What’s the one item you always take to the parks?

[Meriweather]

I bring a lot....I use a Loungefly backpack
glasses, ID, and cards I might need, water bottle, mini first aid kit, snacks, wipes, phone, small bottle of sanitizer, sunglasses, umbrella if it is called for

 

[Gypsybear]

Hand sanitizer; a cap (since I've been losing my hair, I tend to burn now); a UV umbrella; lip balm; a compact lighted magnifying glass (to read those menus in dark locations....I'm looking at you Blue Bayou) ; and Tylenol.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

When my kids were younger and we still rented a stroller I always brought them each a change of clothes including undies and some wipes in a Ziploc bag. Potty accidents happen, motion sickness happens, and it has saved us from having to back to the resort for a change more than once. The soiled clothes went in the Ziploc and then laundry at the end of the day. Now that they’re older, I still bring wipes, blister bandaids, hand sanitizer, sunblock stick, fuel rod type charger, sunglasses/baseball caps, ponchos, and water bottles. If I have space, I also like to throw in a few single serve snack bags of something they don’t get often that’s a treat. I don’t mind paying for in-park snacks but sometimes you’re in line and the kids get hangry and start to pick at each other, and a well-timed snack can save the day.

 

[DisneyMom93]

Wet Ones / Purell! I can't imagine how many germs are on the handrails and ride handles etc.

 

[bbn1122]

I used always have the family backpack, it was bright yellow, it held everything for everyone, water, hats, tissues, wipes, ponchos, chapstick, glasses etc. I must have carried it on every Disney trip for years.

Now everyone is grown and I travel to WDW with DH, my BFF or solo, so now I have a smaller black backpack just for me.

I feel you need a bag to keep everything contained and hands free.

 

[DisneyFive]

On a side note I remember the catch-22 of bringing a stroller (which was a must at the time). It was a pain in the butt to fold/unfold when getting on the busses, and to park when going on attractions, but on the other hand it was like having your own personal U-haul. We could put a lot of stuff underneath or hung on the side and didn't need a backpack to be carried around.

Fast forward to now, and a least ONE of us (me) needs to haul the backpack around with our stuff. I mentioned earlier the small UV umbrella's but we also always bring hand sanitizer, sunglasses, battery chargers for our phones, a spare set of flip flops or two, Ziploc bags, and most of the time a Monster energy drink or two.

 

[bdrex28]

Things that are in our "Disney Box" that we always bring. Now these are things we always travel with to WDW, but we wont always bring into the parks

Poncho
Mole skin
rubber bands/hair ties
portable charger
travel umbrella
Fan that goes around neck
2 trash bags
4 gallon size zip lock

 

[tx911]

All I need is phone + magicband

 

[NashvilleMama]

We're down to the basics now with teens:

• benedryl (when someone needs it nearby, they need it...)
• hand sanitizer
• UV umbrella
• tums
• motrin
• bandaids
• charging blocks
• hairbands
• ponchos most times of the year

 

[Mle8308]

Some good ideas! One tip, you can get free ibuprophen, acetaminophen, aspirin, band aids at the first aid stations if needed! All you do is sign for it. It's not going to be a bottle, but they have single dose packs they will give you.

 

[BrianL]

I bring several packaged lens wipes for my glasses and sunglasses. They get so filthy betwen the sweat and sunscreen, and constantly switching between them. They also work in a pinch for wiping one's hands or cleaning the phone screen.

 

[emilyann704]

I have a small, waterproof backpack (that can be folded into a pouch the size of my palm when I'm not using it) that I always have:

-wallet
-disposable poncho
-portable charging brick
-21oz reusable HydroFlask (Florida water is nasty but at least it's free!)
-lip balm and sunscreen
-hand sanitizer

 

[PHXscuba]

Lip balm. We have always been there in February and inevitably my daughter and I get chapped lips...one time it was so bad that I had to take my daughter to the first aid station. By the time you realize you're getting chapped lips it's too late, so we always have it especially when doing outdoor rides like BTMRR.

Other than that we travel light...most of my stuff would fit in my pockets. We park hop with a break in the afternoon so we don't need much, especially extra clothing.

Funny WDW lip balm story:

The scene: mid-morning, as Country Bear Jamboree is starting. I pull out my lip balm, apply, and then fumble it in the dark theater. It rolls away down the tilted floor, never to be seen again. I know I won't survive the whole rest of the day in the park with no lip balm so we start asking in various gift shops until one in Fantasyland finally pulls out a plastic shoebox of first-aid type supplies and sells me cheap off-brand lip balm. It was enough til I could get a backup one out of my suitcase that night.

... and if -- like me -- you bring backup lip balm on a trip ... you know!

 

[BeachMouse1]

I bring a lot. But surprisingly it all fits in a little make up bag. Small tube of Advil, a couple bandages, moleskin strips (sticky), extra hair elastic, mini deodorant, chafing stick, chap stick, extra 1-2 contact lenses, couple tabs of bonine, a couple Benadryl chewable, a couple ziplock bags, a charger for my phone, tic tacs, small sun stick or cream and Surface wipes.

the make up bag with the above items goes in my side sling bag, along with a mini umbrella, poncho (and not an over the head one, we may a little extra for the button down ones with the hood!) I have a refillable 12 oz insulated Owalla bottle that goes in my side pocket on the bag. I have ear clips to hang my Minnie ears if I’m not wearing them. I hang 1-2 anti back tubes off my bag. And if I know it’s a popcorn kind day I’ll hang my popcorn bucket off too! If it’s calling for a rainy day, or if we are doing water rides I also bring extra socks. If temps are going to dip I’ll bring a long sleep or packable jacket.

I think a lot of people could learn from you in the summer bringing deodorant and tic tacs! I would not mind standing next to you in line LOL

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Zip top bags. Save a cookie or other treat for later, hit up the bakery in France, stow a wet umbrella or poncho without getting everything else in your bag wet.

 

[bbn1122]

Funny WDW lip balm story:

The scene: mid-morning, as Country Bear Jamboree is starting. I pull out my lip balm, apply, and then fumble it in the dark theater. It rolls away down the tilted floor, never to be seen again. I know I won't survive the whole rest of the day in the park with no lip balm so we start asking in various gift shops until one in Fantasyland finally pulls out a plastic shoebox of first-aid type supplies and sells me cheap off-brand lip balm. It was enough til I could get a backup one out of my suitcase that night.

... and if -- like me -- you bring backup lip balm on a trip ... you know!

I am a lip balm junky....I feel your pain.

2 on the nightstand...2 in the car....

Good to know about Fantasyland.

 

[Mouse Tracker]

small ziploc bag for wallet / phone when doing water rides

ballcap

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Reusable straws and disposable universal stick on cup lids for lidless cups that are inevitably filled to the brim and so easy to spill (and they take up very little room)

 

[bethy]

Question: We are going in December and aren't very experienced with Florida. Would y'all recommend ponchos? How likely is it to rain then, really?

 

[CarolynFH]

Question: We are going in December and aren't very experienced with Florida. Would y'all recommend ponchos? How likely is it to rain then, really?

It’s not as likely to rain as it is during summer months, but it can rain. So we pack ponchos in our luggage and then leave them in our room or bring them to the parks based on that morning’s forecast.