Last updated on December 27th, 2021 at 11:23 pm

There’s a lot that goes into Planning a Disney Family Vacation. More than just planning the right outfits! But if you missed Planning a Disney Family Vacation Part 1, where I talk about packing clothes, check it out here, and then come back to part 2 for even more info!

How much more planning do I need to do my for Disney family vacation?

It’s time to pack the rest of what you need, and then some! Maybe you already have some of these on your list. But there’s probably a couple things you didn’t even think of! 

Sure, you could buy a lot of these things at the park, but it’s going to cost you 5X more, so plan ahead now and spend your money on more exciting things when you get there!

Because I was going on a plane and trip with my toddler for the first time, I had no idea what to expect. I did my research and was arguably over-prepared.

Depending on when you’re reading this, don’t forget to bring masks and backup masks and more backup masks! Just like shoes, you never know if something you’re wearing for long periods at a time is going to irritate your skin. 

Things You Didn’t Think Of

Airplane and Park Entertainment 

Kids Tablet

We got our daughter a kids Amazon tablet for Christmas, in the hopes she would just watch videos on the plane. Instead she slept the whole time yay! But that tablet has really come in handy during the pandemic though!

We would also bring the tablet in our backpack on park days, just in case Eme got restless at restaurants 

Coloring Books

Crayola Color Wonder is so great for little kids that you can’t trust to not draw on everything. These markers only work on the Color Wonder paper. And that’s it. Not on airplane trays, or themselves. Genius. 

Little Presents

I read while I was planning my trip to have something new for your child to play with for every half hour of travel. And then I panicked a little bit.

I bought a couple of these little mystery toys, unwrapped them, got rid of all the plastic and wrapped them back up in Mickey Mouse wrapping paper.

I also wrapped up some matchbox cars and little stuffed Mickey and Minnie toys.

Keep an eye on shopdisney.com for sales leading up to your trip. You can get toys, clothes and dress up outfits for cheaper than the parks. Plus, if you want a new pair of Minnie Mouse ears to wear in the park, this is the perfect time too. 

Because Eme slept on the flight, I didn’t need to bring out a present every 30 minutes. But, it was fun to give her a little present every day!

Prepare for the Parks

Stroller Cover for Rain

Sure, you could buy a cover specifically for your stroller to protect it from the rain, OR you could buy a shower curtain and some clothes pins and it’ll get the job done for way cheaper!

Metal Straws

Disney no longer offers plastic straws, just paper. Personally, I’m not a fan of paper straws. When they start to get mushy and stick to my lips, YUCK. I bought a pack of metal straws on amazon, and carried them with me in my backpack. 

More Ziploc Bags

Going on a water ride? Put your phone, wallet, and anything else you want to keep dry in a ziploc bag! Plus, if your kid has an accident, you can put their clothes in a Ziploc bag to keep everything else from getting messy.

Rain Ponchos

Unless you want to spend a lot of money on a Mickey Mouse rain poncho, bring your own!

They’re pretty cheap, and are small enough to pack a couple of them. You can find some here.

Reusable Filter Water Bottle

If you’ve been to Disney before, you know the water has a specific taste to it. The water has more sulfur in it, but it’s fine to drink. This is more a matter of personal preference, 

I’m constantly drinking water, but I didn’t want to keep buying plastic water bottles. Or try to find a water fountain or a quick service location to get a free cup of ice water.

We filled up this Brita water bottle anytime we saw a water fountain. And we all stayed hydrated! 

You can also ask for cups of ice water at quick service locations. Pour the rest of the water and ice into your bottle when you’re done! 

Glow Sticks and Bubble Wands

There are so many Cast Members selling glow sticks and bubble wands in the parks. It’s hard to avoid them (i.e make sure your kids don’t see them). 

I totally get the appeal of a bubble wand – one kept our friend’s one-year old occupied for a long time on the bus ride home (mostly lights, less bubbles). 

If you can get away with not having to buy one in the parks, Amazon has a lot of different options. You can get different kinds of bubbles and bubble wands for way cheaper.

I brought little bottles of bubbles and they helped to keep my daughter entertained while we were waiting for one thing or another

If you bring your own glow sticks, and give them to your kids early, you might be able to avoid the Cast Members. 

Packages of glow sticks on Amazon are super cheap, and you get a TON. I’d crack a couple of these a night and give them to my daughter, and she loved it!

A Stroller Sign

This is totally unnecessary, but it’s fun to make! 

I bought some cardstock, laminating paper and stickers and had Eme decorate a sign with our last name on it (plus some watercolor pencil scribbles). 

Then I hole-punched the sign, brought some twine and tied it to our stroller. It’s a sea of the same looking strollers at Disney, so any way to more easily pick out your own is a bonus

Portable fan

Because it can get so hot in Florida, having a portable fan comes in really handy. You can also buy the kind with a mister, but they’re not as compact. But, it’s cheaper than buying it in the park! 

Food

Make sure you pack enough food and snacks you need for your travel to Disney World and maybe the next day.

Bring whatever you and your family like to eat and snack on to keep you full, and maybe a couple treats too! 

For me, finding these shelf-stable milk boxes are a lifesaver for Eme! 

Is there anything on your list I need to know about? Share your feedback in the comments!