Three Steps to Packing for Your Next Disney Trip

The following is a guest post by my friend and colleague Beth Smith of Beth Smith Textiles. Beth is a fiber artist with a specialty in designing custom dresses and skirts. You can often find her wearing her custom designs during many of her frequent trips to Disney World. 

Are you a person who loves to plan? Is the anticipation of your upcoming trip just as good as the trip itself? Me too! And one of the things I love to think about and plan is what I’m going to wear. Let me take you through the thought process and how I decide what to pack to make sure I will be as comfortable and awesome as I can be. Often for Disney trips I begin with deciding which parks I will be going to and which characters and attractions I love most in each park. I also check to see if there are any celebrations happening while we are there that I may be able to coordinate with. Once I know all of that background info I’m ready to make a plan for my outfits.

I have a uniform that helps make it a little easier to make decisions. I wear a skirt and a t-shirt almost every day. I love a skirt at Disney because it is a way to stay cool on warmer days while looking ready for anything. I love to stand out and wearing a beautiful skirt or dress in a place where most others are very casual helps with that. Are you a person who loves interacting with characters? Try dressing up a bit an see what happens! As you can see from the photos I love to go all out. All of those outfits are one of a kind, designed by me and for me. You can see even more of my designs at https://bethsmithtextiles.com/shop/custom-disney-bound-reservation/

The average person walks 7-10 miles per day on their Disney World trip! I have had days where I have exceeded those numbers so it’s important to bring comfortable shoes. I have several pairs of sneakers and flats. I think it is very important to have comfortable shoes and not wear the same pair 2 days in a row. Find a pair of sneakers that will look great with your outfits. I love shoes that have a little glitz like the Steve Madden Maxima. They come in a lot of colors and have the bling! I also love Keds but I add an insole to help support my arch. If you need shoes to complete an outfit for photos feel free to carry a more comfortable pair of flats in your bag to change into when you just can’t take it anymore and when the photoshoot is over. I have been known to do that for Dapper Days and it has saved my feet.

The sun in Florida and California can be brutal so if your trip is during those hot summer months be sure to take something to protect your head and face from the sun. I have a confession to make here. I love a tiara, a flower crown or a cute set of ears so I often don’t follow my own advice. You have to make those decisions on your own but I will tell you that if you wear a tiara or a crown to any of the parks be prepared to be addressed as Your Highness or Your Majesty throughout the day. I eat that up, wouldn’t you? But when choosing your tiara, I recommend one with the combs attached so it will stay on your head for most rides.