Disney World Road Trip Essentials for Your Car

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Driving more than a couple of hours can feel daunting. But don’t let the unknown overwhelm you. Check out our easy and practical list of Disney World road trip essentials so you can be as prepared as possible!

We know a think or two about road tripping with kids.

To date, we have logged more than 15 major multi-day road trips with our kids, five of them being a round trip drive from Pennsylvania to Disney and back. We have done these epic drives with kids ranging from 5 months old to 9 years old and have picked up some super helpful tips and tricks along the way. I also just so happen to have an incredibly amazing Facebook group who helped me add to my list!

Before we dig in, make sure you check out some of my favorite road trip related posts that I have written in the past:

Disney World Road Trip Essentials

Chances are probably good that if you are reading this post, you are thinking about a road trip to Disney World. And if you are looking for “Disney World Road Trip Essentials,” chances are probably really good that your trip will span hours to days. There are several reasons why we usually opt to drive to Disney versus fly. Saving time is certainly not one of those reasons. But by driving we usually save money over buying 4 round trip airplane tickets, we have our car to drive around Disney, and we aren’t limited to airplane luggage (we can pack our car with ALLTHETHINGS).

So let’s talk about what some great must-haves are for your road trip!

The Basics

Cash (Small Bills) (perfect for rest stop vending machines, tolls, etc.)

Day Bag (our bag has evolved from diaper bag to general supply bag over the years – you need something packed at at-the-ready for diaper changes, food messes, outfit changes, etc.)
Our pick: Free Spirit SP Diaper Backpack (ultra light-weight, machine washable, roomy, lots of pockets, comfy shoulder straps)

Chargers for EVERYTHING (phone, tablets, anything that has a battery! Pick up some extra long charging cords so they reach to the backseat.)

Pillows and Blankets

The Car Seat Key (where was this when my kids were tiny?! Sometimes that 5-point harness button is so darn hard to release, especially if you have arthritis, carpal tunnel, etc. The Car Seat Key is a simple, effective tool… sliding over that red button and releasing it with the slightest pressure.

First Aid Kit (pack the basics, including medications like Tylenol, Dramamine and Benadryl)
Our pick: PATCH bamboo bandages (We love these bandages! They are 100% compostable and hypoallergenic. They are free of plastics, latex, silicone and toxins. Available in 4 lines: Natural, Coconut Oil Kids, Aloe Vera, Activated Charcoal. )

Trash Bags/Ziploc Bags (perfect for trash, wet bags, car sick bags.. these are actually our fave car sick bags and we keep them in our house and each car!)

Overnight Bag (if you are stopping overnight, pack a small piece of luggage with just the essentials for your hotel stay – toiletries, pajamas, clothes for the next day)

The Nourishment

Snacks (go for easy, portion-able snacks that WON’T MELT)

Drinks (we highly suggest skipping the juice boxes which can make a real mess and opting for drinks that have lids)

Cooler (I have lost track of how much money we have saved on drinks while road tripping thanks to keeping a cooler in the car! Tip: refill your cooler each morning with ice from the hotel vending machine.)
Our pick: Mickey and Minnie Playmate Collection from Igloo Coolers (no cooler is more perfectly themed for a Disney trip than these awesome limited edition 9-can coolers from Igloo! Disney does not allow hard-sided coolers into the Parks, but how nice to keep cold drinks on ice in your hotel room!)

Wet Wipes (for messes and all the sticky everything!)