When you’re prepping for your trip to the park, you probably have a standard list of stuff to bring: wallet, phone, sunglasses, etc. But every time I go to Disneyland, I find myself wishing I had brought something I hadn’t thought of. Here is a list of items you might not think to throw in your bag, but you will be glad you did.
SUNSCREEN – This may seem obvious, but so many people overlook sunscreen. Even on somewhat cloudy park days, you spend a LOT of time in the sun and will probably get burned. Get a travel-sized tube and keep applying every few hours, at least on your face, shoulders, and chest. Otherwise you might find yourself buying some aloe to cover a nasty burn.
HAND SANITIZER – Bringing hand sanitizer is a must for me. Think about all the surfaces you touch during the day – lap bars, door handles, railings – and how many other people have touched them. I am by no means a germaphobe, but I always feel better periodically sanitizing my hands during the day, especially before I eat anything.
EXTRA SOCKS – If it’s raining in Disneyland, or if you’ve spent the day riding Splash Mountain and Grizzly River Run over and over, you will be so thankful you have an extra pair of socks. Take it from someone who spent a day in Disneyland with wet feet…it’s really gross, and your feet feel AWFUL by the end of the day. A quick change of socks when you’re starting to dry off will be a lifesaver, trust me.
PHONE CHARGER – For some reason, whenever I’m in Disneyland my phone seems to die twice as fast. I throw a charger in my bag to get some more juice during a break or a meal. There are outlets scattered all over the park, but my favorite place to charge up is on the second floor of the Golden Horseshoe. This area is usually very quiet, and there are lots of outlets with plenty of seating. (Note: There are phone charging lockers on Main Street USA, but I prefer to charge for free if I can).
LAYERS – Disneyland really cools down at night, even in the summer. Bring a sweatshirt or jacket to keep warm, and throw it in a locker so you don’t have to carry it around all day. There are lockers on Main Street USA and Buena Vista Street, and you can rent them for a few dollars per day.
HIDDEN MICKEY BOOK – This one is best for families with kids. A great way to entertain the little ones in line is with a Hidden Mickey book. There are hundreds of these books available at Disneyland, bookstores, or online. HM books point out locations of Hidden Mickeys. See if you can find any in your line, or search for new ones!