17 Things You Need for Your Disney Trip with Kids
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Yes, yes, I know! You’re “supposed” to go to Disney with kids. Leave us Disney adults alone! I’m a firm believer that Disney is for kids of all ages, from toddlers to seniors. All that matters is that you are young at heart! But if your travel companions are both young at heart and in age, read on for the best items to take on your vacation to ensure a good time!
Stroller and stroller accessories
Trust me - when you have kids with you, a stroller is going to make your life a thousand times easier. I’ve already done a full write-up on Disney approved strollers for all different ages here.
Tablet
Look - you’re going to be waiting in lines. It’s Disney. It’s part of the experience. But one thing you can do to make your experience a little smoother is to be prepared to keep the kiddos occupied. If they don’t have a tablet already, I would recommend grabbing one for a quick entertainment option while you’re waiting in line. Amazon Fire tablets for kids regularly rate highly with parents and they have both Mickey and Disney princess options!
3. Power bank and extra charging cords
Whether or not you plan on letting the kids have screen time, you’re going to be taking hundreds (if not thousands) of pictures. And, let’s be honest, you’re going to be scrolling on your phone while you’re waiting in line. Definitely take a power bank with you to charge your devices once they start getting low. I also recommend getting a pack of cords that vary in size - I prefer the short 2’ cord for keeping my phone charging in my backpack, but a longer cord would be necessary if you have children riding in a stroller. This is the power bank I recommend and one of the most purchased items that I promote:
4. Window decorations
If you’re staying on Disney property, you may not be aware that there is a fun tradition of decorating your hotel windows. Usually this consists of making some sort of sign to prop in the window (commonly announcing any special occasions they are celebrating) and adding some pizazz with things like window clings or string lights. For kids, you could make this an even more special activity by using a window cling puzzle!
You can also add in some mouse fairy lights to be the envy of all the other guests! These are also great for wrapping around the handlebar of your stroller to make it easier to pick out from stroller parking and let your kiddos feel like they are in their own magical carriage.
5. Water bottles and sippy cups
A key part of having a successful Disney vacation is hydrating, hydrating, hydrating. Whether your kids are old enough for water bottles or still need sippy cups, here are two options for keeping that water moving through their systems.
If you haven’t checked out Zak Designs, they have a super cute line of Disney licensed bottles. My personal favorite is this Toy Story bottle, but they have all sorts (specifically want to mention Stitch here because I know the Stitch fans want everything Stitch).
And if your kiddos need something a little smaller, I recommend the Zak Designs sippy cup line. Check out these adorable Winnie the Pooh cups!
4. Reusable straws
If you’ve got picky kiddos (or are picky yourself), you may want to invest in some reusable straws. In case this is your first visit to Disney or if you haven’t been in a couple of years, Disney now only has paper straws in the parks. And while we love an eco-friendly move from large companies, paper straws get yucky after ten or so minutes. So I counter paper straws with my own eco-friendly option - reusable straws. I recommend Softy Straws, which comes with a little cleaning kit (perfect for washing them off in the hotel room each night) and each straw has a different color cap so you can keep track of which straw belongs to each person.
5. Liquid IV
Liquid IV is a lifesaver in the Florida heat! It is designed to work better than Powerade or Gatorade to replace electrolytes and it will help regulate that midday heat meltdown that so many kids fall victim to. I suggest a variety pack, so everyone finds a flavor they enjoy. All you do is mix a pack of the powder in with your water.
6. Cooler bag
In case you didn’t know, you can take your own food and drink into Disney parks. I think this is a fact that a lot of people don’t realize and can definitely save you a lot of money. Especially when traveling with kids, I suggest taking in a soft-sided cooler bag (hard coolers are prohibited). You will be able to keep water cool and have a place to store small snacks to avoid meltdowns when you’ve still got a little wait for mealtimes. Look at how cute this limited edition Disney Igloo bag is!
7. Apple AirTags and keychains
This one is for ease of mind. Assign an AirTag to each person in your party and attach it to them with a keychain or lanyard. That way if the party gets separated, you will be able to pull up their location. This is especially important for children not yet old enough to have a cell phone.
And here are options for both keychains and necklace holders:
8. Kid ponchos
Listen, I lived in Florida. I was a Cast Member at Disney World twice. Trust me when I say there is nothing worse than wet clothes in that heat. They cling to you and make the humidity feel so much worse. Save yourself the headache and take some ponchos for the kids, just in case. Make sure they are the correct size, as a poncho that is too big is just going to be like a giant plastic blanket and hold the heat in. I always grab some before I head down because the last time I had to buy ponchos in the park, they were $24 a piece!
9. Handheld fans
This is a must-have, especially if you are traveling with an infant. The smallest members of our family aren’t good at regulating heat in their bodies yet, so it’s of utmost importance to keep a fan on them in the heat. Check out my stroller post for my recommendation on fans that attach to the stroller bar. For the kiddos (and adults) old enough to hold their own fan, check out these with the Mickey ears! Plus they are charged with USB, so no need to worry about carrying extra batteries.
10. Water bottle mister
Or, if you want to be a little fancier, grab you a fan mister for a refreshing mist of cool water on your face and neck. And this one is Goofy green!
11. Cooling towel
Battling the Florida heat has to be approached on multiple fronts. These towels are amazing (and work so well that they’ve started selling them in the parks). All you do is get the towel wet and wear it around your neck, an area of our bodies that plays a major part in regulating heat. It’s impressive how something so simple works so well.
12. Crocs and accessories
You’re going to see a ton of kids wearing Crocs at the parks and this is because they are lightweight, allow the feet to breathe, and comfortable! Plus, hello, all the cute Disney charms might as well be the new pin trading! There are tons of Disney licensed Crocs, but I really like these:
13. Pins and lanyard
Speaking of pin trading, I highly recommend grabbing lanyards for the kids before you go on your trip. I would avoid buying pins online unless they are from the official Disney site, but grabbing lanyards ahead of time is one less thing you have to buy at Disney prices.
14. Autograph book
Definitely don’t want to forget your autograph books! One of the highlights for kids at Disney is getting to meet all their favorite movie stars, so be sure to have your autograph books ready to look back on those memories as they get older. Here are two super cute options I found:
15. Mickey and Minnie ears
Some kids aren’t going to want these things near their head and some kids are going to simply die if they don’t get a pair. If you’ve got a dramatic kiddo in the second category, save yourself some money and grab the mouse ears ahead of time. Are these artisan level quality that are going to last for years? No. But they’ll get you through your trip and you won’t be upset when the kids lose them (which happens all the time).
16. Sunscreen
I know you’re probably thinking this is a no-brainer, but you would be surprised. After two College Programs at Walt Disney World, I saw my fair share of parents who forgot sunscreen or just flat out didn’t think it was necessary. If you’ve got a sensitive skin kiddo (like me, team lifelong-PABA allergy, woo!), then I highly recommend Sun Bum. I have never burned with Sun Bum and I’m, like, the Casper the Friendly Ghost of pale. It’s free of all the gross stuff and reef-friendly (in case you planned on stopping by the beach before heading home).
17. Aloe vera
Last but certainly not least, don’t forget to grab your aloe vera. Disney is busy, you’re going to be juggling kids and Lightning Lanes, and it’s going to happen - you’re going to forget to apply sunscreen in time and someone, somewhere on their body is going to get a sunburn. Just take the aloe with you so you already have it and don’t have to go hunt some down (and pay gift shop prices).
So there are my recommendations for items to be sure you pack if you’re doing Disney with children. Be sure to check out my related posts for more Disney content! And if you’re just now starting your Disney planning but haven’t yet booked, send me a message over on the Aurora’s Dreamcations Facebook page and I will be happy to help you start planning your dreamcation!
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