Packing for Orlando theme parks

Ok so you’ve booked your holiday to Florida. You’ve got your park tickets for the Universal & Disney parks (and more) but what should you take with you?

On our first trip to the sunny state of Florida we packed as if we were going on a standard holiday in the sun. T-shirts, shorts & some super strong sun tan lotion to protect my pale Scottish skin (being an IT guy and Scottish means that my skin burns as quickly as a bad vampire movie ).

A previous holiday was to Tunisia, so on our first visit to Orlando we decided to take similar items, including my Oakley sandals, trainers and all the usual stuff, but what we didn’t factor in is how different a holiday to the Disney and Universal theme parks are, so here are some ideas on what you should and shouldn’t pack when planning a trip to Orlando, for the parks.

Pack light

It may seam a bit strange to say to pack light, you are probably going for a few weeks, so you need stuff to wear whilst there.  Yes, but what you’re probably not considering is that you’er likely to be taking a lot more back than you left with.

Whilst on holiday in the theme parks, there are so many uniquely branded items, which you can not get elsewhere (although the Disney shop is stocking a lot more than in the past). Examples include T-shirts from Uniqlo [Disney Springs], Popcorn buckets (We have successfully brought back a Tie Fighter, Zero’s kennel [Nightmare before Christmas], Cindarella’s Castle [OK this was from Disneyland Paris, but it’s also available in Orlando – 2023]), Darth Vader’s head and many more ).  Many from the UK, depending on exchange rate, will go to the outlets and Malls to get great discounts on shoes and clothing most of which is not available in the UK [See Orlando Premium Outlets, Mall at Milllenia and Florida Mall], even Apple products (UK pricing is usually based on £=$, so an iPad at say £400 will be $400).

This leads me onto anther topic

Trainers

The typical Orlando theme park is not like Alton Towers.

If you don’t know how big they are, check out the multiple parks on Google Maps [Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando].

It is advisable to purchase a good quality, light, breathable pair of trainers, as you will be on your feet for the majority of the day.

Go for trainers that are lightweight, both to save weight in your suitcase and also you don’t want to drag heavy trainers around all day, especially when dragging your weary feet at the end of the day.

My personal recommendation is to try Sketchers.  This is because they are lightweight, they have memory foam soles (which both keep your feet cool and for comfort/impact) and the soles are “bouncy”. The ones I go for have a mesh outer to keep my feet cool in the Florida heat and where possible waterproof, as it will rain.  The only downside is that I don’t feel that the soles of some of the Sketchers are durable enough for prolonged wear, so I am conscious to check the soles before purchase (Which is why I go to the stores, rather than buying online).  Sketchers were not my original choice as I tend to wear trainers that are associated with skateboarding or extreme sports, such as Vans, Converse, DC, AirWalk, etc  but I soon found that my usual style of trainers were too heavy, did not have enough “bounce” in the soles and were not breathable enough for the Florida heat (even the canvas ones). [2023 – I do have one caveat, I have recently found a pair of Vans brand trainers [in the Livingstone Designer Outlet, which contain “Ortholite” and compare favourably with some Sketchers styles]

Whilst you could argue that this links in with my earlier point of buying when you are in Orlando, however I would advise against waiting until you are there, here are my thoughts on this.  There is a risk that you may not find something that you find suitable for your size, preferred style or tastes.  The price may not be that much cheeper, especially if you shop at the UK outlet stores (such as Livingstone Designer Outlet [Which just so happens to have a wide range of trainer stores including, Adidas, Vans, Sketchers and more]). Lastly, you may have to “Break in” the new trainers, something that you can easily do after purchasing in the UK (assuming you buy in advance of your trip) and at a time that is suitable (even going for walks round the local parks or to the shops… ).  I would not advise purchasing new trainers and walking around any of the Orlando theme parks until they are “broken in” as it will likely lead to sore feet and blisters, never mind an unhappy holiday experience.

Shorts

In the UK you are highly unlikely to find me wearing shorts, unless there’s a rare heatwave in Scotland, however in Orlando not only is this common place I would suggest that wearing trousers is not recommended.

I like to think ahead and consider not only what is comfortable, breathable, lightweight but also has sufficient [secure] storage.  Like most guys I keep what I need in my pockets and in Orlando I try to carry as little as I think I can, however I also consider I may be on rollercoasters that twist turn and may go upside down.  That is why I try to get shorts that have large pockets that either button down or have zips.

[Note: On a past trip to Universal Orlando, staff members were not allowing anyone to board certain coasters (I think The Hulk and the former Dueling Dragons/Dragon Challenge) if they had any items in pockets, instead they insisted that everything had to go into (free) lockers.]

Over the years I have managed to find suitable shorts either in high street stores (Suitable ones currently [2023] available at Next) or in outdoor shops such as Mountain Warehouse or even Sports Direct (I think they were AirWalk brand).

It’s important to also think about how you will deal with security check points at the entrance to the parks, have a strategy on where you have everything organised so that you can put stuff in any trays before going through metal detectors etc. [This also happens in Disneyland Paris].

T-shirts / Shirts

Keep it light, keep it cool.

I would recommend sticking to light coloured t-shirts as this is what most people wear to the parks.  Cotton or other breathable material is a must in the Florida heat.  I would not wear anything so thin it’s see through, but I’m conscious that some UK T-shirts are quite thick and may not be suitable.

For children (and possibly adults) there are special T-shirts in some parks (I think Universal and their water parks) which have inbuilt UV protection, something I don’t think I’ve ever seen in the UK.

Most places in Orlando expect casual dress. Shorts, T-shirt and trainers are common place, however there are some exceptions, such as the “Signature Dining” restaurants in Disney’s deluxe hotels ( DFB have a good guide on this. ).

Underwear

Not something I would normally mention, but as with my above comments about clothing, make sure your underwear is breathable and fits well.

The last think you want when walking around the parks is chafing, either from tight fitting (or too loose) clothing or underwear.

Money

I think I’ll go a separate blog post on this, however I would recommend looking at the US dollar Exchange rate to get the best rate.

I would suggest carrying some cash as tipping is expected at restaurants (circa 10-20%), taxi’s / rideshare, some busses [eg Bus to parks if you are off property] (usually such staff are minimum wage / depend on the tips), but card is accepted most places.  It’s been a while since we last went and at that time contactless payment was not as common as the UK. Chip & Pin was still a novelty and it was more common to have to sign when paying via credit card.  I expect that this will have changed in recent years (as it has in the UK) due to Covid 19 and the increase in secure contactless payments.

VISA / ESTA

[IMPORTANT: Only apply for an ESTA via the US Goverment’s Department for Homeland Security website https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov    There are many “fake” sites that will take additional fee / rip you off / collect your personal data etc. Only use the official link (Either use the link above or use a reliable search engine and look for the .GOV domain) ]

Anyone traveling from the UK (UK Citizen) to the USA requires to have a ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). I may go into this in more detail on another Blog posting, but the basics are that you have to [as at 2023] upload an image of your passport (the page with your photo and passport number, nationality etc) and fill in the blanks where the system has not picked everything up.

You will probably have to repeat some of the details.

I found this particularly frustrating on an Apple MacBook and found that using Chrome browser worked better than Apple’s Safari (a common issue with poorly designed websites).

There is a processing fee [per person] that you can pay via credit card (payment is only in US dollars, so some card companies may add an additional exchange fee when you receive your statement).

I have used the option to Apply as “Group of Applications”, so that everything is under one reference number to make it easier to manage.

Travel chargers / Power Adapters

So this is a MUST Bring.

Look out for a decent US to UK adapter, possibly one that has connections for multiple countries so that you can use it again on another trip [ I’m not hinting at taking a trip to one of the other Disney or Orlando parks around the world 😉 ]. I would suggest getting one that includes USB ports as most people now days have multiple devices (watches, phones, cameras, etc) that usually charge from USB A or USB C cables.

Some places (such as Disney resorts ) [Unlike Disneyland Paris] usually have loads of power sockets (Which, unlike the UK, don’t have on/off switches) and USB ports on a main table and the bedside tables. I can’t remember from watching past YouTube channels how universal resorts are, but from past experience we have found that some of the hotels out with the parks are not as accommodating with their power / ports.

Recently I have seen a Youtube video from DFB that suggests to take a (UK) 4-way power extension for all your devices (and the required UK plugs). This is something I used to do on business trips to Spain a few years back and would recommend this if you are unsure.

Everything else

Everything else is as you would expect for any trip abroad.

There are plenty of other sites and YouTube channels that give good advice, which I may include in a blog posting at a later date.

I hope this helps someone going for the first time or returning and just want a quick refresher.

Orlando (WDW) Holiday Hints for Scots

[This post was originally created in 2016 as a draft, but has been updated before posting, to reflect current circumstances]

We have been to Orlando a few times and plan for our next trip nearly every week.

When we discuss our past and future tips with friends and work colleagues, some of whom have never been, whilst others have visited many times, we are struck by the things that others don’t know.

We find our information from various sources, including fellow Disney fans on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and finding tips via Disney blogs and Pinterest postings.

So here are a few things to help you make more of your trip, whether your just dreaming, planning or about to go (hopefully you’re not there already, but if you are, We hope you are having loads of fun )

It’s bigger than you think.

Walt Disney World is Disney’s multi park experience in Orlando, Florida.

There are 4 main parks:  EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

Each park has it’s own distinct feeling and theming, restaurants (both table Service and Quick Service), food and drink booths, rides, entertainment and shops, all within an area bigger than than a small UK village.

There are 2 Water parks:  Blizzard Beach & Typhoon Lagoon.

The water parks have water slides, beaches, large polls, food and drink areas, as well as places to just lay back and relax.

There are also the big shopping, food and entertainment areas out with the parks: Disney Springs (previously Downtown Disney ) and the BoardWalk.  These are available to anyone and you don’t need a ticket.

Finally there are the Resorts…

The resorts are the large hotel complexes, with rooms, restaurants, bars, entertainment, pools and more.

These are nearly as large as the parks, and most people don’t realise that all the amenities [excluding the pools] are available to all, whether you are staying there or not.

Disney is not Just for kids….

On our first visit to Orlando, Florida we went with friends and we weren’t too bothered about Disney, sure we liked Disney films growing up, but we thought that we were past all of that.  We were just looking for sun, loads of amazing themed rides and we needed a break from real life for a while.

When we arrived at Disney’s Magic Kingdom that all changed, the first time we saw a Disney parade we got swept into the experience, as if you are one of Mickey Mouse’s broom sticks in the Sorcerers Apprentice, it was our first taste of the Disney Magic.

Most people think of Disney they think of the classic Disney characters (eg Mickey Mouse) or they think of many of the films and TV shows (even before Disney+), but here is soo much more to experience.

Each area is an experience on its own right.

Disney is for adults…

For adults you can eat and drink around the world at EPCOT, (even when there aren’t one of the 4 annual festivals (Epcot International Festival of the Arts, Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, Epcot International Food & Wine Festival or Epcot International Festival of the Holidays ).

Drinking and eating around the world allows you to try experiences from some of the countries exhibiting at the world showcase ( eg Tequila and Mescal tasting within the Cava del Tequila inside the pyramid of the Mexico pavilion, or having an authentic Mexican meal at the La Hacienda de San Angel restaurant, or listening to Mariachi Cobre ).

Other parks and resorts offer other unique offerings, which is something that you may not expect from a theme park.

It’s not as expensive as you may think

There is a perception that it’s very expensive to go to Walt Disney World, however there are various ways to cut the costs.

Some stay off property, either in one of the Good Neighbour hotels or on International Drive, whilst others stay in the cheeper Disney “Value” resorts. Personally we monitor the deals that Disney offer regularly, often booking over a year in advance to get a great deal, whilst using discounts from Virgin Atlantic to get either upgrades of cheaper flights.

Update: Disney are due (in June 2023 for 2024 bookings) to bring back the Disney Dining plan, which will help families to manage the cost of meals, snacks if booking a package via Disney.

You will be walking a lot

All the Disney areas are massive, Staying on Disney property your day will probably start with a walk to get breakfast, then to get a bus, Skyliner (Disney’s gondola system) or boat to one of the parks and then to get round the park you will probably find yourself  covering more miles that you would in a week.  If you have a fitness tracking device you will be surprised at how many miles you will cover daily and you may not feel as guilty about eating some snacks or fizzy drinks.

Comfortable, breathable trainers are a must.

It rains Daily

Whilst the image that the advertising portrays is not far off, it doesn’t mention the heavy rain that happens at least daily during the summer period.  Unlike the UK, you will go from heat to a heavy downpour in the matter of minutes and within 20-30 minutes it’s all but evaporated and it’s as if it was just a bad dream.

Later in the season, August – September, is hurricane season.  Whilst I would suggest going during this period (because it’s cheaper & cooler) you are more likely to encounter rain and potentially high winds (Disney have only closed a few times due to actual Hurricanes. We were there during one of them and it didn’t feel like a big deal when you are in the “Disney Bubble”)

Travel light

OK this is two topics in one:

Whilst visiting the parks:

You will have your bag checked (every bag [every time], handbag, rucksack, bum bag etc) when you enter a Disney Park and you will have to empty your pockets and put your belongings thorough a metal detector.

If you know this, then it’s easy to prepare a head of time, you soon get used to having some process for this (such as having your bags contents in a clear plastic bag, so that it can be taken out for checking) or having most of your items ready before reaching the security check points, to make everything go smoother.

When travelling to Orlando:

Don’t take loads of stuff over and don’t max out your baggage allowance on the way out.

You will buy stuff when you are there, clothing, popcorn buckets, plushes, pins (and other collectables) and so much more.

If you don’t have spare space in your cases before you arrive, how will you get all this extra stuff home? [There are ways, but I’ll over that some other time]

Clothing & Footwear

Keep it appropriate (Disney have guidelines on appropriate clothing).  Don’t wear anything with offensive words, graphics or profanity [This is just a good idea in the US anyway. The US can be an opinionated and divided place in recent times].  Disney can ban you from property, possibly for life (“trespassed”) for not complying with their rules.

Keep it light: both colour (dark colours get hotter quicker) and weight. With the amount of walking involved you don’t want to be weighed down by your clothing (ie don’t wear jeans), I would suggest t-shirt, shorts and trainers.

Pockets with zips or buttons are your friend: (except when going through Security – see above).  When riding rides, you don’t want anything falling out your pockets, so Zips and button down pockets are a must in my opinion.  It also makes it harder for anyone to steal from you (unlikely, but why take chance).

Wear light airy trainers, you want something that you can walk in all day, that have some bounce, can get wet (and quick to dry out), will stay on during rides where your legs dangle off the ground and will last the distance.  Break anything in before you go as you don’t want sore feet [pack some plasters just incase].  Trainer Socks are also recommended.

Pack Sun Tan Lotion & take breaks from the heat

Florida can get very hot (especially during the summer months), [just check the weather app on your smart phone] and it’s likely that you will get sunburn if you do not protect yourself.  Re apply often, the toilets are large enough to accommodate enough people for a small shopping centre, so don’t feel self conscious.

When things get hot, there are multiple ways to manage it;

Get a cold drink, Ice cream;  Some self service places have ice cold water available for free, there are many Starbucks and Joffrey Coffee stops in the parks to purchase an ice cold caffeinated beverage, Coke branded drinks are everywhere.  Mickey Ice Cream bars are available to purchase almost everywhere and there are some unique places to purchase Ice cream out of the parks (thinking Disney Springs & the resorts) ..

Watch out for Brain Freeze, take it slow either drinking or eating anything cold or frozen.

Browse the stores. They all have air conditioning, during summer it’s like walking from the surface of the sun into the set of frozen.  You don’t need to buy anything, even use the stores to get from one place to the next (loads of people use the stores to get from one end of Main Street [Magic Kingdom] to the other).

Take in some Entertainment: Whether it’s Mickey’s Philharmonic in Magic Kingdom or meeting your favourite character [thinking Olaf ?] , The Festival of the Lion King show in Animal Kingdom, Soaring / Living with the land in Epcot.  Basically any indoor attraction will have some form of AC and will get you off your tired weary feet for a while.

Keep your energy up

It’s vital to plan your meals, not only because restaurants fill up fast but also to give yourself breaks.

Keeping yourself hydrated and ensuring you have enough energy can be a struggle for anyone new to WDW.  Thank of ways to plan your day so that you have enough down time to last the whole holiday, but still have enough energy left to do what you want to achieve.

Having one big meal is one way to go about it, with a smaller mean and snacks through out the day.  This is sometimes best achieved using Disney’s Dining plan (coming back 2024), taking the worry about cost [it’s paid up front or as part of your package] but giving you flexability depending on what you are doing that day.  For example having a buffet breakfast, snacks [Fruit, Cookies, drinks etc] during the morning and then something small, but substantial in the evening before the fireworks [burger, Street Corn, Earl of Sandwich, etc].

Remember you don’t need to stay in the parks, there are loads of places on Disney property (and out with) that you can get some amazing food and drinks (Disney Springs, Disney Resorts, Universal Boardwalk, Margaritaville ) and plenty of branded places you will know [TGI Fridays, McDonalds ] or US staples may get to love [ Earl of Sandwich, IHOP (International House of Pancakes), Cheesecake factory, ].

Disney is Safe & Secure

In Walt Disney World, there are cast members (Disney Staff) everywhere, security cameras and Disney Police on or close to the premises.  Whilst no place is ever 100% safe, I do feel safe and secure whilst on property and we have never experienced any issues to date.

You may not notice, you are on holiday after all, that within the rides, shop fronts etc there are hidden cameras.  These are hidden so as not to break the magic, but are usually there to keep an eye on crowd levels, ride issues (breakdowns) etc, but they are actively monitored and Disney World do have their own Police (as well as fire and other emergency services, more on that some other time).

There are also areas dedicated to First Aid and Child care (baby changing / feeding etc) and you are never far from a cast member (Disney staff) to ask for any assistance.

For those with mobility issues there are also wheel chars or ECVs (Electric Conveyance Vehicles  / Mobility Scooters)  can be rented out (sometimes it’s cheeper to rent from an external company, rather than Disney) from the Parks and Resorts for use during your stay [Medical certification (ie Doctor note) may be required].

Prams & buggies can also be booked or brought with you to the parks, there are dedicated “Stroller parking” close to rides.

Essential holiday items (such as Sun Tan liquid, plasters, tooth brushes, nappies) and other items (Such as caught bottles, painkillers, period products) are usually available in the resorts, should you forget to pack them or need them in an emergency. [Also try First Aid areas]  Supermarkets such as Publics and Target are a quick Uber or Lyft away [usually fairly low cost compared to hiring a car].

Disney Transportation is free

It doesn’t matter if you are staying on property or not, the Busses, Skyliner (Disney’s Gondola system), and boats are free to use.

Use them to go from park to park (even one side of Epcot to the other) or visit one of the resorts to try the restaurants and entertainment on offer. We did this on our second trip, partly to experience what was on offer and partly because we didn’t want to drive far [we sneakily parked at Disney Springs [Downtown Disney at the time] and used the free busses to go to the resorts and then from the resorts to the parks.  We used the opportunity to see if we wanted to stay at a Disney resort, what the facilities were like and have stayed on Disney property ever since.

There’s more

There’s Loads more, but I think I’ve covered enough for now.

I’ll add be adding some links within this page, once I’ve added other pages that go into more detail ,

If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World I hope this helps in some small way and remember it’s holiday so try not to plan too much, remember to have fun and go with the flow, you can always go back smoother time.

WDW is constantly changing and updating, it can be hard to plan but after a while you learn to be fluid about it, make plans that you adapt depending on what happens at the time (like a hurricane).