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Plan Your Dream Trip To Disney!

The Ultimate Disney Packing List + Free Checklist

February 3, 2022 //  by  disneytrippers //   8 Comments

Do you want to make sure your Disney packing list has you will need before you head to the most magical place on Earth?   This article will cover everything we think you should consider in your ‘what to pack for Disney World’ preparation.

We are NOT in the camp that believes ‘all you need is your fast passes and your sense of fun’; we know that effective packing for Disney can make a huge difference – we hate wasting vacation time searching for essential items that we have at home (which usually cost more on vacation, too!), so we think that spending a little more time planning your Disney packing list is time well spent.

This article will cover everything you need on your packing list for Disney World; we’re going to pay particular attention to the things that people most often overlook/forget to pack and that could make the biggest difference in your magical vacation, as well as giving you our top tips, recommendations and ultimate Disney packing lists for you to download!

You can use this article in whatever way it suits you – you may want to download all the packing lists or maybe just specific ones that suit the nature of your vacation.   Or you may like to make notes on our recommendations and just download the overall packing list.  At the bottom of the article, we’re going to go into some of our top tips and then finish off with all the Disney packing lists in one handy place for you to save to your phone !

Get a FREE printable 30/60/90 day Disney countdown by joining our private Disney Facebook Group and share your photos and ask for tips and tricks! 

Table of Contents

We’ve seen many people forget essential items on their trips; creating your ULTIMATE packing list for Disney will mean you’re not one of them!  We’re NOT suggesting you bring everything on this Disney World packing list, but we do want to make sure you’re prepared and know what to bring to Disney to make sure you have the very BEST vacation.   Not travelling with kids? Obviously, skip that section!

We know that packing for any vacation can be stressful, we’re here to make sure you have thought about every aspect when packing for Disney and we hope this advice will serve you well in knowing what to pack for Disney World because, really, who wants to be stressed due to packing mishaps when you’re at the most magical place on Earth?

You’ll thank yourself later for the thought and effort you put, now, into thinking about things to pack for Disney, because it will make your trip even more magical!   Read on and, at the end, let us know if we’ve missed anything on the only Disney packing list you’ll ever need!

What To Wear at Disney

You’re going to want to think about the number of days you’ll be on vacation and your typical vacation day – too many times, we’ve factored in too many changes of clothes each day and brought home clothes that we’ve not worn!

If you’ve got a favorite t-shirt shape or dress style, for example, that you just LOVE to wear, you might want to get extra of that item – maybe in different designs or colors – we’ve spent time doing laundry because we really want to wear that t-shirt again; it might have been better use of our packing list for Disney World to make an extra purchase before we went!

Do be realistic about your things to pack for Disney – is your Disney vacation the time to take extra formal wear (unless you have a special reservation!)? Or those shoes that you love but aren’t comfortable in?

Think also about the time of year you’re going – June- September is going to be hot and humid AND you’re going to encounter rain. But you may still need a light sweater for those times that the restaurant AC is too cool.   Other times of the year, you need to factor in the need for a sweater in the evenings, or even a jacket and long trousers.   It also depends on where you come from – you’ll see hardy Brits in shorts in December, but not native Floridians!

This is our clothing packing list for Disney, obviously, you’ll tweak it based on your own personal style, but you’re going to need:

We like to make sure we select a few Disney-themed t-shirts when thinking about what to bring to Disney and there are some available, which we think are lovely, without being overtly ‘Disney’.

If you plan to do the 4 parks in one day challenge, you might want to get a bespoke t-shirt, but this one would also be ideal!

We’ve put together a whole article on cute Disney Shirts for women.

We’re huge fans of shorts on vacation but are NOT fans of shorts ‘riding up’ as we walk – it’s uncomfortable and unflattering.   In my particular case, skinny legs would help but, I’ve found there are 3 types of shorts that tend not to ride up as I walk:

1) denim (or denim type);

2) cargo shorts – for men and for women ;

3) Yoga shorts

Depending on the time of year of your trip, leggings might be high up on your Disney packing list!   Legging style can be a very personal choice – length, material, etc  – and we know some people like to wear Capri length leggings under a long skirt or dress.   For a summer trip, we like this pair!

For cute Disney leggings, check this out!

Particularly if you’re like Victoria and LOVE dresses, they may be a definite must on your Disney World packing list.

We recommend lightweight dresses and particularly love Maxi dresses – once you find a style you like, you might want to get a couple of different colors! This one has pockets!

A shorter style, but just as comfortable to wear in the Florida heat (and also with pockets), available in a number of colors in this dress.

Read more in our specific article about Disney Dresses.

Good, comfortable shoes!

We can’t emphasize comfortable enough – when packing for Disney, leave OUT those brand new shoes: make sure they’re broken in, first! This is so important that we have an entire blog post devoted to the Best And Worst Shoes For Disney!

Whether you’re park hopping from Epcot to Magic Kingdom to Hollywood Studios, and then to Magic Kingdom again, following up at Animal Kingdom OR just seeing all Epcot has to offer in a day, you’re destined to cover a lot of steps in just one day at the parks! No matter what time of year you are visiting Disney World, adding a solid pair of walking shoes to your Disney packing list is a must. When we visit just one park for half a day, we usually clock in 8 miles!   So, proper shoes are essential when packing for Disney World.

For women, we recommend Brooks Women’s Launch 4 Sneaker .  If you love sneakers, this pair of Brooks sneakers is affordable and comes in many colors.  Victoria’s mom is an athlete and runs marathons and triathlons and these and the suggestions below are her go-to shoes for Disney so you know they are good quality and annual pass holder approved!  If you aren’t looking to break the bank when buying the best shoes for Disney, these come in at a good price too!

If you are looking for sandals, we highly recommend Vionic Farra  Sandal. Victoria originally bought them for a trip to India and fell in love with them!   They became her best shoe for Disney!   She even went back and bought a second pair in the same color just in case Vionics ever stopped making them,  because they are supportive, affordable, and perfect for Disney in the Florida heat!

For men, we suggest NIKE Men’s Tanjun Sneakers .   Terrence loves his Nike sneakers and wears them to Disney and beyond quite often! He loves how lightweight they are in the summer heat of Florida and that they dry quickly when wet.   Given the price, the support these shoes provide is quite good and Nike is a great brand for the longevity of products! Don’t hurt your feet or back in unsupportive shoes– make sure to add good shoes to your Disney packing list!

For kids, we don’t really recommend flip flop types (even with the ankle straps) as they’re too easy to trip (or be accidentally tripped) in and little knees don’t cope very well with direct contact with the walkways in the park.   Instead, we suggest Skechers or Crocs as lightweight, breathable and comfortable for walking distances.  We’ve found both to be supportive enough for little feet without being too tight/restrictive of movement.   As tempting as it can be to get new shoes for vacation, make sure your kids have really walked in their shoes before adding them to your Disney World packing list!

When making our packing list for Disney, we add extra underwear as we are lovers of a daily, afternoon swim and like fresh underwear afterward!

We make sure we have at least 2 pieces of swimwear each because we’re not fans of putting on damp swimwear and have found that (unless you have a private balcony or villa) they’re usually not dry for the next day!

As fair-skinned types, we are particular fans of rash vests, like this one, to help protect our shoulders from the sun.

Accessories

• Hairbands & accessories
• Hats/visors – you may want to consider hats with an SPF for additional protection – we’ve found girls with longer hair often aren’t keen on hats because the hair makes their head hot – we think this hat is an excellent way around the issue!
• Sunglasses w/strap

A light jumper/hoodie

There are not many times of year that you definitely won’t need something warmer for the evenings or to protect you from the strongest of AC blasts!  We’ve found this is particularly true for kids, so maybe pack an extra hoodie for them.   This is really one of those items, for us, where we’d rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Of course, depending on the time of year you’re visiting, when you’re packing for Disney, you may need several jumpers and even jackets/scarves.   Do read up on Florida temperatures/seasons and make sure you’re prepared – what can be quite pleasant in the daytime can get really chilly in the evenings – we’re sure you’ll want to make the most of your park time, so make sure you’re not going to be too cold to do so! We have some great tips for visiting in Winter and what to wear then.

Disney Packing List for Kids

Our list is based largely on the needs of infants and younger kids (you may also want to read Disney with Toddlers to help you prepare for your trip).   You may not need to take all of these items, but it may be a handy reminder to check that your accommodation will have a Pack N Play, for example.

It can be really tempting to take too much for your kids, but you also want to avoid forgetting something you later wish you’d taken!   Whilst our advice for clothing was to not be tempted to overpack, we definitely recommend additional t-shirts for children, particularly under 8’s.  Those Mickey bar ice creams have a habit of making their way onto shirts.

Some resort pools are fine with you taking pool toys/noodles and of course, although all Disney pools have free life vests available, your kids may have their own preferences for swim aids.  If that’s the case, you should definitely remember it as one of those things to pack for Disney.  Honestly, when we’ve been to a water park with adventurous water babies who aren’t swimmers (or strong swimmers), the life vests available are excellent for supporting kids in the water.

If your little ones are really into dressing up, taking some costumes with you will save you a LOT of money.  People make a huge fuss of kids dressed up as Disney characters, but the price of the costumes at Disney will make your eyes water!   I wouldn’t usually take my kid into a park in a costume without having a t-shirt and shorts in my bag for them if they decided to take it off, but I have many happy memories (and great photos!) of my kids when they were little, dressed up and meeting characters.

You will also want to consider whether you add your stroller to your Disney packing list.   You know your kids and some kids are happy to walk, others are really not.  A LOT of walking takes place on Disney vacations and we’ve heard many parents losing it with their kids because their kids are tired, hot, and complaining about their feet – no one wants that stress on vacation, so rules are out of the window, here!   My oldest was 5 and happy to walk around Disney in March heat; my youngest would NOT have coped the same and we’d have all had a better time if she was in a stroller.   You can totally rent strollers in Disney and we recommend this for older kids.

When thinking about what to bring to Disney for kids, for those kids who still like to be carried, we highly recommend a Hippychick hip seat .  Ideal for when smaller kids don’t want to sit in their strollers or when you’re waiting in line for a ride or character meet and need to leave the stroller, this seat certainly saved my back on many occasions!   We note that the price of this seat has gone up since we bought ours and other, cheaper makes are available, but this is the only one we can endorse from personal experience – feel free to shop around and check out reviews!

For more tips like this, you may want to read our article on Disney with toddlers.

• Baby food – don’t rely on being able to get your baby’s preferred food when you arrive; you will save yourself stress and time to bring what you need. Don’t forget snacks, too!
• Plastic pool cups w/top & straw
• Portable highchair
• Diapers – don’t worry if you run out in the park, though, the Baby Care Centers are excellent and will give you enough to get through your day!
• Swim diapers – these are so much more expensive if you buy them in hotel/resort shops
• Diaper bag – having all your changing accessories in one place is super helpful
• Pacifiers – more than one. You may also find it helpful to bring a chain or leash to clip to your baby – this saved many stressful trips for us!
• Pack N Play
• Car seat – we recommend taking your own – most airlines will put it on the hold for no cost – rather than hiring one; you know how yours has been handled and it will be familiar to your baby, too.
• Baby monitor
• Blanket/toy – for children of all ages!
• Board games
• Handheld games
• Car window shades
• Kids ID tags – we’ve heard of parents writing their cell number in sharpie on the inside of their kids’ arms and applying liquid band-aid over the top; doesn’t wipe off and can’t fall off!
• Outlet covers
• Autograph books and pens – you can buy them in advance; make your own (we’ve found the characters really love these!) or even take a white t-shirt and sharpie and ask characters to sign that for you.   We love taking a wide photo mat to a character meal, for example, and getting the characters to sign it – then we frame our favorite photo from that meal with the photo mat to make an extra special memento that gets seen a lot more than autograph books get looked at!

Along the same line as the kid’s ID tags, we also recommend you take a photo of your kid(s) each time you go into the park, so if they do get lost you not only have a quick guide to be able to describe what they’re wearing, you can show to Cast Members as well.  When we’re driving to the parks, we like to do this with our kids in front of the row/section of the car park we’re in!

A note on Disney with under 1’s

If your infant is formula fed and still has daytime bottles, you will want to make sure you take your own brand of formula, too.  Most brands have pre-made cartons, but this is an expensive way of feeding your baby and, if you’re flying, you’ll find this a heavy, space-inefficient item to transport (we would also be filled with worry that they would burst and cover our clothes, as well as leaving us without a formula!).

We found a simple solution – to put sterile water into our bottles and then dispense the right amount of powder into a container like this.

This meant we could just pop 3 bottles into our bag along with our formula-filled container and be set for the day.   We did see some people asking for boiled water at food locations and also other people using the Baby Care Centers to make up their water.  Our infant was quite happy drinking room temperature formula and so it was easier for us to just have the water in the bottles to make up the milk when she was ready to eat and not have to wait for boiled water to cool.

Essential Toiletries

Toiletries are definitely on our Disney packing list section: ‘we don’t want to be buying these on vacation’!  We would rather get our preferred brand of toiletries at home, when we have time to browse and select (and maybe even take advantage of in-store offers) than waste our precious vacation time trying to find something we’ve forgotten.

It also gives us a little cheerful glee to think that using up our shampoo and conditioner while we’re on vacation means we won’t be bringing it home – leaving some extra space in our suitcases for vacation purchases!

Traveling with kids is, we’ve found, generally NOT the time to try them on a brand-new type of toothpaste – familiar is often best for many kids!  We know you won’t plan on letting anyone get a sunburn, but a soothing/cooling aftersun lotion or gel is still a useful addition to your Disney packing list for minor accidents and to soothe those little after-sun tingles.

• Toothbrush; Toothpaste; Floss
• Liquid hand soap (if you need it – there’s only bar soap in WDW hotel rooms)
• Shampoo; Hair conditioner
• Contacts/glasses
• Contact lens solution & case
• Sunscreen and aftersun – different SPF factors to suit the different members of your party.  Make sure it’s water-resistant and make sure you take plenty!  My family is pale – we like Banana Boat and take SPF 50 and 30!
• Body glide  – we highly recommend this for people who find their skin rubs (maybe against other skin or against a piece of clothing).  This is the ultimate anti-chafe solution and there’s now a ‘ for her ‘ version, too.   As far as we can tell, the main difference is that the ‘for her’ version also has moisturizing properties.   Both are vegan-approved and child-safe.   Say goodbye to chafing on holiday!
• Lip balm w/sunscreen – Sun Bum is a great one!
• Face wash and lotion
• Body lotion
• Makeup & Make-up remover
• Nail polish & Nail polish remover
• Tampons/pads
• Foot spray & Foot powder
• Razors & Shaving cream
• Nail clippers & Nail file
• Hairbrush/comb
• Hair gel/mousse/spray
• Blow dryer/straighteners/curling irons (if you’re traveling internationally, don’t forget your adapters , too!)
• Perfume/aftershave
• Kids’ shampoo
• Kids’ toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Kids’ bath soap
• Kids’ hairbrush/comb

First-Aid and Medicine for Disney

These things may not be what you first think about when wondering what to bring to Disney, but first aid and medicine is high up on our Disney packing list.

As with toiletries, they’re things we don’t want to be spending time trying to find while we’re on vacation.   Also, it’s quite likely that if you do need them, having them to hand will help get your Disney vacation back on track much more quickly than having to go find the items you want, anyway.

For small amounts of First Aid items or medications, don’t forget that the First Aid Care Centers in the parks are excellent .   Operated by clinicians, they’ve been able to identify for our family an allergic reaction after a nasty bug bite and treat with antihistamines and ice wraps – meaning we could stay in the park and enjoy our day when we would most certainly have needed to leave otherwise.

• Prescription medications
• Moleskin (for blisters)
• Antibiotic ointment
• Anti-itch gel/spray
• Antacids (and Immodium)
• Birth control (or other prophylactic)
• Pain medicine (like Tylenol, Advil, etc.)
• Kids pain medicine (you may also want to consider taking some Cool Gel head sheets , just in case; these can be very soothing for young kids)
• Motion sickness remedies
• Sinus/allergy medicine
• Vitamins/Echinacea
• Cough drops
• Bug repellent – our favorite is Off and they also have a DEET free formula * we’ve also had some success taking Vitamin B12 supplements instead of using repellent – I normally get bitten a LOT, so am happy to go the extra mile to avoid being bitten!

Food And Kitchen Essentials for Disney

Now, these aren’t necessarily all things you want to put on your Disney World packing list, but it is important to know that you absolutely can take food into Disney and it’s a great way to save some money.

Whether it’s packing lunches and/or snacks to take into the park, or preparing food to eat in your hotel room, this list covers everything you may need.

We particularly recommend, when thinking about what to bring to Disney, juice boxes and powdered drink mix, because staying hydrated in the Florida heat is really important.   Small juice boxes (or pouches) aren’t very heavy, don’t take up too much space, and provide a refreshing (and healthy) alternative to sodas.   Not everyone likes the taste of the non-bottled water (cups of water are available for free at all quick-service locations), so powdered drink mix can make this more palatable and help keep the hydration up.

Naturally, unless you’re driving to Disney, you won’t be able to take most of these things with you, so we recommend you consider getting a grocery delivery at Disney.

• Bottled water
• Sugar/sweetener
• Nondairy creamer
• Instant soup mix
• Cocoa packets
• Juice boxes
• Powdered drink mix
• Microwave popcorn
• Granola bars
• Chips/pretzels
• Fruit snacks
• Small cereal boxes
• Peanut butter
• Travel salt & pepper; pre-measured seasonings
• Dish soap and scrubber/sponge
• Paper plates
• Plastic utensils or a biodegradable alternative
• Disposable cups
• Ziploc bags
• Paper towels/napkins
• Water filtering pitcher
• Reusable straws
• Coffee maker and filters (it’s noteworthy that Moderate and Deluxe Disney resort rooms all have coffee machines; in Value Resorts, only the Family suites in the Art of Animation and the All-Stars Music Resorts)
• Corkscrew and Wine stopper
• Gum (not sold at WDW)

Some snacks your kids may love are either hard to find at Disney, super expensive at Disney, or non-existent there. If your family loves Goldfish, Cheerios, or Cheez-its, you might want to consider bringing your own or ordering them to get delivered. Also, if your family is a Pepsi family and not a Coke family, plan accordingly – Disney Parks and Resorts only sell Coke products.

Disney Park Touring Bag Packing List

Some days, we make it our mission to travel into the parks as lightly as possible (perhaps because we know we’re going to spend a morning getting soaked on the water rides before heading back to the hotel!) but these days are the exception rather than the rule!

We know that being well prepared for a day in the park – particularly if we have a mission and a plan – is going to help us have a hassle-free and more enjoyable day. First, you are going to want to choose the Best Backpack For Disney World!

Don’t feel that you need to take everything that’s on this list every time you go into the park, but we’ve created this comprehensive list and, we feel, it has everything you may need.  Obviously, if you have young kids, you’ll need to take your diaper bag, food, and extra drinks, pacifiers, etc for them. If you want our full list of what to bring, we have an entire article on What To Bring In Your Disney Park Bag!

And if you have a dining plan, you may not need to take snacks with you, although if traveling with smaller children, we’d take some snacks with us because our kids liked to ‘graze’ when they were small.   Even when we’re on the Disney Dining Plan, we still take a very small insulated back with juice pouches and water bottles to the park, though, because we feel it’s a bit of a waste to use our snack credits on drinks!

Have you wondered whether the Disney Dining plan is worth it?  Everything you need to know is covered in our full, in-depth article .

• Guidebooks (or print off your touring plans to take up less room)
• Cell phones (don’t forget to download our Genie+/Lightning Lane suggestions to your phone!)
• External battery charger and cords
• Lanyard for room key/tickets
• Sunglasses w/straps
• Water bottle w/strap
• Collapsible cooler
• Autograph book
• 1 towel (block the sun, save a spot at the parade, clean off a seat)
• Mini First Aid kit
• Pain medicine
• Bottles of water
• Walkie talkies (for non-American visitors and poor cell signal)
• Rain ponchos or umbrella
• Handheld fan to keep cool while waiting
• Lip balm w/sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Antibacterial hand gel/sanitizer and wet wipes
• Hats/visors
• Large Ziploc for wet clothes
• Dry change of clothes for kids
• Glow sticks and necklaces
• Pennies for pressing
• Pins for trading
• Playing cards or handheld games
• Kids ID tags
• Small bottles of bubbles (to do while waiting)

Disney Water Park Packing List

As with other park visits, on some days we do ‘water park packing lite’ – if we’re staying onsite, with a Dining plan and just doing a water park visit in the morning, we’ll happily rock up with sunscreen, magic bands , water shoes, a few drinks and our swimwear under our clothes (with clean underwear in our bag to avoid soggy clothes at home time!).  We grab some towels, hit the slides and the pools (can you say lazy river?!); we hardly spend any time chilling or sitting down and, when we’re done touring the park, we grab quick-service lunch on our way out.

That said, the water parks have so much more to offer and can be a great destination for the whole day, but you’ll want to be better prepared so you’re not left wanting OR spending your hard-earned money on things you could easily have brought if they were on your Disney packing list!   When spending the day, be sure to stake out a good spot with some loungers and, if you can find it, some shade!   Whatever you’re doing, you’ll need to remember to reapply sunscreen often!

If you have smaller kids, they’re probably going to want to spend time at Ketchakiddee Creek (Typhoon Lagoon) or Tike’s Peak (Blizzard Beach) and bigger kids are going to love the Ski Patrol Training Camp.   Don’t forget, kids are going to be spending a lot of time out of the water and will need careful protection from the sun to shield them from rays reflecting off the water: we love swim suit sets like this for toddlers (similar ones for girls and boys ) to double up on the sun protection!

• Water park tickets
• Drivers license/ID for each adult
• Cash/credit card
• Waterproof/underwater camera
• Cell phones
• Bathing suits
• Beach towels – if you’re a Disney resort guest, you can get towels from the water parks without having to pay, you just need to provide your Magic band and let them know how many towels you need.
• Beach bag – we try to make sure our beach bag has at least one zippered pocket for our valuables and things we don’t want to lose or get wet.   This one has a cooler compartment underneath the bag part, so may be a great addition to your Disney packing list!
• Floatation toys
• Books/magazines
• Mister fan & extra batteries
• Pain medicine (like Tylenol or Advil)
• Antibacterial hand gel
• Swim diapers – diaper age children must wear these and while you can buy them on-site, the prices are extortionate and you’ll be glad you had them on your Disney packing list!
• Waterproof watch
• Waterproof case
• Water shoes/flip flops – we recommend water shoes that you’re not going to worry about losing on a slide (although you’ll have to carry them down Summit Plummet, if you’re brave enough!) and that you just wear around the park.  We love this type – they protect our feet from the hot walkways and also from the rough bottom of the pool – we hate grazing the tops and soles of our feet as we go around the lazy river!
• Large Ziplocs for wet clothes

Travel Documents To Pack For Disney

This section might be one of those ‘goes without saying, but it’s probably the most important list; things you can’t replace; go without or buy locally!  If you’re an international visitor, passports should be top of this list!

With regards to activities/meals/trips – if you’ve booked it, you’ll want to take confirmation with you!  It’s fine to rely on emails, but we’ve found that sometimes when you need it most, you don’t have coverage or you can’t locate the confirmation that you need.  For peace of mind, we take a broad approach and either print out our confirmation reference numbers or write them in a notebook, as well as taking screenshots on our phone and saving to a specific folder.

• Hotel confirmation
• Rental car confirmation
• Boarding passes
• Cash/credit cards
• Dollar bills for tips & tolls
• Drivers license/IDs
• Notepad/notebook
• Envelopes for Mousekeeping Tips
• Insurance cards
• Membership cards (AAA, DVC)
• Theme park tickets
• Addresses for postcards

Packing For Road Trips/Flights

Whether you’re flying or driving, you’ll want to prepare for the journey to make it more comfortable and pass more pleasantly!   Yes, there are many of these items that you can get on your journey, but you may not find exactly what you’re looking for and the substitution may cost you significantly more money.

Everything on this list may not be essential, but they’ll help you have a stress-free journey, particularly if you’re traveling with kids!  The simple addition of a trash bag to a road trip with us makes such a difference in helping to keep the car tidy enough not to raise the stress levels!

Obviously, the length of your journey may dictate that some of these aren’t necessary, or if you’re traveling by plane with a short journey to your airport, they may not be feasible.   But they’re all worthy of some consideration, to help you make your ‘travel’ Disney packing list as complete as it needs to be for your journey.

• Maps/directions/GPS
• Proof of auto insurance
• Paper towels
• Snacks; Drinks
• Pillows; Blankets
• Portable DVD player’ Movies
• Travel games
• MagicBands or park tickets
• Meal confirmation #s

Miscellaneous Items for Disney

Our final list is the miscellaneous list – some of these items may appear on other lists, but you may have decided, for example, you don’t need a Water Park Disney packing list, because water parks aren’t on your itinerary – but that doesn’t mean that a beach bag isn’t necessary for you if you’re going to be camping out by your resort pool!

We’ve included some of the items that are now on our forever Disney packing list, accumulated over many trips away, and are items which we’d never have dreamt of taking in the ‘early days’; some of the particularly unusual items have helped us have a more magical, stress-free vacation (who’d have thought a pop-up laundry hamper would have made me happy?!  Sharing a Disney room with a few kids, it’s now forever on my ‘what to bring to Disney’ list!).

• Cameras (w/memory cards)
• Disposable cameras for kids
• Cell phone w/charger
• Power strip – although some of the refurbished rooms have a lot more power sockets, we’ve found a power strip is a really helpful way of making sure everything is charged when you want it to be!
• iPod & ear buds/headphones
• Laptop & charger
• External battery charger (read below for our top recommendations)
• Waist bag/day pack – we particularly like this crossbody sling bag as an alternative to a traditional rucksack.  It may not be big enough for everything you want to take into the park, depending on your party size and make-up.
• Large Ziploc bags
• Sound machine for hotel
• First aid kit
• Safety pins
• Clothespins (to hang wet items and to help close gaps in curtains) – we’ve found large ones really useful if we’re hanging over balconies!
• Over-the-door shoe organizer (to keep hotel room organized)
• Stain wipes/stick (we like these – they’re small enough to pop one in the day bag, great when you have a child who seems to get chocolate on EVERY piece of clothing they wear, even when they haven’t eaten chocolate!!)
• Wrinkle release spray
• Workout stuff
• Water sports bottle
• Night light; Pen flashlights
• Pennies & quarters for pressing
• Pins for trading – you may not want to spend your vacation savings on brand new pins to trade, but if you collect them during the year or have a collection of ‘less-loved’ pins, bringing these will give you a head start on pin trading.  Read more about pin trading .
• Books/magazines/Playing cards/Games/Frisbees
• Kindle/iPad
• Eyeglass repair kit
• Small scissors and a small screwdriver (useful when opening toys purchased at Disney World)
• Reusable straws – there are many on the market, but we highly recommend you make sure you get a cleaning brush with whatever you purchase.  Our personal favorites, and entirely environmentally friendly, are bamboo straws .
• Pop-up hamper – if you’re sharing a hotel room, you’ll thank us for putting this on your Disney packing list to help you keep your laundry out of the way!

What To Avoid Packing for Disney

Hopefully, it goes without saying, but you can absolutely use your discretion with our lists – if you know it’s not relevant for you, then, of course, you should omit it.

It may be on your normal vacation list, but you could leave selfie sticks off your Disney packing list as they are not permitted in any Disney parks.

Unless you’re going on a cruise, you need not bring formal wear to Disney.  Obviously, you should check out the dress code for any signature reservations you have, but the majority do not require formal dress.

Whilst costumes are fine for kids unless you’re going to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, grown-ups, you need to leave your costumes at home!  Guests over 14 are not permitted to dress up as Disney characters other than at this event.  You can, however, Disneybound!

Useful Disney World Packing Tips

Use packing cubes.

We are fans of packing cubes – they don’t have to be particularly expensive but we’ve found them to be very effective in organizing your packing (and repacking).   When packing to go on vacation, we place several days’ of clothes in each cube and have found that clothing items get creased less – they stay the way they’re folded when you pack them.

We make sure that the packing cubes are spread evenly across the suitcases so if one gets lost/delayed, we all still have clothes in the other suitcase (hoping they don’t all go missing!).

Weigh your bags if flying

There is little worse than having to repack your suitcases as you’re trying to check them in (except, perhaps, having to pay excesses because your bags are all overweight).

We suggest you consider getting a portable scale and take it with you – eliminate all of the worries and have a stress-free trip to the airport.

Leave space for what you buy

Even if you don’t have much on your vacation ‘shopping’ list, we’re confident you’ll buy stuff that you want to bring home.   We like to make sure we have a room by making sure we don’t overpack our suitcases on the outbound journey.  We have been known to take an extra case and spread all of our luggage between those bags – all of them underweight, so we know we have extra room on the way home.

Pack a Poncho to save space

This is one of the biggest things people forget on their Disney packing list!  Evening thunderstorms are a DAILY occurrence during the summer season!  Adding a poncho to your Disney packing list instead of a travel umbrella will help you save space, and it will help you stay dry when necessary.

But pay attention to what kind of poncho you are purchasing when considering what to wear at Disney: you don’t want a poncho that is cheap and will rip easily! Often, storms in Florida don’t last long, but having the means to stay dry is something you will thank yourself for later.

Save Money and buy a misting fan in advance

Personal misting fans can be a lifesaver at Disney! Between the crowds and the sweltering sun, misting fans are great as they are lightweight and portable. Many of them can be charged with USB cords now, and their battery life will last you throughout your adventure-packed day!  Make sure to invest in a misting fan and add it to your Disney packing list – it will save you from the heat!  You can, of course, buy them at Disney, but you’re going to spend a lot more money than you need to, which is why it’s one of the great things to bring to Disney.

Bring A Mobile Flash Drive and Extra SD Cards

With the quality of smartphone cameras increasing, it’s no longer necessary to bring a camera on all of your traveling adventures, but you do not want to risk losing your memories via smartphone– and trust us, it happens!  A portable smartphone flash drive is a small storage device that you can connect to your smartphone and then safely and easily download the photos onto another device.  We recommend the IDiskk 3.0 12GB as it is a certified device and means you don’t need to rely on a fast and secure connection to save your memories.

There is no doubt about it: Disney World is truly magical. From castles to princesses and all the adventures in-between, it is a gorgeous theme park full of life sights, so you’ll probably be taking a lot of photos – be sure to add additional memory cards to your list as well!

Bring a Portable power bank

Portable power banks are a must for keeping our phone charged whilst traveling and we recommend the Anker Powercore 1000 and use it during all of our travels. While it is a little more expensive, it has great quality and should be added to your Disney packing list if you’d like to keep your phone alive and usable during your travels! It is literally what we bring to Disney each and every visit!

Make sure you bring a Daypack

Between cameras, jackets, possible swimsuits, phone chargers, and water bottles, there is a lot to carry around with you at Disney World– and you haven’t even purchased your souvenirs yet! Daypacks can make your day at the parks easier, as you have something to carry all of your things in.

Consider a reusable water bottle

You’re in the sun. All the time. There is no way to avoid it! Disney, and Orlando in general, is fantastic for getting a tan, but with that exposure, you must add a reusable water bottle to your Disney packing list. While cups of water are free in restaurants and at most concession stands, you’ll often find yourself thirsty at the most inconvenient parts of the day– and trust us when we say purchasing a bottle of water every time you get thirsty can add up quickly!

Make sure your phone case is sturdy

We’ve seen it happen– the dropped phone. The waterlogged phone. The cracked screen. It happens at Disney more often than you think. Between water rides and the hard ground of the parks, Disney can be a dangerous place for an unprotected phone. Make sure to invest in a good phone case for when packing for Disney– it might save you some possible heartache!

Masks, Hand Sanitizer, Sanitizing Wipes

During the current global situation, masks are required indoors at Disney. Don’t forget to bring several masks for each person for the duration of your trip. Everyone over the age of 2 is required to wear one, and it’s nice to have several in your bag to swap out if you get sweaty, one breaks, or you lose one. We have recommendations and tips for masks in the park here .

You also should bring plenty of hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. These are things we brought with us to the parks before this situation started, and they are even more important now. Bring several with you so you can clean your hands after getting off a ride, and so that you can wipe down any questionable surfaces – especially those that children will use, like highchairs.

Disney Gear/Ears/Clothing from Previous Trips

If you’ve visited Disney World or Disneyland before you may have some ears, hats, accessories, and clothing from previous trips. Bring them with you! You don’t need to buy a pair of ears on every trip, especially if you already have a favorite pair. This can save a lot of money on souvenirs and keep little ones from bringing home tons of new ears, hats, and bags every time you go.

Ears and Spirit Jerseys are classic, regardless of when you got them or what year they are from. Bringing them back with you on different trips makes sure you get your money’s worth out of them, and you’ll save yourself a little money in the long run.

This also includes MagicBands! They stay active for a while after purchase and can be used on multiple trips. You can check whether they are active or not on the My Disney Experience app or under your account on the Disney World website. It might be worth reusing these, especially if you have fun or special ones!

Toiletries Tips!

Even though we have already mentioned making sure you have all your toiletries in your luggage, we have a few more tips for you! It’s important to make sure you bring shampoo and conditioner if you have curly/coily/dry hair, as well as hair styling products for certain hair types. The shampoo and conditioner that Disney supplies isn’t kind to these types of hair and can be very drying. You also want to be sure you have what you need to make sure your hair is going to look good if you’re taking lots of family photos!

It’s also a good idea to make sure that you are bringing cosmetics/skincare items that keep you on your normal routine. It’s easy to leave these at home and not worry about these things on vacation, but you don’t want to deal with breakouts or extreme dryness because you left your normal skincare at home. And you definitely don’t want to run to Sephora at Disney Springs and pay a lot of money to fix something that could have been prevented!

Other Items to Not Forget on Your Disney Packing List

Planning your Disney packing list doesn’t have to be as stressful as it sounds. By following these simple tips, you will be well on your way to packing like a pro for Disney World. These items are often forgotten or overlooked by travelers, but they can save your vacation from heartache if added to your bags when packing for Disney.

Of course, Disney, and Orlando in general have stores in which you can buy things you may have forgotten, but the stores may or may not be open, have exactly what you need, and may cost a pretty penny!   Do yourself a favor and make sure you add these things to your Disney packing list today!

What’s your opinion?  Have we missed anything?   Have you used any of our recommendations and love the products?   Leave us a comment, below, to let us know what you think.  As always, we’re very happy to answer any questions you may have!  Thanks for reading!

Reader Interactions

January 19, 2022 at 11:14 pm

how do i get this list to be downloadable to print?

January 20, 2022 at 8:52 pm

You can download this to your phone, email it to yourself, and then print it! Thank you!!

March 24, 2022 at 3:35 pm

Download what to your phone? I’m mostly looking for a text list if that exists.

July 24, 2022 at 8:00 pm

go to your browser …. Microsoft Edge …go to the right side of your bar to the 3 dots. Check out the list and go to downloads. It will download the article plus list… the format is just slightly different. You can also – in the same list – hint print and it will do a pdf for you.

The download list you can share to Drive and then it will be available on your PC and Phone.

May 3, 2022 at 11:57 am

Where is the link to download the list

May 14, 2022 at 5:59 pm

Hello! There is no link it is the photo at the beginning of the post you can simply download like this! thanks!

May 20, 2023 at 3:55 pm

Is there a way to make the list larger after it’s printed? When it’s all on one page it’s so small to read?

June 1, 2023 at 4:38 pm

you can download/save it to your phone and then zoom in on each part you want to look at. that is the best way! thank you!

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At MagicGuides we’ve dedicated ourselves to bringing you the most comprehensive Disney World and Disneyland Travel Planning Information.  Check out our  Crowd Calendars , Packing Lists , Tips & Tricks , Park Secrets, and much more. 

As featured on.

Start Your Disney World Planning Here!

Trip planning essentials.

TRANSPORTATION MAP

Our Disney World Transportation map shows all the transportation options throughout Disney World.  Click on your Resort and see the travel times to each Disney Park.

DISNEY AGENTS

Looking for a little advice and assistance with planning your next Disney World vacation? Talking to a reputable Disney Travel Agent is your best bet.  Take a look at our list of top Disney Travel Planners!

CROWD CALENDAR

Our Disney World Crowd Calendar will help you know which is the best time of year to visit Disney World to maximize your time on the rides and minimize your time in line.

Free Disney World Stock Photos!

STROLLERS at DISNEY

Wondering what to do about Strollers at Disney World? Should you bring your own?  Rent a stroller? How much does it cost?   Look no further.  Here’s our complete guide to Strollers at Disney.

PACKING LIST

A great Disney Packing List will help you make sure you don’t forget to pack anything important.  Our packing list includes all the items you’ll need for a great trip!

CRUISING with DISNEY

Love the theme parks and considering a cruise? Whether it will be your first time ever on a ship, or just your first Disney Cruise, we have everything you need to know about cruising with Disney.

BEST DISNEY RESORTS

BEST VALUE RESORTS

Disney’s Value Resorts are the entry level price point into a magical Disney themed vacation.  Stay on Disney’s property and experience all that Disney has to offer, all the time.  Here are our top Disney Value Resorts ranked.

BEST MODERATE RESORTS

Disney’s Moderate Resorts are the next step up in luxury and amenities in your magical Disney vacation.  Stay on Disney’s property with improved transportation and resort amenity options.  Here are our top Disney Moderate Resorts ranked.

BEST DELUXE RESORTS

Disney’s Deluxe Resorts are the pinnacle in Luxury on offer at Walt Disney World.  Stay on Disney’s property and experience only the best and most luxurious amenities & transportation options.  Here are our top Disney Resorts Resorts ranked.

Our Complete Disney World Resort Comparison Guide

Theme park data center.

Have you ever wondered how many people actually visit Disney World and other Theme Parks?  Well, here’s the Total Annual Park Attendance data from the major U.S. Theme parks for 2018.  It’s pretty enlightening information and can help you understand where the majority of vacationers are choosing to spend their vacations. ( source )

THE LATEST AND GREATEST DISNEY KNOW-HOW

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO GO TO DISNEY WORLD

Planning a Disney World vacation but not sure when to go? Between seasonal events, weather, school and work schedules, it can be a tough decision.  Here’s our guide to help you choose the best time of year to go to Walt Disney World.

DISNEY ATTRACTION TO ESCAPE THE RAIN

Florida is nicknamed “The Sunshine State,” but the weather at Disney World isn’t always predictably sunny. But don’t fret – In the event of bad weather, there are still plenty of Disney attractions to escape the rain until the sun returns. We’ll help you plan ahead so you won’t get drenched.

HOW TO BECOME A DISNEY TRAVEL AGENT

Are you interested in becoming a Disney travel agent? It seems like the ultimate job for a Disney fanatic because you get paid to talk about Disney all day long. But is it really as fun and rewarding as it seems? We’ll give you all the information you’ll need to decide if this career is right for you.

DISNEY WORLD TRIVIA

Throwing a Party with Disney Friends? Running a Trivia Night? Just love Disney? Well, we have some great Disney Trivia that we think you’ll find amazing!

FREE THINGS TO DO AT DISNEY WORLD

A Disney Vacation can be very expensive. Here are some things at Disney World that you may not have known are absolutely FREE!

LOTS MORE DISNEY INFO COMING SOON!!!

You’ve loved our many Disney related articles. Well, we have many more coming soon!

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Walt Disney World Planning Kit

If you are looking for one place to organize your trip, then our Walt Disney World planning kit is for you.   This handy tool is helpful before, during and after your trip!   Look over the pages, and just print the ones that apply to your vacation.  There are pages for driving or flying, no need to use up paper and ink that don’t apply for you.   If your trip is longer, you can print extra of the day by day journal pages.

Begin your adventure with a handy place to record travel reservations, hotel information, notes for your house sitter, and more. Then use our packing information to keep your packing organized and on-track.  If you prefer print and add in our packing list or use it to inspire your own for your planning kit.

While you are at Walt Disney World, the planning kit not only becomes a handy way to organize each day of your stay, but also a journal for keeping notes and ideas for your next trip.

Download this free  planning kit  from The Mouse for Less and start preparing for your Walt Disney World vacation today. This is in Adobe pdf format. A free version of Adobe pdf reader is available at www.adobe.com for all computer platforms and operating systems. Special thanks to Michael Gilmer for creating and providing this valuable planning tool.

Click here to download your WDW Vacation Planning Kit

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Living a Disney Life

Empty nesting with pixie dust.

5 Disney World Survival Kits

On a short trip into a Walt Disney World park with older children (or none at all), it’s possible to go in free of cumbersome bags or backpacks.  The rest of the time?  Not so much.  Supplies are necessary.  The right supplies…imperative.  Personalized to your travel party’s particular needs, the well-prepared survival kit can save the day.

Need one or need them all, survival kits are best packed in appropriately sized zip-lock bags carried within your backpack or carryall.  This way your supplies are protected from rain and water rides alike and all contents are sorted by their respective purpose.

• Tenderfoot Kit – If you are prone to blisters or sore feet, it’s best to think ahead.  You may need a dry pair of socks, moleskin, anti-chafing balm (like Body Glide ) or even an easy to carry change of footwear.  No matter the park, you’ll be covering a lot of territory – best be ready to address the situation before those dogs start barking.
• Line Survival Kit – While Disney’s interactive queues have done wonders for the wait, there are still plenty of opportunities for boredom to set in (I’m looking at you, Soarin’).  Think age-appropriate activities that won’t run down your smartphone or tablet battery.  Trivia books, Hidden Mickeys Guide , small toys or puzzles, you get the idea.  You know your family and what they like – be prepared for impatience an pack accordingly.

How about you?   Are you a Disney World veteran?  What’s in your survival kit?

Related posts:

• Disney World in June – It’s Going to Rain
• Surviving the Heat at Walt Disney World
• Walt Disney World – Vacation Day Checklist
• Walt Disney World – Summer Sun Survival

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Living Well Mom

I help moms with simple, natural ways to look after their families. Find recipes, fun stuff for kids, and simple DIY ideas. Plus natural solutions made easy peasy!

Printable Road Trip Games with a Fun DIY Travel Binder For Kids

featured activities for kids featured on home page free printable road trip This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Family road trips can be long and boring but with a little planning ahead, you can have a fun selection of printable road trip games that will keep your kids (including preschoolers, tweens, even teens) occupied for hours.

Today I’ll show you how to easily make a DIY travel binder (no craftiness required) that’s a perfect way to store and use printable road trip games for kids.

Your whole family will thank you for this fun activity!

Best of all, you don’t have to be crafty or DIY-included to make this homemade travel binder; it’s really easy to make and the supplies are simple too.

We’ve had some great trips in the past, and honestly some downright terrible ones, so I have a few tricks up my sleeve.

Road Trip Activity Binder

For our most recent trip, I came up with this road trip activity binder. I made one for each of my children. It’s simple and filled with fun games to play on a road trip that worked well to keep them busy…and off their tablets and phones!

The best part of this DIY kids travel binder is you can add whatever activities you like and easily personalize it for each child. Plus can reuse it again and again for future road trips!

Another nice feature is it includes an attached dry erase marker and holder so your kids won’t lose their markers in the dark crevices of your car!

Y ou’ll find a huge list of printable road trip games and activities from more awesome bloggers and sites below.

• 1/2″ binder with a clear pocket in the front (I found 6 at BJ’s for $8)
• heavyweight sheet protectors
• 1 dry erase marker per travel binder *dark colors work best
• craft cord (I used a shoelace-type craft cord at Walmart that works great)

• decorative mini duct tape
• optional – map of the route you’re traveling through Google Maps or other software (see more below)
• free printable travel activities

How to Make a Kids’ Travel Binder:

You can download the free printable cover for your child’s travel binder by clicking here .

Write your child’s name at the top.

Insert this cover into the front of the binder.

Now make the simple holder for your child’s marker.

Cut off a 2-3 inch section of the decorated duct tape. Cut a small 3/4-1″ section of tape and add to the middle of the long piece’s sticky side.

Do this again for a second piece.

Using the dry erase marker as a guide, attach the tape to the middle top of your child’s travel kit binder.

Add two pieces of tape to the sides – this adds extra strength to the marker holder.

Now, cut off about 2.5 feet of craft cord (you’ll need enough cord to comfortably reach around any pages in the travel kit binder.)

Tie one piece to the top of the dry erase marker. Hot glue this in place.

Tape the other end of craft cord to the marker holder.

And you’re done with the attached marker and holder for your travel kit!

Map Activity Road Trip Printable

The free printable map activity is my favorite part of this kids’ travel binder. It’s perfect for elementary-aged kids on up because they can follow along as you travel.

It’s a great way to teach kids how to read maps in this age of GPS too! Plus you’ll hear less “Are we there yet?” with this simple addition!

I did include these map printables in my younger children’s binders (Josh, age 6 and Luke, age 4) simply because they like to follow their older siblings and I knew they would still enjoy it.

Kids can trace the route with the attached dry erase marker and they’ll love seeing the progress you’re making.

I recommend going a step farther and plan out your route including stops so your kids can see exactly how far between stops.

Go to Google Maps or some other map program. Map out your route and stops.

Then save and print out pages, depending on how long your trip.

Our trip has 5 pages for each way – 5 for traveling to Grandma and Grandpa’s house and 5 for traveling home. I uploaded each page to the free Paint program and added stars to mark where our stops with a big star for our destination.

This simple road trip binder printable alone will make your trip easier !

Last, but not least, print out activities for each of your children, depending on their ages.

Including Bingo…

Even a travel journal…

Free Printable Travel Games for Kids:

I spy / scavenger hunt games.

• Free printable iSpy travel game – traffic signs (Living Well Mom)
• Meander & Coast – travel scavenger hunt for tweens
• Make and Takes – for preschool – elementary age kids
• Live Laugh Rowe – summer vacation I spy printable

Bingo Games

• Travel holiday bingo game – Living Well Mom
• From Playdough to Plato – bingo + scavenger hunt, story starters, I Spy, and more
• Crazy Little Projects – road trip bingo

License Plate Game

• Grab our own fun License plate game with a map right here.

Coloring Printables

• Disney (includes coloring pages, printable memory games, activity pages, etc.
• Crayola (includes tons of other games like mazes, bingo, + more)

More Printable Travel Games & Activities for Kids

• Kids Activities Woo – Printable Pinwheels
• Classroom Jr – Summer writing prompts
• Kids Activities Woo – printable mad lids
• education.com has a huge select of activities including fun facts for each state, bingo games, drawing tutorials, mazes, matching games and more.
• Mother’s Home has several printable road trip games including hangman, tic tac toe, battleship and more.
• Mom’s minivan has over 100 fun car ride games and activities for kids
• Minitime has 25+ few road trip car games to choose from
• Picklebums – cute free drawing prompts
• Country Cottage – Dr. Seuss Cootie Catcher

Get the Printable Travel Games Set

Get everything in one place with the Ultimate Travel Games Bundle!

This exciting set features 30 printables, including:

• 7 iSpy games – including restaurants, car models and colors, highway signs, and more
• license plate iSpy
• 2 scavenger hunts
• 9 bingo pages
• 4 classic games – tic-tac-toe, dot connecting, battleship, hangman
• 5 drawing prompt pages
• 2 travel journal pages
• 1 reward coupons page

Click here to get yours now!!

While these this handy travel activity binder and road trip printables can’t make the miles disappear, together, they can definitely help make the whole trip go by faster and smoother for the whole family.

Happy travels!

More Road Trip Tips:

• How to Take a Road Trip with Kids & Not Go Insane
• 7 Tips for Road Trips with Kids
• 49+ Brilliant Ideas for Enjoying a Road Trip with Kids
• Your kids might also love this super easy-to-make DIY Travel Coloring Kit !

Just pin it below to find the instructions later!

Dear Mom, Join the Living Well Mom Insiders

About erika.

Erika Bragdon is a flower essence practitioner and a second-generation homeschooling mom with 3 kids at home and 1 in college. She enjoys her chickens, goats, and gardening on a small farm in New Hampshire, and is passionate about sharing flower essences and more ways to renew body, mind, and soul with moms.

Tammileetips says

June 20, 2015 at 7:07 pm

This is a great way to keep the kids entertained in the car. I remember how bored I always got on road trips growing up.

June 21, 2015 at 10:26 am

Such a great idea. We used to buy coloring books for trips, but I like your idea better because it is personalized for the route!

June 21, 2015 at 3:58 pm

I love this idea! We’ve started a no tech in the car rule with our grandkids. It had gotten to the point where they fought over an iPad during the less than 10 minute drive from our house to theirs. I think a version of your travel binder will be fabulous even on our short everyday car rides!

valmg @ Mom Knows It All says

June 22, 2015 at 8:47 am

Using the map for the route you’re taking is a great idea! I’ve never seen anyone do that before.

Andrew says

June 22, 2015 at 9:11 am

Great idea! I have to admit, I still like to play the scavenger hunt game while on road trips! 🙂

Glenda Cates says

June 28, 2015 at 8:47 am

I love this and would not only be using it for travel but for local trips as well. As it would keep kids entertained no matter where you are going. Plus if you end up somewhere and have to wait for any amount of time they could bring it in with them to work on. So I would like to thank you for taking the time to share it with us.

Erika Bragdon says

June 28, 2015 at 12:10 pm

Great idea, Glenda! Thanks!

Nichole Moreland says

July 10, 2015 at 1:03 pm

Can you please elaborate more on how you printed the map? I am trying to put a binder together for our family vacation and I cant figure out how to get as nice of a map as you have! Thanks

July 10, 2015 at 2:54 pm

Hi Nichole, I used Google Maps to plan out our road trip route. There’s not a built-in way to print out whole map segments, so I saved a screen shot of each segment. (The number of screen shots would depend on how long your trip and how detailed you want the map to be.) Then I opened a new custom “design” in PicMonkey (sized 2550×3300 pixels – the size of regular paper), uploaded the map screen shot, and added text and graphics (a star for stops, along with the town/city, etc.)

Hope that helps! Good luck on your trip! 🙂

Heather Gaughan says

April 19, 2016 at 4:49 pm

Hi Erika! I am a travel agent and have a blog. I linked back to your site for an entry I was doing about travel binders. I included your site as one to check out for tips and forms. I hope that’s ok!

July 6, 2019 at 2:34 pm

This is awesome! I will definitely be making a binder for each of my kids. We have a 12 hr road trip next week. Thanks for the list of great printables also.

July 9, 2019 at 2:26 pm

Have a great trip, Amy!

Bridget says

June 23, 2020 at 4:13 pm

We are from NH now living in SC. About to make the summer trip back to NH for a few weeks. Thank you for the tips! My 9 yr old is going to love the binder idea!!!

July 6, 2020 at 10:56 am

Hope you all enjoy it and have a safe trip! 🙂

Jenifer Yoon says

November 17, 2020 at 1:08 pm

Thank you for putting the Road trip binder and links together. I’m not sure when you originally made the post but you may want to go back over the links, several of them didn’t work or link to anything or for I heart organizing there was no license plate game. I just wanted to let you know.

November 18, 2020 at 12:01 pm

Yes, it’s been a few years and we do need to update it. Thanks for letting me know.

Mallori says

November 5, 2021 at 12:33 am

Where did you find the license plate game with pictures of the license plates?

November 8, 2021 at 10:57 am

The original version doesn’t appear to be available any longer, however we’re finishing up our own kids travel set with a similar option and much more! It will be available very soon!

SNK Social Fame says

February 23, 2022 at 6:02 am

Thank you for the introduction of a range of information that is very interesting to see in this article. Thanks for sharing this information.

January 28, 2023 at 6:19 pm

Where did you find the picture for the front page?

February 6, 2023 at 1:24 pm

Hi Rice, I made it myself from a graphic image. It’s been a long time though. Hope you like it!

threads Bay says

September 1, 2023 at 1:15 pm

This is a great idea for a travel binder! I love the free printable games too!

September 9, 2023 at 2:03 am

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Living well is a journey not a destination

How to create the ultimate kids activity pack for travel

By: Author Monica

Categories Blog , The Mama Hack

Today I’m sharing my ultimate kids activity pack that is perfect for travel or whenever you need to keep your kids entertained in small spaces!

If, like me, you have kids who don’t sit still then these activity pack ideas will come in so handy. I have three young children (ages 7, 5 and 2) and we travel a lot. We take lots of plane journeys and long car journeys and I’ve created these DIY travel activity packs to keep them busy, happy and quiet for hours at a time.

My kids play with them during long journeys but they’re also handy when we’re eating out on holiday or just any situation when they’re going to be bored!

My eldest son is 7 so he’s getting much better at entertaining himself during long journeys (it’s a dream come true for him to have unlimited screen time!) but my energetic 5 year old and my stroppy toddler are still a bit of a handful! 

• 【PREMIUM FABRIC & DETAILS CREATE QUALITY】Made of 600D cationic Oxford cloth, which is water-impermeable and not easy to scratch and wear.In case of water droplets, just drying it with a dry...
• 【DOCUMENT FOLDER WITH LOCK】With a three-digit code lock design, whenever and wherever you can keep your important documents and valuables safe.
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Let me introduce you to my kids activity pack….

I first discovered a similar kids activity pack on Pinterest that involved using a zippable binder and I’ve adapted the idea to fit my kids and my budget. 

Most Busy Books and Busy Binders I came across were created for learning purposes like teaching kids the alphabet or animal names. My kids activity packs do have some educational activities but the main purpose is to keep kids happy, entertained and playing independently for as long as possible!

I’m based in the UK so I’ve recommended UK stores to purchase everything to go inside your busy binder – but many of these items are pretty generic and can be picked up on Amazon, stationary stores and budget shops (like Dollar Tree). I think the trick is to find a good binder and everything else will be fine!

This kids activity pack can be personalised to your child depending on their age and interests. You can create your Busy Binder on a real budget or go nuts and create something incredible! I’ve got some ideas to create a kids activity pack on a budget below.

What is a Busy Binder?

A Busy Binder is a zippable folder you fill with kids activities to keep your children entertained during long journeys.

Using a zippable folder is a great way to keep all your kid’s activities together and stop everything getting lost, messy or rolling away! I find it much easier to use a folder and the kids find it super exciting too! 

If I just shove everything into a bag then things get lost, forgotten and generally a bit chaotic. When it’s all inside a binder, kids can place it on their knee and they’re happy for hours and barely need to move! They don’t need to go rummaging in bags which can be awkward on a plane or while strapped in a car seat. 

If you can keep your kids activity pack a secret until you get on the plane then you’ll get extra brownie points because your kids will love it!

You can fill your binder with plastic wallets and place activities inside the wallets. If you have paper-based activities (like drawing and colouring) you can either place them inside a wallet or holepunch them and insert them in the folder. 

You can also get pockets and pencil cases with binder holes so it can be clipped inside the folder so things don’t get lost.

I’ve used three different styles of binder for each of my kids to show you how you can do them differently.

You could create this kids activity pack without a binder but putting everything together in the binder seems to be what makes it so exciting for kids.

How do you create a Busy Binder?

To create a Busy Binder kids activity pack you’re going to need:

• A binder / folder (suggestions below)
• Some plastic wallets
• Activity booklets (info about printing your own activity books further down)
• Colouring books
• Sticker books
• Reading books
• Crayons, pencils or pens

What binder should I use?

You can use any kind of binder you like, from a basic folder you’re probably already got at home, to a fancy zippable conference folder with different sleeves, wallets and compartments.

It would be easy to get carried away and spend an absolute fortune on your kids activity pack for the plane. I’ve tried to keep mine within a reasonable budget but it’s totally up to you. If it’s something you’ll be using regularly then I think it’s money well spent to avoid a toddler meltdown or whinging kids during a long journey! It’ll be something you can use time and time again and once your kids have outgrown it, you’ll probably use the binder for boring adult stuff! It also starts your holiday well as the kids will be so excited to sit down on the plane and open their activity packs.

When looking for a binder, look for one that features:

• A zip so things don’t fall out
• A hard case or clipboard function so kids can lean on the binder for drawing
• Interior pocket for pens and crayons
• A handle so kids can easily carry it

Here are some options for different binders….

• ➤ Zippers, we know your documents are important, so we use the highest quality zippers in the industry to better protect your documents.
• ➤ ELEGANT ROSE GOLD: This is the rose gold that every girl can't resist! Give it to your girlfriend, daughter or girlfriend and they will love it. It is suitable for office workers, interviews,...
• Size and capacity: 9.8 x 12.9 x 1.57 inches (25 x 33 x 4 cm). Can carry: at least 2 pens, headphones, business card holder, file folder, more than 150 sheets of standard paper, writing pad, etc.

This rose gold ring binder would be a great option for a little girl.

• 【Premium Fabric & Details Produce Quality】Made of 600DD twill Oxford tarpaulin, it is not easy to abrasion and scratches. Built-in shock-absorbing cotton,which protects important documents and...
• 【Security Code Lock Design】You can keep files safe and organized wherever you are.The combination lock is designed to make your valuables and important documents more secure.
• 【Large Capacity & Well Organized】This document storage bag is designed with 2 compartments,which includes 4 passport mesh bags, 12 card slots, 4 U Disk pockets, 6 A4 file bags and one main pocket...

This is the one I ordered for Alba (my two year old) and this is a really good option for a toddler who will want toys as well as paper and pens. This is much deeper than a normal binder so there’s space for toys as well as organised sections for paper activities.

• A4+ (Plus) full sized soft zipped conference folder portfolio organizer.
• For A4 documents secure Zip Up with 2 ring binder and made from durable strong plastic light weight folder.
• You can easily contain all you needs for your important meetings and conferences documents, paper, plastic pockets, dividers, and certificate.

This is a good budget option and comes in purple or blue. It doesn’t have any interior pockets or compartments but you could put everything inside plastic wallets.

• 【Waterproof Multi】:Combination of tablet sleeve,pen holder,cellphone case,storage pockets and folder.Could be used as document case or other storage bag you want,suitable for...
• 【Various Pockets】: The document bag has a total of 10 pockets,2 x zippered pockets(inner x1 and outside back x1),2x A4 pad holder,1x phone pocket,1x pen pocket,1x net pocket,3x open pockets( inner...
• 【A4 Size】: 25cm X 35cm X 3cm(LxHxW) Smart and compact,could be put in a briefcase/shoulder bag/backpack/handbag/messenger bag/laptop bag.

This one doesn’t actually have a ring binder function but it has so many compartments I don’t think it matters. I’m using this one for my eldest son who is a little more capable at keeping things organised! I previously used this as my laptop case so I’m repurposing something I already had. It comes in loads of colours and patterns and is really handy.

Mala Portable Drawing Case from IKEA

One of the best options to create a kids activity pack for the plane is the Mala Portable Drawing Case from IKEA. If you can get to IKEA or order online then they’re only £10! They do actually sell on Amazon for £18 but IKEA delivery only costs £4 so you’re better off ordering directly from IKEA.

What should I put in my kids activity pack and where should I buy it?

I’ve found The Works to be the best place to get things for a kids activity pack. They have so many options and everything can be ordered online with free delivery on orders over £30 and you can pay a little bit extra for next day delivery (I think I paid £2 extra).

Amazon do have loads of great options too!

For toddlers, I highly recommend sticker books. All the sticker books! A really good option is the Galt Reusuable Sticker Books so you can use them again and again.

• Create fun scenes with over 150 reusable stickers
• With 8 different backgrounds (4 single page and 4 double page)
• Use the stickers over and over again!

My daughter also likes scratch art (which can be a little messy so make sure you’re on hand to sweep away the scratched stuff into a cup!)

• 【Super Safety】: Non Toxic - No odd flavor, no toxic powder, so kids can create colorful, no-fail designs safely.
• 【Easy To Use】: Simply use the wooden styluses included to easily scratch away the black film to reveal the beautiful rainbow colors! safirst Kids can use to jot down notes, etch doodles, and...
• 【Create Any Pattern】: Eprestar Kids can create cool illustrations, doodle, jot notes, create cards, sketch, draw, trace, surprise people, label items, create arts and crafts projects, and express...

I find plasticine is better than play doh as it’s not as messy.

• Plasticine is great for young hands to make fun shapes.
• It's a perfect modelling compound as it never dries out.
• 6 colours included.

Water painting books can also be a great mess-free option.

• Children's Magic Paint with Water Books
• Unicorn & Dinosaur - Set of 2
• Approx Size: 20 x 20cm

I would also put a tablet in there. If you don’t have a tablet then a Kindle Fire is a great option for kids. I would get one with a lot of storage space so you can fill it with films and TV shows.

• A full-featured 8" HD tablet (not a toy) with a kid-proof case, parental controls, 2-year worry-free guarantee and 1 year of Amazon Kids+ with apps, games and videos.
• 2-year worry-free guarantee: if it breaks, return it and we'll replace it for free.
• The included 1-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, giving kids access to thousands of popular apps, games, videos, books and audiobooks, including content from Disney, Nickelodeon and Sesame Street.

We also have these headphones for all of our children and they love them.

• Idea fit with adjustable headband
• Ultra lightweight with soft ear cushions for comfortable fit
• Extra protection as screw free

Can I create my own activity booklets?

You can buy activity books with things like word searches, dot-to-dots, spot the difference, colouring games etc from lots of budget home stores like Home Bargains, the PoundShop, The Works, The Range, Wilko etc.

But if you’ve got access to a printer then you can print out your own using templates from Etsy.

Go onto Etsy and search for ‘Busy Book Printable Activities’ and you’ll have so many options.

If you’ve already got the printer, paper and ink then this is a much cheaper way to fill your Busy Binder with activities – especially if you’ve got more than one child as you can use the same downloads to print out multiple copies.

What is the best activity for a toddler on a plane?

There definitely isn’t one ‘best activity for a toddler’ because every child is different. Two of my kids liked to sit and colour when they were toddlers but my third child could barely hold a crayon until he was 4! (He’s an excellent drawer now – so don’t be worrying if you’ve got a kid who doesn’t draw!)

In my experience, sticker books are the best activity for a toddler – especially on the plane. They’re mess free (unless they start going rogue with the stickers!) and they can keep them busy for ages. Many sticker book activity packs require kids to find the correct sticker and put it in a specific place, so this encourages them to think about it and take their time.

Activities for toddlers on a plane should be:

• Mess-free (avoid felt tip pens, paint and glue)
• Not have too many small parts (avoid Lego or you’ll spend the whole flight picking it up off the floor)
• Not too noisy (avoid toys that repeat the same irritating phrase again and again!)
• Don’t need batteries (or won’t chew through batteries really quickly!)
• Aren’t too bulky or heavy

Our favourite activities for toddlers on a plane include:

• Plasticine (it’s not as messy as play-doh – just keep an eye on where it’s rolling to)
• Scratch art
• Find the xxxx (a bit like Where’s Wally but with different things)
• iPad drawing and colouring
• Little toys like cars, little men, dolls, soft toys
• Arts and craft packs

And last but most importantly, you can’t forget about takeoff, landing, eating snacks, going to the toilet and walking up and down the aisle! Realistically, these are the activities that take the most amount of time.

I’m sure toddler parents are the only people on a plane who hope there is a long queue for the toilet. Just standing in the queue and chatting to people, looking at people and stretching your legs becomes the best form of entertainment!

Saturday 6th of April 2024

This is amazing, thank you. I just wondered can the children take these Oxford file storage bags as their hand luggage on the plane?

Monday 8th of April 2024

Yes they can! My kids put them inside their backpacks but you could carry it on without any additional bag.

Tuesday 25th of July 2023

What is that pink bag you used for your kiddo? It looks like it has a nice deep capacity and I'm having trouble finding something similar. Thanks!

Wednesday 2nd of August 2023

Here's the link to the one I have https://amzn.to/43Q22Xp

Saturday 3rd of December 2022

Thank you for writing this article. I am excited to make a travel bag for my granddaughter before she moves across the country.

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Disney Princess Activity Kit

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Create some of Disney's most beloved princesses with this fuse bead kit from Perler. Patterns included to make Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, and more—5 projects in all to keep young hands busy! Perler beads are great for promoting fine motor skills, color recognition, and imaginative play. Designed for ages 6 and up. © Disney. www.disney.com. Kit contains 2000 beads, pegboard (large interlocking square), pattern sheet with instructions, and ironing paper. Ironing to be done by an adult only.

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Disney Stitch Activity Kit

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Easy DIY Travel Activity Pack for Kids

While there are plenty of kids’ travel kits you can purchase online, I’ve found it’s just as easy to create my own travel activity pack for kids. 

We’ve been lucky enough to travel quite a bit with our three boys since they were born. And now they’re 2, 5, and 7 years old, so I’ve done all sorts of trial and error over the years. 

Whether we need an activity pack for long journeys on a plane or in a car…or, heck, even just to bring along to keep them busy at their brother’s basketball practice…this tried and true DIY travel activity pack always comes through for us. 

Disclosure: You may see affiliate links throughout this post, which means these are the things I handpicked! If you purchase something through these links, I will get a small commission at absolutely no extra charge to you. And that sure means a lot to me, so thank you in advance! See the privacy policy for more information.

What Should I Put in My Kid’s Travel Activity Pack?

As my kids have gotten older, I don’t feel the need to pack as much in their kids’ travel pack. But whew, toddlers are busybodies (or at least mine are)! So, toddler travel activity packs definitely need some variety. 

No matter how long our trip is, I always follow the same method: making sure to include at least one thing from each of these 5 categories. With longer trips, like the time we spent 2 weeks exploring the Christmas markets in Europe , more than one thing from these categories is usually included. 

When creating your own DIY children’s travel activity packs, choose whatever your kids love most in each of these categories (but of course, I’ll give you some of our family’s favs below). 

01. Something Creative

Not only do my boys love being creative, but it also keeps them busy and engaged. It’s something they do regularly at school, so it brings about a sense of familiarity in the craziness of a travel day. 

Crayons, a sketchpad, mess-free markers, small crafts…you name it. Giving them a creative outlet (especially in the midst of long journeys or unexpected delays) always seems to be a hit. 

Bonus points that as they get older, they may end up drawing something cool they saw on vacation, which creates a really cool souvenir! My oldest drew a bunch of pictures on our Portugal vacation that I love looking back on. 

02. Something Fun

I mean, we’re talking about kids here, so don’t forget to bring along something fun that they enjoy. 

I like to add in a couple of compact toys that I know will capture their attention. In my boys’ cases, small action figures, toy cars, window clings, or a fun travel-sized game usually do the trick. 

This is also the perfect time to stick in toys related to your destination (ex. a Mickey plush if you’re heading to Disney ).

03. Problem-Solving Activity

Tossing a problem-solving activity into my kid’s travel activity kit is my secret weapon to keep away the “I’m bored” whines.

Whether it’s a puzzle, shape-sorting game, or a brain teaser, it’s not just fun; it’s a sneaky way to keep those little minds buzzing. It’s a quiet source of entertainment, with the added satisfaction of their own small victories.

04. Fidget Toy

For those moments when little hands need constant motion, fidget toys are the answer. Stress balls or pop-it toys can be surprisingly effective in keeping them occupied.

And let’s be honest, sometimes it’s the littlest things that keep kiddos busy! For example, my boys’ current favorite thing when we travel? Silly putty. Yep…I can pack alllll the cool things, but the silly putty will win most of the time. 

05. Technology

Let’s be real—at some point, all the activities in the world won’t keep them busy. In which case, it’s the tablet to the rescue! (I can’t blame them…I love to just relax and watch my tablet when we travel, too.) 

Download fun shows and games (funny how those educational, problem-solving-type games got put on there! Ha!) ahead of time so you’re all set even if Wifi isn’t available. 

The Best Travel Activities for Kids

Okay, let’s discuss some tried-and-true travel activities for kids.

I’ll break it down into the 5 categories I listed above to give you some examples of what I bring for each category. And I’ll make sure to cover activities that can be used for a variety of ages. 

I’m not saying I bring all of these activities on all of our trips. I switch it up a bit each trip to keep things new(ish) and interesting. 

It’s also good to note that the activities we use on our trips are strictly for travel (although we also pack a few in the diaper bag when we go out to a restaurant!).

That way it’s something special that they only get to use every so often instead of toys that they’re bored of. This also allows us to reuse activities during future trips instead of always buying new activities.

Ok, here we go:

Creative Travel Activities for Kids

Here are my top 3 creative travel activities for kids:.

Crayola Color Wonder Stow & Go

Crayola Twistables Crayons

0.75 inch Dot Stickers

Need a dot sticker template? Of course, I have one for you! Click here to download your FREE dot sticker template (complete with a vacation countdown !).

Other options include:

• Peel & Press Foil Fun
• Wikki Stix Travel Fun Pack
• LCD Writing Tablet
• Coloring books
• Melissa & Doug Sketch Pad
• My First Scribble
• Connect the Dots Workbook
• How To Draw 101 Things Activity Book

Tip : Save room in your kids’ activity pack by ripping out pages of coloring and activity books and sticking them into a folder instead of bringing along several books. Also, consider purchasing a cheap pencil bag , so all the crayons and markers you pack stay together.

Fun Travel Toys for Kids

Here are my top 3 fun travel toys for kids:.

Melissa & Doug Restickable Stickers

• Travel Scavenger Hunt Cards
• Window Clings
• Magnetic Wooden Block Set
• Froogly Suction Toys
• Hot Wheels Cars
• Small Action Figures / Small Dolls
• Expressions Matching Block Game

Tip : Bring along new toys to keep your little one entertained. Steer clear of bringing a favorite toy from home in case it accidentally gets lost in the shuffle while traveling.

Problem-Solving Activities for Your Kids Travel Activity Pack

Here are my top 3 problem-solving travel activities for kids:.

Highlights Hidden Pictures Sticker Fun

Magnetic Maze

CUBIDI Puzzle Ball

• Magnetic Shapes Puzzle
• Melissa & Doug Travel Memory Game
• Kid’s Lacing Toy
• Travel Tangram Puzzle

Tip : For sticker activities, it helps make it easier for little ones if you peel the backing off the sticker sheet ahead of time. I love a good fine motor skill activity, but a road trip when you’re not next to them to help if they get frustrated is not the time to whip that kind of activity out! Ha!

Fidget Toys for Kids when Traveling

Here are my top 3 fidget toys for kids:.

Silly Putty

SHASHIBO Shape Shifting Box

• Mini Pop Tubes
• Suction Cup Spinner Toys
• Mickey Mouse Pop It
• Fat Brain Toys Dimpl
• Transformable Fidget Spinners

Tip : I’ve found that silly putty is MUCH less of a mess than Play-doh! Just make sure it ends up back in its case once your little one is done playing with it.

All the Tech You’ll Need for Traveling with Kids

Here are my top 3 tech activities for family travel:.

Amazon Fire Kids Tablet

iClever Headphones

Nintendo Switch Lite

• Yoto Mini Audio Player
• Apple iPad Mini
• Nintendo Switch

Tip : Make sure to bring along a headphone cable. The last thing you want to have to stress out about while traveling is the batteries dying or the Bluetooth connection failing on their wireless headphones. 

What Type of Travel Activity Bag for Kids Works Best?

My favorite type of travel activity bag for toddlers and kids is a good ol’ backpack. That way it can hold it all–activities, snacks, water bottle, etc. 

Now, there are a couple of ways I’ve done this:

• Packing one bag with activities for all the kids.
• Packing a separate bag for each kid.

I think the answer really comes down to how you’ll be traveling (you’ll have all the space in the world in a car, but maybe not so much in a plane), how many kids you have, how old your kids are (can they carry their own bags or will you get stuck lugging them around?), and how many activities you plan to bring. 

On our recent trips , I’ve packed a separate kid’s travel activity bag for each kiddo, and it’s worked out GREAT to be honest! No more fighting over who’s playing with what…no more reaching across each other to get the activity they want…you get the drift. 

Each kid has their own backpack that they carry (for the most part–obviously my 2-year-old doesn’t really carry his), which allows me to personalize each kid’s backpack to make it their version of the best travel activity pack.

The Best Travel Backpacks for Kids

Before you choose, one important question to answer is this: what do you plan to pack in it? 

I know those small travel backpacks for toddlers look cute and all, but they’re not too practical when they can’t even fit a tablet or coloring book inside. 

Here are my top 3 travel backpacks for kids that can fit a good amount of stuff without being too big for little ones:

• The Arrow Pack from Walker Goods . While this is a more expensive option, they’re great quality. My boys have literally dragged them through airports, and they’ve held up without any issues. My only issue with them is that they don’t have a dedicated water bottle holder. (This is not an affiliate link by the way. I just personally love this brand so much that I had to share!)
• Kasqo 17″ Backpack . This affordable option comes with lots of pockets (can you ever have too many of those when trying to organize a travel activity pack?) and great reviews about the quality of the material.
• J World New York Sunrise Kids Rolling Backpack . This travel backpack is neat because it can be carried like a normal backpack -or- you can roll it similar to a suitcase. I love that it comes in a bunch of fun designs and has very functional pockets throughout.

What to Pack for Kids on a Road Trip vs. What to Pack for Kids on a Plane

And finally, one more thing I want to make sure to hit on: the difference between kids’ travel activity packs for road trips and kids’ travel activity packs for plane rides. These modes of transportation can really change what you bring along with you (or at the very least, the amount of what you bring along with you). 

Generally, I keep it simple and stick to the 5 categories I talked about earlier in this article. In fact, I bring along a lot of the same types of activities no matter the mode of transportation. 

But on a road trip , I’ll admit that I edit my choices WAY less. I figure I have much more space in a car (without any baggage fees!), so if I overpack a bit, I’m okay with that. 

For example, on a road trip, maybe I’ll pack the whole coloring book. While if we’re taking the kids on a plane, I’ll bring along a folder with specific pages torn out of the coloring book. 

Or on a road trip, I’ll pack a travel activity tray for their car seat since we obviously won’t have a seat back tray like we would on a plane. 

Either way, though, I make sure to bring a variety of activities. And of course, I never forget the snacks!

Wrap-Up: Travel Activity Pack for Kids

If you’re headed out on vacation with your family and you’re looking for a travel activity pack for your little one, I highly recommend putting one together yourself. That way, you guarantee it includes things they love and keeps them busy on your travels. 

For more travel tips with kids, check out the Travel Tips section of my blog ! And thanks so much for being here! Happy travels!

Want to know EXACTLY what to pack for your upcoming Disney World trip?

Snag a free printable Disney World packing checklist by clicking the button below. (And how do I know it’s EXACTLY what you need? Well, it’s the list I personally use, so it’s been through plenty of trial and error.)

Wondering how I give my photos a bit of an oomph?

Well, let’s just say I’m a little obsessed with the Light & Airy Photographer photo editing presets.

In just one click, your photo goes from, “Aw, that’s cute,” to, “WOW!”

Jenn is the founder of Those Johnson Boys, a family travel blog on a mission to give parents the confidence to travel with their kids. As a mom to 3 young boys, she's learned all the tricks over the years to make family travel less stressful. Whether you're traveling to Disney World, the USA, or international destinations, Jenn loves sharing tips, itineraries, and travel inspiration to help you have the family vacation you've been dreaming of.

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9 Disney Games and Activities for Kids on a Disney Road Trip

Are you taking your kids on a road trip to Disney? Here are 9 Disney activities and games for kids you can play during your road trip.

Best Disney Activities and Games for Kids on a Disney Road Trip including Disney Games for free!

Few things can beat a family vacation to the Magic Kingdom, but, if you live far away, the long car ride to Walt Disney World can be as exhausting for your kids as it is for you. Therefore, once you’ve secured your hotel reservations, made note of the local repair shop (in case of car emergencies), and packed everyone’s suitcases, it’s time to figure out how to keep the kids from growing bored during the drive. The following guide is a list of fun activities to keep your children occupied and happy while you focus on the road.

Table of Contents

8 Disney Games and Activities Perfect for a Road Trip to Disney

1. disney sing-a-long.

A great way to engage your kids and lift their spirits when they’re sitting for long periods is by singing songs. When they’re jamming to great tunes from their favorite animated movies or television series, they’ll forget about how long they’ll have to wait (and sit) before meeting Mickey Mouse.

Most Disney series and movies have original soundtracks you can purchase and download to your phone or are available on streaming apps. Disney even has a Disney’s Greatest Hits albums. If your car has a CD player, you might consider going the old-fashioned route and filling a nylon CD binder with soundtracks from your son’s or daughter’s favorite Disney productions.

You can turn something as simple as picking and listening to music into an exciting activity by helping them decorate the binder with stickers of their beloved Disney characters before you leave, and letting them choose their tunes during the trip.

2. Disney Themed Bingo

Another fun activity to captivate your kids on the long car trip is bingo. While you can purchase ready-made bingo cards online, if time permits, you can make your own so they are specifically tailored to your kids’ tastes. You can find printable, Disney-themed bingo cards online or print blank ones and design them with your kids. For added fun, use small candies, gummies, or stickers for markers. If the road trip takes more than an hour or two, print coloring bingo cards for your children to enjoy.

3. Walt Disney Matching Card Game

Your kids will love playing a Disney-themed matching game during the long car trip. As with bingo, you can purchase a Disney-themed set of cards from most retail stores or design them yourself using printable online templates. Matching games may seem a little less engaging than bingo, but they come with a bonus: Playing matching or number games helps your child develop their memory and communication skills.

4.  Lap Desk & Organizer

Wherever the children go, messes and messiness are sure to follow. However, you can minimize the necessary clean up by providing a desk for them to work on. You can use a flat, metal cookie sheet as a surface for playing games that involve cards or paper, for coloring, or for holding snacks.

Although you’ll probably need to clean stray crayon marks after the trip, a cookie sheet is an inexpensive alternative to most retail car-seat lap desks. Moreover, the desk doesn’t take up a lot of space and is easy to store when not in use. Younger children might enjoy using the cookie tray to play with magnets, so be sure to use baking trays with magnetic properties (check the labels; some metal sheets are not magnetic). If you can’t get your hands on magnetic trays, consider using adhesive magnetic strips instead.

5. I’m Going on a Picnic … in Disney World

Teaching your kids to play the “I’m going on a picnic” game is easy and will leave them laughing for hours. The original game starts when one player says “I’m going on a picnic.” The player follows by saying “… and I’m taking …” and listing an item that starts with the letter “A.” The second player will repeat what the first person said and add something that starts with the letter “B.”

The game continues as each person repeats what the previous individual brings to the picnic while adding an item of their own. Each new item must start with a different letter of the alphabet. To keep consistent with your Disney-themed car adventure, you can choose a specific Disney movie for the picnic’s setting and bring items related to the characters or worlds you’d find in that film.

For example, you could start the game by saying “I’m going on a picnic in Wonderland, and I’m bringing … apple jam,” or “I’m going on a picnic in Neverland, and I’m bringing pixie dust.” Adding a setting will make the game a bit more difficult, but your kids will enjoy thinking up picnic items they can bring from their favorite Disney works.

6. Counting the Miles with Mickey

For exceptionally long trips, you can make tickets with numbers on them to help your kids keep track of how long you’ve been traveling. First, cut a piece of black construction paper into Mickey Mouse’s signature silhouette, and then assign a number to each ticket for every hour you’ll be on the road. Every time an hour passes, say “Tickets please!” and collect the Mickey tickets from your kids.

If you live conveniently close to Disney World, you can use tickets to keep track of the miles you’ve driven.  Your kids will feel like they’re on a train adventure rather than a long car ride and will anticipate each hour with excitement.

7.  Who Am I: The Disney Edition

The “Who Am I?” game is usually played as an icebreaker at school or camps, but you can easily adapt it to meet your road trip activity needs. The original game involves writing the name of a character or person on an index card and taping it to your forehead. Other players would be able to see the name of your persona.

The point of the game is for you to ask a series of “yes” or “no” questions to help you guess who you are. To play the game in the car, write the names of Disney characters on index cards, or, if your children are too young to read, print and cut out pictures of Disney characters for them to choose from. Let them decide the number of questions you can ask and guess accordingly. If you win, you get to choose the next guesser. If you lose, you’ll have to spend another round guessing the name of your character.

8. Disney Spelling Bee

Last, but not least, is another simple, yet exciting, car brain game for your kids. Hosting a Disney-themed spelling bee in your backseat is a fun way for children to practice their spelling skills while passing the time. You can use cards from the matching game or “Who am I?” to choose which Disney movie title or character’s name they’ll spell.  

9. Disney Audible Books

Listening to an audible book is a great way to pass the time and there are lots of audible Disney Books! Pretty much any story Disney has ever told is available as an audible book.

• Disney*Pixar Storybook Collection

Disney Junior Storybook Collection: Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Mickey/Minnie, Henry Hugglemonster

With these 9 Disney games and activities for kids, your next Disney road trip is sure to be entertaining and a lot of fun. From bingo to spotting license plates, these creative ideas will likely lead to family bonding and laughs along the way. So why wait? Grab some snacks and add a little magical sparkle to your road trip by busting out these Disney games today!

For more road trip games, check out these 11 Road Trip Games that can be played in the car.

Click to shop this Disney Villain shirt

Guest post by Jordan Smith. She is obsessed with Disney, her beautiful family, and cars. Her career as the lead mechanic for  ActionGatorTire.com . It is both challenging and rewarding, but she loves getting to do what she enjoys every day. Having a creative outlet, like blogging, and planning future vacations are the best ways she knows to deal with the pressures of adulting!

If you found this information helpful consider buying me a cup of coffee aka helping me pay to put kids through college! Just scan the QR code or click the link. As always, thank you for your support!

Get Travel Insuranc e

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flight s

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner !

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO .

Rent Clothes

Rent clothes for your trip with Travel Style Expert for only $50 a month! The first 30 days are free!

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Get Your Guide and Viator . If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar . They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If I am going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean I use Apple Vacations .

Rent a Car or Take a Lyft

More often than not Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit ! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars .

Save Money on Gas

Upside , a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase .

I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.

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