A region full of incredible excitement, Orlando is the place to be for anyone who loves theme parks! Orlando has countless attractions to discover, with something for all ages and tastes. Whether it’s LEGOLAND Florida for excited children or Walt Disney World for its incredible size and spectacle, Orlando is a location that will never leave you disappointed.

To make sure you have the most enjoyable time no matter where you’re headed in Orlando, we’ve put together a range of theme park guides. If you’ve never been before, you may want to check out our blog on tips for your first trip to an Orlando theme park. Here, we take a look at those must-have items to ensure your day goes off without a hitch.

Backpack

First thing’s first, to make sure you can bring everything you need you’re going to want a backpack, rucksack or bumbag. While these may feel like an inconvenience if you’ve never been before, trust us, you will need one! All of Orlando’s theme parks are happy for you to bring a backpack, although they will perform extra security checks on them before entry, so bear this in mind.

At theme parks like Disney World, all regular-sized rucksacks can be taken and kept with you on all rides, so you never have to leave them behind. In water-based locations such as Aquatica where bags cannot be taken on rides, you may wish to rent out a locker to store your belongings.

Clothing

The right attire can make a big difference to your day! Make sure your clothes are comfortable enough for a day of walking around and sitting on rides.

Walking around all day can sometimes cause skin irritation (some call it chub rub or chaffing), so it’s a good idea to prevent this from happening to make your day more comfortable. There are friction sticks which have been specially designed for this problem, which are available to purchase from Walmart, while deodorant sticks are a good alternative. Many visitors also choose to wear cycling shorts underneath items like dresses to combat the problem.

We also highly recommend bringing some spare items of clothing, such as a second shirt or extra shorts. If you’re hoping to enjoy a water ride at any point, having an additional option can be a lot more comfortable than walking around, waiting for your damp clothes to dry.

Poncho

Another thing first-time visitors may not realise about Orlando is that its weather can be quite erratic. While summer in Orlando is hot, humid and full of sunshine, it is also the rainy season and showers are just as frequent! Often, these flash rainfalls will last a few hours before passing, but you’ll want to be prepared.

Whenever visiting an Orlando theme park during the summer, it’s a great idea to bring a lightweight poncho that can be easily rolled away. Many theme parks in Orlando will continue to operate their rides during heavy rainfall, although storms can stop certain attractions. If you have a poncho, when the weather rumbles in, you’ll have what you need to keep dry and continue with your day.

Comfortable Shoes

If you’ve never visited Orlando’s theme parks before, you may be surprised at just how big these locations can be. The entire Walt Disney World resort is roughly the size of the cities of Bristol or Liverpool in the UK, while the parks themselves are many acres long. With this in mind, we highly recommend wearing appropriate footwear to any of Orlando’s theme parks, to ensure you have the strength and comfort to keep going all day!

The most important thing is being comfortable but not too hot, so for the majority of theme parks, trainers are the best option. The Skechers brand is said to be one of the most comfortable. However, for water-based locations such as Aquatica, you’ll want footwear that you’re okay with getting wet, such as flip flops or water socks.

Refillable Water Bottle

A day at Orlando’s theme parks is guaranteed to be full of action! It will also be quite a long day, especially if you’re staying from opening time until closing. Most theme parks allow you to bring some of your own food and drink, and no matter when in the year you’re visiting, you’ll want to bring water bottles.

The main reason is that, with so much walking involved, you’ll be needing to stay hydrated throughout your visit. This point is doubly important during the summer when Orlando can be dangerously hot, if you’re not careful regarding your hydration levels. The second reason is that even something as simple as water can be quite expensive if you have to buy bottles inside the parks! Places like Walt Disney World will offer iced water at their food kiosks during the summer season, which can be a nice luxury during a long day. However, most major theme parks also have free refill stations, so bringing your own refillable water bottles will save you a lot of money over the course of your holiday.

Plasters

As mentioned before, a day at Orlando’s theme parks can be long and taxing on your feet! Plasters are lightweight and can provide some comfort against any minor ailments, including young children falling over in their excitement. Bring a range of plasters, including small and blister variations. If visiting a water park, make sure you have waterproof options available too.

Tablets

Similar to the previous point, painkiller tablets are small, easy to carry, and can provide some much-needed relief if ever required throughout the day. Many theme parks have first aid facilities on-site that you can use if needed, but small items such as plasters and tablets will save you a timely trip. All locations will allow you to bring a personal amount of painkiller tablets, so we would definitely recommend this.

Small Fan/Cooling Towel

If you’ve ever visited Orlando, you’ll probably know how incredibly hot it can be, especially during the summer! From the beginning of May to the end of September, temperatures regularly reach around and above 30 degrees celsius, so you’ll need to be prepared for the heat! To learn more about the region’s climate, discover our detailed guide to the weather in Orlando.

Beyond the pure heat and sunshine, Orlando can be particularly humid during the summer months, which can make being outside uncomfortable if you’re unprepared. Something simple like a battery-powered mist fan or a cooling towel can provide some much-needed relief while waiting for a ride or watching something outside.

Sun Cream

Sun cream is an absolute must in Orlando. The Sunshine State experiences some beautiful weather, but it’s not without its dangers. Given their size, you’ll spend a lot of your time in Orlando’s theme parks outside and exposed to the elements, so you should look to protect your skin throughout the day.

Bring sun cream with an SPF level of 30 or higher when visiting Orlando’s theme parks, then re-apply it at intervals throughout the day. As with many items, sun cream is available in most theme parks, but it will cost considerably more than if you brought your own beforehand. An umbrella is also a good option, although this is something else to carry around with you.

Hand Sanitiser and Wet Wipes

Many of Orlando’s theme parks are very clean and hygiene conscious, especially with lots of kids around! However, given their size, some things can be missed, so it’s always a good idea to care for your family by bringing your own sanitisers and wet wipes for messy kids and ice cream spills!

Buggies and Mobility Scooters

This point largely depends on who is visiting the theme parks. However, for particularly young children and anyone who struggles with walking, we would recommend using buggies or mobility scooters to help with your visit. As mentioned before, places like Walt Disney World can involve a lot of travel, which can be hard (or at least very tiring) for some people over a full day.

Most theme parks will allow you to bring your own stroller (the US name for buggy) to the park or rent one of their own, although it’s worth checking each park’s rules on twin or triplet strollers, as many have guidelines. It’s a similar situation with mobility scooters, where many people will look to bring their own and use it for the rest of their holiday. Both buggies and mobility scooters are available to hire from us at Debbie’s Villas.

Portable Charger/Battery Pack

Many of us like to use our holidays as a chance to switch off from the devices that so often occupy our daily lives. However, the truth is that mobiles are incredibly useful, especially at Orlando’s theme parks. Places such as Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando have dedicated apps that can help you make the most of your day, providing queue times, passes and digital maps. As you explore the parks, you will likely want to take lots of photos to create memories of your trip. Moreover, if travelling in a party, you may wish to split up to visit your favourite places, making communication throughout the day important.

Nowadays, portable chargers are small, powerful and not too costly. You will find them in most supermarkets, so we’d recommend picking up one or two for your day at the parks.

Autograph Book and Marker Pen

If you’re visiting Disney or Universal with children, one of the most exciting things is seeing their faces when they spot their favourite characters! Your kids will love seeing the famous faces on their travels, and many will want to remember the moment by getting a photo. A lot of people also enjoy collecting the autographs of these famous characters, so don’t forget to bring your autograph book and pen!

Places such as Walt Disney World will sell their own, specially-designed autograph books, which are popular with collectors. However, if you want to save some money, a standard autograph book (or any notebook with plenty of space) will be fine. Walmart is a great place to stop for these supplies. When it comes to pens, we recommend taking a larger marker as opposed to a normal one, as some of the characters can struggle to hold smaller pens in their hands!

Hopefully, this list will provide you with everything you need to make sure your next Orlando theme park visit is the best it can be! Here at Debbie’s Villas, we offer a range of incredible holiday villas in the Florida area, including our villas near Disney that are perfect for theme park goers! If you’re looking to plan your next trip, why not browse our properties today? Alternatively, feel free to get in touch with our team based here in the UK, who are happy to help you plan your next holiday.

Image credit:

• Disney Parks poncho - CC by Mingo Hagen
• Stitch writing autographs - CC by Jeff Christiansen