What to Pack
Dressing practical and cute at Disney is totally doable! But remember, comfort is key! Bottom line, grab some super cute t-shirts and pair them with either workout leggings or shorts and tennis shoes. The only pair of pants I wore in the parks were this pair of camo joggers. They were breezy enough for me for a high of 85 degrees but not sure if I’d wear them in the dead heat of summer. I’d also throw in a pair of comfortable sandals when your feet start to get tired of being in tennis shoes.
Packing Tips
We normally fly Southwest Airlines, which allows us to check two bags per person for free. We definitely take advantage of that! For our ten day trip (which also included a cruise), We checked one bag per person (including the girls), an extra empty small bag (not necessary but we were told we would be coming home with a lot of swag from the conference), and we carried on two backpacks. If we were flying another airline that charged for bags, this would probably be pretty pricey. Know these costs ahead of time so it doesn’t come as a surprise.
Know Your Airline’s Baggage Policy
Once you’ve booked all of your park reservations, dining reservations, and know what you’ll be doing each day, plan your outfits for you and your family. It sounds ridiculous, but it avoids overpacking. It also helps you stay organized each day, and minimizes the stress of getting dressed each morning. If you’re staying at a Disney property hotel, there are laundry rooms, so bringing an extra outfit isn’t completely necessary, but I always like to bring one extra outfit per person.
Plan Every Day Out
Seriously, you need these space saver bags in your life. They come in a pack of 12 of medium and large size bags, both of which are large to me. I was able to fit every single piece of clothing per kid for the duration of the trip (which included Disney World and a Disney Cruise) in one bag. It also left plenty of room in their small rolling suitcases for shoes and extras. I separated my clothes into parks, conference, and cruise clothes items in the space saver bags. That also helped me stay organized in my own luggage.
Space Saver Bags are Your Friend
You can do Amazon Prime Now or hit up the grocery store when you arrive in Orlando, so it’s unnecessary to pack snacks or sunscreen. (Side note: we went through an entire can and a half of sunscreen on our trip. You need a lot of it, so buy it there.) Our kids don’t need a stroller anymore, but we rented one in the parks. One less thing to lug through the airport. Don’t stress about forgetting items, because you can get it there.
Skip on a Few Things Until You Get There
Not really a packing tip, but this is a travel tip worth mentioning. Greg and I each have Global Entry cards, which come with five years of free TSA Pre-Check. If you are going to be doing any sort of international air travel, it’s worth getting because you get that plus the free Pre-Check. If not, go ahead and apply for TSA Pre-Check. The kids don’t need to apply for it, just adults. It saves so much time and headaches in the airport. It’s so handy when trying to get kids through the security line.
Consider TSA Pre-Check
Like I said before, don’t stress about packing the perfect bags. You’re going to Orlando, not the seventh circle of hell. Enjoy yourself and focus on staying comfortable in the parks!
Don’t Stress Too Much