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Packing for vacation can be HARD.
Packing for vacation can be HARD.
Especially when that vacation involves you spending the majority of your time walking around theme parks with only what you can carry. Lucky for you, I've done it a time or two (or three, or four...)
If an item makes the list, you can rest assured that I've personally put it to the test on Walt Disney World vacations!
I'm linking my favorite, tried and true, can't-live-without-them travel purchases:
I'm linking my favorite, tried and true, can't-live-without-them travel purchases:
PACKING ESSENTIALS
PACKING ESSENTIALS
Call us crazy, but my husband and I typically make the 15.5 hour drive from Pennsylvania to WDW. (Read: I normally have the luxury of packing as much as I want however I want.)
We recently flew Spirit for a long weekend in WDW and decided to pay for one carry-on for the two of us (in addition to the free personal item that Spirit allows). After much research, I ended up with this Amazon Basics carry-on and I could not have been more impressed! The quality is excellent, the spinner wheels work great, and we were able to fit SO much more than I anticipated in this luggage. If you've flown Spirit before, you know their size limits can be restrictive and we had no problem at all with this carry-on. I'll likely purchase again so that we each have one!
Another purchase from our recent Spirit flights - we used these backpacks as our free personal items. I am a habitual over-packer when it comes to clothes and let me tell you. I packed it all plus some in this backpack. These were the perfect size to accommodate Spirit's requirements and I was truly shocked at how much we were able to fit. The largest compartment has straps to hold your belongings in place like the inside of a regular suitcase, there's a back compartment for your laptop/tablet, two smaller compartments in the front, AND you can connect and tighten those side straps to cinch it all in. Color me impressed!
Aaand the pièce de résistance: compression packing cubes. I must have been living under a rock because I didn't know these existed. I've traveled with regular packing cubes for years, but these are darn near life-changing. Not familiar with compression packing cubes? You pack your clothes, zip the cube shut, and then zip the OTHER zipper to effectively compress your clothes, saving you precious space in your luggage. I think I gasped the first time I zipped that compression zipper and watched my cube shrink to virtually half the height it was originally. Bonus: If your clothes are nicely folded in your packing cube, the compression keeps them flat, reducing wrinkles as you travel! These puppies make you feel at least a little less guilty for throwing that extra outfit or two in there...
A clothes steamer is a must for me when I'm traveling. In the past when we've driven down to FL, I've taken my larger handheld steamer since I had the room. When we were flying, however, I didn't want to give up precious space in my luggage, so I ordered this steamer! It folds up super small and works perfectly!
When we go to WDW, we average 11 miles a day. I swear by Epsom salt soaks for sore feet when I'm at home (dance teacher, here!) and knew that I was going to need it when taking that many steps a day in the parks. I didn't necessarily want to have to travel with a bag of Epsom salt and a basin to soak my feet in, so I did a quick Amazon search to see if there were any alternatives and this gem popped up. I DO NOT TRAVEL TO DISNEY WITHOUT IT and have reordered multiple times. I use this on my feet, ankles, knees - wherever I have aches and pains from walking! Each night when we return to our room after a long day in the park, I shower and then apply this to the areas where I need it and then let it work its magic overnight. Sometimes I'll even apply some in the morning before we head out. I'm telling you, it makes me feel completely refreshed and alleviates my pain! I feel like it's my secret weapon, but I'd feel too guilty not sharing the secret because it's that good!!
PARK BAG ESSENTIALS
PARK BAG ESSENTIALS
This backpack is absolutely perfect for a park backpack! I wanted something lightweight and water-resistant that either my husband or I could carry, and this one has now made it through five WDW trips. While I love the look of the super-popular Loungefly backpacks, this one is much more practical for us. It has some inside pockets that are great for smaller items and the front zippered compartment is also very spacious. We typically carry most of the items you'll see below in this Park Bag Essentials section and they fit in this backpack with no problem! Bonus: It also folds super small when empty so that it doesn't take up room in your luggage if you're flying!
Especially when we are in the parks during FL's hottest time of year, we are constantly drinking water to stay hydrated. We knew we didn't want to spend money on bottles of water, so I snagged a couple of these insulated Brita water bottles! Pro Tip: You can ask any quick-service restaurant for water at WDW and they will give you a small cup of ice water. However, the beauty of this water bottle is that it has a Brita filter built right in! So we could easily fill up at any water fountain along our way and instantly have filtered water! The insulated bottle keeps the water nice and cold, too. This has been one of our most used purchases on our WDW trips!
I bought these cooling towels for our first August WDW trip. When they were delivered to our house, my husband made a comment to the effect of me falling for one of "those gimmicky products" - needless to say, he was not instantly a believer. I sent him out on one of his golf days with a cooling neck towel in tow so he could give it a trial run before Disney and he returned a changed man. On those days when the sun is relentless, we can truly wet, wring out, and drape these towels on the backs of our necks and instantly feel a temperature difference. They are SUCH a game-changer. There are tons of different brands when it comes to cooling neck towels, but we have used these extensively and love them! The price is very reasonable comparatively and they do exactly what they're advertised to do!
Depending on what time of year you're visiting WDW, you may need to be prepared for the occasional downpour. Often, the rain in Disney doesn't last long, but it can send park-goers running for cover (i.e. seriously increase the wait times for indoor rides and attractions). We'd rather throw on a poncho and keep it moving, and these disposable ones are my favorite for a couple of reasons. First of all, disposable works better for us rather than buying nicer, reusable ones. I don't want to have to shove a soaking wet poncho into our backpack after a downpour, and these you can just toss in the nearest trash can once the weather clears! I love that these ponchos have a drawstring hood - it makes a difference over ones that don't! It also has elastic in the wrists, keeping your arms dry. We throw these on over our backpacks and everything and press on!
If you visit WDW during the summer months, that Florida heat can be unforgiving! It's SO important to stay hydrated and sometimes water alone doesn't cut it. I've tried many of the popular hydration/electrolyte drinks and LMNT is by far my favorite.
How is LMNT different from other electrolyte brands?
It’s simple: LMNT is a zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix, with everything you need and nothing you don't. Their ratio stands out: LMNT delivers a truly meaningful dose of electrolytes without the sugar, junky fillers, or artificial coloring found in other “sports drinks.”
A good thing to remember is when it comes to replacing lost electrolytes – preparing ahead of time is much better than chasing them afterward.
*If you purchase using my link, you'll get a free sample pack with your purchase!
FASHION ESSENTIALS
FASHION ESSENTIALS
Disclaimer: I am all about comfort in the parks, and my park fashion reflects that 100%. That being said, I have this longline, wire-free, padded sports bra in at least 5 different colors to wear with loose-fitting rompers. On our last August WDW trip I rotated between these outfits and I have never been more comfortable in my life. I honestly wasn't sure if I'd be able to go back to wearing a normal bra when we got home from vacation. For reference, I'm a 32C and I order these longline sports bras in medium. The small absolutely fits, but I preferred that the medium was a little longer on me and was still supportive without being compressive.
*Updated to add that, since losing some weight, I've repurchased these in size small so that I still have the support I'm looking for!
I pair my longline sports bras with these rompers and waltz around the WDW parks absolutely loving my ultra-comfortable life. There are multiple brands that sell this type of romper, but I've bought the most colors from the brand linked above. They're very comfortable, the straps are adjustable, and while the sides are a little lower cut, they work perfectly with a longline sports bra or a cami! I love that these rompers are loose-fitting so nothing is clinging to me in the hot sun and they make getting on and off of rides a breeze - since they're shorts, there's no worries about wardrobe malfunctions! (While I love the look and comfort of a sundress, I'd end up wearing shorts under it anyway!)
I've also done the bike shorts with oversized tees or tanks look, but I found myself pulling the bottom of the shorts down all day as they'd ride up while I walked and they just weren't as comfy for me overall. Definitely a personal preference, though!
Here's another option I've purchased from a different brand, too! (The straps are not adjustable.) Click here!
For the sake of convenience, I'm a daily contact lens wearer and, embarrassingly, it had been over a decade since I bought a new pair of glasses. When you only wear them to get in and out of bed, who cares, right? I had seen so many ads for Pair Eyewear and thought it sounded like a fun concept, so I took the plunge! I'm super impressed with the quality of these glasses and love that you can easily (and inexpensively) change the look of your specs with the top frames. (I wear The Larkin! ☺️)
Use my referral link above for $25 off your first Pair!
DISCLAIMER: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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