This is my favorite bag for the theme parks because, well, it’s Star Wars… With the Walt Disney World theme parks reopening, a lot of people are asking what to pack. I thought that it might be a good idea to mention what I have in my bag. Some things are new, others have been on my list all along. I also have the obvious things, such as my keys, debit/credit/gift card, license, and MagicBand. I just don’t think there’s any need to talk about those.
Face coverings are required to visit the Walt Disney World theme parks. I have packed a few. I have a couple of the Disney face masks, because they are cute and good for pictures. The Disney masks aren’t very comfortable, so I also have a couple of plain masks that I picked up at a local Target for $2 each. Those are my favorite, they’re comfortable and they cover well. I also have a few disposable face masks, just in case.
Even though there are stations in the parks, I also have a small bottle of hand sanitizer. I keep this in my pocket. I’ve always carried one with me, because Walt Disney World was always filled with surfaces that other people have touched. If I have it in my pocket I can pull it out quickly, instead of touching everything in my bag.
We found boxes of individually packed sanitizing wipes at Publix, so I have some of those in my bag. I know that Disney is cleaning tables at the restaurants between guests, but it’s nice to have these in case I ever feel as if the cleaning was not thorough enough.
I’m fair skinned, so sunscreen has always been in my bag. Make sure that it is in yours as well. You don’t want to end up as part of a Florida meme with a weird mask sunburn.
It’s summer in Florida, and our weather is whacked right now. Ponchos are a must, plus a bag to carry the wet ponchos in. Sometimes I’ll recommend disposable ponchos, but the rain has been so hard lately that I don’t think that they’ll cut it.
Along the same line, I also have waterproof shoe covers. I’ve never actually used these, because whenever I have had them with me I haven’t needed them. Whenever I haven’t had them, it’s poured. That’s why I’ll keep them in my park bag for the next couple of months, I think they’re magical.
The My Disney Experience App is now a crucial part of a day at Walt Disney World. It is also a battery drainer. That is why I have a portable battery pack. The one that I have has a case, and I keep an extra charging cord in it. I’ll always charge the pack the evening before, because I don’t want to risk it running out of power.
In the past I’ve had cooling towels in my bag. I have rarely used them. I still have a couple in my bag, just in case. They don’t take up a lot of room and they aren’t heavy. I would rather have them and not need them than not have them and want them.
Another thing that I always keep in my bag right now is a pack of strong mints. They make it a little bit easier to wear a mask. They also come in handy after we eat, especially since the Disney chefs love to use garlic. Mints just keep things more refreshing, and I’m not even a huge fan of mint.
A lot of people will carry a water bottle, but I don’t have one in my bag. For me it’s just another thing to carry. When I do carry one, I’ll have one with a clip so that I can clip it to the strap of my bag. Make sure that you stay hydrated, with or without a water bottle. You can get free cups of ice water at any open restaurant. I do have a cooler in my car with a couple of bottles of water, because I’ll want that on the drive home.
Right now everything is trial and error. There will probably be things that I wish that I had and will carry with me the next time. Some of these items are seasonal, so they won’t always be in my bag. Some I will carry in my bag even after the pandemic is over. No matter what you carry with you, make sure that you include an upbeat attitude. Walt Disney World is the most magical place on earth, and we all need a bit of extra magic right now.