As a Type A Theme Park Touring Commando I want to optimize what I bring to the parks – from my wallet to what to do if there is rain. Over the years I refined a theme park bag of touring essentials developed over dozens of trips. In this article, I will go over what is in my daily carry bag, special items for unique situations, and items you should leave at home.

My Bag

My preferred bag for theme parks is a sling bag that rides across one shoulder and over the back. It is small enough to fit in lockers at Universal and pouches at Disney. I use a Patagonia bag, it has tons of pockets and inserts to keep items separated but secure, but any sling bag works great. Everything else I carry goes into the bag (except my wallet and cell phone). Ponchos are a must-pack when there is a threat of rain in the forecast. I buy packs of ponchos on Amazon and bring them with me in my luggage or ship them to the hotel. Each day I bring a few ponchos and we dispose of any used ponchos at the end of the day. I bring enough ponchos for a few days of rain. A small, collapsable umbrella that can withstand wind gusts is perfect for rain and sun in the parks. Umbrellas stop the rain from the annoying pitter-patter on the plastic on your head and shield you from the sun on extremely bright and hot days.

Staying hydrated is important when walking around in the heat so I carry a Brita-filtered water bottle in the parks. The bottle’s leak-free cap keeps everything dry and the filter keeps all the gross Florida Water taste out. Some downsides of my bottle are the lack of insulation, a problem when it’s hot out, and some might not like the large flexible straw you have to drink through. I carry around a small portable battery pack for recharging cellphones – I chose a battery with a built-in Apple MagSafe charger on the back so I don’t have to also carry a cord. Finally, the last thing I carry is a recent addition – a cooling towel. After a trip with my sister in 2022 I realize a cooling towel goes a long way to keeping my heat regulated. The towel uses the power of evaporation to cool, simply soak it in water and place it on your neck, head, or anywhere a towel can go.

Special Items

I hope I have you some ideas for what to carry to the parks, but there are special stations and circumstances for special guests. Medication is allowed in the parks and can be carried with you – medication that requires refrigeration can be taken to First Aid. Kids are a whole other beast I haven’t touched on – from diapers and strollers to iPads and snacks. Baby Care centers are at the First Aid stations at each park, but carry your baby supplies if you can. Read tips on traveling with a baby to Walt Disney World, the same tips apply to Universal. Finally, I apply sunscreen at the start of each day but carry sunscreen to reapply throughout the day as the Florida sun is no joke.

Reconsider These Items

Universal has a list of items prohibited from their parks – including items made of glass, alcohol, illicit drugs, firearms, and more. But what about items that you can bring but probably shouldn’t? Leave your luggage at the hotel – if you have to fly leave your luggage at your hotel. Leave food and snacks that can spoil or melt at home, you are in Orlando after all. And skip bringing anything you wouldn’t want to carry 5 miles over 8 hours of touring like large purses and even interactive wands.

What is in your daily theme park bag? Leave what you carry in the comments below!