Disne-essentials

Going to Walt Disney World can be a daunting task. It's easy to forget park essentials or heck- it's easy to not even think about park essentials! This post will help you navigate what you may want to bring with you and your party when it's time to visit the Most Magical Place on Earth.

1) Battery Pack/ Portable Charger- Being at the park comes with a plethora of photo opportunities. It also comes with the use of the My Disney Experience app on your phone (it's a great in-park tool for wait times, maps, and times of specific entertainment). Doing all of this can drain your phone battery easily. Bring a portable phone charger with you to avoid going "dead" at Disney or having to pay $30 for a FuelRod inside of the parks.

2) Cooling Towel/Personal Fan- It's not a surprise that Disney World can be HOT! Especially if you're travelling from outside of the lower south, the heat and humidity can be almost too much. If you're prone to getting hot, consider purchasing a small personal fan or cooling towels prior to your visit. Once you're in the park, prices for those items sky rocket.

3) Sunblock- Another naturally occurring problem in the parks is UV radiation. Do your best to stay protected by bringing (and using) sunscreen with you while you're in the parks. Pro-tip- if you're wearing makeup to the parks, make sure to use an SPF foundation that's got zinc and/or titanium in it. That means you won't have to apply pesky sunscreen to your face as often. Make sure you're doing what you can to not get too much UV. Afterall, no one wants to do Disney with sunburn.

4) Gift Cards- Taking Disney or Visa gift cards is a great tool to make sure you stay on budget when it comes to buying souvenirs. Trust me- one thing that Disney does really well is making a BUNCH of souvenirs that you'll want to take home with you. It's easier having a budgeted souvenir amount and to have them separate from your everyday bank account.

5) RFID Wallet- As much as Disney World tries to separate guests from the "real world", there are still individuals out there that do bad things. Unfortunately, tourist "traps" are known for being easy targets for those looking to steal identities. Having an RFID blocking wallet allows you to have more peace of mind knowing that your card information cannot be read by simply being in your pocket or bag. RFID wallets cost less than $10 and can save a lot of worry and headache should anything happen.

6) Moleskin- Blisters happen! Especially walking around all day in shoes that you could have not worn for quite a while (or ever). I know my husband has had many a Disney blister and now we won't take a trip without our moleskin just in case. If you don't bring any, no worries! Moleskin is typically available at First Aid in each park.

7) Poncho- IT RAINS AT DISNEY WORLD! It's hard to take a trip to Walt Disney World without worrying about the threat of potential rain. Even Disney World gift shops sell (overpriced) ponchos! I would recommend purchasing ponchos ahead of time and packing them just in case. Wearing ears in the rain? Well that's no problem. Check out PonchEar- the poncho that has a hood made especially JUST for your Mickey ears. If you're there during a typical Florida rain, don't worry! They're known for disappearing relatively quickly.

8) Waterproof Bag- Since we're talking about less-than-ideal weather at Disney World, it's only necessary that we talk about protecting those valuable electronics during a classic Florida rain storm. Usually people will use Ziploc bags, but in the Florida humidity those can collect water inside of them putting your phone in immediate danger. I recommend these waterproof bags from Bumkins (yes, it's a baby brand)! They have cute Disney designs and don't take up much space when not in use. Better yet, they don't let water or humidity affect the bag! We've used this type of bag several times and it's never failed us.

9) Water Bottle- Staying hydrated is important when you're walking 15,000+ steps in a day outdoors. You can get free water at almost any quick service location as well as several water fountains throughout each park. I wouldn't recommend just any kind of water bottle though- get a squishable one! What do I mean by squishable? There are water bottles made of silicon that you can make compact when you're not using it! It's so helpful when it comes to bag space- it's a must-have for us.

10) Mask/Mask Brackets- For now and until the foreseeable future, masks are required at all indoor locations. Luckily, I've found a mask hack that's still safe for myself and others while affording me a little more comfort (and doesn't make me feel like I'm inhaling cloth). Sewing a mask bracket (3D brackets you can find on Amazon for cheap) to the inside of cloth masks makes for the perfect breathing space and still makes it safe for everyone. I usually take two masks with me for any trip (sometimes more) with brackets already sewn in. It's been a game changer! It's easy to do and only takes a few stitches to do, but it makes a huge difference.

Well, that's it! There's a ton more that I could suggest, but this is the top of the top. What do YOU think is necessary to bring to a day in a Disney World park?