If you read regularly, you already know how much my family loves visiting Disney destinations. Even though our kids are quite young, we have never let that stop us from bringing a baby or toddler along for the Disney fun. My children have had a ton of fun at Disneyland and Disney World at every age and stage. My husband and I have had even more fun watching them take in all the Disney magic.
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Of course, bringing a little one means you'll need all the extra gear that babies and toddlers require. Plan and pack accordingly! While you'll need a comprehensive Walt Disney World or Disneyland packing list to prepare for your trip overall, you may not also realize you'll need to pack carefully again - for the parks daily!
One of the secrets to my Disney success is that I carefully plan what I'm going to bring into the parks each day so that I always have the necessities but not a lot of bulk. Buying travel-sizes and compact gear really helps. Remember that there is a Disney Baby Care Center in every park if you need to pick up supplies in a pinch.
How do we make it work? Usually, we try to go with no more than one bag per adult (usually a diaper bag and a backpack), but sometimes we can even downsize to one bag for our whole family. Our valuables always stay in a bag that remains with an adult at all times. Anything replaceable and not valuable (snacks, water bottles, jackets, towels, etc.) can be stored in the basket under our stroller.
If you are headed to Disney, the list below has everything you might possibly need. Of course, this doesn't need you mean to bring everything on this list! Use it as a starting point and pare it down to just the essentials for your family. I've included links to a few fun Disney-themed supplies, in case you like to bring along Disney items like I do!
Happy packing and don't miss the free printable version at the end of the post.
Baby & Toddler Necessities
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Changing pad
- Diaper cream
- Stroller
- Baby carrier
- Sippy cup or Bottle (I must admit a weakness for the Disney-themed sippy cups from The First Years)
- Formula or Milk (note: you can buy 1% milk at a lot of locations in the parks but if your toddler needs whole milk, consider bring shelf-stable milk packs)
- Baby food (pouches are preferable to jars for weight & safety!)
- Baby spoon
- Bib (super-cute Disney ones available from Bumkins)
- Disposable placemats (not a necessity, but I have loved using these Disney-themed table toppers for a sanitary and stationary solution to messy toddler eating)
- Snack cup (e.g., Munchkin snack catchers)
Clothing & Gear
- Extra clothes (especially for kids & don't forget extra socks if you plan to get wet!)
- Bathing suit
- Sun hats
- Sunglasses
- Sweater or jacket
- Ponchos for everyone
- Travel umbrella
Toiletries, First Aid, Cleaning & Organization
- Ziploc bags
- Wet wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Tissues
- Sunscreen
- Chapstick (ideally with SPF protection)
- Medications (infant Tylenol or Advil, Epipen for allergies, Benadryl cream)
- Small First Aid Kit (Bandaids, antibiotic ointment, moleskin for blisters, etc.)
- Hair supplies: brush, ponytail holders
- Makeup
Food & Drink
- Water bottles (collapsible ones work especially well for space-saving)
- Snacks (good choices include granola bars, goldfish crackers, applesauce pouches, etc.)
Disney Fun
- Autograph book & pen
- Shiny pennies and plenty of quarters for pressed penny machines
- Disney trading pins
- Lanyards
- Glow sticks or necklaces
Paperwork
- MagicBands or theme park tickets
- Identification (driver's license, passport)
- Child ID tags
- Money: cash, credit cards, Disney gift cards (and definitely don't forget your Disney Visa from Chase if you are a cardholder!)
- Guidebook
- Apps (pre-download any and all apps to your phone)
- Touring plans
- Park schedules & maps (pick up at park entrance)
Electronics
- Camera & camera bag
- Video camera
- Smartphone
- Portable charger, cord & plug (I highly recommend the Jackery Bar Premium which can recharge an iPhone about three times)
Optional But Useful
- Mini cooler or insulated lunch bag
- Fan mister
- Toddler harness/backpack -- no judgment if you have a little one prone to running away! 😉
- Small towel
Click to Download the Disney Daypack Printable:
Need a packing list beyond just your Disney daypack for your next Disney vacation? Check out this comprehensive Disneyland packing list from my friend and fellow Disneyland-loving blogger Kim of Stuffed Suitcase.
Jessica says
I absolutely loved brining my sarong last time. I tied it around our stroller handle to spot it quickly, then used it to sit on during parades and even as a blanket when we were leaving the parks late at night.
Elaina says
I use baby wipes to get the sunscreen that inevitably goes in my eye! Great list 🙂
Laura Mock says
Leslie! I stumbled upon your page from a Pinterest link and after scrolling down to your family photo, had a double-take! Wait a minute, I know them! We are taking our foursome to Disney this weekend for the first time. I loved your packing list, and I pinned your website for future trips. I hope you and the family are doing well. I'll have to text Liz and tell her my happy luck in finding you, then chastise her for not telling me about it sooner! -Laura Mock
Leslie H says
I guess as Disney would say... It's a small world after all! So crazy that you found this via Pinterest. Have a blast at Disney and thanks for being in touch. Hope you got some helpful tips in getting ready for your trip!
Anonymous says
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I almost forgot to add the harness to my list! My son is a runner!