Must Have Dollar Store Items for Disney

So, no surprise when I plan for a Disney Trip, its probably going to also involve a lot of lists and a quick trip to a local dollar store. And, our trip to Disney with a Toddler was no departure from my usual behavior. I did a ton of research and made lists of my lists, but when it came down to it, these dollar store items were essential to maximize fun and reduce stress at Disney World.

1. Scarves for stroller – when I tell you there is a sea of strollers, I”m talking wide as the Atlantic. Near most rides and especially kids areas, there is a parking lot of strollers, so having something that set ours apart and was big enough, but not too bulky made all the difference in finding our stroller when we got off a ride or dismissed from the Lion King Show. I picked something silly and colorful to stand out. I mean, when else do you need a cat scar? Just make sure your husband or travel partner knows up front what they are looking for.
2. Wet bag – whether its soiled clothes, puddle jumping socks, or just overflow from the water ride, it’s nice to have somewhere to put those wet items when you need it, and you really don’t want to rely on a supermarket bag that may have a hole in it from the bottom of your backpack.
3. Folder for the plan – I always have a plan and on check-in day and flying day (especially if you are flying alone with a baby or toddler) it helps to know where you can find all your papers and documents in one place. I used a plastic folder with a pocket so I could have more than one place to keep all my things organized. It was also a perfect spot to put flight tickets to keep my hands and pockets free to chase and have fun at the airport. You can also put any receipts in the pocket until you get home.
4. Refill cup – you might be bringing your own cups, but its always good to have a back up in case you lose one or want milk in your room but not the park, or for the grown-ups, you can carry a water cup with you into the park and refill it all day to stay hydrated. Again the dollar store options are great because you don’t care if something happens to it.
5. Character toys – this was a game-changer for me. This summer when Lion King and Toy Story came out, I grabbed a few character-specific items since I knew we would be visiting specific areas. But the Dollar Stores have so many Disney related items that it’s not hard to grab a few things to entertain your kids each day. Suggested items include activity pads, figurines, magic towels, anything age or stage that will keep them entertained while you wait for food or stand in line.
6. Paper gift bags – I set out a bag each morning with fun toys for that day. They were all simple things, but items we could take to the park with us and provide entertainment and new attention when meltdowns and patients started to wear thin. Plus it was fun to have a gift each morning and Little Man started looking forward to it like Christmas morning.
7. Pop up hamper – somehow it seems that our suitcases “throw up” all over the place when we are in a small space away from home. These pop-up hampers lay flat in the bottom of your suitcase so no extra room when you travel, but they help you stay organized while you are traveling and then you just dump everything in your suitcase to come home. Or, wash the last day and bring it all home clean.
8. Pipe cleaners – my mom taught me about these and we used them on our Screensaver Road Trip this summer. But, pipe cleaners are fun because you can practice colors, you can make shapes or head dressings, or they are practical and useful if you need to repair something or hold it on to your stroller. Just a fun random thing to carry with you.
9. Sunglasses – I like to have fun and cheap sunglasses when I travel on a trip like this. Whether it’s putting them on my head and losing them or being fun with crazy shapes or colors for pictures, I”m all about the dollar store sunglasses when I travel on vacation. I took a red pair and a neon set with me. The red ones were played aggressively (read twisted) with a couple of times and didn’t work the next day, so I was glad to not have my Maui Jim’s with me and a backup pair for the rest of the trip.
10. Travel size – all the things – use daily and leave behind – sanitizer, Clorox wipes, toiletries, baby wipes, or nose wipes. It just helps you save space by not having a big container when you only need a few day’s worth. And, plan with your family and only carry one of each item since you can share. 
11. Hair bows – so much fun and variety and again, if something happens who cares. This is also a fun way to “spruce” up a simple pair of mickey ears or for a little kid made it look like mickey ears without having to purchase a new pair. I actually used these for myself and just had something cute to hold my bangs back out of my face. I mean when else can you dress like a kid with bows and it be totally not weird, at all!
12. Autograph book – photo album, 5×7 index cards, click sharpies – this might be controversial, but I did not buy a full out branded autograph book, I made my own. Mostly because it was cheaper, but I also decided it would be nice to put a picture of the kid and character next to the autograph. So, I took a small photo album that could hold 5×7 pictures and bought 5×7 index cards. I put the index cards in a Ziploc with our sharpie and that’s all we took to the park with us each day and then I just put it all together when we got home.
13. Airplane activities – play pack, magnetic activities, coloring books, stickers – have plenty to do and entertain your kid while you are on the plane. Whatever the age or stage have something new for them to play with on the way there and back. Make it something special that they really love and don’t get to play with often so it will have their attention. Flying with kids is stressful and anything you can do to make it fun and manageable always helps! One thing I found at the dollar store was wooden figures you could color and then they would stand, made for fun play pretend. 
14. Glow sticks – so munch fun when the lights go down (for all ages)! Bracelets, necklaces, wands, or just sticks they make for a fun family party and really cool pictures.
15. Ponchos – you never know when a rainstorm may pop up. And, at the parks, these can be $12/each. You can usually buy one per day per family member and not even spend that amount total. Ponchos are also a great thing to use to sit on for a parade or waiting for others. I just added these to the gift bag for each day so I didn’t have to think about packing them.
16. Flavored water enhancer – I mean I suggested the refillable water bottle, but I get tired of plain water and it doesn’t taste awesome in the park, so bring those powders or add a liquid enhancer to your grocery list and make it so much easier on yourself.

Just a few things I would always make sure I had with me on any trip to a Disney park. I do love shopping at the Dollar Store (check out this list of Dollar Store Must-Haves for the Beach). They have everything, well mostly everything and it’s $1 each so you stress less about things getting messed up or lost. Everyone wins when you reduce stress and increase the fun!

Specific tactics that made our trip easier:

• Daily toy bags – paper gift bags with theme-related goodies
• Closet organizer – just a 5 shelf canvas organizer that helped me lay out each day’s matching clothes when I unpacked and then I didn’t have to think about it after that
• Laundry hamper – pop up at the bottom of the closet gives everyone a place to put their dirty clothes.
• Order groceries/diapers – have them delivered and waiting on you. It’s $6 max for your hotel to hold them!
• Take your own stroller – we wanted to have our stroller in the airport and it made it easier to just use it each day. I will admit, that Disney is hard on your stroller. We actually busted a tire and had to repair it when we got back, but it was so much more comfortable and easier to manage.