Heading to the Disney parks soon and unsure about what you’ll need in your bag? Try to keep it to a minimum and pack light. No-one wants to be dragging a heavy bag around for hours on end! I’ve put together a list of my must-have items for my Disney parks bag and I hope it will give you an idea of some of the things you might need!

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My Disney Parks Bag – Loungefly Mini Backpacks

I typically bring one of my Loungefly mini backpacks to the parks. They may look small, but you can fit a LOT in them. They’re so bright and colourful, which makes them a real talking point when you meet characters too. 

Ponchos

The weather is unpredictable at Disneyland Paris. On most of our trips we’ve been quite lucky with the weather but we did have one day of torrential rain and we would have been completely stuck without our ponchos.

TOP TIP:  Buy your ponchos at home before you leave. They’re ridiculously expensive at the parks.  You can get them for a fraction of the price online and they all do the same job! You can buy them in packs of 5 which are perfect if you’re travelling with a group (or if you’re expecting several days of rain!)

Paracetamol

No-one wants to feel ill on holiday, but it’s always good to have some paracetamol in your bag so you can combat any pesky headaches or pains as soon as they hit.

It’s not as easy to get medication in France (you cannot buy paracetamol in supermarkets like you can in the UK) so it’s best to either bring some from home OR visit the Pharmacy at Val d’Europe.

Plasters

Walking around the parks all day, you cover a LOT of ground. We were averaging around 20,000 steps per day on our last trip and I ended up with blisters, even in my comfiest trainers.

I tend to go for Compeed because they’re so thick and protective – instant pain relief so you can get straight on with your day!

Lanyard

Ok – this doesn’t necessarily stay in your bag but lanyard’s are really handy for keeping your park passes and Photopass close to you, so you can just whip them out as you need them. Lanyards are also really handy to display your pins if you’re a trader!

I got my Phantom Manor lanyard in Harringtons on Main Street. It’s also worth investing in a few spare lanyard pouches as they tend to tear quite easily when you’re lifting things out of it frequently!

Trader Pins

This is a nice segway from lanyards. I love trading pins in the park, and I always have a little bag of traders with me in my bag.

Related Post: Pin Trading Tips for Disneyland Paris

Hat

Don’t get me wrong – I love any opportunity to wear my Minnie ears but sometimes it’s just too cold. It’s really handy to have a hat in your bag that you can swap into. I got this one from Disney Fashion in the Disney Village.

Suncream

Of course, this depends on the time of year that you visit. It’s been known to reach over 40°C at Disneyland Paris in the summer, and keeping yourself protected in those temperatures is essential! 

I burn super easily so Nivea Factor 50 is my go-to!

Power Bank

There are SO many wonderful photo opportunities at the parks. Plus, you’ll likely be checking the Disneyland Paris app regularly for wait times, character meets, dining reservations etc. As a result, there’s a good chance that your phone battery will drain much faster than it normally would. Make sure that you don’t miss out on anything by bringing along a spare power bank to charge your phone on the go.

I have this power bank – I’ve been using it for years and it’s still going strong! After you charge it up, it holds 1.5 charges for your phone. Not bad for £20!

Hairbrush 

For those of you with longer hair, you’ll be super grateful to have a hairbrush on hand after you’ve been on rides like Hyperspace Mountain, Indiana Jones or Big Thunder Mountain!

I bring this Mickey Mouse Tangle Teezer everywhere with me because it’s so compact and doesn’t take up much room in my bag!

Snacks/Water Bottle

Bringing your own snacks to the park is a great way to cut costs and there is no rule against bringing your own food into the park, as long as it’s not in a glass container. Snacks like crisps and cereal bars are handy enough to eat while you’re in a long queue or waiting for the parade/fireworks.

Unfortunately at the time of writing (February 2022) due to Covid, you cannot refill your water bottles in the parks anymore. However, starting off the day with your own bottle will cut costs slightly.

Polaroid Camera and Refills

This isn’t a necessity by any stretch – but I love bringing my Polaroid camera to the parks. It’s always a huge hit with the characters, they love to see photos of themselves!

Just make sure that you have plenty of refills. It’s easy to get snap-happy at Disneyland Paris!

NuiMo’s

Again, this one definitely isn’t a necessity but I LOVE bringing my NuiMO’s  to the park. I have Mickey and Minnie – and the characters always get super excited when they see them and what I’ve decided to dress them in that day!

There are so many different characters and outfits to choose from, and you can buy these at the park too!

I’d love to know what your “must brings” to the Disney parks are! Have I forgotten something important?

Let me know in the comments!