There are a lot of different options for Disney park bags out there. Some people prefer small bags some prefer larger bags. I get questioned a lot by friends and family about what I like to have in my Disney park bag.
I’m going to get into that in a minute and about what I like to bring and also how it has changed over the years as my daughter has gotten bigger. So if you want to know what to pack in your Disney park bag stay tuned because I’ve got the skinny on everything you need to know.
Can You Take Backpacks Into Disney World Parks?
The answer to this question is YES! You are able to bring backpacks into the parks with you. In fact, I would argue that it is one of the best ways to carry your belongings around with you. It can be difficult to manage everything if you are relying on pockets and purses.
I like to bring a backpack with me to the parks for a few reasons. First, it allows me to have my hands free. This is especially important if you have small children with you. You want to be able to interact with them and not worry about your belongings.
Second, backpacks are great for carrying snacks and water bottles. This is a must in the hot Florida sun. It is important to stay hydrated and having easy access to water is key.
Third, backpacks provide a place to store souvenirs. As you are walking around the parks you are bound to find some things that you want to take home with you. Having a backpack allows you to store these items until you are ready to leave for the day.
What Kind of Bags Can You Take Into Disney World?
The first thing you need to decide is what kind of bag you want to bring. You can bring a backpack, a crossbody bag, or even a fanny pack. I prefer to bring a small backpack because it evenly distributes the weight and I can put everything I need inside of it without having to worry about anything falling out.
If you are going to bring a backpack make sure that it is small enough to fit under the seat in front of you on the bus or monorail. You don’t want to have to lug around a big bag all day long.
What’s The Best Park Bag For Disney World?
This is totally a personal choice. I prefer a backpack so that I am hands-free and the weight is evenly distributed. No matter how large or small the bag is on my back so that I don’t have to swap shoulders throughout the day for comfort. Personally, I have found that the Lounge Fly Disney park bags are the perfect size for me. It is big enough to hold what I need but not too big to be too heavy. Also, there are tons of really cute designs to choose from!
If you don’t want to bring a backpack, no problem! A lot of people prefer crossbody bags because they are more stylish. I would recommend getting one with a long strap so that you can wear it across your body. This will help distribute the weight and also keep your belongings close to you.
Another option is a fanny pack. Fanny packs have made a comeback in recent years and they are great for Disney parks! They keep your belongings close to your body and they free up your hands. I like to wear mine in the front so that I can easily access my things.
No matter what bag you choose, make sure that it is comfortable.
Does Disney World Allow Bags On Rides?
Yes, Disney World does allow you to bring your bags on the rides. Depending on the ride vehicle, there may be a pouch in front of your seat to put it in like on Everest at Animal Kingdom or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at the Magic Kingdom. Soarin at Epcot has you store all of your items below your seat in the bin. Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom has you store your items in a bin across from your seat.
What Should I Pack In My Disney Park Bag?
This is a great question! You want to make sure that you pack everything you need for a comfortable day in the park.
First, I always make sure to pack sunscreen and hats. The Florida sun can be brutal and you want to make sure that you are protected from the harmful rays.
Second, I like to pack snacks and drinks. This is important because you don’t want to get hungry or thirsty while you are in the parks. I also like to pack snacks for my kids so that they have something to eat if they get hungry between meals.
Third, I always make sure to pack a first aid kit. You never know when you might need it!
Fourth, I like to pack a poncho. This is great for those sudden rain showers that seem to pop up out of nowhere.
Finally, I always make sure to pack any medications that I might need. This includes over-the-counter medications like Tylenol and Advil as well as any prescription medications.
I hope this helps you as you are packing for your next trip to Disney World! Remember, comfort is key so make sure to pack everything you need to have a great day in the parks.
Full List Of Items To Pack In Your Disney Park Bag
-Sunscreen
-Hats
-Snacks
-Drinks
-First Aid Kit
-Poncho
-Medications (Over the Counter and Prescription)
-Comfortable Shoes
-Extra Clothes (If Needed)
-Camera!
-Autograph Book and Pen
-FastPass+ Selections (Printed or on Phone)
-Map of the Parks
-Cash/Credit Cards/ID
-Keys
-Phone and Charger
-Water Bottle
Trips To The Parks Without Kids
Not that we travel without our daughter often, but when we have in the past I usually pack the lightest on these trips. Most of the time I don’t even take a bag with me into the parks. I have found that if I am only worrying about myself and or my husband I can get away with my phone and magic band.
If I were to bring a bag to the parks for us It would definitely be a small one. I would only have the bare necessities being a couple of bandaids and chapstick. The bag would basically only be used to carry something that we bought.
What Do I Need For Older Kids
As our has gotten older I have found that my packing style for the parks has definitely changed. On our last trip, she had her own Lounge Fly backpack so each of our bags had a variety of things.
In my bag I had the following:
Chapstick – A must for me wherever I go
Sunglasses – I usually wear them but as it gets darker it’s nice to have somewhere to put them.
Extra Masks – In the Florida heat, it is super important to bring extra masks with you. I found after a couple of hours mine was sweaty and smelled really nasty. I liked the disposable ones for the most part as I found them to be the most comfortable.
Wet Wipes – Its nice to have a wet wipe to wipe down a surface, sticky fingers, or face.
Hand Sanitizer – Even before the virus was around I always had this in my bag for a quick hand wash.
Disposable Ponchos – I found a great deal on Amazon to buy these in bulk. In Florida, you can bet that you will bet at least a little shower on a couple of your park days. I always toss 1 per person in my bag and just throw them away when we are done. They take up less room and weigh less than worrying about umbrellas.
My ‘Mom bag’ – This is a term that my daughter came up with when she was small. My mom’s bag is a fabric zip pouch that I basically don’t leave my house without. It contains Band-Aids, spray Neosporin, Advil, Tums, and a small pack of tissues.
Now, As I said, my daughter had her own bag this time and her mix of items was slightly different…
What she had in her was was:
Sunglasses, Chapstick, tissues, snacks, extra mask, wallet, gum, and she even squeezed a Disney water mister fan that she bought on our first day there.
If she had not chosen to have her own bag it wouldn’t have changed my packing by very much… but she would have ended up still carrying her misting fan…lol
Packing With Younger Kids
When traveling anywhere will little ones I always feel like I am bringing the entire house with me. When we took our daughter to Disney for the first time I wanted to bring everything that I would need into the park but not have to bring a rolling suitcase to do it…
I found that the best bag for me in the parks was a Disney backpack that I found in the gift shop in our resort. It is the standard backpack side and it had plenty of room for everything that I wanted to pack.
Here’s what I found worked well for us taking a 4-year-old to Disney for her first trip.
Wet wipes – She would get sticky fingers after snacks and it helped to have a small package ready whenever we needed it.
Chapstick – Again I never leave home without it
Sunglasses
First aid Kit – Basic needs like band-aids, spray Neosporin, and a lollypop to help calm the child when the booboo was too much to handle.
Medicines – Small pill containers with pain relievers for both adults and children. Also tums for when you indulge just a little too much on the Disney goodies.
Hand Sanitizer – Again, even before Covid I always traveled with some because sometimes it’s just quicker than washing your hands.
Autograph book – We did a full Princess Hunt to find every single princess on Disney property on that trip and she still loves looking at the book to this day. We got the kind that has photo slots so that you can have their picture with the character along with the autograph. This book also had an elastic spot to hold a pen which made it super convenient.
Extra change of clothes for the child – We did this only on our first trip because we didn’t know what to expect spending hours on end in a theme park and didn’t want to get caught having to buy a complete outfit while in the park.
Disposable Ponchos – I found a great deal on Amazon to buy these in bulk. In Florida, you can bet that you will bet at least a little shower on a couple of your park days. I always toss 1 per person in my bag and just throw them away when we are done. They take up less room and weigh less than worrying about umbrellas.
This is what I found to be useful but if you are traveling with even smaller little ones that may still be in diapers or potty training then you would need to add normal diaper bag items to your list.
Does Disney World have a clear bag policy?
Covid has changed a lot of things at Disney World but one thing that is still the same is their clear bag policy. You are allowed to bring in a small purse or bag as long as it is clear and no larger than 24″x15″x18″.
This policy helps with security lines moving quicker because everyone’s bags can be easily inspected. The clear bag policy is strictly enforced so if you have a bag that is not compliant then you will be asked to either put it in a locker or return it to your resort room.
Can You Bring A Water Bottle To Disney World In Your Park Bag?
Coincidentally, we just had a question from a reader asking if you could bring in a water bottle and the answer is yes!
You are more than welcome to bring an empty water bottle into the park with you and then fill it up once you get through security. There are water fountains located throughout the parks that you can use to fill up.
Conclusion
Every family that travels to Disney is going to have different needs. This is what worked for my family during different times thru the years in the parks.
You can add or take away from my suggestions to make it work for your family and traveling party. One last suggestion that I have is to check out the article that I wrote about what you can not take into the parks.
Personally, I don’t want the hassle at security of having to take out or leave something behind that I packed because it wasn’t allowed in the parks. Also make sure you check out my full guide on planning your next Disney World vacation for your family before you go!
