What to Take to Disneyland + BEST Disneyland Packing List

If you’re visiting the happiest place on earth, you’ll need to know what to take to Disneyland so you’re fully prepared to have the most stress-free day in the park. I’ve also included a printable Ultimate packing list that will have you covered no matter what time of the year you visit.

To ensure this list was as comprehensive as possible, I enlisted the help of my Disneyland Facebook Group. Even though I travel to the parks several times a month, it’s always helpful to hear what to take to Disneyland from others who visit as often as I do.

My Important Things & Essential Items

 Let’s jump right into the items I personally always bring to the Disneyland Park. Some of these, like a hair clip or hair ties, are more specific because I have long hair that will get tangled on the rides. Other items I bring are pretty standard across the board.

SPF Sunscreen

Wearing sunscreen is an absolute must when you visit Disneyland. There is not a lot of shade at the park and without a high SPF sunscreen, you will go home with a burn. I like to use spray sunscreens or if I am traveling with only carry-on luggage I bring a stick of sunscreen so I have more room for liquids.

For my face, I really love Japanese sunscreens which are so gentle, do not sting or pile under makeup, and leave no white cast. I always pack an SPF powder to reapply throughout the day. The Hawaiian Tropic mineral SPF 30 powder is amazing and gets rid of shine while at the same time providing sun protection.

Reusable Water Bottle

During your visit, you can go to any of the quick-service restaurants and ask for a cup of cold water with ice. I then pour this into my reusable water bottle. There are also multiple water fountains throughout the park. I like to travel very lightly so instead of a large hydroflask, I carry this small 5oz mini water bottle which fits into even my smallest crossbody bag.

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Phone Battery Chargers

 During your visit to the Disneyland Theme Parks, you’ll be using the Disneyland app all-day. The app is now how you scan your Disneyland tickets to enter the park. It is also used for lightening lanes and to mobile order food and drinks. At Disney World, their app is also used to get into your hotel room.

Your phone’s battery will run out very quickly. I have two battery packs I like to bring to Disneyland when I visit. The first is a Fuel Rod. The Fuel Rods are more compact if you are bringing a small bag. What makes Fuel Rods unique is that there are kiosks throughout the park that let you simply swap out your used Fuel Rod, for one that is fully charged. This ensures you never have to worry about running out of battery life.

The second battery pack I like to bring is this slightly bigger portable charger with built in cables. What I love about this charger is it has every type of connector you might need. This is great if you are using one charger for the entire family with different types of phones or want to charge different types of devices. This is my go-to battery charger when I travel.

Pro-Tip: The morning of your Disneyland visit, first thing in the morning when your phone is fully charged, put it into low-battery mode and it will last much longer.

Disneyland Credit Card

One thing you may not know about the Disneyland Credit Card is that it gives you access to two private photo opportunities with Disney Characters in the Disneyland Resort and Disney California Adventure Park. In DCA you can show your card to the cast member in Hollywood Land at Stage 17 and take photos between 11am – 2pm. This is usually Stitch, Minnie, or Pluto.

In Disneyland, between 2pm – 6pm you can visit the Star Wars Launch Bay for a photo opportunity which is usually Darth Vader. I’ll admit, I got the credit card just for the cash-back offer and the photo ops.

Ear Holder

If you plan on wearing some adorable Disney ears to the park, you will love this Disney ear holder. It is very likely you won’t want to wear your ears for the entire day and you will have to remove them for many rides. I found these stroller straps that work perfectly as ear holders. This device is so convenient and I always bring it when I’m wearing a pair of Disney ears. It clips right onto your bag and the velcro attachment wraps onto your ears so you do not have to hold them or have them take up precious space in your bag.

Eyedrops

If you wear contacts or are prone to dry eyes, make sure to bring hydrating eyedrops. Both the sun and wind from roller coasters can dry out the eyes.

Pro-tip: If you have very dry eyes Siccaforte Eye Gel is amazing. While it cannot be used with contacts, I put this in my eyes before putting them in and before I go to bed. This product is a total game changer.

• Chapstick/ Lip Balm
• Cell phone
• Sunglasses
• Credit card/debit card/gift cards/money
• ID/License: I would leave other travel documents such as your passport in your hotel room
•  gum
• Hair clip or hair tie
• Small hair brush
• Medication (more on this below)
• Hand Sanitizer

Additional List of Items

While I do not bring these items listed below, they are items mentioned from other Disneyland Magic Key Holders which you may find helpful.

Anti-Chafing Stick

I don’t know why I never see this mentioned, but chafing is a real issue for so many people at amusement parks. I see it mentioned all the time in my Disneyland groups. You are going to be walking 20,000 – 30,000 steps at Disneyland and for many guests who visit the park, a good anti-chafing stick or gel is an absolute must!

• Hand Lotion 
• Alcohol Wipes
• Ziploc bag (for leftover food)
• Safety Pins
• Moleskin for any unexpected blisters
• Makeup
• deodorant

Extra Clothes Items to Pack for Disneyland

• 2 Pairs of Comfortable Walking Shoes: If you are visiting for multiple days, you should bring 2 pairs to wear to avoid any foot pain
• Bathing Suit
• Disney-themed clothes
• extra socks (for water rides)

My favorite comfortable shoes

The two shoes I always wear to Disneyland when I plan on doing an all-day visit are Nike Free Runs and Allbirds. Allbirds are great because they are easy to just slip on and come in a variety of different colors. I also wear them as my house shoes.

Can You Bring Your Own Food & Drinks Into Disneyland?

Yes, you can bring your food and nonalcoholic beverages into Disneyland and it is a great way to save money on your Disney Vacation. Here is the official policy on bringing food and drinks into Disneyland.

“Guests are allowed to bring outside food and nonalcoholic beverages into the parks for self-consumption, provided they are not in glass containers, do not require heating, reheating, processing or refrigeration and do not have pungent odors. Inform a Security Cast Member of any food items when you enter the park.”

Disneyland website

Food & Drink Packing List

I rarely bring my own snacks or drinks into the parks, but that’s because I am a Disney Adult and don’t have kids. When I bring my nephew, however, who is a picky eater like most children, we always pack him snacks. Here is a list of various snacks and drinks to bring according to the Disney members and moms in my Disneyland Facebook group.

• baby carrots/ sliced vegetables
• cheese/cracker packs
• fresh fruit cups
• trail mix
• chips
• candy
• protein bars
• electrolyte drink/Gatorade
• juice/soda
• flavored drink powder
• bottled water/ water bottles
• ice pack & lunch cooler bag
• condiment packets: yes, believe it or not a ton of Disney regulars said they like to bring their own packets of hot sauce and condiments

What to Take to Disneyland for Toddlers & Small Children

According to Disneyland Moms, here are items they regularly take to Disneyland for their young kids.

• First Aid Kit with bandaids and antiseptic
• Baby Wipes & Baby Powder/ Gold Bond Powder
• Pull-Ups/Diapers & Diaper Cream
• Tissues
• Small Blanket
• Change of clothes
• Black Sharpie: this is so younger kids can get autographs from their favorite characters in their autograph book which is sold at the park or online.
• Disney Pins for trading pins
• Stroller (to avoid the extra cost of renting one)
• Ear plugs or headphones if your child is sensitive to loud noises
• Snacks & Drinks

Medication

I always like to travel prepared and it’s a good idea to always carry a pill case with medication when planning your Disneyland vacation. Here is a list of medications you may want to bring with you. If you or your guests have a fever, severe cough, or temperature you should reschedule your park visit.

• cough drops: your throat will likely get sore from screaming on rides if you love roller coasters
• anti-anxiety
• ibuprofen/Tylenol
• tums
• allergy medication
• Imodium
• Dramamine

What to Pack for Disneyland in the Rain

If there is a chance of rain in the forecast during your Disneyland trip, it is essential that you bring these important items to make your visit enjoyable. Disneyland in the rain can actually be incredibly fun with much shorter wait times, but only if you’re prepared.

• Waterproof shoes like Sperry Duckhorns or Waterproof Shoe Covers
• Extra Socks
• Large Umbrella
• Rain Jacket or Rain Poncho
• Waterproof bag or Backpack rain cover

What to Take to Disneyland in the Summer

Summers at the Disney parks can reach 100+ degrees, especially during the months of August – October. There is not a lot of shade and these are the items it’s a good idea to bring if you want to keep cool. Hot days at Disneyland can be pretty miserable if you’re not prepared.

• hat
• neck fan
• spray mister
• cooling cloths
• sunscreen
• parasol
• cooling fan for your stroller

What to Take to Disneyland in the Fall/Winter

During the fall and winter months, Disneyland can get really chilly in the early mornings and in the evenings as soon as the sun sets. It’s always a great idea to dress in extra layers.

• Light Jacket or Light Sweater in the fall
• Heavier Jacket in the winter
• hat, gloves, & scarf
• a pair of tights or leggings to throw on in the evening if you’re wearing a skirt
• hand warmers

Disneyland Bag Policy

Here is the policy on what types of bags you can bring into the park.

“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.” 

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/park-rules/

If you’ll be bringing a lot into the parks, there are multiple areas with lockers that can be rented. Lockers are located to the left of the main Disneyland entrance, off Main Street in Disneyland, and to the right as soon as you enter California Adventure.

Popular Bags to Bring to Disneyland

The most popular Disneyland Backpack is the Loungefly which comes in a variety of cute Disney designs. Loungefly backpacks are pretty roomy but still petite. They are large enough to hold small necessities, a small water bottle, and a sweater.

I also sometimes like to wear a cute fanny pack for items that I want quick and easy access to. The bags I seem to bring most often are medium-sized crossbody bags which are large enough to store everything I need and easily accessible.

Things you CAN’T Bring Into Disneyland Theme Parks

Here is a list of prohibited items at Disney Theme Parks.

• Vape Pens/ Cigarettes
• Drugs
• Alcohol
• Sparkler Candles
• Face Masks
• Wagons (only those with special needs can bring in wagons)

Disneyland Dress Code Policy

Guests 14 years and older are not allowed to wear costumes at Disneyland. You also cannot wear any clothes that drag on the ground such as maxi dresses. Additionally, clothes with obscene or offensive language is not allowed and you could be asked to change. Finally, women are not allowed to wear clothes that tie around the neck and back which could easily fall off. 

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/faq/parks/dress/

What to Take to Disneyland for Photos & Video

If you want to capture the moment or take really cute videos, here are some additional items you may want to consider. I obviously have to shoot content for this website and also always post videos of all the food festivals as well as “what I ate at Disneyland” on my Instagram @cuisineandtravel.

Two of the most useful items are my Insta360 gimbal which has a built-in tripod and makes it super easy to shoot videos of myself. Here is an example of a Festival of Holidays video I took using this gimbal.

The other product I really love is this Phone case with a built-in light. This lets me take great pictures once the sun goes down. I primarily shoot food and this case provides good light so I do not recommend using it on rides or at shows. It’s best to be considerate of others who taking any type of video or using a lighting source.

Printable Disneyland Packing List

I hope you found this Disney packing list helpful. Below is a printable Disneyland Packing List so you can check off everything you need as you’re getting ready. Is there anything you think I left out that should be added to the list? Feel free to leave a comment below!

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