Things you NEED to bring? & Any tips?

[Tabbymommy22]

We are going to WDW in 2 weeks, and I want to go out today and make sure I have everything we need to bring. I have a 3.5 year old DD and a 2 year old DS, also going are my DH and my older brother.

What are things that I should make sure to bring?

Any tips for this vacation? It's the first time for my kids (and my brother!) and I want to make the most of our time.

Thanks! We're so excited!

 

[Kayleebug]

I don't know if you'll be flying or driving, so that will make a difference in this answer. But, definitely bring a case of bottled water! Water gets so expensive in WDW. We bought refillable Brita sports bottles with the filters, and those are great. Unfortunately, they've been discontined. I've seen them on ebay though. I like them because they are very portable! Good luck, and have a wonderful time in the World!

 

[Tabbymommy22]

Oh sorry, we'll be flying. We arrive on Sunday early afternoon, and leave on Saturday early morning.

 

[Kayleebug]

Oh, ok. Well, you still might want to stop when you get there at Wal-Mart or a grocery store and buy water. Make sure that you bring plenty of film and batteries. Also very expensive in WDW. Are you blister prone? We bought moleskin to put on our feet where blisters might develop. It works much better than bandaids because they don't slip.

 

[Kayleebug]

Oh, one more thing - Is the 2 yr old still wearing diapers? Bring your own swim diapers. They sell them in the resort gift shops, but they're at premium prices. Don't forget your sunscreen!! (So many things to get, huh? )

 

[Desnik]

What I love to bring for my kids is the sunscreen stick. It is easy to just through in a bag or pocket and easy and not messy to apply on the kids during the day while touring! Also hats and/or sunglasses for the kids if they'll wear them!

I would buy a guide book to read on the plane. It will help you decide ahead of time what rides/attractions are good for your family. Also it will have park maps and it really helps to get yourself familiar with the layout of them. I like Disney's Birnbaums guide book, also the Passporter. Tou can get most guide books at local bookstores.

Don't forget kids meds and adults too! Those things can be bought at the resort/parks but they are expensive! So are batteries and film so make sure you have enough of both if you need it.

Bring things to keep the kids occupied on the plane. Color wonder markers and books are great! No mess!!! Also travel magna doodle. Both are good for kids your ages.

You can do a search on this board for a packing list and that would probably help you alot.

That's all I can think of now. I'll post again if I think of something else.

 

[3mousehouse]

We just got back for spring break with our 3 kids (9 , 7 , and 4 ) and the most important thing we brought was the touring plans from the Unofficial Guide and the maps from Passporter. Used them both and it saved us TONS of time. On a more practical note, thing I thought were handy:

Rain ponchos (purchased at Dollar store) - didn't have to use them but I'll bring them next time too just in case

Glow sticks/ bracelets (also Dollar store) - prevented the kids from wanting the Disney glow things that they would ignore the next day

Plastic baggies - If your daughter is going to dress up as a princess, use the 1 gallon bags to store the dress when packing to keep it fresh. The day she wears the dress, put a change of clothes in the bag to use after she tires of the dress and put the dress back in the bag! (Can't claim credit fot this - got it off DIS boards ) Also good for wet clothes sunscreens or anything else that might leak.

A backpack - couldn't have done without it!

A small carry-on purse - I got a small purse at Target that had a long cotton web strap that I could cross over my body. It was only big enough to fit my camera and cellphone, but had a zippered wallet pocket and velcro pockets. It was small, comfy and we could take our valuables with us on rides and leave the backpack. I could not bring myself to do the fanny pack thing and the purse was the best 8 bucks I spent!

Comfortable shoes!!!

Hope this helps

 

[livyzmom]

IF YOU NEED SMALL TRAVEL ITEMS FOR LITTLE ONES AND YOURSELF TARGET HAS A GREAT SECTION!!!!
WE TOOK A BACK PACK AND IT WAS SOOO MUCH EASIER TO TOTE OUR STUFF AROUND!! COMFORTABLE SHOES ARE A PLUS. WE STOPPED AT A BP STATION ON THE WAY TO DISNEY FOR BEER/SODA/WATER ECT.
I ALSO BROUGHT FROM HOME THOSE 100 CALORIE SNACKS TO TAKE INTO THE PARK. LESS MONEY SPENT IN THE PARK ON FOOD . WE EVEN TOOK IN JUICE BOXES FOR THE LITTLE ONE. PUT IT IN THE BOTTOM OF YOUR PACK IN ZIPLOCK BAGS. THEY ARE REALLY GREAT. AND I THINK THERE IS A LIST AT THE MOUSE FOR LESS.COM?
HAVE AGREAT TRIP

 

[mikymouse]

Best Tip I got from this board was to bringZipLock Bags.... countless uses... messy sunscreens, wet/change clothes, "extra" mickey soaps, left over kids chicken/fruit, was able to pack up the dirty clothes very easily for the way home. I also bought snacks/juice boxes along for daily backpack stuff, just the convience factor of not having to wait in a line for a drink. Used the Bandaid for blisters after a long day at Epcot.

 

[mikymouse]

Forgot....
Coolmax socks
Dog Tags for the kids shoes with our cell phone numbers ($6 at PetSmart) they just gave me piece of mind knowing that if they strayed they knew to show a CM their shoe tags

 

[ObsessedwithWDW]

OK that is absolutely BRILLIANT! I will tell everyone I know that tip! BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT! Definite things not to forget are ponchos, batteries, film or extra digital card, if your going during HOT SUMMER months it can be worth it to bring one of those spray bottle fans so cheap at Wal-Mart vs. $20.00 at disney. Also worth going on waltdisneyworld.com and researching rides that have height restrictions etc so you have NO disappointed children

 

[snickerboo]

Many of the Disney-related websites out there have packing lists. I went through them yesterday and customized my own list from it. It was very valuable. Just google "Disney packing list".

 

[Carrie772]

Oh, one more thing - Is the 2 yr old still wearing diapers? Bring your own swim diapers. They sell them in the resort gift shops, but they're at premium prices. Don't forget your sunscreen!! (So many things to get, huh? )

I would do a skin test on the kids. We went to the beach when our DD was 2 and she had never really been out in the sun so I never tried sunscreen on her. Turned out she was allergic to No-Ad and she broke out and had an episode of wheezing that night. Oh, man, I felt bad.