What is the difference between a Disneyland packing list vs. a Walt Disney World Packing list? You are probably wondering why can’t you just pack like you usually do for a trip abroad or a road trip. This is a huge mistake though; packing for a Disney park, requires a much more thoughtfully planned Disney packing list.
The reason is that let’s say you’re visiting Disneyland or Disneyworld, both parks are going to require long days of back-to-back walking. Disneyland is on the west coast, which already tells you the weather is going to be different and the city of Anaheim is close to Los Angeles so you’ll have more things to do besides just Disneyland. on the other hand you have Disney World, which is located on the east coast, and in the secluded city Orlando, where pretty much everyone visits solely for the theme parks ?.
Whichever Disney vacation trip you’ll be heading out to you’ll need a great packing guide, and need to know the dos and don’ts of what to bring for Disney parks. So we made this guide to help alleviate your stress and compiled a post that covers the in-depth need to know about either destination. So let’s get started because we have a ton to cover when it comes to packing like a pro for Disney!
This post is all about the necessary things to bring when visiting Disneyland or Walt Disney World, what not to bother packing, what to wear to the Disney theme parks, and other crucial Disney tips you’ll want to know before your vacation.
Disney Packing Guide
What can you not bring to the Disney parks?
Things not to bring to Disneyland and Disney World
Keep in mind Disney reserves the right to check all persons and bags, clothes, parcels, and other items.
Also, most or some of these rules apply to your Disney hotel room, so make sure you are not breaking any rules when storing stuff in your hotel room. Double-check when booking your stay.
Disney also reserves the right to refuse entry of certain products, bags, etc. for more info check out the Disney World website or Disneyland website.
- Firearm
- for obvious reasons, firearms are not allowed in the park because accidents can happen. Firearms can discharge if dropped or accidentally pulled, especially if found by a child, and well Disneyland is full of children.
- ammunitions
- same thing, no firearms, no reason to have ammunition with you while at a theme park.
- knives, anything sharp
- accidents can happen, knives can be dropped on someone’s foot or swung around on accident by an unknowing child.
- weapons of all sorts.
- No weapons are needed for any reason in Disneyland so therefore they are not allowed to prevent accidents and injury to anyone within the park.
- Glass products or containers, glass in general
- Glass breaks and can be very sharp when broken. This broken glass can be used as a potential weapon which is one reason it’s not allowed. Another reason is that kids and adults alike are running throughout, sometimes falling, some wearing thin sandals and any broken glass on the floor can potentially injure them.
- pepper spray or mace or other safety defense items
- Pepper spray, although it is for self-defense can be used and considered a weapon so it is not allowed within the park.
- Cannabis or products that contain cannabis
- Disneyland is private property and reserves the right to ban anything they want, including drugs like cannabis. Cannabis if smoked could affect nearby children, any pregnant women, etc. Plus, if dropped or left lying around and a child found it could lead to a bad situation.
- fake guns, toys that look like guns, toys that look like weapons.
- These items although essentially “fake” can still appear to those around you to be weapons. Plus, these weapons can be a nuisance with any “toy ammo” left on the ground for Disney staff to clean up. And worst-case scenario someone can end up having their eye shot with a nerf bullet. It’s fake but can still be used as a weapon and can be used in the wrong ways, hence why Disney has prohibited them.
- large luggage bigger than 24 inches long 15 inches wide and 18 inches high: such as suitcases, bags, coolers, backpacks
- Disney parks have lockers but they are pretty small and are on a first come first serve basis. Plus, luggage is bound to cause a traffic jam and can get stolen if left around. And there aren’t luggage storage areas for most attractions so someone will have to stay behind to watch the belongings and I mean come on.. no one wants to have to stay and watch the luggage while everyone else is having fun on the rides. And who wants to lug around giant luggage all day.
- illegal substances
- At Disney theme parks you are expected to follow the local laws and regulations, which means nothing illegal is allowed inside the parks.
- large strollers over 31 inches in width and 52 inches in length
- Parks are overcrowded as is and any large strollers make it harder for people to maneuver within the park for example within ride queues and eateries alike.
- wagons
- Imagine if just half the people in the park had a wagon trailing behind them. The park would be super congested and there would be heavy traffic on the walkways. Plus, you’d have to have eyes in the back of your head to ensure that nothing grows legs and hops out of your wagon.
- trailer like objects
- Another thing that can cause traffic and congestion within the park.
- horns, whistles, megaphones, artificial noise makers, alcoholic beverages
- These items are considered disruptive and can be a nuisance to those around the park. You go to Disneyland to have fun and relax, not listen to obnoxiously loud noises all day.
- loose ice, dry ice
- Loose ice is dropped can be a potential slipping/tripping hazard in the parks. Plus, any puddles from melted ice on the ground combined with shoes that have little grip can also cause people to slip.
- folding chairs
- Folding chairs, like luggage and wagons, are going to cause more congestion in the park. Plus, you will have nowhere to leave your chair when you’re on rides. And a folding chair definitely won’t fit into the tiny, limited availability, lockers that the Disney theme parks offer.
- selfie sticks, handheld extension poles
- Selfie sticks were banned citing safety concerns within the park. No one wants to be on a ride where someone’s selfie stick gets crushed and the people behind are smacked in the face. And no one wants to be hit in the face by someone waving around their selfie stick in the park.
- flags or banners
- Flags are banned partly as a safety issue as you can poke someone’s eye out or hit them on accident. Flags can also block people’s sight lines which can be dangerous. Flags can also incite riots or send the wrong message sometimes so it’s best to not allow any type of flag whatsoever to avoid any trouble within the park.
- tripods or monopods that do not fit in a standard-size backpack. Tripod or monopod cannot be taller than 6 feet.
- Tripods are allowed but must be able to fit into your bag when being stored and cannot be taller than 6 feet when fully extended and set up.
- drones, remote toys, skateboards, scooters, inline skates, bicycles, or shoes with wheels
- In such a crowded park scooters, inline skates, bikes, and shoes with wheels in them can lead to injury if ridden within the park.
- Drones are simply not allowed because Disneyland is a no-fly zone and there are concerns about safety as well. IF everyone had drones flying over Disneyland and any suddenly dropped out of the sky or crashed there would be debris and this could hurt the folks below.
- fireworks, flammable items, smoke machines, explosives, fog machines
- Fireworks and explosives alike can hurt someone and potentially be used as a weapon. They can also damage Disney property or the property of others.
- Smoke and fog machines can impair people’s vision, making them lose track of their party or disorient them which can be dangerous.
What to not wear to Disneyland or Walt Disney World?
While some say Disneyland and Disney World have strict clothing restrictions, we think it makes complete sense and is fully on board with their decisions. After all, a park is a place for everyone, which means there should not be offensive language, sexual items, severely revealing clothing (this probably has to do with safety and that there are little kids at the theme park), too loose clothing (ride safety) and etc.
A Muslim family is just as welcome as a Mormon family, and no one should ever feel like they can’t go somewhere because they’re uncomfortable or unwelcome. A gay couple shouldn’t feel like they have to hide their relationship, and girls shouldn’t feel uncomfortable just because they are girls (Although what a girl wears is no one’s business!). It’s 2023, and everyone should feel comfortable, and if you have a problem with someone’s orientation, relationship, religion, or general persona, then you’re the problem, not them.
Anyways, we love that people can be themselves when visiting these parks, so it should stay that way for everyone’s benefit. Okay, now that we are done with that rant, we’ll go over what Disney says is not appropriate attire and what is the dress code.
Disney Parks Dress Code
Shoes must be worn at all times (The floor is usually scorching hot so this is for your own good lol )
Shirt and bottoms required (why this has to be stated is funny)
Dont wear super revealing clothing, aka only bras, really cropped tops, sheer clothing, etc. Also, things with straps or strings can get caught on rides, and if you’re not fully covered your skin could rub against the ride restraining belts and get scrapped up so it’s unsafe. Plus, there are kids in the park ?
Plus, if it’s really bad, you’ll most likely be told to change clothes or denied access to the park
swimsuits must be covered (no strings)
multiple layered clothing is fine but may be subject to search
dragging clothing is a no (super unsafe for rides and can be a tripping hazard)
visible tattoos that are offensive or sexual need to be covered (the last thing you want is giving any children nearby the wrong idea or offending the wrong person)
costumes can be worn by kids under 14
Mask is not allowed on guests over 14 (unless required for medical)
mask on guest under 14 cannot cover the entire face, eyes must be fully visible
Disneyland Packing List
Looking For How To Pack for Your Upcoming Disney Cruise? You’ll want to read our Disney Cruise packing guide, trust it’s very different than traditional packing guides.
Useful Disneyland packing tips? Check the weather and the city you’ll be visiting so you’re prepared!
Weather:
Summer: Typically, daylight weather is between 79 degrees and 90 degrees, dry and sunny
Fall: Typically the daytime weather is from the early ’70s to the low 80’s. Some overcast and clouds but still pretty dry and sunny.
Winter: This is when it gets slightly more chilly, especially at night, but the daytime weather is still great with the high 60s to low 70s. cloudy weather and sometimes rain (not often)
Spring: Low 70s to mid-70s, starting to get sunnier and less cloudy days
Scenery:
Anaheim is about a 40-minute drive from Los Angeles. This means when you’re done visiting Disneyland and Disney California adventures. You can spend some much-deserved time grabbing delicious food in Los Angeles, taking a dip at Huntington beach, and enjoying the nightlife in downtown LA. Or, if you’re a theme park junky like us, then you can hop on over to universal studios or six flags! If you want tips on the best rides at universal studios, then make sure to read our other post!
What To Bring To Disneyland: The Ultimate Disney Packing List!
*Disneyland also mentions a small what to bring to Disneyland guide on their website*
- Flexible and lightweight park bag: While we do love bringing our adorable Disney bags they just don’t hold enough stuff and they are fragile and cant get wet. So we recommend bringing along flexible and heavy-duty but lightweight day bags when visiting the Disney parks.
- Apple air tags: They come in handy when you need them most, plus you can use them to track your wandering family member, your luggage, and more!
- waterproof phone case: For wild rides like the raft ride at animal kingdom and splash mountain at magic kingdom.
- Lanyard: for pins, pin trading, holding park tickets, important documents, and more!
- Sunscreen
- Protection from the sun’s rays is key to your well-being and overall enjoyment of the park!
- Comfortable attire
- wears good walking shoes that you have already broken in. We recommend checking out this guide to find the perfect Disney Shoes for your next trip!
- clothing that will keep you comfortable in the current weather
- Power bank and phone cord
- Keep your devices charged up so you can capture photo and video memories.
- Plus, you’ll always want your device for emergencies
- You’ll need your phone to use the Disney experience app.
- Reusable water bottles
- Staying hydrated is super important, especially in the scorching hot California summers. There are water fountains all over the Disneyland Resort. Plus, you’ll save money by not spending $7 on water!
- Reusable straws
- help the environment by reducing unnecessary waste
- Cash and some form of Credit/Debit card
- I’d say if trying to follow a budget, bring only cash and limit your spending to the amount you brought for the day.
- However, for emergencies or for getting those travel credit card miles, we recommend bringing some form of card payment as well.
- Small first aid kit: Everyone should have a basic first aid kit in their Disney packing list, everyone.
- It’s always good and important to have the basics like bandaids, ointment, and sanitizing wipes for the unfortunate case of small cuts, bruises, and blisters from walking more than you ever have before lol.
- Bring medicine for motion sickness, headaches, stomach aches, etc.
- Hand sanitizer
- You will be touching a lot of germ-ridden things and might not always have a chance to wash your hands so definitely use sanitizer throughout the day.
- Wet wipes
- Again, wet wipes will come in handy for making you feel extra fresh throughout the day. Whether you’re wiping off sweat or cleaning your hands after eating they do come in handy.
- Poncho or rain jacket
- If there’s even a slight chance of rain, bring small lightweight ponchos to help protect you and your gear from the rain.
- Form of Identification for all adults in the party
- This is important for park ticket purposes and if there was ever an emergency.
- Plus, you’ll need ID to buy any alcoholic drinks at the parks.
- Lightweight camera
- While your phone camera can definitely do the job, if you’re looking to take some serious photos at Disneyland whether it be for work, fun, family photos, or whatever then we recommend bringing a good lightweight camera. You’ll want something that takes great pictures for those special moments like a baby’s first visit, Disney characters’ photos, and others, but that is also easy to lug around the park for an entire day and won’t get easily damaged on the crazy Disneyland thrill rides.
- Extra memory card
- Bring extra memory cards for your camera. The last thing you want is to be mid-trip and not have any space for photos, it’s the worst!
- Sunglasses/hat
- You do not want to get a headache from staring at the bright sky all day and squinting because that’s the worst and even squinting doesn’t help much when it comes to the bright sun.
- Bring change for the pressed coin machines
- These pressed coins are cool to collect since you get different designs at most machines!
- Brush/hair ties
- Yes, we all want to look cute while at Disneyland but sometimes this just isn’t feasible when it’s super hot out or when it’s windy out. Bring hair ties and a small brush or comb to keep your hair in check and out of the way throughout the day!
- Chapstick
- If you hate having chapped lips or you easily dry out from hot weather then bring chapstick!
- Also, recommend bringing one with SPF in it to protect your lips from the sun!
- Feminine hygiene products
- Be prepared and prevent a worst-case scenario!
- Ziploc bags: Top-tier Disney packing list must-have!
- These are useful for any extra or wet clothes
- Anything that has gotten wet or might leak can be put in these
- You can also put anything small that you buy in bags like pins or food.
- Bring your mickey ears if you have any
- If you don’t feel like spending on a new pair of ears then bring ears you already have to save some money!
- Bring any Disney gear you have like shoulder plushes
- It doesn’t hurt to be a kid for a day! Wear your shoulder plush around loud and proud!
- Bring a printout of your Disney ticket confirmations
- Just in case you have technical errors or lose your phone and access to your email or apps, bring a printed-out ticket just to use as a backup in the worst-case scenario.
Disney World Packing List
Useful Disney world packing tips? Check the area you’ll be staying at beforehand and also research the historical weather data.
Weather
Summer: Low to mid-90s in the daytime, and it’s super humid so be prepared to feel sticky. This also is Florida’s rainy season with around 12-14 days of rain. It’s very common for a random rain storm to hit when you’re out walking around Disney World, and it comes with no warning so make sure to always bring a poncho.
Fall: When the fall season arrives, you’ll notice daytime temps decrease to the upper 70s to upper 80s. The overall weather is less wet than the summer season with September having the rainiest days with 11 on average, and October and November drop to 5 and 3 days of rain.
Winter: The cold season for Orlando is pretty dry and comfortable with daytime lows hitting around 70s to mid-70s. The overall weather is drier, without only about 4 days of rain from December to February.
Spring: The weather is starting to feel warm again with an average of upper 70s to mid-’80s, the amount of rainy days is around 5 days each month.
Scenery:
Lake Buena Vista where Disney World is situated is located 18 miles from Orlando. In Lake Buena, you’ll have access to the multitude of Disney World parks at Walt Disney World resort, Disney springs, and Universal Studios Orlando is located at the halfway point between Lake Buena Vista and Orlando.
What To Bring To Disney World: The Ultimate Disney Packing List! Universal For All The Disney World Theme Parks
Also, if you dont have some of these things and plan on purchasing them at the parks, then make sure to use the popular Disney Merchandise Mobile checkout system.
- Apple Air tag: We swear by these for all of our luggage! We stick them in our day bags as well in case someone tries running off with our day bags ? Plus stick the air tags in your younger kids’ Disney bags or you can place them in special bracelet holders or keychains so that the kids have them on and you’ll be able to find them in case you lose each other.
- Flexible Park bag: bring a day bag to store all your Disney essentials
- Waterproof sunscreen
- Wear waterproof sunscreen if visiting the water parks or riding on any of the water rides at the park. It’s best to wear sunscreen and protect yourself from the sun rather than risk skin damage or a bad sunburn!
- Comfortable attire: Disney world is a monster theme park, this is a must-have for anyone’s Disney packing list
- Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes that you have already broken in. The last thing you’d want is to break your shoes in at the park and be miserable with feet full of blisters.
- Wear clothing that will keep you comfortable in the current weather. Whether super hot or cold be sure to check the weather forecast and dress accordingly.
- Power bank and phone cord for your cell phone
- Make sure your devices stay charged by bringing a portable phone charger, so you have the opportunity to capture lots of photo and video memories with all your family members and friends!
- Plus, you’ll always want your device on and charged up in the case of emergencies.
- You’ll need your phone to use and enjoy the benefits of the Disney experience app.
- Reusable water bottle
- Staying hydrated is super important, especially in the scorching hot humid Orlando summers. Refill your bottle at the water stations within the park and make sure you have something lightweight and easy to carry with handles rather than a heavy hard-to-carry bottle. Either way, dont forget to bring a refillable water bottle
- Cash and some form of Credit/Debit card
- If you’re trying to follow a budget, bring only cash and limit your spending to the amount you brought for the day.
- However, for emergencies or for getting those travel credit card miles, we recommend bringing some form of card payment as well.
- Small first aid kit
- It’s always good and important to have the basics like bandaids, ointment, and sanitizing wipes for the unfortunate case of small cuts and bruises. You may also have blisters from walking more than you ever have before so you’ll want bandaids to help keep them clean once they pop.
- Bring medicine for motion sickness, headaches, stomach aches, etc.
- foot pain relief: trust us it will come and it will hurt from all the walking
- Hand sanitizer: Pretty much everyone should have this on the top of their Disney packing list. Germs are everywhere!
- You will be touching a lot of germ-ridden things and might not always have a chance to wash your hands so definitely use sanitizer throughout the day.
- Wet wipes
- Wet wipes will come in handy for making you feel extra fresh throughout the day. Whether you’re wiping off sweat or cleaning your hands after eating, they do come in handy.
- Poncho or rain jacket
- If there’s even a slight chance of rain, bring small lightweight ponchos to help protect you and your gear from the rain.
- Small, packable umbrella
- Orlando is notorious for random thunderstorms and random changing of the weather. Bring an umbrella to protect yourself and your gear from the rain. We got caught in a storm and ended up soaking wet within the 2 minutes it took us to find shelter lol.
- Form of Identification for all adults in the party
- This is important for park ticket purposes and if there was ever an emergency.
- Plus, you’ll need ID to buy any alcoholic drinks at the parks.
- Lightweight camera
- While our phone camera can definitely do the job, if you’re looking to take some serious photos whether it be for work, fun, family, or whatever then we recommend bringing a good lightweight camera. You’ll want something that takes great pictures but that is also easy to lug around the park for an entire day and won’t get easily damaged on rides.
- Extra memory card
- Bring extra memory cards for your camera. The last thing you want is to be mid-trip and not have any space for photos, Trust us, choosing out of your entire family who gets photos is horrible!
- Sunglasses/hat
- You definitely do not want to get a headache from staring at the bright sky all day and squinting because that’s the worst and even squinting doesn’t help much when it comes to the bright sun.
- Bring change for the pressed coin machines
- These pressed coins are super fun to collect. You can get different designs at most machines and it’s a fun and cheap souvenir to have from the parks!
- Brush/hair ties
- I know we all want to look cute while at Disney World but sometimes this just isn’t feasible when it’s super hot, humid, or windy out. Bring hair ties and a small brush or comb to keep your hair in check and out of the way throughout the day!
- Chapstick
- If you hate having chapped lips or you easily dry out from hot weather then bring chapstick!
- Also, recommend bringing one with SPF in it to protect your lips from the sun!
- Feminine hygiene products
- Be prepared and prevent a worst-case scenario!
- Ziploc bags
- These can be used to put any extra clothes in.
- Anything that has gotten wet or may leak can be put in these bags.
- You can also put anything small that you buy in bags like pins or food.
- Bring your mickey ears if you have any
- If you don’t feel like spending on a new pair of ears then bring ears you already have to save some money!
- Bring any Disney gear you have like shoulder plushes
- It doesn’t hurt to be a kid for a day! Wear your shoulder plush around loud and proud!
- Bring a printout of your Disney ticket confirmations
- Just in case you have technical errors or lose your phone or lose access to your email/apps, bring a printed-out ticket just to use as a backup in the worst-case scenario. The last thing anyone wants is their Disney trip being ruined.
- Flip flops if you’ll be visiting the Disney water theme parks
- Waterproof case for the Disney water parks or if youre afraid of your cell phone getting wet on rides like splash mountain
- extra change of clothes: T-shirts, and shorts/ pants
- lightweight jacket: No matter if it’s blazing hot or chilly we always recommend bringing along a lightweight jacket
- Disney pins for trading! If you love pin trading, then make sure to bring extra pins when visiting the Disney resorts!
- Disney lanyard for all your pins and to hold your Disney card and other documents.
The End Of Our Disney Packing Guide!
That wraps up our ultimate Disney packing list! We hope whether you are visiting Disneyland or visiting Walt Disney World that, this post was extremely helpful for you!