21 Things to Bring into Disneyland

When I visit Disneyland, I want to be there from open to close. It doesn’t always happen, especially when I had young kids with me who needed a mid-day nap. But even with a Good Neighbor Hotel near the Disneyland Resort, the more time you can spend in the park instead of walking back to the hotel to grab things, the better. Here are 21 things to bring into Disneyland to save you time and a little money.

Many of the ideas came from my person experiences at the Disneyland Resort. But I also asked some avid Disneyland Addicts on Facebook what they recommended people bring with them. Take a look at the list and comment with any items you think are also essential for a day at The Happiest Place on Earth.

Small Items to Bring to Disneyland

There are a few items you can carry with you in case something comes up. If you carry a small First-Aid kit with you, you’ll have many of these items and they can help in case a kid trips and bangs up his or her knee.

• Hand sanitizer
• Masks (as in surgical or cloth masks – mainly recommended during the COVID-19 pandemic)
• Tweezers
• Band-Aids
• Wet wipes
• Excedrin/Tylenol
• Ziploc bags (great for snacks or protecting electronics on the water rides)
• Autograph book and working pen

Electronic Items to Bring with You

You’ll probably have your cell phone and camera with you, so I won’t even bother to mention those. But these items can help provide some entertainment to younger children. And if you don’t have the first item listed below, your peace and quiet may be short-lived when the battery starts to run out.

• Portable phone charger and charging cable
• Kindle, iPad – Things to do while waiting in line
• Heads-up app downloaded to your phone (Makes for a great boredom buster while waiting in long lines)

Items to Help Address the Weather

The weather in California is typically good year round. I’ve often enjoyed Christmas time at the Disneyland Resort and needed nothing more than a light jacket. But the weather can turn from hot to rainy, so a few of these items can help you if the weather decides to turn on you.

• Water bottle
• Mini fan to keep cool
• Sunscreen
• Rain poncho
• Chapstick
• Cooling cloth/washcloth
• Hair tie
• Extra set of clothes for young kids (If the clothes get wet on a water ride or from the rain, having an outfit with you will save you the $$$ from having to buy clothes in the park)

Unusual Items You Should Bring to Disneyland

There are a few unusual items you should carry with you into the park, especially if you have young kids. I’ll explain why these two items are listed.

• Glow sticks. They help identify YOUR stroller from the bazillion others, and they’re great for the kids to play with at night while waiting in line or for a parade.
• Post-It notes. Kids hate it when they’re sitting on a toilet and it flushes on them. My daughter was terrified of using the toilets in Disneyland for that very reason. A cast member suggested using a Post-It to cover the sensor while “going”, then you can remove it and flush. It’s a small thing, but for some it’s essential if you want to keep them happy in the parks.

Summary

All of the items above can fit in a simple backpack. If you have multiple adults, you can spread the love and have each person carry a little something. But there’s one last grouping of items I would add to the list, especially if you want to make your Disneyland family vacation more affordable. Pack your own lunch. You can pack your bread, peanut butter, jelly (not in a class contained) and some chips. Save dining in the parks for dinner as a sort-of treat.

Do you have other items you think people should pack into the park with them? Comment below so others can learn from our combined experiences of enjoying The Happiest Place on Earth.

PIN THIS