What to pack in your Disney park bag

We booked our next trip to Disney! Specifically, we are heading to the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot! I can’t wait to sample all of the fun festival foods and enjoy some Florida sunshine. We love a good theme park visit, and I learned a few things over years of visiting theme parks that help keep me going during a long day. Here are my recommendations for what to pack in your Disney park bag.

Bag Choice

My main priorities while deciding what to pack my Disney park bag are weight and size. We average 10 miles of walking during a park day. How much your bag weighs and its design matter! I prefer sling-style, crossbody, or backpack-style bags.

Here are my top choices for park bags:

Columbia Unisex Urban Lifestyle Sling Pack

This is our go-to bag. It is the perfect size to carry our necessities without being too big and bulky. The single strap design makes it easy to sling around to your front for easy access. My husband and I take turns carrying it.

Kipling Erica Solid Crossbody Bag

Kipling makes fantastic travel bags. One of my favorite travel purses for functionality is a Kipling that I have had for at least 10 years. They don’t make the style I have anymore, but this one is close. They are lightweight and have tons of pockets for you to stay organized.

LeSportsac Women’s Classic Basic Backpack

LeSportsac is another brand that makes great, lightweight travel bags. A basic backpack is a great choice for a Disney park bag. The two straps make it ergonomic for a long day in the park, and its basic black design makes it the perfect blank canvas to display your pin collection.

Bag Contents

Lightweight Rain Jacket

The weather in Florida is unpredictable. Afternoon showers pop up quickly, and there is nothing worse than spending the rest of a hot day feeling damp and uncomfortable. I prefer a lightweight rain jacket over a poncho because it doubles for a bit of insulated warmth if the morning or evening turns chilly. Double-duty items mean less to carry throughout the day.

I pack the Columbia Women’s Arcadia II Jacket from Columbia. I like that I can roll it up super small, and it doesn’t take much space in my bag.

SPF

Sunscreen is a must-have for me. No one wants to end their vacation with a painful sunburn. While getting ready in the morning, I apply COOLA Organic Face Sunscreen beneath my makeup. 

For my body, I like the Banana Boat Sport spray. It comes in small sizes that are perfect for a park bag. The spray application makes it fast and easy. I usually purchase mine in the travel section at Target.

Hand Sanitizer and Wipes

This one is a no-brainer. With the thousands of visitors Disney sees every day, you want hand sanitizer for your bag. I like the Bath and Body Works hand sanitizers with the holders. They easily attach to my bag strap for easy access after rides.

Wet Ones are another great option to have handy at Disney. They pack easily and are a great way to wipe the sticky residue from ice cream from your hands without having to search for a bathroom.

Mini First Aid Kit

Is there anything worse than feeling poorly and not having what you need? Keeping a small emergency med bag in my park bag has saved the day more than once. To cut down on space, I usually use a small pill organizer or a small cosmetic bag. I fill it with a few pills that there might be a chance we need while in the parks- antacids, Pepto Bismol, NSAIDS, allergy meds, and my migraine rescue medication. Dramamine and Dr. Scholl’s Blister Defense are also good to have available.

Power Bank

A true modern-day tragedy is running out of cell phone battery while surrounded by tons of Instagram-worthy foods, sites, and activities. I like this Anker Power Bank as a backup for my cellphone so I’m always prepared to capture memories.

Coin Purse

I NEVER take my entire wallet into the parks. It’s bulky, heavy, and has way more inside of it than I need. I avoid the risk of losing EVERYTHING. At Disney, you can do just about anything you want with your Magic Band. It’s not necessary to take every debit, credit, and membership card you own into the park, but I do take a few must-haves for backup. 

I usually pull the bare necessities (driver’s license, one credit card, insurance card)  out of my wallet and keep them in a small coin purse like this one. Look for one with a clasp so you can easily attach it to your bag for easy access.

Sunglasses

I’m migraine-prone and near-blind in the sun. Polarized sunglasses are a MUST HAVE in the Florida sun. I love these Quay Aviators.

Snack Bars

Sometimes Chris and I will decide to eat breakfast in the park. But, preparing for the unexpected, I always try to keep a few of the half-size KIND mini bars in my bag. It may take longer to get in the park than you planned and who wants to be hangry at Disney? These are also great for unexpected hunger pangs while waiting in ride lines. They’ll get you through until your next snack break. My favorite is dark chocolate almond coconut.

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I hope this post helps you while planning your next Disney vacation! If you are looking for accommodations, check out this post on Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.