A day at the parks of Disneyland Resort is an adventure! Like Russel from Up, we like to be prepared, and we pack accordingly. There are certain items we always bring to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.
Before we jump into our top five (plus one) list, we want to highlight that YOU are already very knowledgeable on what you should bring. Even if you have not personally visited any Disney Parks, we think you should still trust your own packing experience from visits to museums or other attractions. You know the ages and needs of your group. You also know whether you are the type of person who carries a bottomless bag like Mary Poppins or a minimalist who lives out of your cargo pockets. Still, a visit to Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park has some of its own twists: most museums do not offer Lightning Lanes or stay open until midnight. In light of this, we are offering this packing list as a starting point for making your own.
Here are the top five items (plus one bonus) we always bring to the parks of Disneyland Resort:
Snacks!
Did you know that you can bring your own food into Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park? There are truly scrumptious food options for sale in the parks, but we still like to have snacks on hand for mid-queue hunger pangs. Plus, snacks purchased in advance at the grocery store save some time and money during our visit.
We have carried everything from apples to sandwiches to snack bars through the parks. We recommend bringing items that do not need to be kept cold or hot. A good rule of thumb is to think of food you might put in a school lunch.
We advise you to plan ahead and stop at a grocery store before heading to the area around the Disneyland Resort. There are some convenience stores within walking distance of the Disneyland Resort, but you will save more money and have more choices if you shop further out.
Do keep in mind that you cannot bring in alcohol, loose ice, glass containers or large coolers. The list of prohibited items may change, so keep an eye on Disney’s policies.
Water Bottles
Like many guests, we treat a day in the parks like a marathon. We cover a lot of distance and a lot of attractions, so we make sure to stay hydrated during our visit. We carry reusable water bottles and fill them at the water bottle filling stations dotted throughout the parks. These stations are helpfully mapped-out in the Disneyland app under “guest services” and “bottle filling stations.” We will also fill our bottles at standard water fountains. On hot days, we might also ask for a free cup of ice water at quick service restaurants and dump that into our bottles.
Hats and Layers
Southern California does still have winters, even if they not feel quite like the ones in New England or the Midwest. Plus, even hot summer days can become deliciously crisp at night. On the flip side, the sun can be very intense during the day. Much of Disneyland Resort is an outdoor experience, so we always take weather into account. Since we usually visit from early morning through the nighttime spectaculars, we also prepare for various conditions over the course of one day.
We like to make sure that we are prepared for the weather with sun protection from hats, sunglasses and sunscreen. Then, we add packable layers including rain jackets or cold weather gear where appropriate. A knit hat may seem silly in Southern California, but there are days when we have been glad to have one. Hats are a lightweight item that can make huge difference, so we always bring a hat for the sun or cold (or sometimes both) to Disneyland!
We carry these items in a stroller or backpack when we are not wearing them. Do keep in mind that you can also rent a locker (again find the locations under “guest services” in the Disneyland app) if you tire of carrying your extra layers.
“Bring” The Disneyland App
This is a virtual rather than physical item, but the Disneyland app is perhaps THE most useful thing we bring to Disneyland.
If you do not carry a mobile device, you can certainly still have a great day at the parks. We encourage you to seek the help of cast members in accessing some services regularly available through the app. If you do carry a mobile device, we strongly urge you to download this free app and become familiar with it.
This app has a stunning number of features. While we do find most of the features to be very user friendly, it takes some time to dig into all of the layers. We use the app to: enter the parks, book Lightning Lanes, check wait times, link PhotoPass photos, find the most convenient restroom, book virtual queues, check-in to Disneyland Resort Hotels, find showtimes and submit cast compliments. These are just a few of the apps functions, so we really encourage you to explore it for yourself.
Portable Power Banks / Back-up Batteries
The Disneyland app is a very powerful and helpful tool, but it is also a huge drain on our phones’ batteries. We carry small back-up batteries, also called power banks or portable chargers, to give our phones some juice when they are running low. Between mobile ordering food, checking wait times, capturing photos and booking Lightning Lanes, we eventually need this power back-up. We always bring a portable power bank (or two) to Disneyland.
In particular, we like power banks that incorporate the charging cable (or plug) into the unit. We personally use this one for our Apple devices with lightning charging ports and this one for devices with USB-C or lightning charging. This one is also a good choice. (If you follow these links to their Amazon product page and make a purchase, we will earn a small commission without any extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.)
(BONUS) Ribbon
This bonus item is particularly for guests using a stroller or other mobility device. We use a stroller when visiting the parks. Unfortunately, it looks the same as many other strollers, and it can be difficult to spot in a veritable ocean of strollers. If you are renting a stroller, you might need extra help identifying your unfamiliar ride. We like to mark our stroller with a distinctive ribbon.
We wrap our bright ribbon all around the handle of the stroller and tie it in bows at the ends. This ribbon does not damage the stroller or get in the way. It does make our stroller easy to spot in stroller parking (especially important if our stroller has been moved). Some people also like to mark their strollers with string lights, balloons or other decor. We use a ribbon because it is bright, easy to pack and reusable. Plus, we use the same ribbon to mark our luggage when we fly, so it is a familiar visual cue for us.
We that hope you find something that works equally well for you. For more extensive tips on using strollers in the parks, see our advice here.
We hope you find this list of what to bring to Disneyland Resort useful.
Now it is time to pair this list of what to bring to Disneyland with your own experience and particular needs. We carry our items in small backpacks and find them to be unobtrusive and easy to stow on most attractions.
Keep in mind that any items you bring to the parks are subject to inspection at the security checkpoints, and security cast members may use their discretion to prohibit any items. We have made this list based on our own experience, but be sure to keep informed on current Disney policies on prohibited items. 2019 saw a major change when Disney placed a restriction on the size of strollers allowed in the parks (the allowed size is still quite large), so policies can and do change.
For general guidance on preparing for a visit to Disneyland Resort, you can find our step-by-step planning guide here. Now that you are geared-up, we hope that you are ready to go have some fun: “Adventure is out there!”