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With a dozen Disney trips under my belt in the last three years, I have become a bit savvy when it comes to what to pack for Disneyland and what to pack to Disney World, both on the way to the parks and in the parks themselves. The old me used to burden myself with things I didn't need, and that would in turn mean carrying a backpack full of stuff that weighed a lot, but didn't bring a whole lot else to the table. So, in the spirit of you having your best Disney trip​ every single time you go, I've put together a list of my TOP TEN things you need to have on your "Disney must haves to pack" list ! (read more)

If you'd like to skip the post and view the list on Amazon, you can do that by clicking here or clicking on the picture below.

I'm going to try to break this down into two sections. The first section will cover what you need to pack in your luggage to make your trip easier. The second section will cover what to bring into Disney parks.

Obviously the first thing you need is a good touring plan, so if you aren't hooked up with that yet, click the link and maximize your day. I cannot stress enough how much of a difference a good touring plan makes!

Once you know where you're going, all that's left to do is get there, so let's start with your luggage. 

I am the person who travels with a carryon and a personal item. I normally fly Southwest Airlines, so I pack around their baggage allowances. Whether I'm going for three days or a week, I will not exceed this amount of baggage. I don't want to check, I want to pack it, bring it on the plane, get off the plane with it and be on my merry way. 

If you want to check bags, that's cool too, this will still apply. It's not that I have anything against it, and I know it normally turns out fine, but I recently spent a few days at Disney World with a girlfriend who didn't have any clothes or toiletries until her second day there because the airline forgot to put her bags on board. 

Thankfully we are the same size, so she was able to borrow stuff from me, but this definitely diminished her fun.

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If you don't already have a good piece of carry on luggage, I'll start there, though I'm not considering it one of my ten. :)

I like hard sided luggage just because I feel better about the items inside surviving if I ever do check it. I also like bright/bold colors because it means I always know which bag is mine, so I'm going to recommend grabbing a Rockland Luggage bag. They come in a bunch of different patterns, and they're tough.

Now that you've got a carryon bag you love, let's talk about what needs to go in that bag.  You're packing for Disney, so you probably already know what you want to pack as far as clothes and toiletries. I'm not going to mess around with long lists, but I am going to suggest these Packing Cubes to maximize your space.

​I have a set for myself and my husband, and another set for my kids. 

By rolling your clothes into these cubes, you can pack a suitcase that will keep you going for a week or more. It's all about saving space. I have so much room left in my bag that I can bring home extra goodies like shirts and bubble wands, no problem.

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I'm all about re-wearing clothes at Disney, but I don't want to be stinky, so I bring along a tiny washing machine. No kidding! 

The Scrubba wash bag is perfect for cleaning and rinsing items that you want to re-wear, like shorts, shirts, unmentionables, etc. Pair it with a laundry line that you can string in the bathroom, and you're covered when you accidentally spill ice cream on yourself.

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This laundry line is compact and perfect for hanging in a shower, especially if you're staying in an offsite hotel that doesn't already offer one in the bathroom. Or you can hang it in the actual hotel room where the air circulates better for faster drying.

Everything else I list is going to be filed under "what to take to Disney parks". Whether you searched for "what to bring to Disneyland parks" or "what to bring to Disney World parks" the list will remain the same. If not, I'll note it.

The nice thing about this list is that it can also be applied to children, meaning they can carry a little bit, so you don't have to carry a big bag with a whole lot in it. 

Let's start with a Fanny Pack. I know they're totally 80's or something, but I LOVE not having to mess with a big backpack. This is especially true if you also plan to hit up a non Disney park like Universal Studios, Sea World, or Knotts Berry Farm.

I love my Everest Fanny Pack. It's got enough pockets to hold everything I list here and then some (snacks, chapstick, your phone), but it's light enough to sit on your waist without weighing you down. It's also super easy to remove, clip back together, and stick in a holding cubby for the rides at other theme parks where you have to put away all of the stuff you're holding. 

It also comes in about 25 different colors, so you're sure to find one you love.

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You've got your fanny pack ready to go, so now let's talk about the stuff you're going to put in the fanny pack. I'll skip the stuff like small tubes of sunblock, etc. You already know you need that, so I'm going to focus on things you might now know you need. However, a small tube of sunblock would fit in here nicely.

The first thing I'm going to recommend you put in this pack is a portable charger for your phone. 

You want to maximize your Fast Pass and Max Pass use, so keeping your phone charged is a priority.

My Jackery has been an integral part of my travel for close to ten years now, and it's still going strong! It's powerful enough to charge my cell phone and my mom's cell phone, and still have some juice leftover. It's also not any bigger than a couple of lipsticks side by side, and it's got a flashlight to help you out if you drop something at night.

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Next up, you're going to need a cord for your Jackery. You could bring a full length cord from home, but I recommend this smaller cord that not only fits your iPhone, but also any Android devices and USB devices. It's tiny, lightweight, and super easy to use.

It plugs into any USB (even your computer) to recharge the Jackery.

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Next up, you're going to need some carabiners. 

I know, it sounds weird, but it has literally changed my Disney game having these little things around. 

​It doesn't really matter which type you get, just as long as they are sturdy. I'll explain more further down.

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Now, you're going to attach a few things to your fanny pack using the carabiners we just talked about. First, you need a water bottle on your person. You can buy carabiners just for disposable water bottles if you like, but a regular carabiner will do the same thing with a water bottle that has a strap or place to put your finger through.

Just attach the carabiner to the water bottle loop, then snap the entire thing around the strap of your fanny pack. It'll rest against your leg, easy peasy! You can actually see my mom sporting this look in the picture at the top of the post.

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Next up, you need an umbrella. This isn't so much a thing if you're going to Disneyland, but if you're going to Disney World, it's going to rain. It's like the sun rising in the East or whatever, inevitable at some point. 

Use the umbrella the same way you used the water bottle, clip it to the carabiner, clip it to the umbrella, put it on your fanny pack strap. So you've got a water bottle on one side and an umbrella on the other side.

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This is another one that will be more specific to Disney World than Disneyland, though it could come in handy at either place, depending on how easily you get cold. 

A jacket in a pouch will help you avoid the Disney World rain showers, and will also help you stay warm when you're going from outside heat to inside air conditioner. It also helps on the busses because cause they can get very cold, especially after a long day in the park when you could likely be riding a bus after a rain storm. Been there, done that. 

The jacket is small enough to squish up and stick in the back pocket of your fanny pack, or you can simply attach another carabiner and hang it with your umbrella.  I know it seems like you've got a lot hanging from that fanny pack, but trust me, it's way better than lumping around a huge bag. Your shoulders will thank you. 

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Finally, we're hanging something around your neck. This thing is a lifesaver. It means I can leave my wallet at the hotel, but still have everything I need to fund my fun in the parks. 

Stick your ID inside, your credit card, and (if you're at Disneyland or do not have a Magic Band at Disney World) your park ticket so you can scan it for your Fast Pass and Max Pass use. It's also a great place to put the photo scan card they give you to track your Disneyland photos.

What I like to do is actually carry my ID and credit card in the front pocket of my fanny pack, then take them out and put them in my card holder if I have to remove my pack for a ride (only at Sea World, Universal, Knotts, etc.) However, my mom carries her ID and credit card in the neck holder the entire time, so it's really whatever you prefer.

There are quite a few colors to choose from as well, so you're not relegated to pink.

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If you're shopping for kids who don't want a mouse shaped card holder, try something like this. They also make fantastic cruise card holders!

If you're going to bring a stroller to Disney, I have to include these two "must have" items. It's easy to lose your stroller in the sea of strollers, but this Pomchie will help you find yours without fail in the daytime, and this LED set will be your beacon in the night....in the night. They're both awesome stroller accessories!

 I really hope you find some of these tips helpful, and I hope it makes your Disney trip even more amazing! 

One thing that will for sure make your trip more amazing is a good Touring Plan, so don't forget to set one up before you go. You will not regret it. Spend your Disney time riding rides and meeting charactes, not waiting in line. I hope it helps!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask, I'll definitely help if I can.

​Ty