By: Emily Buss, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
You’ve booked the trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth, and it’s finally time to start packing! But wait… what do you actually need to pack? And more importantly—what should you bring for your kids?
As a travel agent specializing in Disney destinations, I’ve helped families prepare for their dream trips to Walt Disney World. And as a mom who’s traveled there many times with my own children, I’ve learned what’s essential, what’s helpful, and what you can safely leave at home. Whether this is your first trip or your fifth, having the right items in your suitcase can make a huge difference in your comfort and sanity!
Let’s dive into what we packed on our most recent Disney trip—and why these items made our park days smoother, our downtime more relaxing, and our family photos extra magical.
Packing always starts with the luggage. We love our Mickey Mouse suitcase because it’s colorful, easy to spot on the baggage carousel, and puts us in the Disney spirit the moment we leave home. I also recommend investing in bright luggage tags for every bag. This is especially important for car seat bags, which are often all black and look identical—trust me, a neon tag can save you from a frustrating mix-up at the airport!
If you’re flying, bring a luggage scale—avoiding surprise overweight fees at the airport is worth it!
Strollers are an absolute must for families with young children visiting Walt Disney World. Even if your child doesn’t use one at home anymore, the amount of walking you’ll do in a day can be exhausting for little legs. Our stroller also serves as a home base—we keep it stocked with our backpack, extra water, snacks, ponchos, and more.
And here’s the truth: our stroller has saved us more times than I can count. It becomes a cozy place to nap when little legs have given out. There’s nothing better for parents than when a little one falls asleep for nap time in the stroller. My husband and I use this time to stroll through the World Showcase to enjoy the Flower and Garden Festival food and drinks! There is no better way to transport tired kids back to the resort at night!
Another moment our stroller saved us was during a quick afternoon rainstorm. We pulled the rain cover over our double stroller and refilled our popcorn bucket for the kids. They stayed completely dry inside their bubble and enjoyed a snack. We also took advantage of a rainstorm at EPCOT and had no lines for the food booths! Everyone was dry and happily snacking waiting for the rain to pass. Because of moments like that, we now always pack the rain cover!
Let’s talk about footwear. There’s no quicker path to cranky kids (and adults!) than sore feet! Every family member should bring broken-in shoes—Disney is not the place to test out a brand-new pair of sneakers. We also pack a second pair for everyone in case it rains (and in Florida, it often does!).
Packing outfits is one of the most exciting parts of Disney trip prep—especially for kids! Our family doesn’t usually do matching shirts, but we love wearing Disney-themed outfits that match the park we’re visiting that day. Mickey and friends for Magic Kingdom, Toy Story for Hollywood Studios, Lion King for Animal Kingdom, and this trip we had Maui shirts for EPCOT.
I never leave home without our packing cubes! Each child gets their own cube with shirts, shorts, socks, and pajamas. This makes it easy for them to find their clothes each morning and keeps the hotel room from turning into a laundry explosion.
Don’t forget the Mickey Ears! Our kids love bringing their ears from other Disney trips. On our most recent visit, we brought ears from Disneyland Paris, and during a character meet and greet, Daisy Duck pointed them out and had the sweetest moment with our boys talking about Paris. It was a memory I’ll never forget.
Florida weather is unpredictable. One minute it’s sunny, the next it’s pouring rain. As a travel agent, I always advise families to pack for all the elements.
Here’s what’s always in our park bag:
That portable charger has been a lifesaver! We rely on our phones not just for photos and directions, but to manage our Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections throughout the day. Without a charged phone, you’re stuck in standby lines or missing reservations. We plug in during lunch breaks and are ready to go again by afternoon.
We bring a small backpack with us every park day. We rotate snacks like apples, and oranges. Not only does this save money, but it buys us time when we’re not near a food option or waiting in line.
Here’s what’s always in our day pack:
As a vacation planner, I always tell families: Disney allows you to bring food in, so use that to your advantage. Familiar snacks can be comforting in a busy park environment and help you avoid a hangry meltdown.
No Disney trip is complete without a rest day at the pool. We always build in one to recharge, and our boys genuinely look forward to it. Some of their favorite trip memories aren’t from rides—they’re from the water slide at the hotel.
Here’s what we bring:
Pro tip: We brought an inflatable Mickey and Friends beach ball this trip. It was a huge hit not just with our kids, but they made friends too!
As a travel advisor specializing in Disney destinations, my biggest tip is to pack light but smart. Don’t overpack—you’ll want room for souvenirs (trust me!). Instead, focus on versatile outfits, weather-ready gear, and organization tools that simplify your days.
Remember, your trip doesn’t have to be perfect to be magical. A little prep can go a long way toward making those park days smoother, and those surprise moments even more special.
Need help building your own Disney packing list or planning your trip? I’m here to help! My services as a travel agent are always complimentary, and I specialize in personalized Walt Disney World vacation planning for families of all sizes. From park tickets to dining reservations to resort recommendations, I’ll help you every step of the way so you can focus on making magical memories with your family.
If you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation and want guidance from someone who’s been there (many times!) with young kids in tow, don’t hesitate to reach out to Emily or another Marvelous Mouse Travels agent. Whether it’s your first time or your tenth, we'd love to help make your next Disney vacation the smoothest and most magical one yet!
