11+ Things to Buy Online Before You Go to Disney World

By Jennifer Stuart

There are many items that you can find on Amazon that will make your life easier for your next visit to Disney World.  These can save you time or money when you buy them ahead of time.  Some of our picks are below.  

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. This does not affect the price of your purchases. Read our full disclosure page here.  Thank you for supporting our blog.

​Insider Tip:   Ask your hotel if they will accept a package delivery for you.  If they will you can have your Amazon order sent there.  It is a good way to pack a little lighter.  Many area hotels are willing to accept and hold a small package for your arrival.  As of 2019 Disney hotels now charge a $6 handling fee for every package delivered through the front desk or bell services.

For more information on package delivery to a Disney World Resort click here for the Walt Disney World information page.

Insider Tip: For international visitors - consider ordering on Amazon.com, as many items are less expensive in the US even with the exchange rate.  Just remember to declare them when you return home.

Water bottles

The Platypus is one of our number one buys for any trip to Disney World. They are amazing collapsible BPA-free plastic water bottles.  It is so easy to fill it in the morning and carry it into the park.  As you drink from it it collapses and takes up less space in your park bag.  When empty it is virtually flat! And it comes in lots of colours so we can quickly see which one belongs to each family member.  

Stainless Steel water bottles are another great option as they tend to stay cool longer.  As well as being very durable, stainless steel water bottles are allowed in the parks, unlike glass water bottles.  Read our post on which items are banned from Walt Disney World here.

Insider Tip: Bottles are easily refilled in the park with ice cold water throughout the day.  

Cooling Towels 

Another hit with our family for those extra hot days are these chilly pads.  I know LOTS of people recommend these and for good reason.  You soak them in cold water and they stay cold for hours. Another life saver for those sweltering hot days. You can wrap them around your neck or wipe down your face, etc. These are available in lots of colours...we each have our favourite.  I am not sure if I would have survived the last 2 trips (both in heatwaves) without mine!

Misting Bottle Fans

Another item that we have found to be a life saver on a hot park day is a misting fan  (This is our son taking a break with one during a heat wave). Don't just fill it with water add some ice cubes too - ice water is available throughout the park. He is holding the Disney version that was close to $20 USD in the parks.  Be prepared and save enough for a few Dole Whips by buying them elsewhere in advance!  Below is the one we plan on ordering next time.

Handheld Fans

If you are not interested in a misting fan or the idea of spraying yourself with water, you might prefer a handheld fan.  This is a rechargeable fan that has a USB port for easy recharging if you have an external battery pack (see below). 

Rain Ponchos

If it is not one kind of weather it is another.  On most trips to Disney World you can expect rain.  In fact this is a daily occurrence in Florida in the late summer and fall months, but rain is still common year round.   Don't let the rain stop you--- these days can be very light crowd days.  Make sure you have a few disposable ponchos on hand so that you don't spend a fortune on them in the park.  These can also make a decent rain cover for a stroller.  Even on non-rainy days you may want some so you don't get soaked on  Splash Mountain or Kali River Rapids.

Kids Rain Poncho

We have found that the adult rain ponchos are quite large and cumbersome on kids.  They are OK now that our son is a teen, but not for smaller kids.  We seriously recommend getting a child size poncho if you will be travelling with kids.

Lanyards

There are lots of different patterns of lanyards.  Find one with your favourite character on it or get a plain one and check out some of the cute DIY you can do on Pinterest. (We have a Disney Craft Board on Pinterest that has a few ideas).  This is one of those items that we always do Disney with.  We love to collect pins and show a little Disney Spirit.  They are also a convenient way to carry your Disney passes if you don't have magic bands.

Hand Sanitizer

I am usually pretty impressed with how clean the parks are but I still always pack hand sanitizer.  When the kids were younger I always had some of this on hand for those impromptu snack breaks and sticky fingers.  The wipes are especially great if you are flying as you don't have to worry about declaring your liquids for the plane.  The plane is another place that I ALWAYS use hand sanitizer.   ​

Kids ID Safety Bracelets

If you are worried about keeping track of your kids in the parks, at the beach or in busy airports, kids ID bracelets or tattoos are a great idea (just in case they wander off). We have always gone with the bracelets, but I know other people who swear by the tattoos, so check them out and see which might be a better option for you. The bands below are pretty durable and can be written on with a sharpie so they can be customized for different purposes.
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​Another fun idea is to engrave your own metal ID bracelet.  These are similar to a medical alert bracelet but can be personalized with your own information and the engraving is included in the price.

We love the Mabel's Labels Kids Safety Bracelets. With these you decide in advance what you would like printed on them and they will ship them to you pre-printed with a variety of designs to choose from-- our kids like the pirate ones.  These are very sturdy paper (similar to a hospital ID bracelet).  Sadly, these are not available on Amazon but are available through the Mabel's Labels website. 

Click here for link to Mabel's Labels
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External Battery Packs

I know I have come to rely on my phone so much at Disney World.  It is not just the photos and videos but also texting my husband when we split up to ride different rides or to use the My Disney Experience app.   The app is one of the most useful tools to make your Disney World  visit go smoothly, but all of this can really drain your battery!  Even with going back to our hotel midday to refresh and recharge (our phones too) we find that we need more battery life.  A good external pack is an essential these days. Below are a couple that we will be testing in the next while, as we have found that the smaller ones we already own just don't have enough power to supply our needs anymore. Read our post on How to Prepare Your Phone for Your Disney Trip for more tips.
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External Phone Storage

My new favourite travel item!  For those of us that use our phones more and more for photos and video, I have recently found this flash drive that downloads through the lightning port on my iPhone.  This is a lifesaver!  I had to scramble to get more iCloud space on my last park visit as my memory was full on my phone and I had no way to save my photos.  This can also be used with an iPad and would also be great to hold a bunch of movies for longer flights and road trips.  Planning on getting another one with even more space!

Disney Themed Sandwich or Snack Bags

​Disney themed snack/sandwich bags can add a little bit of fun to a regular bag of goldfish crackers or fruit.  We are big fans of bringing small snacks to the parks with us.  Especially when the kids were smaller, we always had a baggie of fruit or crackers with us.  Those longer lines can be a good way to get a snack in and keep them happy while they are waiting. There are plastic options and also re-useable options for those who are looking to cut down on their single use plastic.

​Picnic Blanket for Parade or Fireworks Viewing

Another highly recommended item.  I love this for so many uses.  We use it for beach visits, and hiking picnics too.  It is thin but the water doesn't seep through if the ground is a little wet and it is just SO small and portable.  At Disney World  it is good for reserving your spot for parades, fireworks etc...and will take up very little space in your bag.

Reusable Straws

In 2018, Disney announced that they were reducing their use of single use plastic by no longer having plastic straws in the parks. If your kids insist on straws, consider bringing your own reusable ones.

ProTip:   If you are planning on using metal straws you may want to consider getting silicone tips.  We find for our kids they are much easier and more comfortable to use.

Other items you might consider getting on amazon if you are going to ship to your hotel are sunscreen (we find it is pretty heavy in the luggage - probably because we need so much or we will burn to a crisp) and non-perishable snacks.  Especially if you are not going to be making a grocery stop --- shopping ahead can be a money saver.

If you enjoyed this post you might be interested in some of our other Disney World Posts.

Photos by Jennifer Stuart

Comments? Questions? We would love to hear from you.