My park bag essentials

Along with a few bag favorites and recommendations!

I cannot wait to see these gorgeous blooms at Epcot next month!

Happy Wednesday, readers! Last week we discussed our must-have items for a Disney trip but this week, we’re chatting about our park bag essentials.

This topic has alway fascinated me because park bags vary so much from person to person.¹ I lean more toward carefully prepared minimalism while my mom, for example, brings everything but the kitchen sink. The key to understanding what best works for you is asking yourself,

1. What and how much am I comfortable carrying around for hours in the sun, rain, wind, and everything in between?

2. What items are absolutely essential for me and my travel party? Meaning, would we be hindered, upset, and/or inclined to purchase these items in the park if we were to omit or forget them from our park bag(s)?

3. Finally — even if I have a bag preference, is it realistic for my needs? If you have children or dependents, you might need a larger bag than what you’d like to carry so that you have certain items on hand, or perhaps you’d prefer a backpack but have to choose a smaller crossbody bag due to chronic neck or back pain.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide! For some trips, I might even use a few different types of bags throughout the week. It doesn’t have to be black and white. Pick what works for you and your travel party.

What park bag(s) do I bring?

As far as my favorite bags go, I love the BEIS Sport Pack. It’s surprisingly roomy for a crossbody bag, and it doesn’t get in the way or feel like it’s smothering me. I used it throughout my previous Disney trip and it quickly became my go-to park bag. If I’m only in the park for a few hours and set on carrying as little items as possible, I always consider bringing one of my Dooney & Bourke crossbody bags.

When I need to carry a few more items (i.e. ponchos), I’ll take a small backpack instead. I love the styles by Vera Bradley; they’re lightweight, well-made, and very comfortable on the shoulders. Lululemon also makes some great bags! Loungefly backpacks are wildly popular in the park so if you’re looking for a good middle-of-the-road option with fun Disney, Pixar, Lucasfilm, etc. theming, they might be worth checking out.

I’ve had my eye on the Disney Lorman Sling Backpack by Vera Bradley and although the bag is a smidge smaller than the BEIS crossbody, it’s a lil’ more stylish for when I want to dress up a bit. Plus, it has embroidered Mickey heads all over it. A lil’ pricey but oh-so cute. There’s also a cheaper, non-Disney version, as well.

Alright — now that we’ve addressed park bags, lets chat about the items that I almost always bring with me to the parks.

Wallet

No matter where I go, my wallet goes too. It has my methods of payment, health insurance cards, and a photo ID, which is important if I need to verify my identity with Cast Members (i.e. accessing Disney Vacation Club lounges, picking up tickets, etc.) or, you know, grab an ice-cold drink after spending a long day on my feet.

If you’re carrying a smaller park bag, I highly recommend using a slim wallet like this one or this one. If I’m using one with a larger bag, I like to assign it to a designated interior space or pocket so it doesn’t end up floating around the dark, empty void.

Cell phone, along with any other gadgets

We live in an increasingly digital world, and a Disney trip can be made much more efficient with certain capabilities via the Disney World or Disneyland apps, like mobile ordering, self-checkout at specific stores, and purchasing and managing Lightning Lane selections. If you’ve got a smart phone, I’d recommend bringing it.

For my upcoming trip, I’ll also be hauling along some other gadgets, including the DJI Osmo Mobile Gimbal 7 and Insta360 GO 3S camera. These are simple to use and don’t add a ton of weight to my park bag, so they’re a great option for content creators!

Power bank and charging cords

With all that technology comes drained batteries, so I always bring a larger power bank like this one, as well as a FuelRod that I can swap out in the parks or at the resorts (for free!) when it eventually takes its final breath. Don’t forget the charging cords, though!

We talked about FuelRods in this post, so be sure to check it out for more details about these lil’ chargers and why I recommend them for Disney trips.

Handheld, battery-operated fan

Listen — I was born and raised on the bayou (aka Houston), so I know the heat and humidity well. We have a very close, complicated relationship and although we’ve known each other for decades, it still gets to me sometimes while in the parks. In those moments, I reach for a fan to cool off and recalibrate. This one is great for smaller park bags, and I love this one on the rare occasion that I decide to bring a backpack with me.

Sunglasses

This is…self-explanatory; Florida isn’t called the Sunshine State for no reason! Unless there’s heavy cloud cover or a thunderstorm, I’ve got my sunglasses on. My absolute favorite pairs are by Goodr. They’re inexpensive, high-quality, and non-slip. I love ‘em.

Cooling towel

This is another one of those items that I may or may not bring depending on the weather but when it’s hot, I usually have a cooling towel packed away in my bag. These are super handy because they’re lightweight, actually help you cool off when they’re wet, and dry easily thanks to their breathable fabric. I bought mine (pictured above) while at the parks, but they’re also available for purchase in a multi-pack from Amazon for much cheaper. Like, much cheaper.

Sunscreen

Protecting your skin is a absolute necessity (you’ve only got one!), especially when you’re in a lower latitude like Central Florida. This involves not just the initial application of sunscreen but slathering or spraying it on multiple times afterwards, as well.

Thanks to a condition called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (or “MCAS”), I’m actually allergic to the sun which is super fun! So, I try my hardest to avoid making my skin even angrier. I’ve loved using the Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen and PLAY Everyday Lotion in the past, and I’ve been using the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Fluid Facial Sunscreen and Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen lately.

Anti-bacterial spray and wipes

I…could be described as a bit of a germaphobe. The first thing I do after boarding a plane is wipe down all my surrounding surfaces, and the same is true when I sit down at a quick service table or hop off an attraction in the parks. I love the Trader Joe’s hand sanitizer spray, but I’ve also used and recommend the Honest Company’s spray and Everyone’s spray. For anti-bacterial wipes, I always add these to my cart. Germs aren’t all bad, but I sure don’t want some of them… (bombastic side eye)

Tip: If you buy your anti-bacterial wipes in a larger pack but don’t want to carry the whole package with you into the parks, simply add some to a Ziploc bag, remove as much air as possible, and seal it up tightly.

My “walking pharmacy”

I already spoke about my catch-all for medicine in this post, but to quickly sum it up — you’ve got a headache? Come to me. Gas pain, acid reflux, or tummy ache killin’ your vibe? I’ve got you. Can’t stop running to the bathroom? Stop by me on your way there. Perturbed by an itchy, angry rash? Not to fear — the “walking pharmacy” is here.

When you can’t predict the future, it’s best to at least prepare for it. I do this by carrying a diverse assortment of over-the-counter medicine in a slim container that can be easily packed in my park bag. It’s come in handy so many times that I simply don’t leave my resort room without it.

A sample or travel-sized perfume

When I’ve spent several hours in the park, I’m basically chomping at the bit to feel a lil’ more refreshed. Usually this will involve a trip to the bathroom for a wet, cool paper towel, a reapplication of lip gloss, and — my favorite — a spritz of perfume. Yea, you might still be sweaty and covered in sunscreen but that quick spray of fragrance can make all the difference. If I’m in the parks, I always have it with me.

Not a fan of perfume? Not a problem. Give essential oils a try instead! Be sure to look for one with a roller-ball applicator and contains a carrier oil (i.e. almond or jojoba oil) for safe skin application.

Tip: I love trying out perfume discovery sets from Sephora, which are a great way to 1.) find a fragrance you love without splurging on a full bottle and 2.) travel with a perfume that has a small footprint. Also — I’m not sure if Sephora still offers this but in the past, you could visit a store and request a free sample of a perfume.

Lip products

I’m a lip balm and gloss junkie, so I usually bring one or two along with me in my park bag. For my upcoming trip, I expect to carry one that’s hydrating and one that provides a bit of sun protection. On my previous trip, I was all about the lip stain and gloss combination. When you want that color to stick around for photos, it’s a solid pairing!

There we have it; that’s what I bring along to the parks. Now, I want to hear from you! What are your park bag essentials? Leave a comment and let us know.

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See ya real soon,

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1. Shoutout to the 2000s and 2010s era trend of “what’s in my bag?” videos on YouTube. If you’re wondering, yes — I’m always interested to see what’s in your bag.