I’m so excited for your Disney vacation! But I’m sure you have a lot of questions. After you’ve made your hotel reservations, booked your flight and secured your Park tickets, all that’s left is the tons of “little” things that make your vacation a true vacation.
That means finding ways to make your trip smooth sailing, comfortable and memorable.
On top of making dining reservations and coordinating Genie+ reservations with your group and deciding if you’re going to rope drop or not (I highly recommend it), you’re going to want to find a way to bring the comforts of home to your home away from home – your hotel room.
I personally love hotels because there’s not much cleaning or laundry or dishes involved but on longer trips, like Disney World trips, you’re going to want to make sure you have what you need and not rely on fast food or Park food or picking expensive last-minute items at the Resort hotel.
This post is all about what to pack for your hotel room for your Disney vacation.
To avoid the hassle of dirty clothes covering every inch of the room and late-night hunger pangs, you’re going to want to keep reading to find the best tips for your Disney vacation.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links. No extra cost is added to the item. Commissions come from a portion of the sale.
What to Pack for Disney
Before we dive in, this post isn’t going to include a breakdown of the number of shirts and shorts to pack. This post is focused on helpful items to pack to make your hotel room stay at Disney easier and more comfortable.
Hotel Room Must-haves for Your Disney Trip
Flashlight/Night Light
Flashlights and night lights are great to pack for any trip, especially if you’ve got little ones. Keep one next to your bed or in the bathroom to give a bit of extra light to the room and help anyone who has to get up at night.
Power Strip
Pack a power strip to keep all of your items together as you charge them. We’ve definitely left cords behind in the past but never again. We always have a ton of items to charge like phones, fans, portable chargers, Apple Watches, cameras, etc. It helps to have everything in one place to keep things organized.
Door Lock/ Door Alarm
Another smart item to pack for any trip is a door lock or door alarm. They have some cheap ones on Amazon that I recommend picking up. They are lightweight and good to have for group trips with small children and solo trips. Safety, safety, safety!
Pop up Hamper
This one is a HUGE helper, especially on longer trips where the laundry really starts to pile up. Pick up a pop-up hamper at the 99 Cent Store, Target or Amazon. It keeps everything organied and makes it easier if you plan to do laundry onsite.
Ziplock Bags
Ziplock bags are a lifesaver on Disney trips. Store wet clothes in them if you’re in the Park, leftover snacks, trash if you’re in line and there’s no trash can around. There’s a ton of uses for Ziplock bags and they take up virtually no space in your bag.
Wet Wipes/Cleaning Supplies
Since 2020 I’ve become a bit of a stickler about cleaning hotel rooms. I’ve always wiped down the basics like remotes, phones and other high-touch areas but now I have a bit of a more involved routine.
Pack some Clorox wipes to wipe down the high-touch areas, toilet seat, sink, counter and any tables or desks in the room. Order extra blankets and towels to cover any furniture like couches or armchairs. You can also use wet wipes to wipe down the bathroom floor.
Room Slippers
Much like house slippers, you have hotel room slippers! If they give you free (and wrapped) slippers, use those! If not, pack some inside slippers to walk around in. I’m not sure how often, if ever, the carpets in hotel rooms are cleaned and it’s not fun trying to guess. Pack some slippers to keep your feet clean and safe from any ickyness that might be in the carpets.
Mini First Aid Kit
I have a ton of items in my travel first aid kit. Some of the usuals are stomach medicines like Pepto, Tums, Immodium, etc., and also pain relievers, like Tylenol and Advil. It’s also good to keep extras like band-aids, moleskin, and chaffing sticks in your kit too.
Electrolyte Powder
Electrolyte powders are a must for Disney trips. Our favorites are Drip Drops and LiquidIV. We have these in the mornings and before bed and if it’s a hot day, then we’ll pack them for the park too.
They’re easy to add to your routine and taste great. The packets are small so they won’t take up much room in your bag either. I 10/10 recommend packing an electrolyte powder.
Water (Bottles or Gallon)
We know how important it is to carry water with you at the Parks but it’s equally important to have it readily available in your room for the morning and evening.
If you’re driving, pack a gallon of water to take to the room. If you’re flying in, order through DoorDash or InstaCart along with the other groceries you might need.
Don’t forget to hydrate at all times – pack the water.
Eye Mask
If you’re staying in a room with multiple people and you all might be on different schedules, wearing an eye mask is a game changer.
If someone in your room is waking up early or if you’re going to bed before everyone else, then keep it dark is important and an eye mask is a must.
Earplugs
Just like above, earplugs are great if you’re sharing a room with multiple people and you’re all on different schedules. Earplugs are great for getting to bed early or grabbing a bit of extra sleep while those around you are waking up.
Plus, the earplugs are also great for the louder rides at Disney Parks, if you’re sensitive to loud noises. Personally, Thunder Mountain at Disneyland is always a bit too loud for my liking.
Plates/Napkins/Utensils
You’re most likely going to be enjoying snacks in your room and sometimes even meals. This can be early morning meals like cereal or breakfast sandwiches or late night meals, like ramen and Easy Mac.
Either way, having utensils, plates, and napkins is a must. We’ll pack plates but a lot of time we’ll grab forks, knives, spoons, and napkins from the Parks or from the hotel restaurant.
A lot of the Disney hotels will have everything you need in the dining hall, including honey, salt and pepper, and hot sauce. We do a once-over of the area and grab what we’ll need for the room for our stay.
Bluetooth Speaker
Usually overlooked is music. But having music in the room or even a speaker to play some white noise or rain sounds while going to be is a game changer.
We just did this on our last girls trip and played rain sounds and we were out like a like within minutes. Absolutely loved it!
Kids: Activity books, toys, etc.
If you’re traveling with your little ones then you already know their favorite things to pack. Having some in-room activities is great during downtime while the rest of the family is taking a break.
Pack books, puzzles, coloring books – quiet activities.
Sponge/Dish Soap
If you’re packing any reusable cups, plates or utensils then having a wash station is helpful. This is also great for kids dishes you may have packed.
There are a lot of really great packing hacks for dishes in hotel rooms; I highly suggest you check TikTok for endless video options.
Laundry Detergent
If you’re going on a longer trip or you have a larger group, doing laundry before you head home is a big help.
We had a 9-day Disney World trip and we spent the last day doing laundry and shopping and eating. It was relaxing and was the best decision we made. Nothing beats clean clothes after a long trip.
Most hotels will have laundry rooms. You do have to pay per load but it’s worth it.
Dryer Sheets
Now this one is one of the mom packs I’ve read about but haven’t tried. I don’t remember where or when I heard this one but basically, you pack dryer sheets and keep them in your shoes after the Parks to keep them smelling fresh. And to keep them from stinking up the room.
I’m guessing this one is more in line for families with lots of little to teenager-sized feet. It’s a great tip and a cheap way to keep the room smelling great.
Door Decorations
This one is fun! I know people decorate their room doors on Disney Cruises but you can decorate your door for any stay, including a hotel stay.
On our last trip, our neighbors had the best decorations. They used some sort of Cricut machine to make these amazing cutouts for the Disney World Half Marathon. It was a great addition to the room and even brightened up our day… and it wasn’t even our door!
This is definitely one of those extra magic moments that makes your trip memorable.
Hulken Bag or Wagon to Carry Items
This may be a personal favorite because I’m notorious for overpacking but using a bag with wheels or a wagon to help cart around your items from the car to the hotel room.
If you’re staying at a nicer hotel with staff to help with your luggage, then you most likely won’t need this. But if you’re staying at a moderate to budget hotel, then these are your friend.
The luggage carts are usually always taken, and carrying a ton of bags is never fun. We like wagons and the Hulken bag to schlep all of our stuff around.
Rolling Cooler
Another personal favorite of mine is the cooler bag. Now, ours doesn’t have wheels and this is why I’m suggesting you purchase the one with wheels.
Packing water and sodas or juices can get extremely heavy, especially with all the extra snacks. Save yourself a sore arm and upgrade to a cooler bag with wheels.
Foldable Storage/Shelf
Another great way to create space and a bit of organization is to pack a collapsible shelf. These are great if you have kids and you want them to each have their own area.
Or you can use it for all of your snacks as a little pantry area. Either way, this is a great space saver and room organizer.
Conclusion
Overall, the magic of a Disney vacation isn’t limited to the theme parks alone. Your hotel room plays a large role because it’s the place you’re calling home. It’s where you need to relax, unwind, recharge and sleep.
Moreover, it’s essential to plan ahead and pack smart to ensure a hassle-free trip. Organize your luggage efficiently, create a packing checklist, and remember to bring those items that make home feel like home, in order to have a seamless and relaxing trip.
Don’t forget these essentials for your next Disney vacation and let me know in the comments if you have any pro tips or items I missed that would be great to share.
See you at the Parks!
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