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7. No kitchen sink required – Key sundries

Magic Kingdom First Aid

Speaking of First Aid, there’s actually very little guests need to carry as far as basic sundries and medications. If you have any daily or prescription medications, definitely bring those with you. If they require refrigeration, Disney First Aid can store them for you.

Eye drops are a good idea for contact lens wearers, and hand sanitizer/wet wipes are a must have considering the amount of sick people who visit the parks every day. While Disney offers free mosquito repellent at First Aid and mosquito control stations, carrying a small bottle is definitely wise.

For fans of essential oils, a small travel kit like this one offered by Doterra is a wonderful tool. I find myself reaching for mine regularly on Disney trips: Peppermint oil can give a refreshing energy boost. Rosemary encourages focus and alertness. Jasmine and frankincense can calm anxiety, and lavender is an effective off-the-cuff hand sanitizer. As with all things, do your research and don’t ingest essential oils or put them on your skin without being sure they’re safe or properly diluted.

Leave behind: Over-the-counter medications and random sundries. We can’t gush enough about Disney First Aid. They carry a full range of OTC medications (Tylenol, Advil, etc.) and a wide range of basic items guests would normally purchase at a drug store. Read our full article on everything they offer and feel free to leave those items out of your survival kit unless you use them frequently.

8. The stars of the show – Families with kids

Little girl with ice cream

Image: Disney

We’ve talked about survival kit hacks for kids before—particularly the “Magic Backpack”, a trick for parents that involves revealing trip-related gifts and rewards to a child after regular intervals of good behavior during a vacation. Families with kids and especially toddlers will need to pack some extras, and it can help if these items are divided up between family members instead of being thrust entirely onto mom or dad alone. A survival kit for kids can be combined with the Magic Backpack concept to include an autograph book and pen for character greeting, pin lanyards for pin trading, a sippy cup for drinks, and lightweight activities to keep kids busy in long lines.

Bringing babies can prove more challenging but isn’t impossible. Bring a comfortable diaper bag with all the basics you’ll need to take care of your little one (diapers, wipes, bottles, lotion, formula). Disney’s Baby Care Centers include a safe area for nursing moms and lots of great amenities for parents. A lightweight stroller can prove a huge boon for navigating crowds. Families with two small children may have an easier time using two light strollers rather than a huge double-wide. This isn’t possible for every family, but it can certainly prove helpful for some.

Don’t forget snacks! You’ll save money bringing small sandwich bags of healthy snacks kids can enjoy in between meals rather than splurging at kiosks throughout the day.

Leave behind: The bigger the stroller, the more difficult it will be to maneuver through crowds. If possible, go as light as you can and encourage older kids to walk when feasible. Also, limit how many toys and activities kids can bring with them into the parks.

9. Surprisingly useful – Other essentials

Disney Survival Kit

Image: Jett Farrell-Vega

Snacks are an obvious choice for all ages, but what else might go into a Walt Disney World survival kit?

If you’re celebrating anything at all, pick up a celebration button from your resort front desk or Guest Relations. This is a great way to get random freebies throughout the parks.

What’s your passion when you visit Disney? A small travel journal is a great tool for keeping track of memories, trip details, or just brushing up on your writing skills. Budding Disneygrammars can bring a small prop (like an action figure or Vinylmation) to use in photographs. Pin traders may want to bring a tiny screwdriver/hex key for unfastening pin locks. Don’t trust your precious pins to the plastic backings Disney offers. Guests concerned about germs might include a stylish pair of gloves in their kit, and budding artists can bring a small pencil kit and sketchpad. Identify and bring key items that really make your trip special.

Leave behind: Avoid bringing knives and Leathermans to Walt Disney World. Snacks like chocolate that can easily melt should also be avoided. Above all, don’t feel the need to bring wacky travel tools and unessential knick-knacks. Be prepared, but don’t sweat it if you miss something. In a pinch, most everything a guest may need can be purchased in the parks or via a quick Uber ride to stores in Orlando.

What else do you include in your Disney survival kit?

 
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Comments

Excellent article with good advice. I think bringing a stroller is a god send for parents as it lets you be more prepared with more room to hold snacks and juices. Also don't underestimate the advantage of bringing in a lunch. Especially if you have children it can save a lot of time, money and frustration to be able to plop down anywhere and eat without having to fight the lunch time crowds. A stroller is also great because you can leave everything with it and not have to wear a backpack all day. Just hang it on the stroller and leave it there when you go ride. Of course bring your valuables. Just make sure the bag is water resistant in case it rains. One thing you have to keep in mind is make sure that everything you plan on putting in the stroller is in some sort of bag with a strap that you can sling on your back real quick because you will need to fold up your stroller to get on the parking lot trams and the trains so make sure you are able to hold everything and handle the stroller and your children. This is much easier to do if everything fits in a couple bags and you don't have random stuff in the bottom of the stroller preventing it from folding up at that crucial moment when you are trying to get on the tram.

Allow me to respectfully disagree about the FuelRod issue. Before purchasing a FuelRod, my wife and I would carry 3-4 small phone batteries for a day at the park. With the ability to swap a spent FuelRod for a fully charged one at will, we now only need to carry a single one.

And if you buy one at the airport in Orlando, or your hometown airport, you'll only spend $20 for it, instead of $30.

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