How I Pack for Walt Disney World
I've talked about packing before in this blog, but today, I'm going to show you how it works. I will take you along with me while I pack for an upcoming trip to Walt Disney World. Along the way, I'll show you packing techniques I use and favorite products.
Packing for every trip varies a little bit depending on weather, mode of transportation, how long you are staying, even whether you have access to laundry, so here are my "trip parameters":
Staying 12 total nights in Orlando - 7 at Walt Disney World and 5 at a VRBO
The VRBO has free laundry and I plan to take a day of rest and do laundry
It's going to be warm
We'll be flying there and back (so liquids, lost luggage, etc., are all considerations)
I am on a keto diet (this matters a little bit)
Now that we have parameters, I'm going to show you how I went from this....
...to this...
... and then added some things to fill my bag.
It All Started With a List
Organization is one of my strong suits, but memory... sometimes not so much. So a long while ago, I started preparing my list. I use Microsoft OneNote for a list, but you can use anything you prefer. I like OneNote because I can check off the items if I make them to-dos so I can keep track of what I've packed and what needs to be packed.
This is what my list looks like when it's in progress:
I like to divide my list by which bag holds what as well. This is important when flying because of the liquid rules with carry-ons. Usually I like to fly with a carry-on and a personal item only, but for this trip, since it's on the longer side, I've decided I have to "try my luck" with a checked suitcase for that extra room. So my list is divided into carry on items, suitcase items, and things I need to do to prepare to travel like call the bank and print out pet care instructions for my pet sitter.
Clothing
Despite the fact that I CAN do laundry on vacation, I don't particularly love doing laundry while on vacation. So for clothing, I am bringing the bare minimum that could get me through 13 days if I repeat some items. And if things get too nasty to repeat, I know I have access to laundry, so it's not a big risk.
Also, it's going to be warm for the most part. But I know around this time of year in Florida there can be some cool nights or mornings, so a cardigan and a light jacket are coming along with all my t-shirts. They don't get packed because I'm going to wear them to the airport.
My clothing list is:
13 shirts
2 pairs of shorts
2 pairs of light pants
1 wrinkle proof dress (Husband is at a conference and there's a slight chance I might be asked to attend something dressy)
1 bathing suit
1 pair of pajamas
13 pairs of excellent socks (more on that in a moment)
13 pairs of underwear and 1 back up bra
When I do clothes, I use compression packing cubes. They are amazing! I have 3 Eagle Creek packing cubes in various sizes. You can find a very similar set online here. All of my shirts (except the one that goes in my carry on and the cardigan I wear to the airport), will go in here:
I combine the use of these cubes with the rolling method of packing. Basically, I take my shirt, fold it into thirds lengthwise, and then roll it as tightly as I can.
Yes, all shirts fit into this one cube, and this one cube fits into a tiny corner of my suitcase. The cat, who has just caught on that I am packing to go away, is not included, though he wants to be.
Repeat with all the bottoms, the dress, and the swimsuit in another cube. And then the last, smaller cube is for socks and underpants. Not bra... bras should not be compressed into a little cube. That is just going to sit out in the suitcase.
Favorite Things Intermission #1 - Pants and Socks
You might be thinking "Who in the world would wear pants at Walt Disney World? It's too hot for that!" and you'd be right.... if you were talking about any other kind of pants. But I have these North Face Aphrodite 2.0 pants that I LOVE. They are super lightweight (feels like you are wearing nothing), and water resistant. They're also super comfy. You can find them here.
For socks, cotton is recommended. I prefer lightweight wool too, so I have some Balega and some Smartwool socks. You can find those here.
Back to Packing - All the Clothes
So, here is the suitcase with all the clothes in packing cubes.
Well, that's all the clothes except for two outfits. One of those is my flight outfit. Use your flight outfit to bring your bulkiest things on your body (but not at the lack of comfort). I'll be wearing my bulkiest pair of tennis shoes, my cardigan, and my light jacket on the flight. I lay out this outfit ahead of time, so I know I've accounted for wearing the things I also want to have with me.
The other outfit is the change of clothes that need to go in your carry-on if you are checking your suitcase (which I am). Checking a bag always carries some risk that your flight will be cancelled and you'll be without your bag for a while or that the airline will just lose your bag. I've had both things happen, though my "lost" bag was recovered within 24 hours. What I've learned from this experience is that you need a small change of clothes in your carry on.
Now, you don't need full on pajamas - you can sleep in a t-shirt. But you might want a fresh shirt for the next day, clean socks, and clean underwear. All of that, for me, fits in this tiny bag, and this goes in my carry on, at the very bottom, because I hope I don't need it.
Next thing that goes in the suitcase is shoes. I like to bring a second pair of shoes to Disney World. Not only because it could rain or you could ride a wet ride making one pair soaked, but also because my feet like to change it up a bit. My less bulky pair of sneakers gets packed. Notice that I don't let the hollow space inside them go to waste. I put some compression socks in there to help on days my legs are feeling really sore.
Also, now that clothes are done, packing is speeding up, so more things are finding their way in here now, like a backup pair of glasses. I wear glasses and without them I'm practically blind. I'm not going to mess around with the chance that I could lose my glasses or break them and be blind the rest of the vacation, so backup pair it is. You can get less expensive pairs from Zenni if you have your current prescription.
Favorite Things Intermission #2 - Things That Save Space
Next thing in my suitcase is my rollup visor. The sun can be brutal and this protects my face. This visor unfolds to be a very broad brimmed visor (think Kentucky Derby hats but with no top). I got mine here.
Also, I like to put my dirty clothes somewhere apart from clean ones, even if I can't do laundry on the trip. This laundry bag comes in handy. It folds up into a small pouch, but when the pouch is opened, it's a pretty large drawstring bag. I also slipped two laundry detergent sheets in here. I like the sheets for travel because they won't explode in my suitcase. You can get the laundry bag here.
Back to Packing - Keto Snacks
This will be my first time going to Walt Disney World while on a very strict ketogenic diet. One of the mantras of this lifestyle is "excuse proof it!", so I have to "excuse proof" Disney and the airport. And the plane for that matter. That flight attendant is going to offer me one of those delicious biscuits they have for snacks on Delta, and I'm going to be hungry.... so I have to have alternatives. And who knows when hunger will strike at the resort and no ketogenic snacks are available?
I've done my best to prepare myself and have a plan for what I can eat that Disney offers, but snacks are part of the strategy this time. So, allow me to introduce my keto snacks briefly:
First, we have 6 IQ bars which are like a light meal replacement. They are not only keto but vegan too! I shoved them into a "dead corner" of my suitcase.
Next up is a box of many Roam Sticks, which are pork jerky made with no sugar. I like the jalapeno flavor. For a little more sugar, there is a pineapple pork flavor too which is still technically keto. And the three cream colored boxes next to the shoes are parm crisps, stacked on their side because they fit best in the space that way. (A swimming towel has also found its way in there, rolled tightly again.)
One of each of these snacks is also going into my carry on for those in-flight and airport situations. Finally, in my carry on are these lovely fat bombs. They had to go in my carry on because they will melt in the heat - they involve chocolate. I also have a couple Lily's chocolate bars (not pictured).
Finishing Up the Suitcase - Larger Liquids and Pandemic Things
Larger liquids go in my suitcase because of the 3-1-1 rule. Larger liquids include the following:
Sunscreen (lots of it, preferably Sport/Waterproof) - I have 3 small bottles of SPF 50 Sport. Wish I could pack aerosol but aerosol should not go in checked luggage.
After sun balm by Burt's Bees. I saw some great reviews. I didn't believe it. Then I took it on vacation and got a really bad sunburn. Put this on and it improved much quicker. Now, it's a staple.
Larger portions of my "signature scent". I wrote a post about this. Basically, you can use the power of scents to bring back strong memories of your vacation. This trip's signature scent is Frangipani by Demeter Fragrance Library.
Cooling foot spray by the Body Shop. This. This right here is a lifesaver.
Menthol and Hemp Oil Muscle Roller. This is great for those tired and sore muscles after a long day in the parks.
Then, there is some pandemic-related stuff. I like to bring some rapid tests along just in case I feel wonky and want to confirm it's not COVID (And most of the time, it's not COVID). I am also bringing a 24 pack of KF-94 masks because I still have a little bit of crowd anxiety that's pandemic related and I know there will just be times I feel better if I'm masked. To each their own. It is not required at Walt Disney World anymore.
Then, because of the masks, there are these little beauties, which are another one of my favorite things! These headbands with buttons save the backs of your ears when you are wearing a mask for a long stretch. And they look cute. I have one in my carry-on as well with a couple masks there too.
I had to go through a few versions of these headbands to find some that I felt fit well and didn't slip, so be aware of that. I got mine here.
Also not pictured, because I needed to order more, are mask lanyards. These are great for situations where you are going to be putting on and taking off the same mask over and over and don't want to shove it into your pocket.
And then there's the stuff that helps us be comfortable. We're talking a small supply of Tums, Aleve, Advil, that sort of thing that is just nice to have. It costs a fortune in the park, so I always bring some along. For the Aleve and Advil, I use a small pill organizer like this:
Finally, the park bag! I don't actually need the park bag in the carry-on either, so it's going in the suitcase. Because it has a little bulk to it, I put some things in there. I chose to put things that might normally go in the park bag, but not the definitive things just yet. As packed, it currently is holding my tumbler that keeps water cold alllll day which is going to be my water bottle this trip, and my Disney poncho from years past. If you don't have a Disney poncho, any old poncho will do, but I prefer a poncho over an umbrella at the parks should it start to rain or should you decide to ride Kali River Rapids. There are also two cooling towels in here right now but they can't be seen.
Before heading into the park, the park bag will probably lose the poncho unless rain is forecast, and gain sunglasses, a phone, a phone battery, sunscreen, and my wallet.
And yes, it is an adorable Loungefly backpack that I was given for my birthday. I love it.
Here's the suitcase all packed:
One thing I love about my suitcase is that clear plastic section on the top. This is where all the liquids go. That way, if there's a spill, it's contained to that area and doesn't get all over my clothes and everything else.
The Carry-On
I am spoiled in that I have two bags I adore to choose from for my carry on. One is a rolling bag that is great for organizing things, and the other is a backpack with a protective compartment for a laptop. But I don't need a laptop at Disney. However, my daughter will because of schoolwork, so I am giving her the backpack and using my roll on. This thing is amazing. I love it. It's cavernous. And it fits under the seat. This is a link to the bag but in a different color than mine.
I am the kind of traveler that gets to the airport and is nervous. I'm nervous until I get to my gate on time. And then I'm nervous again on the plane because I don't love flying. Given I'm nervous the entire travel day, organization is the name of the game. I don't want to fumble around looking for things. I want to always know exactly where each item is. So a lot of my carry-on must-haves are based on organizing my things so I can get at them quickly, or pull them out for security quickly.
I already mentioned there is a very small change of clothes in the carry on, and a few keto snacks. There is also a bag of must-have toiletries that are not liquid (a travel razor, a comb, etc) just in case I get stuck without my suitcase. And there is a very small bag of what I call my "sleep aids": melatonin, earplugs, and a eye pillow, again, in case I get stuck somewhere, so I can sleep anywhere. Speaking of sleeping anywhere, I have my Turtl pillow in there. Haven't fully tested it out by napping in it yet, but it seems comfy and is much smaller than my previous travel pillow.
So here's all that stuff in the main pocket of the bag, at the bottom because it's my hope I won't need it:
In that front inside pocket, is a folder with all my confirmations for basically everything printed out. Have I EVER needed to use my paper confirmations? No. Does it ease a lot of anxiety about my phone bricking while everything is on it? Yes, completely. So there it is. The things I print out are:
Flight confirmation and information
Hotel reservation confirmation
ADR confirmations
VRBO address and confirmation
Will call ticket confirmation (for Universal... I wouldn't will call for Disney)
And in the mesh pocket there is a deck of playing cards. Because you never know when your 2 hour layover will become a 12 hour layover and cards are easy and versatile.
Finally, in the main pocket, there is a pack of my medications. MEDICATIONS SHOULD ALWAYS GO IN YOUR CARRY ON. Holy smokes, if you need medications to be healthy OR you just don't feel right without your supplements, they need to remain with you. Why make a flight cancellation or a lost bag harder than it already is? Just have your meds!
When I pack my medications, I put them in a pill organizer. This one is bigger than I usually go for, but each capsule actually has two sections, which means in a 7 day organizer, I can cheat and get 14 days in there (necessary for this trip). Then, I remove the adhesive prescription from the pill bottle at home and adhere it to the top of the pill organizer so in case I have to prove these are mine, or I get stuck in Florida and run low, I don't have such a hassle filling them. (The white thing is my prescriptions stuck to the inside of this organizer).
Let's Talk Liquids
You can only take a small amount of liquids in your carry on. For me, these liquids are the things I need if I lose my bag. Things like deodorant, toothpaste, lotion, foundation, etc.
To help keep things small, I bought these capsules by Cadence. They have a leakproof seal and are magnetic so they stick together. You can choose your colors, and even customize your labels, though it's a good idea to get some blank labels too because as your needs change, what goes in the capsule may change. I removed the label from the purple one in this picture because it said "supplements" but it's actually holding lotion.
And here are the capsules and all my other liquids in the liquids bag:
Other liquids that are important for me to have with me are hand sanitizer, lip balm, and Visine. Because flying is germy and dry, yo.
If I'm checking a bag, I try to leave lots of space in my liquids bag. My bag is an FAA certified 3-1-1 bag, but because of its shape, in other countries (I'm looking at you, Scotland), I've been told I need to empty the contents and put them in a Ziploc bag - because that is the strict regulation. Because of the flat bottom of this bag, it actually holds a lot more. A Ziploc bag results in lost space because of its shape. So the one time I had to empty this bag and use a Ziploc, I had to throw things away. And the Ziploc ripped. I have NEVER had trouble with this at airports in the United States where the FAA wrote the 3-1-1 rule, but just in case, I don't stuff it full anymore.
Favorite Things Intermission #3 - Things That Organize
There are three organizers in my carry-on. One for electronics and their cords and batteries, one for what I want to easily access on the plane, and one for my passport and boarding passes.
Passport And Boarding Pass Organizer:
This goes in the side pocket of my rolling carry-on. It's easy to just slip out when checking in and going through security and boarding. It can hold my passport, boarding passes, and lots more. Sometimes I put my phone in here if I want everything together (after going through security). I have a bunch of hand sanitizing wipes and anti-fog glasses wipes stuffed in here, and shortly before I leave, my credit card will go in here too. The white square is a Tile tracker. Just in case I'm at an airport and suddenly don't know where my passport is, my Tile app should be able to track it down using the tracker. I apologize the exterior is a little dirty... I've had this for years and years now and it's starting to show wear, and while I can't find a link to the exact model I have, there are lots of similar ones available online.
Seatback organizer:
This is a recent purchase and I'm excited to see how this goes. You know that moment during boarding, though, when you and your underseat bag get into your tiny tiny seat, and you need some things from your bag. I can't quite fit the bag on my lap, but I also can't quit bend so tightly to rummage in it properly once it's under the seat in front of me. And because others are boarding, putting it on the seat next to me is right out. Wouldn't it be nice to just be able to grab everything you want at hand at once?
That's the idea of this thing. Well, the actual idea is to keep you from putting things in that seatback pocket on the plane that gets cleaned so infrequently. But I bought it for the other reason. Still not sure what all is going in here, but so far there is gum, some hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, and my trip journal and pen. There's a hook for headphones and those are definitely going there too soon.
Electronics organizer:
I'll be bringing my phone, phone charger, charging cable, external battery, Kindle, kindle charger and cable, fitbit, fitbit charger, and Magic Band + and Magic Band + charger. To keep it all straight, there's this electronics organizer.
You'll have to forgive me in the following two pictures. I'm not much for folding cables prettily. But you get the point. There are two zippered compartments. One with elastics for cables and small pockets, and another with more small pockets and a large pocket.
And speaking of electronics, I swear by my Anker external phone battery. Because I'm on my phone working the Genie+ and taking pictures, it's important to have the battery with me. This battery can hold more than 1 full charge, so it's enough to get me through a long park day.
Whew! And that's everything!
Well, I'm exhausted from packing AND then writing about packing! I'm not sponsored by any products I recommended - They're only being recommended because I personally love them. I hope that this helped you consider what to bring to Walt Disney World, though you may have different needs than I do. And I hope I gave you some good ideas for how to save space, how to stay organized, and in general what to consider when packing.
If you liked this post, please follow us on Facebook where you can see when we post new blogs every week! Until next time...
Comments