What to Take to Disneyland // 15 Items to Pack in Your Backpack
Are you headed to Disneyland and trying to sort out what to take? This post has the ultimate list of what to take to Disneyland!
There’s nothing more frustrating than forgetting something on a trip. I mean, I’m sure there are more frustrating things, but that is definitely on the top 5! I pride myself on being prepared so when I forget something, it drives me nuts! When it comes to trying to decide what to take to Disneyland, you better bet I have a very detailed list of what to bring! We’ve gone to Disneyland enough that I feel like I know what one will actually use while on the trip and what one may think they might need but will never actually unpack it. So for all of you guys headed to Disneyland, have room for one more? Oh, wait, wrong thing. I meant to say that this post is for you!
This post is all about what to take to Disneyland!
RELATED POSTS
What to Take to Disneyland
Clothes
I mean, I feel like you guys already know to take clothes, right? I’m sure you do! Southern California has pretty temperate weather which makes visiting Disneyland nice year-round. The key to the clothes you pack is to think of layers, especially in fall and winter. Just a small change in the temperature can make it so you need to take off your sweater or need to put one on. This is especially true in the mornings and evenings during the fall and winter.
SHOP OUR FAVORITES
Comfortable Shoes
You also want to make sure you are bringing good footwear. As cute as some shoes may be, if you haven’t worn them in, don’t bring them! You will do a lot of walking so having comfortable shoes is so important.
SHOP OUR FAVORITES
Backpack or Fanny Pack
Having something to carry your stuff in is key. Especially if you want to buy souvenirs! We have been taking a backpack to Disneyland ever since we started going. It’s so nice. I also like to wear a fanny pack so that I can have quick access to things like my wallet or sunglasses or hand sanitizer. The backpack is so helpful for storing our water bottles and snacks.
SHOP OUR FAVORITES
What to Pack in Your Backpack for Disneyland
Water Bottle
Bringing your own water bottle can ensure that you stay well hydrated! You will be walking around a ton and maybe even sweating a little bit (depending on the time of year) so having a water bottle handy is going to come in clutch.
Portable Charger
Nowadays, everything is on our phones. That is how we check wait times, order food, check the map, check showtimes, and capture all of our memories. Keeping your phone charged is kind of important! We love this portable charger because it can charge our phones so fast and isn’t super bulky to carry around.
Camera
I’m sure a camera is a given on your “what to take to Disneyland” list. But if you’re wanting to get some nicer pictures of your trip than your phone can get but don’t want to bring a bulky camera with you, this Canon camera is a great alternative for Disneyland! It’s one of my favorite low-profile cameras because it still gets amazing pictures and it’s got a retro look to it.
Hat/Sunglasses
It may seem obvious to bring a hat and/or sunglasses to Disneyland, but I’ve forgotten them more times than I care to admit and I definitely noticed it. Haha. You will too when you spend 15 minutes in a line for a ride squinting away. Don’t be me, guys. Remember to pack your hat and/or sunglasses when you go to Disneyland. And if you are in the market for some sunglasses, I have had these for so long and absolutely love them!
Sunscreen
You are going to spend a lot of time in the sun, so it’s always safe to bring some sunscreen with you to avoid getting sunburnt.
Hand Sanitizer/Wipes
As clean as Disneyland keeps its parks, there are still a lot of high-touch areas that can go a bit without being cleaned. Bringing hand sanitizer and wipes can help keep you clean and healthy. We really love this hand sanitizer from Grove Collab because it smells so good and is perfect for travel.
Snacks/Lunch
If you don’t want to buy snacks at the parks, bring snacks with you. I recommend getting snacks that you know you will want. We have tried buying snacks that we thought we wanted that we don’t usually get and ended up wishing we had just brought the snacks we know we liked.
If you wanted, you could even bring lunch to Disneyland! There are size limits on coolers, so, it is usually best to bring a small, soft-shell cooler with some ice packs and your food or just some ice packs in your backpack to keep your food cool. There are lockers near the park entrance that you can store stuff in until lunchtime as well.
First Aid Kit/Pain Reliever
Accidents can happen anywhere and although Disneyland does have first aid stations in each park, it’s not a bad idea to bring a small first aid kit with you. And the pain reliever? Well, you never know when a headache is going to strike! Or sore muscles.
First Aid services are available in the following locations:
- Disneyland Park First Aid is located at the end of Main Street, U.S.A. next to the Baby Care Center.
- Disney California Adventure Park
First Aid is located next to the Chamber of Commerce on Buena Vista Street. - Downtown Disney District
Please contact the nearest Cast Member for assistance.
Stroller for Kids
If you are taking kids with you, I highly recommend bringing a stroller. It might seem like an inconvenience, but it is so worth it. Disneyland days can be long days and little legs may not be able to handle it as well. Having a place for them to rest or even nap will save you from YOU becoming the place where they rest and nap. It’s also a great place for storage! I would recommend bringing a stroller with a seat that leans back so kids can lounge.
Autograph/Picture Book for Kids
If you are taking your kids to Disneyland, an autograph book can be a fun way for them to connect with the characters! Better yet though, if you have a Polaroid camera, why not get a little Polaroid of your kids with each character and then put it in a little photo book for them?? We have started doing this and have LOVED how they have turned out.
Items for Kids/Babies
There are definitely specific things that you will want to take to Disneyland when going with kids.
- Diapers and Wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Small toys/books
- Water bottle/sippies
- Change of clothes
- Reusable bags for organization
- Snacks!
- Temporary tattoos/safety wristbands
Foldable Blanket
Next on the list is a foldable blanket. If you’re thinking of staying for a parade or the fireworks, bringing a blanket can be helpful in blocking off a space for you to watch the parade. People start getting spots for the parade about 1-2 hours before the parades start (especially the nighttime one) so having a blanket can be huge! As long as one person is sitting at your spot, the rest of the group can still explore and go on more rides.
Ponchos/Umbrella
Let’s talk about why I recommend that you bring ponchos and umbrellas to Disneyland! Rain isn’t the only reason for a poncho at Disneyland. For example, if you’ve ever ridden Splash Mountain (RIP) at Disneyland or the Grizzly River Run at California Adventure, you know what I mean. Those rides get you wet! If you want to stay dry, there are great ponchos available that are small enough to fit in your backpack! There are also some good, travel-sized umbrellas that are perfect in case of rain.
Wallet
This one seems obvious, right? Well, I wish I wasn’t guilty of forgetting my wallet for Disneyland… but I am! So do yourself a favor and double-check that you have it before leaving the hotel in the morning! And that you still have it before leaving Disneyland at night.
Park Tickets
Again, maybe obvious? But maybe not! We have been in line to get into Disneyland behind people asking how to buy tickets. We’ve also been in line behind people who bought tickets but hadn’t made a park reservation. If you haven’t been to a Disney park in a bit, the park reservation system is newer. When you buy your ticket, you need to make a park reservation for what day you want to go and which park. If you have a park hopper pass, you reserve the park you want to go into first and then can park hop starting at 1 pm.
For more information on how to buy tickets and make reservations, you can find everything you need on the Disney website! If you want to get good deals on park tickets and hotels, book your trip through Get Away Today or Klook!
Souvenirs
It’s kind of weird to include souvenirs as something to take to Disneyland. Sometimes you have Disney-themed clothing or Mickey ears that you want to wear. Or maybe you are into pin-trading? You definitely don’t want to forget that!
What is Not Allowed at Disneyland
If there is something that you aren’t sure whether you can bring or not, it’s always helpful to check the Disney guidelines! I’ve listed all of the prohibited items below to save you an extra step!
- Firearms, ammunition, knives, and weapons of any kind.
- Self-defense or restraining devices (e.g., pepper spray, mace).
- Marijuana (including marijuana-enriched products) or any illegal substance.
- Objects or toys that appear to be firearms or weapons.
- Fireworks or other similarly explosive and/or flammable objects, smoke machines or fog machines.
- Alcoholic beverages, except in the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort. Wine may be brought into the Downtown Disney District to be consumed at select table service restaurants only, corkage fees apply.
- Glass containers (excluding small containers such as baby food jars), except in the Disney Resort hotels.
- Horns, whistles, large megaphones or artificial noise makers.
- Recreational devices such as drones, remote-control toys, skateboards, scooters, inline skates, bicycles, or shoes with built-in wheels.
- Strollers that are greater than 31″ (79 cm) in width and 52″ (132 cm) in length.
- Wagons, including stroller wagons.
- Any trailer-like object that is pushed, pulled or towed by an Electric Conveyance Vehicle, wheelchair, stroller or person.
- Wheeled mobility devices with less than 3 wheels or devices that cannot maintain stability and balance when stopped, unpowered and/or unoccupied. Training wheels and/or modifications are not permitted. Devices must be manually or electrically powered and operated at a walking pace. Devices should be single rider and not exceed 36″ (92 cm) in width and 52″ (132 cm) in length.
- Suitcases, bags, coolers or backpacks, with or without wheels, larger than 24″ long x 15″ wide x 18″ high (61 cm x 38 cm x 46 cm) are not allowed in any theme park. Loose or dry ice is not permitted in these containers. Re-usable ice packs are recommended.
- Folding chairs are not allowed in any theme park or the Downtown Disney District.
- Selfie sticks, hand-held extension poles for cameras or mobile devices, flags and banners are not allowed in any theme park.
- Tripods or monopod stands that cannot fit inside a standard backpack or that extend over 6’ (182 cm) are not allowed in any theme park.
That’s a wrap for the ultimate list of what to take to Disneyland! If you have found other things that have been helpful for you, leave them in the comments!
