What to pack

Go small and light. A crossbody bag or hip pack beats a big backpack for most people — the more space you carry, the more you fill it. If you're travelling with kids and need more room, choose a compact backpack with a few organised pockets rather than an oversized tote that feels like punishment by lunchtime.

These are the things that quietly make or break a park day:

• A portable battery pack. Your phone is your ticket, your ride pass, your camera, and — if you've got Lightning Lane Multi Pass — something you'll check constantly. Without a charger it's dead by 2pm. This is the number-one item people wish they'd brought.
• A refillable water bottle. Every counter-service spot gives free ice water, and there are filling stations throughout the parks. Dehydration is the most common reason a day falls apart in summer.
• Sunscreen — a stick or travel size. Reapplying is non-negotiable in Florida, and in-park prices are eye-watering. A stick is mess-free for faces and kids.
• A hat and cheap sunglasses. Not your good pair — they're easy to lose on a ride or at a snack stop.
• Ponchos from home. Summer storms are daily and brief. A pound-shop poncho beats the twelve-dollar one at the gate, and folds away to nothing.
• A physical ID and a hard copy of any insurance card. Systems go down; always have a backup that doesn't rely on your phone.

Less obvious, but trip-improving:

• A gallon zip-lock bag. Keeps phones and wallets dry on water rides like Tiana's Bayou Adventure, and doubles as storage for wet swimwear.
• Blister tape or moleskin. Apply to any hot spot on your feet the second you feel friction — not after the blister forms. With this much walking, this is the difference between a good day and a limping one.
• A cooling towel or neck fan. Genuinely worth it from May through October.
• A few collapsible take-out containers. Quick-service spots don't always have boxes; handy for late-night leftovers.

Most guests wear the same two pairs of shoes the whole trip, so skip the "just in case" extras — one supportive pair of trainers and one pair of comfortable sandals is plenty. Disney resorts provide soap, shampoo and conditioner, so don't pack full bottles. And you need fewer outfits than you think: between the heat, water rides and on-site laundry, pack one outfit per park day plus one spare, and plan a mid-trip wash for longer stays rather than doubling your luggage.

You're allowed to bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks into the parks (no glass, no loose ice, no alcohol), which is a real money-saver — a few snacks in the bag keeps everyone going between meals without the queue or the cost.