda.
We’re eagerly anticipating Boo Bash, the After Hours ticketed event that will replace Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. We’ve already taken a look at how these events compare, and we’re ready to try the sweet treats, see the character cavalcades, and other spooky surprises we’ll encounter. And if you’re planning on attending, good news. Tickets are now on sale for the general public!
When Disney World first reopened after the pandemic-related closures, many things changed.
There are so many hidden details on this ride!
To help people keep a safe distance from one another, social distancing markers were placed throughout attraction queues, guests were loaded onto some attractions differently than they used to be, and pre-shows were generally being skipped in rides, like at the Haunted Mansion, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and more. BUT, today we noticed a big change particularly when it comes to pre-shows over at Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway!
Disney+ has been a force in the streaming world since it launched in fall of 2019.
©Disney
We’ve seen major blockbuster films release on the platform (for an additional charge) like Mulan, as well as critically acclaimed original series like The Mandalorian. Today, we got an update on how the streaming platform is doing from Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek himself! Check out what he had to say about the future of Disney+.
Several restaurants will soon be reopening throughout Disney World including ‘Ohana, Sebastian’s Bistro, and others.
‘Ohana Will Be Reopening Soon!
We’ve already shared a look at the menu that will be served during dinner at ‘Ohana, including a BIG update on the noodles situation. But, what about ‘Ohana’s breakfast menu? Today we’re sharing all the details with you about what items you’ll be able to enjoy at ‘Ohana during breakfast when it reopens!
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.
We love Disney decor to brighten up our homes!
©Golden Oak Theater Room
Today BoxLunch is having a 20% off site-wide sale, including home decor, and you need to see what we found!
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