Disney World & Disney Cruise Line

As I have mentioned, I have been blessed to be able to go on many Disney trips in my lifetime.. However, there is no shame in needing help planning by booking with a travel agent. It’s ok to be like.. you know what.. I need some help. Disney Cruise line was completely new to me, and so to relieve some of the stress of that I used a travel agent! It is not additional cost to you if you are going through an agency, and the travel agent does get paid just directly through Disney. It is a win-win really.

• Book from the airport to your resort
• Book from resort to wherever you need to go.. the airport, cruise, train.. in our case we took the van from the resort to the Brightline Train
• Write it all out so you are not missing any leg of your travel!
• My 2 cents is don’t rent a car, there is just no reason to! Everything is on Disney/Resort property.. the literally have every mode of transportation available

Keep it 100 on the land (bus/monorail), the sea (ferryboat), the sky (skyliner)

🚞 Travel by Train:

The Brightline Train was a wonderful experience from start to finish! If you have large bags, you do need to check them. The process though getting on was easy, the seating is nice, the views are great, AND they have food and refreshments available for purchase on board. Our kids loved it and were sad when the 3 hour ride ended!

Download the app to access your boarding passes, wish I would have known this earlier on!

➡️Brightline

Transportation to and from the Cruise

I would HIGHLY recommend planning Disney Cruise transportation for both embarkation and debarkation.

Embarkation:

Being in Fort Lauderdale, we opted to stay at a Hotel that offered transportation to the cruise ship. This got us onto the boat way earlier than we would have with our normal boarding group. Honestly, this was the best day of the Cruise because we got on early and the crowds were minimal. Our kids rode the Aquamouse like 100 times with no line! It was AMAZING… actual view on the ship the day we boarded… it was glorious

It is a little more expensive to book the Disney transportation to port BUT it was so completely worth it!

Debarkation:

The only perk here is that it was easy and we didn’t need to worry about it! We took a bus directly to the airport, which made the worst part of the trip (coming home) very smooth and convenient!

Ultimately, booking your transportation for Disney can make or break your trip! So hopefully this helps point you in the right direction for what makes the most sense for you and your family! 🩷✨

The countdown begins…..

We will get to the fun parts, but knowing the journey is important! 

We booked our trip way in advance… like WAY in advance. Greater than 365 Days. I honestly am not sure who the countdown was harder for.. me or our kids 😬 so lesson learned number 1. Even though you want to share the excitement, try to refrain until at least under a year lol. 

I watched a video recently of a family that surprised their kids with a Disney Cruise as they were driving there, and I was thinking… man I wish someone would surprise me with a trip like that as an adult! It is so hard to be patient ✨

For our Disney Adventures we planned for a 3 night stay at the Polynesian, and a 3 day Park Hopper. Then we traveled to Fort Lauderdale and sailed away on a 4 night cruise on the Disney Destiny. We booked all of this through a Travel Agent. If it had just been planning for Disney World, I would have done it myself. However, the cruise was new to me and I wanted help from someone with more experience. This is something you do not have to pay extra for, the travel agents compensations is from Disney. So that was kind of a no brainer. 

Initial Thoughts on Pre-Planning Experience 💭

• Booking in advance is awesome, because you can pay off your trip over time.. so when you go it is “free”… that is just girl math 💅🏻
• If you book through a Travel Agent, you have to go through them for all of your payments. I did not love this piece, because it was not always convenient to wait or sometimes it would be forgotten.. Also we seemed to have back and forth about the balance so that added confusion at times 
• Next time we will book ourselves because I love the easy access of paying through the Disney Portal. I also am one to stock up on Disney Gift Cards when on sale at Target or Sam’s Club to pay down my trip while feeling like I saved a few bucks 😅
• If planning a trip like this that involves a lot of coordination.. write everything out! Or keep track in a spreadsheet. This saved us a lot of time. 

How did we pick our Resort? 

Typically when we travel to Disney we enjoy staying in the Moderate Resorts. This trip though we were celebrating 2 Retirements, and my in-laws 50th Anniversary. So this celebration was extra special! We decided to book the Polynesian. It was on my Bucket List, and the kids had never been either. We liked the idea of easy transportation via the monorail. We also looked at Riviera, Beach and Yacht Club, and the Grand Floridian. Ultimately, I think we were sold on the tropical theme and beautiful resort pools 🌺

Key Takeaways 🌟

• If staying at a Deluxe Resort, please be sure to have a rest day scheduled into your trip. I loved the resort, but wished we would have been able to enjoy it more
• If your trip is quick, and you don’t plan on being at the resort often… go with the Moderate or Value Resort (Don’t sleep on the Value Resorts, I grew up with amazing memories at several of them!)
• Check on active construction at your resort before going – they had construction going on at the Poly. We knew that and didn’t care, but I could see others having a problem with it. 

How did we pick our Cruise Ship?

Ok so this was TOUGH. I had never been on a Disney Cruise Ship, not for Vacation anyways. I used to work on a few of the ships when they were in Port, and have wanted to go as a guest for the longest time. The ships are all so beautiful, so I did some research. I know what my kids enjoy most, so I just kept that at the forefront as I was learning about the ships and where all they travel. Also, I thought about the coordination of having to leave out of Port Canaveral or Port Everglades.

I loved the idea of going on the Destiny, it had not even officially set sail when we booked it. It just seemed to have everything we wanted most! Marvel, De Vils, Haunted Mansion.. great for our whole party. We planned a 4 night cruise with stops in Nassau and Castaway Cay. 🚢⚓️

Key Takeaways 🌟

• DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH – you know your family best, so it is important to look into the themes and offerings of each ship
• The additional coordination from Disney World to Port Everglades was seamless with a Travel Agent, but it was an added step that could be skipped by choosing a ship based out of Port Canaveral 
• If you are going to travel to Port Everglades, you need to utilize the Brightline Train and you must stay at a Hotel with Disney Transportation to the Ship when embarking

Feel free to comment any questions on the process of this all. It can feel SO overwhelming trying to bring a Disney Trip to life, but I promise anyone is capable of booking the perfect vacation! You don’t know what you don’t know, so let me fill in the gaps! 

Ultimate Disney Packing Guide! 🏰

More to come ✨✨✨✨

Em

Disney Park Bag Tour

Packing your bag for a day in the parks should be super simple! It should also add value to your trip and make your life easier 

The perfect packing formula: 

Phone + charger + water + sunscreen + rain protection + first aid + snacks + whatever YOUR family actually needs.

The Must Haves: 

• Phone 
• Portable Charger
• Refillable water bottle – easier when it can just hook onto your bag 
• Sunscreen 
• Small first aid kit 

The “You’ll be glad you brought it”:

• Poncho/Lightweight Rain jacket
• Tissues 
• Wet wipes 
• Sunglasses and or Hat
• Portable fans
• Travel snacks 

If Traveling with kids, bonus items:

• Change of clothes
• Small activities for waiting in line
• Ponytail Holders 
• Hand sanitizer 
• Comfort items 

🚫 What I Wouldn’t Pack

If you don’t think you will use it, just leave it at the resort! A heavy bag gets old VERY quickly 

Now what kind of bag do you want? 

I would say something that can fit everything easily, but not too bulky. If your kiddos are still babies, this can’t really be avoided… hopefully you can store on your stroller so it doesn’t weigh so heavily on you.. literally! 

Here are some cute affordable options! OR if you are like me and are obsessed with loungefly’s, there are TONS to choose from on Amazon.. this is a money hack, because they tend to be cheaper on Amazon than if you were to find one in the parks!

Loungefly Backpack – Disney

Viral Bag that can literally fit a gallon of milk! 

Mickey Ears – Vera Bradley over the shoulder

You don’t need to be prepared for every possible scenario—you just need to be prepared for the most likely ones.

Pack smart. Pack light. Then go enjoy the magic. 🏰✨

This post is going to be extremely easy and straightforward. Point blank… these are ALL the things you should pack for your Disney Vacation. Before you read this post, you really should peruse my last one. There you will find the crucial questions you should ask before putting together your packing list/items. 

👚 Clothing

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Extra comfortable shoes/sandals
• Socks & underwear
• Pajamas
• Everyday/park outfits
• Swimsuit & cover-up
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Dirty laundry bag

Non-negotiable: comfortable shoes. Disney is not the place to break in new ones!

🧴 Toiletries

• Toothbrush & toothpaste
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Body wash
• Deodorant
• Hairbrush & hair ties
• Skincare/makeup
• Razor
• Feminine products
• Contacts/solution/glasses

💊 Health

• Prescription medications
• Daily vitamins/medications
• Pain reliever
• Allergy/motion sickness medication
• Band-Aids
• Blister patches
• Small first-aid supplies
• Personal medical supplies

📱 Technology

• Phone
• Chargers/cables
• Portable power bank
• Smartwatch charger
• Camera/batteries/memory card, if needed
• Headphones/earbuds

A portable charger is one of my biggest Disney essentials because you’ll rely heavily on your phone.

🎟️ Disney Essentials

• MagicBand/MagicBand+
• Park tickets/reservation information
• Resort information
• Dining reservations
• Lightning Lane plans
• ID
• Credit/debit card
• Some cash
• Disney app downloaded and logged in

🎒 Park Bag

• Backpack/park bag
• Phone & portable charger
• Wallet/ID
• MagicBand
• Sunglasses/hat
• Sunscreen
• Refillable water bottle
• Hand sanitizer
• Tissues
• Lip balm
• Small first-aid kit
• Blister patches
• Necessary medications
• Wet wipes

🏊 Pool/Resort

• Swimsuits
• Cover-ups
• Flip-flops/sandals
• Goggles
• Pool bag
• Waterproof phone pouch, if desired
• Refillable water bottles

🧳 Travel Day

• Driver’s license/ID
• Travel documents
• Cards
• Phone & charger
• Medications
• Change of clothes
• Basic toiletries
• Snacks
• Empty/refillable water bottle
• Headphones
• Kids’ entertainment

Keep medications, important documents, valuables, and essential electronics in your carry-on—not checked luggage.

If you are looking for a printable checklist, I have an extremely robust that I create. It also includes more detailed information on preparing for your Disney Vacation 🪄✨

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Shopping Guide

Women’s Brooks Tennis Shoes – trust me when I say you need good quality shoes for long park days; I choose my Brooks over any other tennis shoes I have 

Kids Athletic Shoes – New Balance

Travel Laundry Bag

Mickey Ear Sunglasses

Viral Crossbody Bag

Wet Wipes

Disney Hair Essentials 

Minnie Detangler Brush

Princess Wet Brush

Kitsch – Star Wars claw clips

Kitsch – Disney Satin Scrunchies

Teleties – Disney 

Teleties – Mickey Flat Clip

Travel Tools 

First Aid Kit – I keep one for each car, and ALWAYS have one in my purse

Travel Medicine – Organizer

Touchland – Disney Case

Touchland – Hand Sanitizer Variety Pack

Technology 

Magic Band Charging Station – must have, this made charging the whole family’s bands SO easy. Didn’t have to worry about a million cords and ports

Portable Magnetic Charger

Portable Handheld Fan

Multi-port Charging Block

Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I have been to Disney many many times, almost too many to count. Before you start packing though, you need a game plan. Important questions to help put a plan into place:

What time of year are you going? 

Florida weather can dramatically change what you need. Think heat, humidity, rain, cooler evenings, or hurricane-season weather. I have been during a hurricane, in the cold, and when it feels like you’ve been cremated. Knowing the weather when you will be there is ESSENTIAL. Although… also can be an excuse to buy Disney merch. “Darn! I need to buy a cute sweatshirt?!”

How many park days do you have planned?

Your packing needs are different for 2 park days versus 7. More days doesn’t necessarily mean more clothes—you may just need a better laundry strategy. Also, if you are park hopping think about how you plan to carry everything you need throughout the day. 

Are you bringing kids?

Consider each child’s age and what they actually use—not what you think they might need. Also, you may just need to think realistically about your game plan depending on the ages of your children. Can they handle the heat? Will you need more pool or nap breaks? Don’t put pressure on yourself to pack everything into your trip with littles. You and your kiddos want to enjoy it, and if everyone is hot, grumpy, and tired… that won’t happen

Are you bringing a stroller? 

If yes, think about a stroller fan, rain cover, storage, identification, and what you’re going to keep in it. Think about the type of stroller you need or want to bring. Try to bring something that easily folds or can be broken down when getting onto a bus, monorail, skyliner. If you have a heavy duty stroller that is a must, consider using the Minnie Van service, as they make that piece very easy. 

Where are you staying? 

Your resort’s amenities matter. You may have access to laundry, pools, transportation, toiletries, refrigerators, etc. Are you staying on or off of Disney property (I always recommend on, there are so many options and it makes transportation less stressful). Know your extra park hours if that is included with your resort. 

Will have or need access to a car? 

This affects whether you can easily grab forgotten items, groceries, medications, or other necessities. I have rarely had a car with me and I prefer it that way. 

Are you flying or driving? 

Flying means thinking about TSA, luggage limits, carry-ons, and what needs to stay accessible. Driving gives you considerably more flexibility. If you plan to fly, think about space in your suitcase coming back. If you purchase several items that won’t fit, you can ask your resort to ship them to your home address as long as you have the receipt for those items. 

What can you buy once you arrive? 

You don’t need to pack everything. Some toiletries, snacks, diapers, drinks, and other basics can be purchased after you arrive.

Do you have any special events planned?

Character dining, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, parties, cruises, pool days, or other special events may require specific outfits/items.

What can’t you easily replace? 

Prioritize medications, glasses/contacts, important documents, chargers, and anything expensive or difficult to replace. Put these items high on your priority list! Nothing worse than being on vacation and scrambling to pick up a prescription or struggling to see your whole trip without glasses/contacts. 

Trust me – once you can answer all of the above, it will make packing for your trip a way more organized and stress free experience

Essential Items you MUST HAVE

• Portable Fans
  • Handheld Fan – My 3 kiddos brought these everywhere on our trip, and believe it or not never lost them! 
  • Neck Fan – great hands free option
• Cooling Towel
  •  4-Pack Cooling Towels – Cooling Wipes – Disposable, refreshing scent, long lastingl
• Ponchos
  • Less than $10 for the whole family! Shoe Covers – Don’t be unprepared for Tiana’s Bayou 🤣
• Refillable Water Bottles
  • Yeti – Insulated Bottles – Not too big, not too small. Can easily hook onto a purse or backpack. We always bring these specific ones when traveling with our kids… anywhere not just Disney! 
• Portable Chargers
  • Quick Charge!!Slim – Magnetic Snap-On Design

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through a link, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely think could be helpful for your Disney trip.

At the end of the day, the goal isn’t to pack for every possible scenario—it’s to pack the things that make your trip a little easier, a little more comfortable, and leave more room in your suitcase (and your brain!) for the magic. ✨🏰