A Disney day is long, hot, often wet and full of walking, usually while pushing a stroller loaded like a pack mule. The families who come home happy tend to pack for three different places: the park bag you carry for 12 hours, the hotel room where you recover, and the suitcase that gets you there. Here's all three, with counts.
Quick answer: what to pack for Disney World
- Park bag: refillable water bottle, power bank and cable, MagicBand+ charger (it uses its own cable), ponchos, gallon zip bags, sunscreen, hats, snacks, blister patches, hand sanitizer and wipes.
- Feet: two pairs of broken-in shoes per walker. Never bring new shoes.
- Kids under 5: a spare outfit every day, plus diapers and swim diapers sized to your days.
- Know the rules: strollers must be 31" x 52" or smaller, wagons, stroller wagons and stroller boards are banned, bags must be 24" x 15" x 18" or smaller, and no loose or dry ice, selfie sticks or folding chairs. Check Disney's park rules before you go.
Know the rules before you pack
Disney publishes its rules on the Walt Disney World property rules page, and says they can change at any time without notice. Check it the week you leave. As of this writing, the rules that matter most to families are:
- Strollers: no larger than 31 inches (79 cm) wide and 52 inches (132 cm) long.
- Wagons: banned at every theme park and water park. Stroller wagons are banned too, even if they fit the size limit. So is "any trailer-like object" pushed, pulled or towed by a stroller, which Disney's own planDisney panel confirms includes stroller boards (the ride-on boards older siblings stand on).
- Bags and coolers: nothing larger than 24" long x 15" wide x 18" high, with or without wheels.
- Ice: no loose ice or dry ice. Reusable ice packs are fine.
- Glass: not allowed in the parks, except small containers like baby food jars.
- Also out: selfie sticks, folding chairs, drones, toy weapons, and scooters or shoes with wheels.
- Water parks: no flotation devices that aren't Coast Guard approved, and no swim noodles.
If your stroller is too big or you'd rather not fly with one, Disney rents strollers inside the parks. Rentals have to stay in the park, so you'll still want a plan for the bus or the walk from the hotel.
The park bag
This is the bag that matters. Pack it the night before, not in a rush on day one.
Water and food
- A refillable water bottle per person. Disney's own planning site says you can get complimentary cups of ice water at quick-service locations that serve fountain drinks.
- Snacks. Two per child per park day is a good start. Hungry kids at 11 a.m. in a 40-minute line is how meltdowns begin.
- Electrolyte packets. Florida heat and all-day walking drain everyone.
- A small soft cooler with reusable ice packs if you're bringing lunch or milk (within the 24" x 15" x 18" limit).
Power
- A power bank and phone cable. You'll use your phone for tickets, ride times, mobile ordering and photos. It will not last the day.
- A MagicBand+ charger. MagicBand+ uses its own charging cable, not your phone's. The band still works for park entry and payments when it's flat, but the lights and interactive features need charge.
Rain and water rides
- Ponchos for everyone. Cheap, packable ones are fine. Afternoon storms are common in Central Florida, especially in summer.
- Gallon zip bags, about three per park day, to keep phones, wallets and spare clothes dry on water rides and in sudden downpours.
- A stroller rain cover if you're bringing your own stroller.
Sun and skin
- Sunscreen. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests about 1 oz (a shot glass) per adult application, reapplied every two hours and after swimming or sweating (AAD). For a family of four, that goes quickly. Bring more than one bottle.
- Hats and sunglasses, including for kids.
- Anti-chafe balm. Heat, humidity and miles of walking. You'll thank us.
- Babies under 6 months: shade and light, covering clothes come first. The AAP generally doesn't recommend sunscreen under 6 months except on small areas when shade isn't available (HealthyChildren.org).
Small things that save the day
- Hand sanitizer and a pack of wipes.
- A small first-aid kit: bandages, adult and children's pain reliever (ask your pediatrician about kids' dosing), any daily meds.
- A carabiner or two to clip popcorn buckets, ear-hat bags and jackets to the stroller.
- Ear defenders for kids sensitive to noise. Fireworks and some shows are loud.
- A stain-remover pen. Churro sugar, ice cream and ketchup will find someone.
Feet (trust us on this)
You'll walk a lot more than you do at home. Feet are what end Disney days early.
- Two pairs of broken-in shoes per walker, so you can switch if one gets soaked or starts rubbing. Never bring new shoes to the parks.
- Moleskin, blister patches or KT tape. Put it on hot spots the moment you feel rubbing, not after the blister appears. One pack per family, plus a few in each park bag.
- Spare socks, about two extra pairs per person beyond one per park day. Wet socks from a rainstorm or a water ride are blister factories.
Clothes: how many outfits per day
Most Disney days need one park outfit per person, plus sometimes a pool or dinner change. Plan by day instead of packing "a few extra".
- Park outfits: one per person per park day. Breathable, light fabrics. Matching family shirts are optional but do make it easier to spot kids in a crowd.
- Kids under 5: add a spare outfit every day. Keep it in the park bag in a zip bag.
- Swimsuits: two per person if you'll swim, so one can dry.
- A light layer for air-conditioned shows and restaurants, and for cooler evenings in winter.
- Rain-friendly shoes or sandals if you'll be there during the wet season.
For babies and toddlers
- Diapers sized to your days. Use our diaper guide for the math: roughly 6 a day for a 1-to-2-year-old, plus travel and a delay day.
- Swim diapers, about two per swim day, per child in diapers.
- Rash cream. Heat and long days in a stroller are hard on skin.
- Stroller fan and a breathable stroller cover. Don't drape a blanket over the stroller in heat, as it can trap hot air.
- Familiar snacks and a sippy cup.
- The comfort item, plus a check before you leave the hotel each morning and at checkout.
- A baby carrier for rides where strollers are parked, and for queues.
Disney parks have Baby Care Centers with changing and nursing spaces, which can be a lifesaver for a nap or a calm feed. Check the park map in the My Disney Experience app for locations.
Age-by-age
Baby (under 12 months)
Shade, feeds and naps run the day. Pack a carrier, a stroller with a good canopy, a portable fan, extra burp cloths and enough formula or milk supplies for a full park day. Plan a midday break at the hotel if you can.
Toddler (1 to 3)
Pack snacks in single portions, a spare outfit, a few small toys for queues, and something to hold for meeting characters (an autograph book with a fat marker works well). Many toddlers nap in the stroller, so a stroller sunshade or cover helps.
Kid (4 to 8)
Let them carry a small backpack with their own water bottle and a snack. Pack their autograph book, a lanyard or wristband with your phone number on it in case you get separated, and ear defenders if they need them.
Tween (9 to 12)
They'll want their own phone or a power bank, and comfortable shoes they've actually worn before. A small cross-body bag keeps them responsible for their own sunscreen and snacks.
Back at the room
- A pop-up hamper to keep sweaty park clothes away from clean ones.
- Laundry detergent pods if your hotel has guest laundry. A midweek wash means you can pack less.
- Chargers and wall bricks for every device you'll charge overnight, plus the MagicBand+ charger.
- A small power strip can help with lots of devices at a Disney hotel. (If you're adding a Disney cruise, leave it home: cruise lines commonly ban power strips. See our cruise packing list.)
- A night light for kids in an unfamiliar room.
- Swimsuits hung to dry, with a hook or two.
What parents forget
What parents forget: the MagicBand+ charger. It isn't your phone cable. Without it, the band still opens doors and gets you into the parks, but the lights and games go dark.
What parents forget: the second pair of shoes. One rainstorm or splash ride and the only pair is soaked for the rest of the day.
What parents forget: the wagon and board rule. Wagons, stroller wagons and stroller boards are banned in the theme parks and water parks. Find out at home, not at bag check.
What parents forget: their own spare shirt. The kids' spares are in the bag. Yours, for the moment a slushie lands in your lap, isn't.
Visiting from outside the US?
Check whether you need an approved ESTA before flying. Apply only through the official site, esta.cbp.dhs.gov, and avoid look-alike sites. US outlets use plug types A and B at 120 V, so bring plug adapters, and check that hair tools work on 120 V. Our international travel checklist covers documents in more detail.
Printable checklist: Disney World for families
Per-person counts are rules of thumb. Check Disney's park rules before you go: strollers 31" x 52" or smaller, no wagons or stroller boards, bags 24" x 15" x 18" or smaller, no loose or dry ice.
Park bag (every day)
- Refillable water bottle (1 per person)
- Snacks (about 2 per child per day)
- Electrolyte packets
- Power bank and phone cable
- MagicBand+ charger (for overnight)
- Ponchos (1 per person)
- Gallon zip bags (about 3 per day)
- Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses
- Anti-chafe balm
- Hand sanitizer and wipes
- Blister patches or moleskin
- Small first-aid kit and daily meds
- Carabiners for the stroller
- Ear defenders for noise-sensitive kids
- Stain-remover pen
- Soft cooler with reusable ice packs (optional)
Clothes and shoes (per person)
- Park outfits: 1 per park day
- Kids under 5: +1 spare outfit per day
- Socks: 1 per park day + 2 spares
- 2 pairs of broken-in shoes
- Swimsuits: 2 each
- Light layer for A/C and evenings
- Pajamas
- Spare top for each adult
Babies and toddlers
- Diapers for each day + travel + delay day
- Swim diapers (about 2 per swim day)
- Wipes and rash cream
- Stroller (31" x 52" or smaller, no wagon, no stroller board)
- Stroller fan, sunshade and rain cover
- Baby carrier
- Bottles, formula or milk supplies for the day
- Sippy cup and familiar snacks
- Comfort item
- Autograph book and fat marker
Hotel room
- Pop-up hamper
- Laundry pods
- Chargers and wall bricks for every device
- Night light
- Hooks for drying swimsuits
Documents and tech
- Park tickets linked in My Disney Experience
- Photo IDs for adults
- ESTA approval and passports (visitors from outside the US)
- Plug adapters, type A/B (international visitors)
- Parent phone number on a wristband for each child
Before you leave the hotel
- Comfort item packed
- Chargers and MagicBand+ charger out of the wall
- Swimsuits off the hooks
Get this list built for your crew
A Disney week for a family of five is a lot of socks to count. In Packworthy, tag your days as theme park days and every traveler gets their own section of one shared family list, with age-based items for the little ones, and, on days you tag as beach days, a swim diaper for each baby. For pool and water-park days, use the 2-per-swim-day count above. Your partner can pack the kids' bags while you pack the park bag, and you'll both see what's done.
FAQ
What size stroller is allowed at Disney World? Strollers can be no larger than 31 inches wide and 52 inches long. Stroller wagons, stroller boards and all wagons are banned in the theme parks and water parks. Check Disney's park rules for the current policy.
Can you bring a wagon into Disney World? No. Wagons, including stroller wagons, are prohibited at every Walt Disney World theme park and water park.
Can you bring food and water into Disney World parks? Disney's rules allow bags and soft coolers up to 24" x 15" x 18", with reusable ice packs but no loose or dry ice, and no glass except small baby food jars. You can also ask for free cups of ice water at quick-service locations that serve fountain drinks.
What should I pack in my Disney park bag? Water bottles, snacks, a power bank, ponchos, zip bags, sunscreen, hats, blister patches, hand sanitizer and, for kids under 5, a spare outfit.
How many outfits do I need per day at Disney? Plan one park outfit per person per day, plus a pool or dinner change if you need one. Kids under 5 should have an extra spare outfit each day.