Top 10 items to pack for a holiday to save money at Walt Disney World

There is no doubt that a holiday to Walt Disney World is magical, but it can get expensive very quickly if you are not careful.

One of the things that I was worried about was what to take with us so I did a bit of research before tackling the packing list.

Last year we upgraded our suitcases as our old ones were a wedding gift and after 12 years of use had taken a bit of a battering and were literally falling apart. The kids have Trunki suitcases and whilst they are great for our weekend breaks, they just were not big enough for our Florida break and I wanted a special suitcase with a Disney theme for our reveal.

Samsonite came to my rescue with their Mickey College Collection and their Mickey Cabin Case measuring just 23x36x49cm was perfect for the job.

The kids were super-proud walking through the airport with their Mickey suitcase in tow and along with our other suitcases we had plenty of room and were well within our weight limit.

I was also very conscious that the kids would want Disney clothing to wear when we were away, so instead of buying expensive clothing at Disney we raided Primark for Disney themed t-shirts before we went which saved a fortune.

So what items to you actually need for a holiday to Walt Disney World?

1. Two pairs of Comfortable Shoes per person
Two pairs of comfortable shoes sounds extreme but it is a must, particularly if you get caught in one of Florida’s epic rainstorms as you can leave one pair to dry in your room and wear another. Make sure you wear them in before you go as there is nothing worse than getting a blister and you will find yourself walking miles. According to my iWatch we averaged 20,000 steps and 19km per day.

2. Waterproof Rain Poncho
Whilst the weather was mostly high temperatures and beautiful sunshine, we did see rain every afternoon and when it rains in Florida, it is not a light shower. It is far too hot for raincoats so all you need is a lightweight rain poncho that can be thrown over you and your backpack. They are available in all Disney parks but at $10 each it is far cheaper to buy them before you go.

3. Portable Power Bank
If you are the owner of a smart phone, downloading the ‘My Disney Experience App’ is a must as you can reserve FastPass+ tickets, make dining reservations, see ride times and view any Photopass pictures. However, having the app open as well as taking photo’s and videos of the day will drain your battery faster than normal, so having a portable power bank with you is vital.

4. UV Sun Suits / Rash Vest / Sun Cream
The average temperature in Florida during our visit was 34°C and whilst most of the queues are shaded, you will spend a lot of time in the sun. If you are visiting the Disney Resort then trying out the waterparks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon then a UV top / suit is a must have. It does get very hot and despite slathering on bucket loads of sun cream, we all got a bit too much sun, so wearing a rash vest or UV suit will help protect you from those harmful rays.

5. Autograph Book
The highlight of any visit to Walt Disney World is meeting the characters and as well as the photo’s the kids all wanted their autographs too. You will save a fortune if you buy a plain notebook before you go.

6. Empty Drinks Bottles
Walking around Walt Disney World is thirsty work but you can save money on buying drinks by taking empty drinks bottles and topping them up at the numerous free water fountains. Most of the ones we found were even chilled too.

7. Mist Spray Water Water Fan
I spied the kids looking wistfully at these whenever we saw them being sold in the park. More than a fan, the Mist Spray Water Water Fan sprays out mist at the same time and is brilliant for cooling off in the heat. They were very popular with all families but particularly those with little ones in buggies and prams.

8. Good sized backpack
You will need a backpack to carry all those daily essentials, some listed above and other standard day out equipment; baby wipes, painkillers, anti-bac spray, first aid kit etc. I also included a couple of carrier bags inside to keep any electrical equipment wrapped up and dry when it rained.

9. Photocopy of your passport
You have checked in and popped all your travel documents in the safe in your room, so why would you need a photocopy of your passport? Well, despite being us being into our 40’s, if you want to buy an alcoholic drink you need to provide I.D. and a UK Driving Licence is not accepted without a copy of your passport!

10. Dressing Up Outfit
If you have room in your case I would recommend taking your child’s favourite Disney themed dressing up outfit as buying them onsite is an extremely expensive hobby. When Elsa met Eliza in her gown, she chatted at great length with her about it, much to her delight!!

Are there any items that are your must have’s for a visit to Disney?
For more money saving tips, head over to see how Extraordinary Chaos saves money on her visits to Disney.

Disclaimer:This post is in partnership with Walt Disney World and Mumsnet. I am a member of the Mumsnet Bloggers Panel, a group of parent bloggers who have volunteered to review products, services, events and brands for Mumsnet. I have not paid for the product or to attend an event. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity and all opinions here are my own. This post contains affiliate links which offer no cost to you but contribute to the running costs of my blog

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