What to Pack in Your Diaper Bag for Disney World {Walt Disney World with a 2 Year Old, Part 8}

The ultimate packing list for your diaper bag for Walt Disney World! You’ll have EVERYTHING you need: the perfect bag, basic necessities (i.e. snacks, snacks & more snacks), activities for your little one & more!

You may have found this post because, like me, it’s just before your trip to Disney World with your toddler(s), and you are frantically searching for “What to pack in a diaper bag for Disney World.”  Traveling with a toddler can be unpredictable and you want to make sure you have everything on-hand for any situation that may come up, and as parents we know that just about anything can happen.

Use my suggested packing list as a guideline for your essentials and you’ll be set! I’ve even created a checklist, available in my FREE printable library, for you to use as you pack.

*Good to Know*

If you’re spending more than one day at the parks, I’d recommend unpacking and re-packing your diaper bag every night in your hotel room.  Doing this allowed me to see what I needed to restock (snacks, diapers, etc.) and it kept it very mostly clean.

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The Diaper Bag

I searched high and low for the perfect diaper bag to bring to Disney World. I’ll be the first to admit that I had a long list of criteria, but I knew it would help make our adventures in the parks that much easier:

• Backpack to stay hands-free
• Mesh shoulder straps and back to keep cool in the Florida heat
• Stylish enough that I could use it as an everyday diaper bag after the trip
• Large enough to hold everything that I’d need to bring
• Pockets, pockets, pockets

After visiting several stores in-person and online, and trying on way too many bags, I finally decided to go with the JuJuBe Be Right Back (BRB) Backpack and it was PERFECT!

It comes in a variety of colors/patterns so there is something for everyone!  It’s ergonomically-friendly making it super comfortable and has breathable mesh on the back panel and shoulder straps. There’s a parent pocket in the front to hold keys, wallets, etc. and 2 insulated bottle pockets on the exterior (a must for carrying around those sippy cups!).  In addition, it has a lined storage pocket for your phone, camera, sunglasses, etc. and includes a memory foam changing pad which stays hidden in the zipper pocket in the back panel.

And when I say it holds everything, I mean EVERYTHING! I packed this thing every day and not only did it all fit, but it didn’t even feel heavy!

And because spills and dirt are inevitable, the best part is that it’s machine washable!

The only downside is that it doesn’t come with stroller straps or hooks, but depending on your stroller, you can hang it by the backpack straps OR you can buy an inexpensive pair of stroller hooks (we were really happy with these!) to attach to your stroller.

What’s in the Diaper Bag

Now that you have the perfect diaper bag to hold all of your goodies, you need to know what to pack in it!

The Basics

If you’re traveling to Disney World with a toddler, these items are a must-have:

• Changing Pad, Diapers, Wipes: I always use the changing pad when using a changing table in a public place, so I loved that my JuJuBe backpack came with one.  And when you think you’ve packed enough wipes, bring a little more! We used them for everything– not only for diaper changes but also for things like wiping faces (especially after eating Mickey ice cream) and wiping down high chairs. I love this travel pack from Pampers.

• Snacks: Bring ALL THE SNACKS. It’s amazing that Disney lets you bring in your own food so take full advantage! Snacks like crackers, puffs, cheerios, cereal bars and applesauce pouches were so easy to pack (check out my list of favorite toddler snacks– coming soon!).  We also brought a Munchkin snack cup with us which made it easy for my daughter to eat whether she was in the stroller or we were waiting in line.

• Sippy Cups/Water Bottles: We brought a case of water bottles to the hotel with us, so every morning before we left, we filled my daughter’s Contigo Water Bottle up.  We also brought a large (25 oz), insulated Swell Bottle (for the adults) because we knew it would keep the water cold ALL day.  When her cup needed a refill, we could either buy a bottle of water or use our Swell to refill her bottle. It was a LIFESAVER! You can also bring a soft-sided cooler into the park so if you have the space, you can bring several of your own water bottles as well!

• Sunglasses/Hat: Florida is the Sunshine State after all! While we kept our daughter under the stroller canopy as much as we could, there were times, like during the Festival of Fantasy Parade, that she needed the canopy up so she could see.  She rocked her hot pink sunglasses to keep her eyes protected.

• Wallet: Just a reminder to bring this along with you! While you can pay for just about everything with your MagicBand, it’s always a good idea to keep this on you just in case 🙂

The Mini-Pharmacy

My husband likes to make fun of me for my little pharmacy bag, but when we’re in a pinch and he needs something, guess who’s glad I have it with me? (love you, honey!)

I use a small cosmetic bag (like this or this) and usually pack:

• Sunscreen (unless you find a travel size, I usually put sunscreen in a separate ziploc bag)

• Diaper Rash Cream

• Hand Sanitizer or Sanitizing Spray

• Band Aids (with all of your favorite Disney characters!)

• Tissues

• Chapstick

• Ibuprofen/Tylenol (for the adults)

Fun for the Little Ones

It’s a good idea to keep a few things in your bag that you can pull out to help keep your toddler entertained.

• Activities: Whether you’re waiting in line for a ride or your toddler is hungry and your food isn’t ready yet, these are guaranteed to buy you a little extra time before a meltdown.  A few of my favorites are Grab and Go Activity Books or stickers and a few sheets of construction paper. Check out Amazon, the Dollar Store, or the Dollar Spot at Target to find some great goodies!

• Glow Sticks: If you’re planning on being at the parks at night, I’d recommend bringing your own glow sticks, necklaces, bracelets, toys, etc.  Of course, all of this is for sale in the park, but by buying ahead of time at the Target Dollar Spot, Amazon or the Dollar Store, you’ll be able to save some big bucks. I was even able to find a Minnie & Daisy light-up tiara and a glow Flower Wand at the Dollar Store.

• Autograph Book & Pen: My daughter was pretty nervous to meet her favorite characters, but having them sign her autograph book before taking a picture with them, really helped put her at ease.  She still loves to look through it and point out all of the signatures and the details in each one (i.e. Pluto’s paw print).  I’d also recommend getting a retractable Sharpie— they’re thick enough for the characters to hold and easy for them to use without getting marker on their costumes.

Good to Have

While these aren’t 100% necessary, we did end up using 5 out of 6 of them, so if you have room in your bag or stroller, I’d recommend bringing them along.

• Extra Clothes/Shoes: We didn’t end up needing these, but I was glad I had them.  Not only in case of spills or other accidents, extra clothes/shoes are also great if you plan on letting your little one play around in the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak area at Magic Kingdom.

• Ziploc bags: I always carry these in my diaper bag.  Gallon-sized bags are a great place to store an extra set of clothes or even to put dirty clothes.  And I like the sandwich or snack size to bring along extra snacks (cheerios, etc.) when I don’t want to bring the whole package with me. We usually get a variety pack to keep in the house so that all of our bases are covered.

• Ponchos: It rained just about every day in the afternoon during our trip, but thankfully, we only got caught in it during our day at Animal Kingdom and in a little drizzle just before the Happily Ever After Fireworks Show at Magic Kingdom.  We had originally bought ponchos from the Dollar Store before we left but we quickly realized that they were too thin and definitely not adequate to protect us from the rain. (Quick tip: If your sneakers get soaking wet, the hotel blowdryer will be your best friend!) So we went to a local Orlando Publix (grocery store) and found some better-made ponchos like these that did the trick the next time that it rained. And they’re reusable so we’ll bring them on our next trip too!

• Portable Phone Charger: You’ll be on your phone a lot during your time at the parks– of course, you’ll want to take a ton of pictures, but you’ll also be accessing the My Disney Experience app utilizing everything from the map to mobile ordering.  My phone definitely would not have made it the full day without being able to recharge, and it was great to have a portable phone charger as an on-the-go option, so that we didn’t have to find an outlet somewhere and wait for the phone to charge before we could move on to the next attraction.

• Stroller Fan: I would highly recommend having a stroller fan for your little one, especially during the summer months in Orlando.  It really helped to keep my daughter cool while she was in there.

• Stroller Rain Cover: This is something that I hadn’t even thought about until another mom in a local facebook group suggested it for our trip. We were thankfully able to borrow one as we did up needing it in Animal Kingdom.  It actually started to rain while we were seeing Finding Nemo the Musical, so our stroller still got a little wet, but we put it on immediately after.  And from that point forward, if there was a chance of rain, we used it to cover everything before we left it in stroller parking.

Use this Packing List, available in my FREE printable library, as your checklist and then take it with you to use each night as you repack your bag!

 

Interested or currently planning a Walt Disney World vacation with a 2 year old or toddler? Check out the rest of the series:

How to Plan, Enjoy (& Survive) Disney World with a 2 Year Old

Favorite Disney World Planning Resources {Walt Disney World with a 2 Year Old, Part 1}

Disney Resorts: The Art of Animation {Walt Disney World with a 2 Year Old, Part 2}

Animal Kingdom {Walt Disney World with a 2 Year Old, Part 3}

Magic Kingdom {Walt Disney World with a 2 Year Old, Part 4}

Disney Dining: Chef Mickey’s {Walt Disney World with a 2 Year Old, Part 5}

Disney Details: MagicBands, Dining & FastPass+ {Walt Disney World with a 2 Year Old, Part 6}

Memory Maker- Is it Worth the Cost? {Walt Disney World with a 2 Year Old, Part 7}

What to Pack in Your Diaper Bag for Disney World {Walt Disney World with a 2 Year Old, Part 8} <—You’re here!

The Ultimate Disney World Packing List {Walt Disney World with a 2 Year Old, Part 9}

Ten Must-Do’s at Disney with a Toddler {Walt Disney World with a 2 Year Old, Part 10}