Before we talk about what to pack, I'd like to talk about Disney's Magical Express. This is a FREE service offered by Walt Disney World to take you to and from the airport. We are going to be renting a car, but that is for a few reason:
1) We are traveling for the first time with a baby
2) I lived in Orlando and know my way around fairly well
3) I have control issues
4) My husband is the worlds biggest baby and I have spoiled him by renting a car EVERY trip.
Honestly, Magical Express is an awesome service and works really well so don't hesitate to save yourself some money and use this free service!! If you haven't been to Orlando before, once your plane arrives you'll get to experience your first bit of magic.
The airport monorail...OOHHHH!! AAAAHHH!!
This will take you to the main terminal where you will skip baggage claim proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1.
They will then direct you to one of the many Motorcoaches waiting outside. Disney's Magical Express service will collect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 3 hours after you check in at the resort.
Since you won't be getting your luggage for a few hours, be sure to pack anything you will need in a carry-on bag. This includes:
-Sunscreen
-Any medications
-Swim Suits
-Resort and dining confirmations
-Formula or baby food if you are traveling with infants
If you decide to drive, don't forget quarters for the toll road that takes you to Disney!!!
Now let's move on to general packing. You can google packing lists and find dozens of variations. I think a lot of it is kind of excessive so I'm trying to break down the must have items.
Check the weather before you go. I like to look at accuweather.com...mostly because I can scope out the forecast a month in advance.
CLOTHES
If you are traveling during the cooler months be sure to pack at least a pair of jeans/pants and a sweatshirt or light jacket. It can get down right chilly during certain times of the year. Of course bring t-shirts, tank tops, shorts, cropped pants...etc. Whatever you bring, be comfy!!
SHOES
Did you know that on average you can walk up to 10 miles per day while at Walt Disney World...yes 10 MILES!! During our upcoming trip I will be wearing a pedometer and posting my results to give you an idea of how much walking you will be doing. A comfy pair of shoes is a must. Personally I bring two pairs of shoes. One pair of Crocs sandals and one pair of sneakers. Now it might be obvious but this is NOT the time to bring new shoes. Bring at least one pair of shoes that are well broken in and have good support. I personally love my Crocs but I also need the support of a good sneaker.
I know many people think Crocs are ugly, but I don't mind mine! They are one of the comfiest pairs of shoes I own! I also bring a good pair of walking/running shoes and alternate every day.
Toiletries
Of course with toiletries there are the obvious, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, etc. Don't forget to pack both the sunscreen and aloe (just in case!). I would also recommend bringing things like Tylenol, allergy medicine, cold medicine or similar items can be extremely pricey in any of the gift shops on property.
Bandaids are another must have but I also like to bring the bandaids made especially for blisters. There is also a glide on product out now that is supposed to help prevent blisters. For the warmer months, you might also consider packing some type of talcum powder.
I would also recommend brining hand sanitizer or wipes. Shout wipes or a Tide pen are always a good idea too! Baby wipes or moist toilettes are also good to have while you are out touring the parks!
Other
We always chose to bring some type of backpack with us. We don't bring anything too large, but just something that will fit our park maps, bottled water, camera and other item. For those traveling with infants, obviously a diaper bag will probably be necessary.
Don't forget that all the parks have a security check point where all bags must be inspected. If you are on your way to a dining reservation, please allow time. Usually they are pretty quick to get through but during the busier months it could delay you by a few minutes.
Of course everyone always hopes it doesn't rain on their vacation but in Florida it's a possibility. Be sure to pack rain ponchos and umbrellas...also very pricey items to buy at the last minute!
Batteries, Batteries and more batteries! Enough said, lol!
If you have a smart phone there are a variety of apps you can download before your trip. I am using the touringplans.com app as well as the Mobile Magic app through Verizon. They can be great tools to help with line wait times as well as fast pass times!
If you are interested in purchasing the Photopass CD (don't forget you can put your own digital images on this as well as Disney's photopass images) you can pre-purchase this at a savings right now. Visit http://www.disneyphotopass.com/ for more details. I know this isn't something you can pack, but I wanted to remind you to do it ahead of time!
Of course don't forget to bring all your confirmations and dining reservations with you too!
Tomorrow I'm going to talk about a local business that can help you save a bit of money!
One thing I would suggest is try and wait to pack clothes until you can see the weather forecast for the time you'll be traveling (I'm one of those people who would have the suitcases out and starting to pack and we still have 3 weeks to go!) Sites like Weather.com can do 10-day forecasts which can help you plan what type of clothes to pack. Also keep in mind that Florida tends to have a humid climate (I've experience heavy rains in December), even in the cooler months which can make temperatures feel different then you might expect if you live someplace that has a different climate. For example, 65 degrees can feel way different depending on the humidity.
ReplyDeleteMagical Express is AWESOME!!! I don't use it much because I have family about an hour away from Disney that generally provides my transportation...but I have used Magical Express before..it's awesome, easy and relatively quick! And the added bonus of not having to wait for my luggage at the baggage claim was amazing...and to take up the time...we went to the restaurant in the hotel and got something to eat...by the time we were done, the bags were in the room, we changed and hit the parks!
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