10 Essential Items for Your Disneyland Packing List

Wondering what to pack for your Disneyland vacation? There are a few essential items I add to our Disneyland packing list that make our trip better. They may be helpful at other parks too, but there are a few items that you only need at Disneyland. 

Here are 11 must-have items for your Disneyland packing list.

Comfortable shoes

Good walking shoes for every member of the family are the most important item on any Disneyland packing list. We walk 5-10 miles per day on a typical Disneyland trip.

I recommend that you pack two pairs of walking shoes or sandals. A fresh pair of shoes often feels better on sore or blistered feet. Your shoes may get wet on Splash Mountain or Grizzly River Run and need a day to dry out. 

Consider compression socks too. You can find them in varying lengths and strengths, and they can really help with circulation when you spend all day on your feet.

Related:

• The Best Rides at Disneyland
• The Best Rides at Disney's California Adventure

Day pack

Disneyland allows you to carry day packs onto every ride. Bring at least one small pack for your family to carry snacks, water bottles, portable phone chargers, sunscreen, first aid basics and whatever else you need to get through the day. 

The lightweight and packable 20L New Outlander pack from Amazon.com is just the right size for Disneyland. Every member of my family has a different color and we take these backpacks on every trip. Bonus: They are machine washable.

Don't overpack. Storage space is tight on roller coasters and other rides. It will be a long day, so don't haul anything you don't really need.

Related: 30+ Ways to Save Money at Disneyland

Portable Phone Charger

The official Disneyland app is an essential tool at Disneyland these days. We use it to store tickets, join virtual queues, order food, check wait times, find the nearest bathroom, make restaurant reservations and access Play Disney Parks games in line. These apps and services are free.

You'll probably also use your phone to take photos and video, keep in touch with your family and everything else you usually use your phone for. Park days can be long, so your battery may need to last 12-16 hours.

I used the official app a lot more when we bought the MaxPass upgrade. MaxPass allows you to reserve FASTPASSes through the app and I found myself on my phone often to check availability and reserve FASTPASS times. I used up my battery faster on the days we had MaxPass.

Amazon.com has lots of portable phone chargers to choose from, starting at around $20. They will usually give your phone at least one full charge and can be re-charged overnight to use the next day. 

Disneyland sells portable chargers in the parks for around $30.

Related:

• How to Use the Official Disneyland App
• What is MaxPass, and How to Use It

Ziploc bags

Sandwich size Ziploc bags serve a variety of purposes at Disneyland. They can keep your phone dry on Splash Mountain. They can hold sandwiches or snacks. They can hold your first aid kit, or organize other small items in your day pack.

First Aid Kit

These are items you hope you won't need, but they can save the day when you do. I don't have an official “kit.” I just keep a few items in a Ziploc bag or pocket of the day pack. Here are a few items you might consider.

• Hand sanitizer/wipes
• Band-Aids 
• Ibuprofen 
• Dramamine – for motion sickness
• Moleskin – for preventing blisters

There are First Aid stations in the parks if you need them, and you can purchase some of these items too. Disneyland Park first aid station is located at the end of Main Street, U.S.A. by the Baby Care Center. In Disney California Adventure Park, you’ll find the first aid station next to Chamber of Commerce on Buena Vista Street.

Costumes

Disneyland is full of kids – especially little girls – in costume. Not everybody does it, but it can make a day in the park (and your vacation photos) extra fun!

You can buy beautiful princess dresses and other costumes at Disneyland. When my kids were younger, I preferred to pack less expensive, washable costumes from Little Dress Up Shop or Amazon.com. For little boys, think pirates, Star Wars or Marvel superheroes!

Teens and adults are not allowed to wear costumes at Disneyland, except during the Oogie Boogie Bash in September and October. However, that doesn't stop some adults from dressing up in creative t-shirts, dresses, hats and other non-costumes at Disneyland. 

It's also common to see families in matching custom t-shirts at Disneyland.

Related: Tips for the Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland

Autograph book

My 15-year-old daughter still has the autograph book she took to Disneyland at age 6. It's fun to collect character signatures, and then add the photos to the book later.

Be sure to pack a Sharpie marker or pen too! Some Disney characters have large costume hands, so a fat marker or pen makes it easier for them to sign your book.

You can purchase nice autograph books and pens at Disneyland, but a basic book is a lot less expensive at Amazon.com.

Sunscreen

Southern California is sunny year-round. You'll be outside most of the day, so be sure to protect your family with sunscreen. Consider sunglasses and sun hats as well.

Ball caps, mouse ears and other hats may blow off on fast-moving rides so make sure that they are secure.

If you’re flying to Southern California, buy TSA-sized sunscreen (under 3 oz) if you're not checking your bags. Find small bottles and pouches at Amazon.com.

Related: 5 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid at Disneyland

Parade blanket

A parade blanket, sheet or towel is essential if getting a good seat at parades is your priority. Parade routes are long, but benches and curbs will begin to fill 1-2 hours before the parade.

The easiest way to save enough space for your whole family is to pack a parade blanket in your day pack. Assign one adult to hold the space while the other continues to explore the park with the kids.

One of my favorite places to watch parades is near It's a Small World in Fantasyland. This is always the very beginning or very end of the parade route, and we can usually find a seat on the pavement at the last minute.

Related: Why Peak Season is a Great Time to Visit Disneyland

Stroller

A stroller is a must for families with kids under age 5 – or maybe even older. Disneyland is often overwhelming and exhausting for little kids.

My 3-year-old napped in our stroller every day at Disneyland, even though he had stopped napping at home. My sister took a stroller for her 7-year-old (who has joint pain) and it made those long days a lot easier.

A stroller is nice for storage. You can keep snacks, drinks, parade blankets, changes of clothing and souvenirs in a stroller basket. This is the one feature that makes me miss my stroller now that I have older kids.

Disneyland limits the size and type of stroller you can bring to the parks. Wagons are not allowed. Your stroller must be no bigger than 31 inches wide and 52 inches long. 

You can rent strollers inside and outside Disneyland if you prefer not to bring your own.

Related: Tips for Picking a Travel Stroller

Conclusion

Disneyland is a special vacation in so many ways, and what you pack can make it even more special and more fun. I hope that my Disneyland packing list will help your family plan a fantastic Disneyland vacation.

Happy travels!

Want the best price on a Disneyland hotel and tickets?

We use Get Away Today. Nobody knows Disneyland better, and if you find a better price on the same package, they’ll beat it by $10.

Save $10 on any Southern California vacation package at Get Away Today when you use our exclusive coupon code: Tips10Trips.

Read more about our partnership with Get Away Today here.

Allison

Hi there! I am the founder of Tips for Family Trips. I am a married mom of two children, ages 14 and 17, living near Salt Lake City, Utah. We took our first child on a two-week road trip when she was four weeks old and we have been traveling as a family ever since. We love to get out of the house to see and do fun things, both far away and in our own neighborhood.