Thinking of going on a Disney vacation for Thanksgiving or Christmas? Wandering what you may need to pack to make this the best vacation ever? I have been very lucky to have met some wonderful bloggers in the past few months, including Cassie Phillips, blogger at Culture Coverage. She was kind enough to write a guest post for this month’s “Wanderlust Wednesday”.
Take it away, Cassie!
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You’re super busy planning for your Disney vacation. You’re choosing an itinerary, making reservations and trying to please everyone in your family. Packing should be easy in comparison, right? Well, Disney is a very special place, and it has special packing requirements too. We’ve compiled a list of five things you might overlook when you’re packing for your Disney adventure.
- Weather-Appropriate Supplies
Packing clothes suited to the weather is a no-brainer, but there’s also some gear you’re going to need.
If you’re going in the summer, it’s very important to keep cool. Depending on where you’re from, this may be par for the course, or you may have to make some purchases. Use light fabric to cover your skin, and apply sunscreen everywhere the sunlight might hit. Bring a hat and ChapStick (the kind with an SPF rating) as well. The Frogg Togg Chilly Pad towel is also an essential item. When you dunk it in water, it gets cold and will keep you cool!
Stay hydrated. Most people aren’t in the habit of drinking enough water, and it’s especially important when you’re going to be active outside all day. Purchasing water in the park is a needless expense, so either buy a large crate at the grocery store when you arrive or bring a refillable bottle.
Plan for sudden afternoon showers. Bring and wear stuff you don’t mind getting wet. The parks take advantage of the unprepared by overcharging for rain ponchos, so bring them with you! You’re not going to want to haul a bulky umbrella on rides with you.
If you’re going around Christmastime or in the winter, you will obviously need to prepare different clothing. A jacket and long pants should suffice for most days, but it’s good to be ready for any kind of weather since the temperature can be unpredictable.
- Chewing Gum and Other Conveniences
If there are conveniences, snacks, food or supplies you can’t live without, it’s better to buy them in advance. They may be unavailable or very expensive in the Disney parks.
For example, Disney doesn’t sell chewing gum anywhere on its property. This is to keep the parks clean. It makes sense, but some people just can’t go without it. If you’re one of those people, stock up. Maybe you have an addiction to a particular brand of coffee, or your son insists on frozen waffles every morning. Any item that is part of your routine needs to come with you to Disney.
If you’re having trouble fitting these things in your luggage, you can either buy them at the grocery store once you arrive, or purchase them from Amazon and have them delivered to your hotel room.
- A Compact External Smartphone Charger
You’re going to be using your phone a lot during your Disney vacation. Sure, there’s going to be a lot of fun quality time spent face-to-face with your family, but there will also be split-up groups that need to be reunited, pictures to be taken and time to whittle away while you’re waiting in line for rides—not to mention awesome Disney apps that will make the entire experience better.
If you’re going to be making use of any of these awesome resources, your phone needs to be fully charged and ready to go. However, it needs to be portable just like you. When you’re on your feet all day, you can’t waste valuable time waiting by an outlet for your phone to recharge. With an external battery charger, you can plug in your micro USB cord and your phone can charge from your pocket! Just make sure to recharge your additional battery when you get back to your hotel room.
While we’re talking about technology, I want to address an important cybersecurity tip I learned about the hard way. That free WiFi you’re accessing can actually be a serious risk, especially if you’re taking care of finances or buying park tickets on your phone like many Disney visitors. Unsecured WiFi (the kind you can access without a username or a password) will allow anyone who is connected to the same network to peek at your private information, including passwords and credit card numbers. Disney, for all its magic, is a tourist trap, and just as you don’t go waving your wallet around where you might get pickpocketed, you have to keep your information safe from digital thieves.
Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) will keep your information protected. A VPN works as a secure tunnel between the source of information and its destination while also encrypting that information as a second layer of security. Using a VPN every time you travel will allow you to connect to any WiFi hot spot without worry.
- Entertainment for Kids (and for You!)
Disney is a magical place, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be downtime to fill. Everybody needs to rest and relax, even when you’re on vacation, so don’t forget to bring toys, hobbies and electronics. Maybe the family will want to unwind and watch Netflix in the hotel room after a day spent in the park. That VPN I mentioned? It’ll let you watch Netflix anywhere, even if you’re lucky enough to be at one of Disney’s parks abroad.
Not only are relaxation and self-care important, but a few good purchases can save you a lot of money and a lot of grief. Rather than breaking the bank getting souvenirs at the park, it can pay off to plan ahead and get gifts for your kids in advance. They’ll still have a magical time, and you won’t be worrying about your budget.
For example, buying glow bracelets at the Dollar Store before you leave can save you a lot of money when you’re watching fireworks and your kids want expensive light-up toys. Likewise, waking up to a new Olaf stuffed friend (that you bought on sale two months ago) can give your child those fuzzy Christmas-morning feelings and prevent him or her from asking for every toy in the park once you get going.
You can also snag some supplies to keep kids entertained. Waiting is unavoidable at Disney, and it’s something all children are bad at. Instead of trying to force your kids to be patient, give them something to distract them. It’s easier for you and more fun for them. You might be able to trust older children and teenagers not to lose electronics such as smartphones or portable video games, but for younger kids, you can get them action figures or dolls to tote around. Obviously, you know your kids best!
- Costumes
Nobody ever really grows out of playing dress-up, especially Disney fans.
Costumes for the young ones are an obvious must-have, but you may not have considered buying them in advance. You can surprise your daughter with an Elsa costume for her first day at the parks—she’ll be delighted to be her favorite princess, and she doesn’t have to know you took advantage of Halloween sales months ago!
Older children (grown-ups included!) can also dress up on a budget before they even get off the plane. Whimsical Disney accessories or t-shirts can help you really feel the Disney magic without paying park prices.
Disney veterans, it’s your time to shine. What are your Disney must-haves? Let us know in the comments below!
About the Author: Cassie is a freelance writer and blogger who loves everything Disney and whose goal is to visit every park worldwide. She hopes these tips are helpful on your next Disney adventure!
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I hope you enjoyed this guest post from Cassie. She sure knows her stuff and I hope you won’t forget any of these Disney vacation essentials!
Yours Truly,
Vanessa