The Disney Nerds Pack For a Trip

As Disney Nerds, we have been back and forth to the Disney parks many times.  What we have gotten better and better at is the way we pack for a trip.  It might sound like a bit of a mundane thing, but in order to get the most out of your Disney trip, you need to pack well.

Ed’s Packing Thoughts:

Whenever I go to the parks the first question that guides packing is how I’m getting there and if I will have transportation, other then the Disney Busses when I get there.  I also, and this is more tradition than a must, use a packing list that I have used for the last 15 years.  The Ultimate WDW Packing List from Mousesavers.com.  LOL, the list is a bit outdated, but it covers everything.
For the Disney Nerds Meet-up trip, packing was standard.  Mostly shorts and shirts.  Always a spare set of shoes.  I also tend to pack in Ziplocs.  We have a medical Ziploc with cold medicine through band-aids.  There is a tech Ziploc with wires and chargers and such.  For this trip, I had a couple meet-up prize Ziplocs also.
I usually check a big bag with most of my stuff and then also have a computer bag with excess weighty items that I’ll shoulder through the airport and my camera bag.  This trip, the extra carry-on which I will make sure to take every time from now on is a golf umbrella.  We had a lot of rain the last two trips and I swore I would pack an umbrella.  The small ones are ok, but a golf umbrella keeps you dry.  Happy to report it did not rain a drop.  I will make sure I bring it every time.

Lisa says:

I am a habitual last-minute packer. I will usually pack the day before I leave. However, I do start making a list of things I want to pack about three or four days before we depart.
How I pack is typically dependent upon my travel situation. As we know in this day and age some airlines only allow a certain amount of carry-on luggage. And some barely allowed any checked or any carry-on luggage without charging a fee. And truth be told I could go to Disney for a week with a backpack but I’m not sure others around me would appreciative.
Regardless, I do have some essentials that I bring with me outside of the usual apparel items.

These include:
Umbrella for those fun afternoon showers
Portable devices
Wall charger and cords for my portable devices
Anker portable charger (i affectionately call this the brick)
Mini tripod for phone
Hand grip for iPhone
Snacks
Ibuprofen or pain reliever
Brand new socks

Morgan’s thoughts:

After many trips a year to Disney, I’ve tried to do my packing in the same way so I don’t forget anything. We’ve all had those times where we get to Disney and we forgot something and I hate doing that. I don’t want to buy toothpaste when there’s a brand new tube sitting in my bathroom at home or buy a charger because I forgot got mine. Having to go buy something I forgot takes time from my trip and possibly extra cost that I’d rather avoid. So, I have a checklist and it’s a written checklist where I actually put a check beside the items once I’ve packed them. Sneakers. Check. Toothbrush. Check. I’ve found that by actually having my checklist written down on paper works better for me than a checklist on my phone.

I also have other tricks that are a part of my process. I usually pack the day or the day before my trip. I always pack for a day or two extra because you never know when you might need an extra shirt or two. I also pack two sneakers. With all that walking around the parks, I don’t want to wear the same sneakers every day. Another trick with shoes I have is that I pack them in a drawstring bookbag in the suitcase. I don’t want any dirt from the bottom of my shoes to get all over my clothes. In fact, I have a bag for everything in my suitcase except clothes. I try to keep my suitcase as organized as possible. I even bring a large laundry bag to toss my clothes in during the week so I can toss them right into the laundry when I get home. Also, when it comes to the toiletry kit, I utilize the small bottles for shampoo and conditioner. I over going to that one aisle in Target with the travel size stuff. If I can help it, I try not to bring any full-size bottles on vacation to save space.

The one thing I don’t pack is a purse. I never bring my purse on vacation. Mainly, because I’ve so much other stuff. I have two wallets that I use while at Disney. One is a small one to just fit a few cards (ID, passholder card, money, etc) and the other can be used as a wallet, wristlet, or crossbody purse and it even fits my phone. They’re both from Vera Bradley and of course Disney! Since I don’t have a purse, my park bookbag becomes everything I need for the parks. I always carry my camera but not all my camera equipment because that would be a lot. I usually keep it to my camera body, camera strap, one or two lenses, some filters, and an extra battery. If I’m going to shoot at night I’ll add my tripod and my camera remote for long exposure shots. I also pack a poncho for if there’s a call for rain that day but the poncho is for my camera, not me. I got stuck in the rain at Disney years ago and had to buy a poncho and I now bring that one every time. I also have a portable charger. That device is a lifesaver in the parks. I love being able to charge my phone while in the parks without being tied to an outlet. I highly recommend one to anyone. I love the ones by Anker. Another thing I always carry is some sort of portable fan. When it’s hot, that fan is a lifesaver. I also sometimes pack a cooling fan or spray fan if it’s really hot. I also have a small bag in my book bag of things like hand sanitizer, gum or mints, hand lotion, ibuprofen or aspirin, and things like that. I like having stuff like that handy if I need it. I also do not go into the park without a reusable water bottle. I’m a big fan of filling it up at the water fountains and asking for a free cup of water when I’m getting food. I’d hate to be in the park without one. I personally love the ones by Tervis because you can take the lid off and it makes it easier to refill.

So those are a few of my tips. We’ve all got our own tips and tricks to pack and what’s in our bags in the parks. I hope some of my tips help you!