You've packed your luggage successfully and strategically, leaving enough room for lots of shopping goodies. But what items do you actually bring to the theme parks?
Until you stand for 30mins in the wind & rain wondering when Mother Nature will be through with her cruel joke of pouring down on your vacation. You may also have noticed a few popular specialty boutique bag brands pop up in recent years. Some names that come to mind are Loungefly, Dooney & Bourke, Danielle Nicole and most recently, Stoney Clover. These brands make gorgeous, good quality backpacks all themed to different Disney characters, Disney movies, and even non-Disney themes too like Harry Potter or Studio Ghibli. They are on the pricier side - one Loungefly, the most affordable one amongst the list, can cost around SGD$160 - but they do tie the outfit together beautifully!
I, however, stuck with my ol' reliable Mickey backpack from Typo that I got in 2017, for nostalgia. That baby got me through Tokyo Disneyland, DisneySea and 3 months of summer heat in Orlando so I had to bring her back!
While you might find some similarities with the stuff you would typically bring to the zoo or USS, there are some necessities specific to Walt Disney World.
1) Water Bottle
Florida is H-O-T most days of the year, and humid too, just like our Little Red Dot. So, hydration, Hydration, HYDRATION. I usually bring a 1-L (at least) water bottle to ensure I'm getting my H2Os. A new thing WDW has put in place since my last visit are - water refill stations! But they aren't as abundant as we'd like so I try to bring a sizeable bottle that can last me at least a good few hours till I spot a refill station or sit down at a restaurant where I can refill my water.
You can read all about these refills stops on Disney Food Blog's post
Guests can also get free cups of water at various snack stands (that have the soda pop machine), quick service restaurants and my ol' reliable - STARBIES!
Or be like me and get a Trenta sized Strawbery Acai Lemonade Refresher with Green Tea and drink it over 2 days *exhibit A below*.
2) Rain Gear
You'd think, "Singapore rain every day, aiya can one la"
*activate Singaporean accent*
However, Florida rain is on a whole other level. The weather is moodier on the west side of planet Earth - the rain can drench you from head to toe and in the next 5 minutes, it could be blazing hot. In the evening, you'd wonder if you came in November or January when temperatures drop by 10degrees.
Pro tip: pack layers + a poncho for Florida's "winter". An umbrella won't do you much good in Orlando where hurricanes are as common as their oranges are. Alternatively you could have a old school romantic stroll through the rain and slosh through the large puddles if you'd like.
3) Mickey/Minnie Ears
Ah, the Disneyland/world S-T-A-P-L-E. A must wear for many whom come to the land of magic and Mickey Mouse. Disney has really pulled all the stops to ensure we are spoiled for choice with Mickey/Minnie headbands lately.
You can even make your own and bring them to the parks, for that extra unique experience. I made a pair of crocheted Winnie the Pooh themed ears - pattern by @hayhaycrochet on Instagram - and wore them to meet Pooh! He was so happy to see my ears cause it looked like him!
4) Snacks!
Okay this one's more up to your preference and/or budgeting prowess. A lot of pro Disney World guests recommend bringing your own snacks for your little ones or as a money saving tip. Let's face it, Disney is expensive. A dole whip will set you back 6.49USD, a churro ~5USD, a turkey leg 11.75USD (taxes not included).
5) Autograph Book
Photo from Amazon website
This one's for the little princes and princesses in your group, both of age and at heart. One thing I have to do at the parks is meet characters and a great souvenir from these interactions are special autographs! You can bring notebooks with thick markers or thick pens ("thick" enough for Mickey or Pooh to grab ahold of with their four fingered hands)
Hope this list was helpful!
If you have more questions about preparing for a Disney vacation, drop me an email and don't forget to subscribe to receive a notification of a new post.
See ya real soon!
And remember your daily scoop of pixie dust! ;)
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