Ten Things You Need to Buy on Amazon Before Your Disney Vacation
I don’t have to tell you that the prices at theme parks are inflated for almost everything. And Disney is no exception. Before we left for our last Disney trip I made sure to buy everything on this list on Amazon. Because you won’t catch me paying $15 for a plastic poncho, even if it does have that cute Mickey on it. I’d rather be soaked in silent protest.
Of course, if you forget you can buy almost everything on this list when you get there. But if you buy them ahead of time you’ll save a ton. And you can use the savings to buy everyone a Dole Whip instead. Yum!
So without further ado, here’s the list…
1. Autograph Books
Your kids will definitely want to meet at least a few of the characters during your visit and an autograph book can make a great low-cost souvenir if you get them at the right price. You can buy this official Disney autograph book or get a 2 pack of Disney spiral notebooks. We went with the spiral notebooks so that my kids could slip their sharpies through the rings and have everything ready when it was go time.
Another great option is to bring a Disney Encyclopedia of characters and have each character sign on their own page!
2. Lanyards
If you think your kids might want to collect Disney pins, these are a must. We bought the lanyards with the coin pouch attached so that they had a place to store their pressed penny money.
3. Pins
My kids weren’t always interested in pin trading, but during our last visit their eyes were opened to the world of pin trading and I totally regret not being prepared! If you think you or your kids will be at all interested, you should buy a few of the pins and lanyards online before you leave, for a fraction of the cost. This way you’ll be ready to start trading from the moment you walk through the gates! (You and your wallet can thank me later).
But be careful and make sure to read the reviews before you purchase from any particular seller. Some buyers have reported receiving fakes, but there are certainly authentic pins to be purchased on Amazon.
This seller is known to sell authentic used/traded pins. And if you want to read more in depth about pin trading, here is an excellent article from the Disney Tourist Blog.
4. Misting Fan or Neck Fan
You can buy the Disney branded version of these in the parks, but when you’re watching a parade mid-afternoon on a blazing hot Florida day, you’ll be glad you packed this affordable option, and that you spent half as much as everyone else.
For a hands free option you might want to consider a rechargeable neck fan like this one. I just bought one for myself!
5. Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad Cooling Towel
Frogg Toggs are a luxury I didn’t know existed until I was prepping for our last trip to Disney. They are such a lifesaver! Just run it under water and it stays cool for hours. It feels soooo good on the back of your neck. It saved me from a mommy meltdown on more than one occasion. Plus the name is fun to say :).
Bonus Tip: These towels are pretty long for kids, so cut them in half so that 2 of your kids can have their own.
6. Apparel
This one applies to the whole family, but for a more complete packing list for mom you’ll want to read What to Wear to Disney World for Mom.
I’m not really into shirts with big, bold, colorful cartoons on them. But there are so many non-cutesy, text only t-shirts available on Amazon right now that I would be totally excited about wearing. Click here to see my favorite.
Target also carries some adorable and affordable options for the whole family. Here are a few I love.
7. Clickable Sharpies
Retractable Sharpies are one of my favorite Disney hacks. When you hand a character a marker they are obviously not going to be able to remove the cap and you don’t want to be messing with them when there is a huge line behind you. And as an added bonus, there’s no chance you’ll lose the cap!
8. Ponchos
If you don’t know Florida weather, all you really need to know is that it will rain at some point during the day. Get stuck without a poncho and you’ll look like this:
Speaking of rain, don’t get stuck without everything on this rainy day list!!
You can find basic disposable ponchos at the dollar store. Or if you’d rather have them delivered to your house, they are reasonably priced on Amazon. And don’t forget to order kids sizes because your little people will be swimming in adult sized ponchos. This is a 4 pack of youth ponchos with cute designs that get good ratings.
You’ll also want to pack extras to cover your stroller while you’re on a ride or in a show. Rain sneaks up quickly in Florida and the last thing you want is to return to a sopping wet stroller.
Been there, done that.
Wherever you decide to get them, just be sure to have them before you go! You will definitely need them and if you buy them in the parks you’ll spend around $15 per adult and close to $10 per child. No thanks!
9. Mole Skin
Someone recommended this for my very first “grown-up” trip to Disney World. It is great for protecting your feet from blisters. If you feel a spot “heating up” on your heels or toes, apply a small piece of mole skin to avoid being miserable for the rest of your trip. This is a must have for your Disney day bag.
10. Pressed Penny Holders
One of my kids’ favorite souvenirs to collect are pressed pennies. You won’t necessarily need pressed penny books like these before you go but we brought ours with us so that each day when we returned to our rooms they could put them in a place where they wouldn’t get lost.
(Amazon also sells these Disney branded albums but we bought the generic ones so they could collect pennies from other places as well.)
What else would you classify as a “must buy” before your Disney trip that has saved you money in the long run? Leave your suggestions in the comments. I’m taking notes for our next trip!
And don’t forget to check out the Disney Planning Bundle in my store. It’s 41 pages of helpful planning printables to keep you on track and super organized!
More Disney Posts
Planning a Disney trip? Be sure to check out my other Disney related posts below!
- How to Rent DVC Points and Save a Ton on Your Disney Vacation
- How to Stay at Disney Hotels with Credit Card Points and Miles
- The Best Disney World Souvenirs Under $20 and Where to Find Them
- The Ultimate List of Free Disney World Souvenirs
- Ridiculously Helpful Disney World Tips from Moms Who Know Disney
- A Few Things You Should Know about Minnie Vans
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29 Responses
We have yet to take our kids to Disney, but we do plan to in the future! Thank you so much for sharing your tips, we will need all the help we can get.
I really hope you get to go! It’s an investment but there’s nothing like that Disney magic.
I have never heard of clickable sharpies, bit it makes perfect sense! I bet the character/actors appreciate them too. How often do you go to Disney?
They are really convenient! We lived in Orlando for a year and had season passes so we used to go 2-3 times a month. But now that we live in PA it’s just a tad less frequent! We get there about every 2-3 years now.
Lots of great ideas here, particularly the ponchos. I seriously regretted not having them last time.
Thanks, Adriane! Unfortunately we have made that mistake as well. Including the time we came out of the Finding Nemo show to find a literal pool of water in our stroller!
OMG! How have I not know about Frogg Toggs? This sounds amazing, especially for Disney Parks! I got heat rash last year while walking around in Epcot for the day. Im absolutely ordering!
They are amazing! The heat can get overwhelming and this was a lifesaver!
Great tips in your blog and comments! I’m definitely ordering Frogg Toggs for our upcoming Disney World trip. Thanks!
I’d recommend Gold Bond Friction Defense Stick, seriously, you’ll be happy you got it. Invest in good walking shoes 1-2 months before. New Balance shoes provided me complete comfort & support with NO blisters or
pain our entire 17 day Orlando trip a few years ago.
The plastic M & M’s container with snap lid hold quarters perfectly! (for Pressed Pennies)…don’t forget the shiny pennies too!
Extra power banks for your phones.
Great post! We are planning a trip this summer. I’m going to spin this so I can look at it when we get closer to the vacation. Thank you ?
Thanks, Leah! Glad you found it helpful :).
The moleskin tip was the most invaluable to me for enjoying Disney because I hate my feet feeling uncomfortable. Thank you for sharing.
I agree! Hurting feet can make or break a trip.
Definitely need a battery pack! The Disney park app drains your phone and this is a must have
You are absolutely right! We always bring at least one. I will need to update this list!
Definitely, a must!!
I bought cute disney “souvenirs ” at dollar tree and Walmart before we left and hid them in my suitcase. Each day at the park I pulled out a new one. On our first night, “Tinkerbelle” (aka me) left me daughter’s crowns on their suitcases to wear to the park
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Absolutely! This is a great way to save money and make each day even more special. We did something similar with our boys when they were little!
I would suggest getting US pennies dated before 1982. After 1982 the pennies are copper plated zinc and the zinc sometimes shows silver.
Such a great tip! We did this too and then cleaned the good ones as best we could before we left!
Glow sticks from the dollar store
What are the glow sticks for? Just fun thing to wear if your there at night?
Shoe ponchos/rain shoe covers – basically plastic bags for your shoes that you can wear while walking around. My sneakers were soaked through because we were trying to move around the park during an hour + storm and I ended up getting really bad blisters from the wet fabric rubbing against my heels. You may not need them, but gosh if you do you will be glad you have them.
Hi! We are planning a Disney trip next year with our grand children and I’m in charge of tshirts. I love your tips! Can you tell me where you got the tshirts your boys are wearing with their names on them? Thanks so much!
Hi! Thank you for all the great tips and links. Can you tell me where you got the Mickey monogrammed tshirts your boys are wearing? Thank you so much!
Hi! I actually made them! They are graphics I purchased on etsy and then printed onto iron-on paper I bought at a craft store. The shirts are from Old Navy but you can buy that style on Amazon too I believe!
I would recommend bringing your own reusable shopping bag. It comes in handy for souvenirs and putting your poncho in.
Yes! Such a smart idea!
This article is awesome! I’d say 2 power banks and charging cord for your phones, and don’t forget an extra poncho or rain cover, specifically for the stroller. A beach towel or some sort of blanket for the kids to sit on for the parades or waiting for the shows. And extra bubble solution for those cute bubble wands every kid wants. Noise cancelling headphones for those with special needs. (Autism family here!)