The park bag
This is the one that matters. Everything else is just clothes.
- A power bank, and a decent one. 20,000mAh, with a cable for every phone in the party. Between GPS, the camera, mobile ordering and the wait-time apps, a phone dies by 2pm. Disney sells FuelRod swaps in-park but the starter is around $30. Non-negotiable item.
- Refillable water bottles. Every quick-service counter gives out free cups of iced water on request; a bottle turns that into a day's hydration.
- Ponchos, not umbrellas. Umbrellas are banned in most ride queues, and the 3pm storm is a fact of August life. A multipack from home costs a couple of pounds; a poncho in-park is $12.
- Factor 50 and a stick for faces. Reapply at lunch. Florida sun through thin cloud still burns badly.
- Cooling towels. Wet them at a water fountain, wring, wear. They work far better than they sound.
- Blister plasters. You will walk 20,000 steps a day. Bring them before you need them, not after.
- A small cross-body bag or bumbag, not a backpack — you take it on and off at every ride.
- Hand sanitiser and wet wipes.
- Painkillers, in the original packet. American pharmacies are fine but you don't want to go looking at 4pm.
Clothes
Two weeks, but you'll have a washing machine in a villa and a laundry in most hotels, so pack for about five days and wash.
- Light, loose, quick-drying. Cotton t-shirts stay wet all day in that humidity; technical fabrics don't.
- Two pairs of broken-in trainers, so one can dry out overnight. This is the single best comfort decision you'll make.
- A light fleece or long sleeves. Sounds mad for Florida. American indoor air conditioning is set to about 19°C and every restaurant, shop and dark ride will be freezing. You'll want it daily.
- Swimwear near the top of the case — you'll want the pool the first afternoon.
- A hat with a brim for everyone. Caps burn ears and necks.
- One smart-ish outfit each if you've booked a signature restaurant.
The tech
- US plug adapters — more than you think. Every phone, watch and power bank needs charging overnight. Four is not excessive.
- A multi-port USB charger turns one adapter into four sockets.
- eSIM sorted before you fly — see the connectivity guide.
- Downloaded films and audiobooks for a nine-hour flight and a two-hour immigration hall.
Buy it there, not here
Don't waste luggage allowance on things that cost less at a Walmart or Publix twenty minutes from your hotel:
- Sun cream in large bottles (much cheaper there)
- Bottled water by the case
- Snacks, cereal, breakfast things
- Nappies, formula, baby food
- Cheap pool inflatables
- An umbrella-free rain jacket if you decide you want one
A first-morning supermarket run is a genuine money-saver and takes 45 minutes.
The paperwork
Keep a photo of each on your phone and a paper copy in a different bag:
- Passports and ESTA confirmations
- Travel insurance policy number and 24-hour emergency line
- Car hire booking and driving licences (plus a DVLA check code if your hire company asks for one)
- Accommodation address — you'll need it at immigration
- Ticket confirmations
What to leave at home
Formal shoes, a hairdryer (every hotel and villa has one), more than one bag of "just in case" electronics, and any expectation that you'll read a book.