Disneyland is the place where our whole family is happy–and to keep it that way, I’ve honed the must-haves we pack in to the parks to keep all 6 of us cheerful, comfortable, and living our best Disney lives.
I’m talking about things that help deter meltdowns (in kids AND adults!), add fun, and even save you money inside the parks!
Read on for the scoop on my top 10 unexpected things to take to the park…
10 Things to Pack for Disneyland!
1. Post-It Notes
Raise your hand if you’ve ever spent time locked in a bathroom stall with a small child, leaning over him or her with your hand covering the automatic toilet sensor so he/she will agree to actually go to the bathroom. #facepalm
If you have a kid who is afraid of the auto-flush feature on public toilets, you are in good company!
Our simple solution? Keep a stack of 2×2 post-its in your bag!
Whenever we head to the restroom, I hand a post-it to my kiddo(s) and they stick it over the sensor. It’s simple, cheap, and effective!
Consider your Disney bathroom breaks #momhacked.
2. Kid “Snack Packs”
Honest to goodness, I credit the fabulous attitudes our kids have on Disney trips to these handy little 90’s throwbacks. That’s why you’ll also find them in my list of 10 smart tips for doing Disneyland with kids!
Every time we visit the parks, we bring along our kids’ waist packs a.k.a. the “snack packs”–and we PACK THEM TO THE BRIM WITH FOOD.
We got ours on Amazon (we picked the adult-size Everest waist packs) and we let them each choose their favorite color. It might be one of their favorite parts of our trips!
Each morning we fill them with snacks from a Target near our hotel, and let the kids eat a snack any time they get hungry–as long as we are standing in a line. (We’ve found that walking + eating doesn’t work so well for the littler ones!)
Snacks keep them busy during part of the wait time, and no hungry kid meltdowns = more happiness at the “Happiest Place on Earth.”
3. Matching Shirts (Hear Me Out!)
I think we all know that matching family tees is totally a thing in the Disney sphere. They’re a great amp-up for family fun with the under-10 set, and can be pretty cute in pictures.
But twinning your Disney outfits has a practical side, too:
Dressing your kids in matching shirts can make it much easier to keep your little crowd together.
My headcount is infinitely easier on the days my kids are all wearing the same color!
You can go custom on Etsy, DIY your own, or keep it simple and go store-bought. The Disney Store has a ton of options, but keep in mind that their price tags can be a little steep.
I used to DIY, but now I usually just pick up a set of Disney-themed shirts in my kids’ sizes and call it a day. ๐
(Pro tip: Girls can easily wear a boys’ shirt to match a brother! Boy’s clothes tend to have more gender-neutral designs.)
Related Posts I Think You’ll Love:
- 10 Super Smart Tips for Disneyland with Kids
- Flying with Kids: 8 Ways to Rock the Airport with Kids
- Flying with Kids: 10 Things I Pack in My Carry-On
4. Ponchos
Ponchos are great for rain (Disney magic hasn’t yet extended to weather control), but we mostly use them to bridge the gap between the ride-or-die water-ride people and the cranky-when-wet members of our group.
Because when it comes to water rides, there are two kinds of people:
People (like my hubs) who are all-in, 100%, and ready to commit to walking around in a sopping t-shirt and squishy, wet socks, just for the thrill of being soaked on the Grizzly River Rapids…
…and people (like me) who get intensely fussy when they are wet and/or cold, regardless of how fun the getting-wet-ride was. (I’ve got a real grumpy cat in a cold bathtub vibe.)
But you give me a poncho, and I’m thrilled to hold hands with my man and plummet down Splash Mountain in my hooded red bubble!
They’re also great for nervous kids! On our most recent trip, a kid-sized poncho convinced one of my nieces to try the rapids ride in Disney California Adventure for the first time!
And, like most things, ponchos are way pricier once you pass through the Disney gates, so I usually throw these inexpensive-but-durable family pack from Amazon in the bottom of our stroller, just in case.
5. Mini Fans
You’re probably noticing a theme by now–I like to keep my people comfortable on our Disney trips!
Because comfortable people are NICE.
Our snack packs keep them fed, our ponchos keep them dry, and these inexpensive mini-fans (with water misters!) keep us all cool in the California sun. I personally like them better than around-the-neck fans, but you’ll see lots of people using those as well!
My kids like to pull these out when we’re standing in line, spritz each other with water, and cool off in their battery-powered breeze.
6. Blister Bandages
We regularly logged about 25,000 steps per day on our last trip to Disneyland, and all that walking can lead to some really sore feet.
Regular bandages will not reduce the friction on blistered feet, so I always stick one or two blister band-aids in my hip pack.
This type of bandage is above and beyond the usual type, and is specifically created to protect your skin from friction. My brand of choice is the Band-Aid Hydro Seal. They’re very cushioned, seal well to your skin (you can even wear them in the shower!) and work great for protecting sore spots even when I’m walking all day!
7. Hip Pack for Mom
While I was gung-ho to get the kiddos their own hip packs, I admit, I was a little hesitant to get one for myself because of the potential dorkiness factor. ๐ But I hated carrying a whole backpack of stuff around with me, and I wanted to be hands-free to hold hands with kids, enjoy the rides, and carry a toddler on my hip.
So I took the leap, and its a total life-saver!
I have this inexpensive slim-line one from Amazon.
I tuck all the necessities inside it and have everything on hand right when I need it, without the bulk of a purse or backpack!
I can fit all of the following in my hip pack comfortably:
- Phone,
- Photo ID,
- Credit card,
- Band-aids (regular and blister),
- Post-its,
- Tylenol,
- Chapstick, and
- Snacks for me (moms get hungry, too!)
8. Portable Charger
We make liberal use of our phones in the park, both for photo-taking and using the Disneyland App to check wait times, get Fast Passes, and mobile order food.
We pack this Anker dual charger along to refill our hungry cell batteries. It has two ports for double-charging, and holds enough juice to easily recharge both our phones with charge to spare.
9. Over-the-Counter Pain Medicine
Achy, tired feet or headaches from late nights aren’t stopping us from enjoying our trip!
I always pack some Tylenol or ibuprofen for the grown-ups to help keep us (happily) on our toes.
10. Glow Stick Bracelets + Necklaces
If you’re planning to stay past sunset, a cheap package of glow bracelets or necklaces from Hobby Lobby or a dollar store will be worth its weight in gold!
When vendors start pulling out the fancy (expensive) light-up toys, having a little stash of your own glow sticks will save you a few bucks and help make the night even more magical.
Bonus: It also makes it easier to find wandering children in the dark! (Don’t ask me how I know that… ๐ )
Happy Disney-ing!
xo,
Jamie
Read More:
- 10 Top Tips for Disneyland with Kids
- Our #1 Tip for an AMAZING Disney Trip
- Flying with Kids: 8 Ways to Rock the Airport with Kids
- Flying with Kids: 10 Things I Pack in My Carry-On
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