Anyone who has read my previous blog posts knows that I am hyper-planner. I love making check lists leading up to my Walt Disney World vacations. I always start planning, purchasing and packing weeks in advance of my departure date. After numerous trips and several lessons learned, here are five items that make my WDW packing list:
- Newspaper – How many of you have trudged through a Florida afternoon rain shower that left your sneakers more than a little soggy. Thanks to a suggestion from a family friend, I now know a trick that has my tennis shoes dry by the next morning. Be sure to pack a couple of newspapers. Just crumple up a sheet, or two, and then pack it or them inside your shoes. Overnight, the paper will absorb the water, and your shoes will be as ready as you are for another day of park and or resort fun!
Bottle Strap – Available for purchase at several snack kiosks on property, the easy to use WDW bottle straps will enable you to remain hands-free while keeping a refreshing beverage conveniently at the ready. They also provide the added benefit of preventing you from leaving your bottle on a ride, in a shop, etcetera. If you have previously purchased one, be sure to pack it so you can save yourself some time and money.
Banana Boat® Soothing Aloe After Sun Gel – If you are like me, you sunburn easily even when using sunblock. Whether the burn is slight or extreme, the gel provides immediate cooling relief. Since it is not medicated, it can be applied liberally and as often as needed. The product smells wonderful, and is not at all messy. In fact, its scent is so pleasing and memorable that I cannot help but associate it with Walt Disney World.
Gold Bond Friction Defense™ – No matter how I try to avoid it, I develop bothersome and painful blisters on my feet while on vacation. Of course, this typically happens on the first or second day of the trip; as a result, I spend the remainder of the time slapping on bandages that inevitably fall off. Fortunately, prior to my last WDW trip, my mom found this amazing product. It comes in stick form—similar to deodorant—and can be used as often as needed. On day one and each day after, I applied it wherever I anticipated my shoes rubbing, and my feet remained blister free the entire trip!
Halo® Charger – These compact, light-weight portable battery chargers definitely get the job done. You can choose one that meets your demands because they are available in a wide range of charging capabilities (2000-8400 mAh). Each one comes with connector cables that make it compatible with a variety of brands and products such as smartphones, tablets, and more. Small enough to fit in a pocket, one of these chargers will help keep your devices ready for use without having to waste valuable park time at a charging station. My version works with my iPod™ Touch, Samsung® phone as well as my husband’s Windows ® phone. Simply charge the Halo in-advance via the USB cable. You can be confident, instead of disappointed, because it will keep you tweeting, texting, filming, etcetera on your WDW adventure.
(Photos from the author’s personal collection.)
What items always make your Walt Disney World packing list? Have you discovered any products that help solve common vacation problems?
Kendall is an editor and contributing writer for WDW Radio. She began visiting Walt Disney World in 1991 with her family and has continued to visit the resort with her husband. As a child, she and her family filled vacations with challenges such as “How many times can we ride Splash Mountain during SpectroMagic and the fireworks?” (Answer: 7) Now, after marrying a converted Disney skeptic, she and her husband enjoy challenges such as “How many hours can we eat nonstop at the Food & Wine Festival?” (Answer: 4)
