Disney World Packing List: UK Essentials

Packing for Disney World from the UK means preparing for Florida's heat, humidity, sudden rain and strong air conditioning. This guide covers year-round essentials, seasonal additions and a few less obvious items that can make long park days easier.

Essentials Items To Pack To Manage Florida Weather

Apart from the humidity, there are a few weather realities in Florida that we don’t experience here in the UK. These are the Florida weather related differences that you’ll need to pack for all-year round:

• A waterproof or poncho, spare socks, and spare shoes, as trainers can take a few days to dry out!

• A light zip-up or buttoned layer that you can slip on and off easily. Air-conditioning is intense to combat the high summer temperatures, but you’ll feel it all year round. Restaurants, shops, buses, and many attractions can feel freezing compared to outdoors.

• Comfortable shoes, sandals or Crocs, with support and a thick sole. Broken in footwear that’s comfy and you know you can walk far in. Pack at least two pairs of comfy shoes.

• Hand-held fans and clothes that are loose and breathable.

Essential Items I Wish I’d Packed For Disney World

Here’s my list of quirky, budget-friendly, packing essentials that I’ve built-up over time. I wish I had packed them for my first Disney World holiday:

• Some plastic bowls and cutlery for breakfasts when staying room only. Picking up some cereal from Walmart and popping milk in the fridge saves money on breakfast, and the bowls are not only useful for breakfast, they’re handy for splitting meals at other times in the day. You can use cutlery in the parks too. IKEA kids sets are cheap, light, and do the job.

• A travel kettle and tea bags if you stay off-site are a must if you love a cup of tea. American tea bags don’t make a great cup of tea in my opinion, and the UK versions are expensive in Walmart. Plus there are no kettles; it’s all coffee makers.

• A small amount of washing up liquid and washing pad when staying on Disney property to wash out refillable resort mugs.

• A box of Zip-Lock bags from a supermarket to use for wet clothes, snacks, and as a cheap way to keep electronics dry in park bags if it rains.

• A small concentrated squash to flavour water. The free water in Disney parks can taste terrible and this helps when you need to stay hydrated. Pick up a couple in Aldi or Tesco for a few pound.

Winter Holidays: January To March

Evenings feel cool, and cold snaps can take UK visitors by surprise, as taking your gloves to Florida isn’t something you really consider. I was so glad I forgot to leave my gloves in the car at the airport during one wintery trip, when I ended up buying jeans cause I didn’t pack for the cool evenings!

At this time of year, it’s best to pack a range of layers and be prepared to need some UK winter essentials:

• Jeans, long trousers or leggings

• Warm layer - hoody

• light-weight body-warmer if you feel the cold in the UK

• lightweight coat: handy for travel days

• light beanie hat and gloves

• If you feel the cold pack a light scarf

Spring Holidays In April & May

Florida temperatures are picking up, but there can still be a chill in the air. The chances of a real cold snap are low by this point, but the trick when packing is to bring light layers and plenty of sun cream. There is still a difference in temperature when your doing early park mornings and late park nights that might have you reaching for a zip-up.

At this time of year pack:

• Light layers, think light cotton jumper or denim blouse/shirt

• Sun protection in your clothing, as UV is high

• Fans and cooling towels are needed in May, as heat waves can happen.

Summer Holidays June - August: Sticky Season

This is the time when Florida weather gets substantially different to UK weather. Rainy season begins on the 25th May and runs until 10th October, so packing for this becomes more important. Humidity levels are reaching high levels and June 1st is the start of hurricane season, which lasts until 30th November.

This impacts what you need to put in your case, and you need to be aware of how to deal with Florida heat. Packing involves beat the heat items and comfortable wicking clothing:

• Choose clothes that are made from quick drying fabrics: athleisure is often a good choice

• Pick clothes that have UV protection, particularly swimwear

• A poncho or lightweight rain mack

• Spare socks in your bag, or plastic footwear covers if not wearing sandals to keep feet dry

• Cooling items

• Halloween items if going to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Autumn Holidays: September and October

These are the months when humidity is highest and knowing the feels like temperature is most important. Sudden downpours are common and being prepared for this sudden weather changes combined with the heat is crucial for a comfortable park day.

Add the following to your packing list:

• Cooling kit in your park bag: fan/towel, electrolytes, hat, sunglasses, high SPF sun cream

• Waterproofing for phone / portable chargers in your park bags.

• Spare socks in your park bag (it’s a small luxury that saves your mood)

• Halloween items if going to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Late Autumn Holidays: November and December Christmas Season

The weather is cooling down, and feels like late autumn early spring weather here in the UK, but with less of a cold bite. Air conditioning is still going strong and this can catch you out. Rain gear is still wise to pack, but you most likely won’t be needing to use it daily during late autumn.

Make sure you include the following in your packing:

• Bring back a couple of light jumpers and some long trousers

• Keep rain gear, but you may use it less than summer

• A Christmas sweater in lightweight cotton will get worn at night if you want to take festive clothing

Packing Tip To Reduce Over Packing

Reduce the amount you take by popping a wash-on. Many UK visitors visit Disney World for around 14 days, so packing spare outfits can be difficult, even with the usual 23KG weight limit with carriers like Virgin Atlantic opens in a new tab. Our top packing hack to save space in the suitcase is to do a load or two of laundry while you’re there. It’s very easy to do, and you can even take pods and drier sheets in your luggage to save spending on this when you get there.

Add a couple of washing pods in a firm plastic box and some drier sheets. If you put a couple of drier sheets in with your clothes too clothes smell lovely when you arrive too, just make sure there’s no food items that’s taint.

What To Pack For Disney World All Year-Round?

After tripping out to Florida for years, there is a baseline packing list that we use and then tweak based on the month we are visiting. There are certain items of clothing that work in Florida no matter the season. Here’s our packing list of essentials:

Clothing no matter the season

• Breathable tops you can rotate, quick-dry helps year-round especially if your focus is on spending the majority of your days in theme parks

• Shorts and one lightweight long option such as trousers or leggings

• A light layer (thin jumper/hoodie) for A/C and evenings

• Underwear/socks - plan that assumes you'll sweat more than at home

• Swimwear

Footwear

• Two pairs of: broken-in trainers or sandals, rotated to reduce the likelihood of blisters and sore feet

• Blister kit: blister pads, plasters, tape. We like Compeed blister patches

• Optional sandals or crocs, but only if you can genuinely do all-day walking in them - I have Sketchers Sandals and the yare more comfy than trainers

• Crocs / sandals for by the pool

• Water shoes if you’re doing water parks or other water activities

Rain essentials, no matter the month

• Light-weight packable rain jacket or poncho

• Zip-Lock bags or other waterproof bags for electronics / dry bits

• Travel sized umbrella with SPF protection to use for sun too

Sun and heat essentials

• High SPF sun cream and lip protection with SPF. (We always bring from the UK rather than buy there).

• After sun / aloe vera gel

• Bucket hat / cap and sunglasses

• Refillable water bottle

• Rechargeable cooling fan

Health Essentials

• Pain relief and any personal meds

• Antihistamines for bites

• Insect repellent spray

• Rehydration salts/electrolytes

• Chafing balm

Toiletries

• Toothpaste and toothbrush / toothbrush charger

• Hair care products : hair brush, clips, and hair bobbles, shampoo, conditioner, hair spray / mousse / gel

• Skin care products: creams, lotions, hand cream

• Feminine hygiene products: whichever you use.

• Grooming items: nail clippers

• Shavers and cream

Tech

• Portable charger / battery pack

• Earphones

• Phone

• Kindle / tablet / laptop

• Charging cables for devices

• US plug adaptor (1 per person)

• Waterproof phone pouch for water parks and summer storms

Documents and essentials

• Passport

• Travel insurance details

• Print-out of ESTA

• Park ticket confirmations and print outs

• Payment cards + a back-up option

• Copy of the address of the place you’re staying

• Driving License

• Printed out car hire details

• Any medication you take during the flight

What To Add When Travelling With Kids From the UK

If you’re travelling with kids your packing needs are different, especially if you have little ones who are fussy eaters. Pack the following items for kids:

• Child specific toiletries

• Calpol

• Any nappies

• Some UK snacks, like cereal bars

• ID tags in case you get separated

• Autograph books

• A wet bag for changes of clothes

Mini park bag checklist

A park bag is an essential item when heading to Walt Disney World as you are on your feet all-day out in the parks. Here is a mini list of the essentials to pack to put in your park bag:

• Battery pack and charging cables

• Poncho

• Sunscreen

• Refillable water bottle

• Small plastic food container with lid (it’s for left over snacks)

• Blister plasters

• Sunglasses / hat

• Zip-lock bag / waterproof pouch for phone

• Attach a Minnie Ears holder to your bag if you plan to wear ears

Next steps

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