So many parents ask for packing tips for Walt Disney World! Of all the aspects of Disney vacation planning out there, the one that causes a lot of confusion and overwhelm for families is knowing what to pack and what they can just buy once they’re down in Florida. For Canadian Disney fans, this can be even trickier, since we also have to take into consideration the currency exchange rate from Canadian to American dollars. And lately, that doesn’t come cheap.

One member of our Clarington & Northumberland Mouse Moms Facebook group recently wrote a post that had a lot of responses from our community members, so I thought I would compile some of them here for other families who are planning a Disney vacation to benefit from.

I’m planning my first family trip to Walt Disney World this May. We’re staying off resort, and I purchased four-day base park tickets. My kids are five and seven years old. I’m starting to feel overwhelmed! What should I bring vs. buy there? ​

Rebecka, Clarington & Northumberland Mouse Moms

Because Clarington & Northumberland Mouse Moms is such an awesome community, there were a lot of great responses to the discussion!

Experienced Moms Provided these Packing Tips for Walt Disney World

Packing Tips for Walt Disney World Snacks and Food Items

• Amy–Packing a few things like cereal bars and packets of oatmeal for your room in the morning could be really helpful!
• Ashley–If flying, I pack juice boxes in a big garbage bag in case it explodes during the flight, then use the bag for dirty laundry. I also pack little cereal boxes and granola bars and homemade trail mix.
• Jennifer–My friend orders a grocery delivery when she arrives. She packs a snack for the flight and that’s it. The rest she orders down there, so no worries about packing and organizing it and its weight.

Packing Tips for Walt Disney World Theme Park Gear and Souvenirs

• Amy–You’ll need a light weight bag for the parks, sunscreen, etc. Hats to keep the kids cool. Comfy shoes. Flip flops for the pool.
• Lisa–I think the first thing to remember is that you’re on vacation…just go with the flow see what you can and enjoy every moment. (For the record, I think this is terrific advice!) Since you’re flying, it’s challenging enough packing everything into your suitcases that I would only take the essentials. I bring my own glow sticks and small souvenirs. 
• Kate–Each kid had one “thing” they were allowed to get at the parks, all week, because I don’t like clutter. So they had to really be choosy about what they wanted.
• Laura–I love Disney and we buy a lot of souvenirs when we are there, but the one thing I always buy here and bring with me are glowsticks or some kind of glow in the dark toy. Dollarama, Dollar Tree and Party City all have great, inexpensive Disney themed options. My kids love having something that glows once the night hits. I would also suggest bringing more than one bathing suit per person, if you have them. Also, get some cheap folded ponchos at either Walmart or the dollar store because they are super expensive at the parks and almost everyone gets one flash rainstorm when they are at Disney.

My favourite grocery delivery service to recommend to my clients is Garden Grocer. They have a very easy-to-navigate app you can use to place an order for delivery to your Walt Disney World Resort hotel. The order will be left at Bell Services for you to pick up at your convenience.

What is one item you always bring with you from home when you visit Walt Disney World?