Items to Pack for Disney That You Might Not Consider for Other Theme Parks

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The Disney experience is something everyone can get behind. Adults and children alike marvel at the spectacle of these parks. Whether it’s during a visit to the iconic originals of Disneyland Resort in Anaheim or Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, your trip is sure to be chock full of excitement and nostalgia. The themes, rides, and experiences within the Disney parks frequently tug at our heartstrings. This makes people feel young again and lights up the spirits of those still in their youth.

Expect the same intense emotions even if you’re on an international trip to a destination like Tokyo Disneyland: the Japanese alternative to the Disney magic. For those lucky enough to explore this side of Japan’s immense cultural magnetism, a visit to one of the country’s other incredible theme parks might also be in the cards. Joypolis is Japan’s largest indoor theme park, and some of the tallest roller coasters in the world can be found in the country’s amusement park’s landscape.

At these theme parks, you’ll quickly notice that planning a trip to Disney in America or elsewhere is a different kettle of fish. While navigating crowds and long lines to reach your favorite theme areas, you might look around for chewing gum to calm your nerves. However, Disney has eliminated the sale of gum anywhere within its premises. Universal Islands of Adventure, on the other hand, sells gum at the snack stands littered throughout the park. So, if you’re inclined to chew gum while out and about, grabbing a few packs before heading to Disney is a must. Ultimately, the Disney experience is a world of its own, and packing for the trip is a unique planning task.

No matter what theme park you’re headed to, the clothes you’ll wear act as an important decision-making point. Investigating the weather and thinking about the kinds of rides you’ll be lining up for (perhaps you’re an avid water ride enthusiast) can help in this part of the packing. But when heading off to see a Disney theme park, there’s another component to consider. 

Whether you’re a child or an adult visitor, there is often a significant drive to dress up for the occasion. Dressing like one of your favorite characters has become such a prevalent theme among Disneygoers that it even has terminology now. Disneybounding isn’t necessarily dressing in a complete likeness of your favorite Disney princess or supporting character. The practice involves sprucing up your outfit to style your clothing in a manner similar to that of a character you enjoy watching on the silver screen.

Disneybounding is exclusive to Disney and has become an increasingly important aspect of the packing process. If you’re going to spend more than one day at one of Disney’s resort locations, packing more than one Disneybounding getup may be in the cards for your trip. We should note that this practice is integral to Disney culture, and parkgoers love and prepare for it. 

Disney parks are unlike other theme parks for a number of reasons. One of the most prominent adjustments visitors make is in their behavior. A visitor heading off to a Six Flags park (like New Jersey’s “Great Adventure” offering, home to the fastest roller coaster in America) or one of the Busch Gardens parks is almost certainly someone seeking to maximize their time sitting in coaster seats. Moving from line to line as quickly as possible and getting on roller coasters for as many rides as time permits brings about a different kind of experience than the one you’ll have in a Disney park. Disney roller coasters are far less intense than those built into the fabric of other parks, and the Disney experience is much more grounded in its theme work and atmosphere than the rides themselves.

As a result of this shift in focus, visitors exploring a Disney park will be far more likely to take their phone out and capture pictures of their day exploring the different worlds built into its map. Disney parks are more about time with friends and family and an experience grounded in the magic of Disney movies and locations. The reality is you’ll use your phone a lot more in a Disney park than others. So, packing a power bank to keep your device charged is essential.

An integral part of the Disney experience involves collecting autographs from the characters in the theme park. Younger visitors prize character autographs, but adults can get in on the fun all the same. Most autographed books you’ll find around a Disney park feature blank pages primed and ready to capture autographs with each new encounter. But this isn’t the only way to make the most of your time around these real-life characters.

Instead of selecting a basic autograph book at a Disney shop, many visitors now look for a richer experience with the help of a character book like the “Disney Who’s Who” publication. The book is available on Amazon and will give you pictures of characters and additional information about their appearances in Disney film and TV productions. Having the Disney characters you encounter sign their profile pages is a great way to enrich the experience of hunting for character signatures. Just make sure you keep in mind the hidden rules that character performers have to abide by to maintain a friendly and positive interaction with each one you come across.

AirTags have become a critical tool in all sorts of scenarios. An AirTag can help track your luggage at the airport or find misplaced items. However, they’re particularly useful for travelers exploring the Disney theme park landscape.

For those traveling with small children, bringing along a stroller is likely an important part of your packing considerations. Placing an AirTag on the stroller is a great way to keep track of it, even if it gets moved while you’re off exploring. Many parents might also consider sticking one on their child’s lanyard and backpack or in their pocket. 

Similarly, all kinds of distractions can draw members of your group away. It only takes a few seconds for a small child to wander off and create panic for everyone. AirTags and other options like the Tile tracking device can be a huge asset in a busy theme park like Disney World and help you keep tabs on everyone in your group, no matter what happens during your visit.

A small backpack is a great addition to your Disney packing list. Lightweight backpacks are particularly useful when exploring a Disney park. This is because a key facet of the Disney experience involves the souvenir shops. Disney souvenirs are some of the most coveted items you’ll find on your travels. There are often limited edition examples of character memorabilia, and many collectibles feature high-quality construction, making for a good gift for children or loved ones. 

In some cases, getting to the souvenir shops early in the day will give you the best selection. This is the case when it comes to buying Disney pins; it’s also true for certain other souvenirs you might have your eye on. However, most people won’t want to cart around their shopping victories throughout a day of exploration in the park. This is where a lightweight backpack comes into play. 

Carrying a small backpack allows you to place your souvenir purchases in an easy-to-carry bag on your back rather than the awkward gift bags you’ll have to hold on to as you make your way through the park. This is also a great way to carry the water and other important items you’ll want to bring along for a day at Disney (like your power bank and autograph book).

Many trips to Disney World or one of Disney’s other theme park resort areas will feature a multi-day adventure. If you’re staying in one of the Disney resort hotels, there is a good chance you’ll be rooming in a busy area humming with small feet and voices. Families with young children are often the target demographic for these hotels. Whether your children are young or not (or you’re an adult-only travel group exploring the parks and the Disney resort atmosphere), getting a good night’s sleep remains an imperative task. If tiny footsteps can be heard banging around outside your door when you are trying to settle down to sleep, the following day may be a bit tougher as you start a new itinerary.

Bringing a pair of earplugs is a good way to combat this potential setback. But this isn’t the only reason to carry earplugs as you embark on a Disney adventure. Visitors planning to stay until closing time will be treated to a nightly fireworks show. This is a big draw for many Disney visitors. However, plenty of people suffer from conditions that can make viewing a fireworks display fairly or even extremely unpleasant. If this describes you, your earplugs can serve double duty by helping to dampen fireworks noise if you want to catch the show but are anxious about what that means for your mental health.

A Body Glide stick can be useful for Disney parks and other outdoor adventures. However, this addition features prominently on packing lists ahead of a Disney adventure. Many visitors plan a trip that involves multiple days and numerous park explorations. No matter what Disney park you’ll be taking in on any given day, there’s bound to be lots of walking. This becomes even more prominent in parks like Epcot, where the primary adventure takes place as you wander around each themed area of the World Showcase. While on this subject, see the beautiful destinations featured in Epcot’s World Showcase.

A Body Glide stick helps reduce the impact of chafed skin. Anywhere skin rubs against itself or clothing becomes susceptible to irritation as you trudge through the park. This becomes even more problematic in places like Florida, where it rains at some point during most afternoons. Moisture from the atmosphere and sweat speed the process of irritation, and an effective tool to combat this becomes increasingly necessary. A simple Body Glide stick is an easy product to pack, but it will work wonders for you as you seek to create lasting memories with friends or family.

Disney adventurers who bring along young children often think about the bigger picture when it comes to packing. Numerous days spent in a hotel room means plenty of sources of entertainment for your young ones. The parks themselves will do much of the heavy lifting here, but entertainment in the hotel room as you prepare for a day of adventure and at bedtime remains a part of your responsibilities. Children often bring along plenty of toys, books, and games with them wherever they go, and in a small hotel room, this can be a problematic feature. Getting ready in a cramped area with a few people doing the same can be a challenge all on its own. However, mixing in a collection of children’s toys and the environment can quickly become hazardous.

Bringing along a hanging organizer that hooks over the door is a great way to eliminate this problem. These organization tools are easy to pack since they fold into a small footprint. But sticking them up on the door gives you lots of pop-up storage space to organize your children’s belongings. This helps keep things off the floor or beds, giving you enough room to walk around as you prepare for a day on the move or during the evening as you wind down.

Pin trading is a unique part of the Disney theme park experience. Brought in for the Millennium Celebration, Disney pin trading has grown into a key component in the overall experience at Disney parks. Most people will have noticed the pins on cast members’ lanyards and vests. But few know that many cast members will trade pins with you to help expand your collection of unique Disney souvenirs. The best place to trade pins is in the shopping area, where dedicated pin trading stations can be found.

Cast members will accept any pin you offer them in a trade, even if there is a significant price discrepancy in the value of the souvenirs in question. As a result, it’s a good idea to stock up on pins before heading into a Disney theme park if you intend to trade throughout the day. Pins found in the Disney shops are priced at around the $10 mark, but buying legitimate pins on eBay, Amazon, or elsewhere before heading in for the day can see those costs drop to as low as a dollar per item. Stocking up before trading on your explorations can save you a lot of money on this unique Disney-related hobby.

Lastly, Disney recommends that visitors to these theme parks bring their imagination along for the ride. Disney parks are a place unlike any other. Once you walk through the front gates, an element of suspended reality descends over the people and places found within. The actors in the parks aren’t just playing a role but are fully committed to the personality of the characters throughout the day. This shouldn’t be a surprise since Disney parks are built with perfection in mind. Everything about a Disney theme park is made with great care and effort to transport you into the world of a Disney production. Disney cast members go so far as making picking up trash seem effortless and a light-hearted maneuver.

The best experiences at a Disney theme park come to those who are able to suspend reality alongside the park’s intention. Living in the moment and allowing yourself to be carried away by the magic of the theme park will give you and your companions a richer experience, unlike any other theme park you might have visited. So, as you finalize your packing list, it’s worth taking a moment to mentally prepare for your trip since the best experience comes to those who open their minds and hearts. Get into an imaginative and creative space to fully embrace the fun and magical moments only found at Disney.