So you booked your flight to Florida, pre-purchased your park tickets, and mapped out your FastPasses*. Now comes the crucial question, what do you need to pack?!

We thought we’d revisit what we’ve packed in the past to help guide you with your packing decisions. If it’s a baby-free trip, then you can definitely pack everything in a carry-on. If not, don’t worry. We’ll make sure you got everything you need to ensure a fun-filled trip.

Sunny images probably pop into your head when you think of Florida, but depending on when you go, you may need to pack a sweater (gasp!) or even a rain jacket (double gasp!). Here’s what we’ve packed in the past.

A couple of notes:

1. Dressy outfits and dress shoes are only necessary if you’re planning to dine at some of Disney Worlds more upscale restaurants where the dress code states so. If you’re unsure about dress code, feel free to call the WDW Dining line (407) WDW–DINE to get more information. Speaking of restaurants, it’s a smart idea to book your restaurant reservations. Reservations can be made up to 180 days before your trip.
2. Rain jackets and sweaters are dependent on when you’re heading to Florida. We’ve gone to Florida during its hurricane season which meant bringing our rain jackets. We’ve also gone to Florida in January which meant bringing sweaters along with our rain jackets. It’s a good idea to check the weather before you leave, just to make sure. Since we travel a lot to Florida (not just to Orlando but Miami and Key West) we invested in some North Face rain jackets. Yes, they’re pricey, but they’re perfect because they don’t take much space in our luggage or our day-of backpack. Win-win!
3. Why the aloe vera? Welp, a couple of times that we’ve gone to Florida, we’ve forgotten to reapply sunscreen and so we end up with some sunburn. Doesn’t happen all the time but just in case, we always bring a small bottle of aloe vera. (Aloe vera can also be used for other skin irritations like dry skin or itchiness!)
4. Quick-dry shoes are also on this list because I hate soggy feet. If rain is in the forecast, it’s a good idea to pack some shoes that’ll dry fast. I have a few pairs of strappy Crocs for this reason. Like this and this.
5. Refillable water bottles are a must for us, especially as an extended breastfeeding mom. Even for Disneyland days we bring a Hydro Flask or a tumbler. You can refill your bottles by asking many of the food service spots for cups of ice water. One trip to WDW we brought our CamelBak hydration pack. We filled it up with ice before heading to the parks and had icy cold water all-day long. It also helped keep D stay cool in the August heat. Win-win!
6. Now onto the baby gear. I find that traveling with a baby warrants a baby carrier in order to have your hands free. It’s helpful especially at the airport terminals when you have your luggage, stroller, car seat, and diaper bag. Yes, you can put the baby in the car seat snapped onto the stroller, but you’ll have to take the baby out eventually in order to check in your baby gear, and that’s just a whole other mess. Pro-tip: When checking your baby gear, whether at the gate or at check-in, it’s a good idea to protect them. We purchased these protector bags for our car seat and stroller.

I think that’s all for now. Hope this is all helpful to you and your WDW planning. If there are items you brought with you and think we’d benefit from it, let us know!

To infinity and beyond,

D

*Fastpass selection can be done 30 days before your visit or 60 days if you stay at one of the WDW properties.